Method and arrangement for securing a digital data file having financial value, terminal operating in the arrangement, and software application employing the method

• US 7,240,079 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2002
• Issued: 07/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gula Consulting Limited Liability Company (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Markkanen, Panu S.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, CAM LINH T
• Application Number:
  US10/185,370
• Publication Number:
  US 20030005244A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,832 Days
• Field of Search: 707/9, 707/202, 707/204, 707/200, 711/161, 711/162
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1469 Backup restoration techniques
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99955 Archiving or backup

Abstract

A method for creating an electronic data file from information residing in the memory of a first device operating in a data communication system includes storing information identifying the owner who made a request for the creation of the electronic data file in a backup service in addition to information concerning the electronic data file to be created, sending instructions concerning a procedure used in the creation of the electronic data file from the backup service to the first device, wherein the instructions include information on how the electronic data file to be created will be altered during its creation such that it becomes unusable without further information, creating and processing the electronic data file according to the instructions, and saving the processed electronic data file in a second device.

Claims

1. A method for creating an electronic data file from information residing in the memory of a first device operating in a wireless data communication network comprising:

storing information identifying the owner who made a request for the creation of the electronic data file in a backup server in addition to information concerning the electronic data file to be created;

directly sending instructions concerning a procedure used in the creation of the electronic data file from the backup server to the first device, wherein said instructions include information on how the electronic data file to be created will be altered during its creation such that it becomes unusable without further information;

creating and processing the electronic data file in the first device according to the instructions; and

transferring the processed electronic data file directly from the first device to a second device without using resources of the wireless data communication network.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein creating and saving the electronic data file comprises:

using the first device to save the processed electronic data file into the second device;

establishing a communication connection with the backup service and identifying the first device;

using the first device to send to the backup service information describing the type of the electronic data file; and

using the backup service to save the information received from the first device.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the first device is identified as a trusted device by the backup service.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein when the first device contacts the backup service for creating an electronic data file, it is identified as a trusted device by the backup service.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the second device is a non-trusted device.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the instructions concerning the procedures used in the creation of the electronic data file comprise a cipher key which is used for encrypting the electronic data file to be created.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein the instructions concerning the procedures used in the creation of the electronic data file further comprise instructions specifying that a certain part of the electronic data file is only saved into the backup service.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein said part to be saved into the backup service is an electronic signature used to verify the electronic data file.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein at least the first device is a terminal of a radio network.

10. A method according to claim 1 wherein the electronic data file is one of the following:

a music file, video file, text file, balance data for electronic money or an application program installed in a device.

11. A method for restoring an existing electronic data file to a first device operating in a wireless data communication network from a second device, which method comprises:

establishing a connection from the first device to a backup service in the wireless data communication network;

transferring the existing data file directly from the second device to the first device without using resources of the wireless data communication network; and

restoring information to the first device from an electronic data file including owner identification in the second device according to instructions directly sent by the backup service, wherein the instructions sent by the backup service to the first device include instructions specifying how the electronic data file should be processed in order to modify it such that it can be used by the first device.

12. A method according to claim 11 which method further comprises:

using the backup service to check whether the first device is a trusted device;

using the first device to send a restore request; and

accepting the restore request.

13. A method according to claim 12 wherein the restore request sent by the first device to the backup service comprises identification information concerning an electronic data file stored in the memory of a second device.

14. A method according to claim 13 wherein the backup service compares the information received from the first device against information stored in the memory of the backup service and if they are identical, the backup service sends to the first device instructions for opening the electronic data file.

15. A method according to claim 14 wherein the backup service erases from its memory the information concerning the electronic data file after the opening instructions for the electronic data file have been conveyed to the first device.

16. A method according to claim 11 wherein the instructions sent by the backup service to the first device comprise a cipher key which is used for opening the electronic data file.

17. A method according to claim 11 wherein the instructions sent by the backup service to the first device comprise a part which was removed from the electronic data file when the latter was created, which part is used for restoring the electronic data file.

18. A method according to claim 11 wherein said electronic data file is used to restore data back to the first device from which it was transferred to a second device.

19. A method according to claim 11 wherein the first device is a terminal of a cellular network.

20. A hardware arrangement for creating an electronic data file from information stored in a first device operating in a data communication network, which hardware arrangement comprises:

a wireless data communication network

a backup service in association with the wireless data communication network in which backup service information concerning the owner of the electronic data file as well as information concerning the electronic data file to be created is stored;

at least one first device connected with the wireless data communication network; and

at least one second device to which the electronic data file from the first device is to be directly transferred without using resources of the wireless data communication network, wherein the backup service gives to the first device instructions on how to alter the electronic data file before transfer such that it becomes unusable without further information.

21. A hardware arrangement according to claim 20 wherein the information to be stored in the backup service comprises a cipher key used for creating the electronic data file.

22. A hardware arrangement according to claim 20 wherein the backup service comprises a separate server in connection with the data communication system.

23. A hardware arrangement according to claim 20 wherein part of the memory of the first device is arranged to be secure memory into which the instruction/information obtained from the backup service is to be stored in order to enable the opening of the electronic data file.

24. A hardware arrangement according to claim 20 wherein the data communication system is a cellular telephone network.

25. A hardware arrangement according to claim 20 wherein the first device is a terminal of a cellular network.

26. A terminal of a wireless data communication network, comprising:

means for transmitting signals;

means for receiving signals;

means for saving information and using it in the wireless terminal;

a control unit for controlling the operation of the wireless terminal; and

means for creating an electronic data file including owner identification from information residing in the memory of the wireless terminal, which means includes;

means for establishing a direct connection with a backup service associated with the wireless data communication network; and

means for sending a save request message to the backup service;

means for receiving a saving instruction from the backup service;

a device that operates to alter the electronic data file utilizing the saving instruction such that it becomes unusable without further information; and

means for transferring the electronic data file, which has been rendered unusable, directly to a second electronic device without using resources of the wireless data communication network.

27. A terminal according to claim 26 which terminal further comprises means for restoring the electronic data file stored in a second electronic device to the terminal in usable form.

28. A terminal according to claim 27 wherein the means for restoring an electronic data file comprise:

means for contacting a backup service in the cellular network;

means for sending a restore request message to the backup service;

means for receiving a data file restore instruction from the backup service; and

means for restoring an existing electronic data file into the memory of the terminal according to the restore instruction received from the backup service.