Computing device with environment aware features

• US 7,574,200 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2007
• Issued: 08/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2004
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Wilson, J. F. Sean, Hassan, Ahmed E., Chiu, Denny
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisen; Alexander
• Assistant Examiner(s): Addy; Anthony S
• Application Number:
  US11/687,354
• Publication Number:
  US 20070155405A1
• Time in Patent Office: 879 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 455/410, 455/411, 455/412.1, 455/456.1, 455/566, 455/567, 713/193, 713/194, 380247-250
• US Class Current: 455/410
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/62 Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2105 Dual mode as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2111 Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2137 Time limited access, e.g. to a computer or data
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/66 with means for preventing unauthorised or fraudulent calling verifying user identity or authority in secret or secure digital communications H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724631 by limiting the access to the user interface, e.g. locking a touch-screen or a keypad
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/084 using delegated authorisation, e.g. open authorisation [OAuth] protocol
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

An electronic device is provided that includes a processor, an output device connected to the processor for issuing a stimulus to a user of the electronic device, and at least one input device connected to the processor and responsive to user interaction. The electronic device also includes a device lock module associated with the processor for implementing restrictions on user access to the electronic device if user interaction is not detected within a predetermined lockout-time interval, the device lock module being configured for resetting the lockout-time interval into a shorter value if a user stimulus is issued by the output device.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a processor;

an output device connected to the processor for issuing a user stimulus to a user of the electronic device;

at least one input device connected to the processor and responsive to user interaction; and

a device lock module associated with the processor, the device lock module being configured for initiating a lockout countdown timer having an interval set to an initial value;

monitoring for user interaction within the interval;

implementing the restrictions on user access when user interaction is not detected within the interval;

monitoring for issuance of the user stimulus within the interval; and

setting a time remaining in the interval to a second value less than the initial value when the user stimulus is issued during the interval;

wherein the device lock module is configured such that, when the user stimulus is issued during the interval, the time remaining in the interval is set to the second value only when the time remaining exceeds the second value when the user stimulus is issued.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the device lock module is configured for tracking user response times to issued user stimuli and adjusting the second value based on the tracked user response times.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the user stimulus comprises an aural stimulus and/or a physical stimulus.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a mobile communications device enabled for communications over a wireless network, and the processor is configured for causing the output device to issue the user stimulus when the electronic device receives a new communication addressed to it over the wireless network, the new communication comprising an electronic message or an incoming telephone call.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises an event scheduling application associated with the processor for generating event reminders, the processor being configured for causing the output device to issue the user stimulus when an event reminder is generated.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the output device is configured to issue user stimuli for at least two different types of events and the device lock module is configured to set the interval to the second value based on the type of event for which the user stimulus is issued, wherein the second value depends on the type of event for which the user stimulus is issued.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the device lock module is configured to reset the interval to the initial value when user interaction is detected while a time is remaining in the interval.

8. A method for providing security for an electronic device, comprising:

initiating a lockout countdown timer having an interval set to an initial value;

monitoring for user interaction with the electronic device within the interval;

locking the electronic device when user interaction is not detected within the interval of the lockout countdown timer;

monitoring for issuance of the user stimulus within the interval; and

setting a time remaining in the interval to a second value less than the initial value when the user stimulus is issued during the interval, wherein when the user stimulus is issued during the interval, the time remaining in the interval is set to the second value only when the time remaining exceeds the second value when the user stimulus is issued.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the electronic device is a mobile communications device enabled for communications over a wireless network, the method comprising monitoring for new communications received by the mobile communications device and issuing the user stimulus in response to receiving a new communication at the mobile communications device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the new communication comprises an electronic message or an incoming telephone call.

11. The method of claim 8, comprising resetting the interval to the initial value when user interaction is detected while a time is remaining in the interval.

12. The method of claim 8, comprising tracking user response times to issued user stimuli and adjusting the second value based on the tracked user response times.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the user stimulus comprises an aural stimulus and/or a physical stimulus.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the user stimulus is generated in response to an event reminder of an event scheduling application.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein user stimuli are issued for at least two different types of events, the interval being set to the second value based on the type of event for which the user stimulus is issued, wherein the second value depends on the type of event for which the user stimulus is issued.

16. A computer software product having a computer-readable medium tangibly embodying software code executable by a processor of an electronic device for providing security, the computer executable instructions comprising:

computer executable instructions for initiating a lockout countdown timer having an interval set to an initial value;

computer executable instructions for monitoring for user interaction with the electronic device within the interval;

computer executable instructions for locking the electronic device when user interaction is not detected within the interval of the lockout countdown timer;

computer executable instructions for monitoring for issuance of the user stimulus within the interval; and

computer executable instructions for setting a time remaining in the interval to a second value less than the initial value when the user stimulus is issued during the interval, wherein when the user stimulus is issued during the interval, the time remaining in the interval is set to the second value only when the time remaining exceeds the second value when the user stimulus is issued.

17. The computer software product of claim 16, wherein the electronic device is a mobile communications device enabled for communications over a wireless network, further comprising computer executable instructions for monitoring for new communications received by the mobile communications device and issuing the user stimulus in response to receiving a new communication at the mobile communications device.