System and method of preventing alteration of data on a wireless device

• US 7,743,406 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2004
• Issued: 06/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions Holdings Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Abedi, Scott Sina, Rutledge, James Stephen, Abrams, Roger Kenneth, Catherman, Ryan Charles, Hoff, James Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu; Kimyen
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRUVAN, LEYNNA THANH
• Application Number:
  US11/019,040
• Publication Number:
  US 20060133612A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,009 Days
• Field of Search: 726/3, 726/5, 726 17- 21, 726/27, 726/32, 455/3.01, 455/403, 455/426.1, 455/439, 455/456.6, 455/462, 455/465, 455/11.1, 455/517, 455/703, 455 45- 78, 4555541-5542, 455/555, 4555561-5562, 455/557, 455/560, 455/113, 455/115.3, 455/134, 455/151.2, 455/226.2, 455/227, 455/227.2, 370/214, 370230-236, 370/374, 370/377, 370/384, 370/395.1, 370/395.52, 709/225, 709227-229, 709/33, 709/241, 380270-271, 725 62- 67, 725/73, 725/81, 725/93, 725/123, 348/14.02, 348/14.12
• US Class Current: 726/2
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 1/00 Secret communication

Abstract

A system and method for securing data on a wireless device. A secured zone is defined by a boundary sensor. A data processing system is coupled to the boundary sensor and a wireless device. If the data processing system detects that the signal strength of the wireless device has fallen below a first predetermined value for longer than a second predetermined value, the data processing system deletes a digital certificate corresponding to the wireless device from memory. Thus, when the wireless device is reintroduced into the secured zone, in response to determining that a digital certificate corresponding to the wireless device is not stored in memory, the disabling module disables the wireless device from operation within the secured zone.

Claims

1. A system for securing data, comprising:

at least a wireless device;

a data processing system, coupled to said at least a wireless device, wherein said data processing system disables said at least a wireless device in response to determining that an emitted signal strength of said at least a wireless device is less than a first predetermined value for greater than a period of time represented by a second predetermined value; and

a memory for storing at least a digital certificate corresponding to said at least a wireless device to authenticate communication from said at least a wireless device, wherein said digital certificate is removed from said memory in response to determining said emitted signal strength of said at least a wireless device is less than said first predetermined value for greater than said period of time represented by said second predetermined value.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said data processing system further comprises:

a signal detector for measuring said emitted signal strength of said at least a wireless device; and

a timer for determining whether said emitted signal strength of said at least a wireless device is less than said first predetermined value for greater than said period of time represented by said second predetermined value.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said data processing system further comprises:

a disabling module for disabling said at least a wireless device in response to determining said memory does not include said at least a digital certificate corresponding to said at least a wireless device.

4. A method for securing data, comprising:

detecting an emitted signal strength from at least a wireless device;

in response to determining said emitted signal strength from said at least a wireless device is less than a first predetermined value for greater than a period of time represented by a second predetermined value, disabling said at least a wireless device; and

storing, in a memory, at least a digital certificate corresponding to said at least a wireless device to authenticate communication from said at least a wireless device, wherein said digital certificate is removed from said memory in response to determining said emitted signal strength of said at least a wireless device is less than said first predetermined value for greater than said period of time represented by said second predetermined value.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising:

measuring said emitted signal strength from said at least a wireless device; and

determining whether said emitted signal strength from said at least a wireless device is less than a first predetermined value for greater said period of time represented by said second predetermined value.

6. The method according to claim 4, said disabling further comprises:

in response to determining said at least a digital certificate corresponding to said at least a wireless device is not present in said memory, disabling said wireless device.

7. A computer program product, residing on a computer usable non-transitory storage medium, comprising:

program code to detect an emitted signal strength from at least a wireless device;

program code to disable said at least a wireless device, in response to determining said emitted signal strength from said at least a wireless device is less than a first predetermined value for greater than a period of time represented by a second predetermined value;

program code to store, in a memory, at least a digital certificate corresponding to said at least a wireless device to authenticate communication from said at least a wireless device, wherein said digital certificate is removed from said memory in response to determining said emitted signal strength of said at least a wireless device is less than said first predetermined value for greater said period of time represented by said second predetermined value.

8. The computer program product according to claim 7, further comprising:

program code for measuring said emitted signal strength from said at least a wireless device; and

program code for determining whether said emitted signal strength from said at least a wireless device is less than a first predetermined value for greater said period of time represented by said second predetermined value.

9. The computer program product according to claim 7, said disabling further comprising:

in response to determining said at least a digital certificate corresponding to said at least a wireless device is not present in said memory, disabling said wireless device.