Bluetooth security profile

• US 8,140,012 B1
• Filed: 10/25/2007
• Issued: 03/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Causey, Mark Edward, Andrus, Scott, Luu, Adrianne B., Jones, Kevin W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ghebretinsae, Temesgh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tsvey, Gennadiy
• Application Number:
  US11/924,065
• Time in Patent Office: 1,608 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0213 System disabling if a separation threshold is exceeded disabling electrical appliances in case of unplugging G08B13/1409
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0247 System arrangements wherein the alarm criteria uses signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0277 Communication between units on a local network, e.g. Bluetooth, piconet, zigbee, Wireless Personal Area Networks [WPAN]

Abstract

A user configurable security profile defining relationships between a plurality of communications devices is utilized to secure a communications device in response to an occurrence of an event. In an example embodiment, the devices (e.g., cellular phone, PDA, computer, car key fob, BLUETOOTH® enabled object) are linked together via a BLUETOOTH® conformant interface. If one of the devices becomes disconnected from the link, the remaining devices are locked. Additionally, a warning can be provided on the remaining devices. A device can be unlocked by providing a code, PIN, password, or the like. A legitimate disconnection from the link, such as turning a device off, or the battery dying, will not result in the remaining devices being locked. If a device is stolen and not recovered, the user can reconfigure the security profile to exclude the stolen device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

monitoring, at a wireless communications device, a first value of received signal strength of first point-to-point wireless communications with a first device;

determining, at the wireless communications device, that the first value of received signal strength is below a first predetermined value of received signal strength; and

responsive to determining that the first value of received signal strength is below the first predetermined value of received signal strength, the wireless communications device locking first user interface of the wireless communications device and directing a second device to lock a second user interface of the second device, wherein the second device is in second point-to-point wireless communications with the wireless communications device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring, at the wireless communications device, a second value of received signal strength of the second point-to-point wireless communications.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising determining, at the wireless communications device, that the second value of received signal strength is below a second predetermined value of received signal strength.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device and the second device communicate via point-to-point wireless communication.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device and the wireless communications device communicate using a short range wireless protocol.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting location coordinates to at least one of a network device, the first device, and the second device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an override code at the wireless communications device; and

responsive to receiving the override code, unlocking the first user interface of the wireless communications device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining that the the first value of received signal strength being below the first predetermined value of received signal strength is not an exception.

9. The method of claim 3, further comprising determining that the second value of received signal strength being below the second predetermined value of received signal strength is an exception.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising, responsive to determining that the second value of received signal strength being below the second predetermined value of received signal strength is an exception, communicating the exception to at least one other device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein directing the second device to lock the second user interface of the second device comprises sending a message to the second device, and wherein the message relates to the first value of received signal strength.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the override code comprises a predefined personal identification number.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising the wireless communications device generating an alarm responsive to determining that the first value of received signal strength is below the first predetermined value of received signal strength.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising the wireless communications device transmitting an indication of the first value of received signal strength being below the first predetermined value of received signal strength to at least one other device.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising, responsive to determining that the first value of received signal strength is below the first predetermined value of received signal strength, the wireless communications device disabling communications with a network.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising the wireless communications device, responsive to determining that the first value of received signal strength is below the first predetermined value of received signal strength, obfuscating at least a portion of data stored in the wireless communications device.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising the wireless communications device, responsive to determining that the first value of received signal strength is below the first predetermined value of received signal strength, determining to transmit an indication of the first value of received signal strength being below the first predetermined value of received signal strength based on a first profile stored at the wireless communications device.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising responsive to determining that the first value of received signal strength is below the first predetermined value of received signal strength, deleting at least a portion of data stored in the wireless communications device.

19. A wireless communications device comprising:

a processing portion configured to;

monitor a first value of received signal strength of first point-to-point wireless communications with a first device,

determine that the first value of received signal strength is below a predetermined second value of received signal strength, and

responsive to determining that the first value of received signal strength is below the predetermined second value of received signal strength, lock a first user interface of the wireless communications device; and

a wireless communications portion configured to;

transmit an indication of the determination that the first value of received signal strength is below the predetermined second value of received signal strength to a second device, wherein the indication causes the second device to lock a second user interface of the second device, wherein the second device is in second point-to-point wireless communications with the wireless communications device.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the processing portion is further configured to monitor a second value of received signal strength of the second point-to-point wireless communications.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein the processing portion is further configured to determine that the second value of received signal strength is below a second predetermined value of received signal strength.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the processing portion is further configured to determine that the second value of received signal strength being below the second predetermined value of received signal strength is an exception.

23. A system comprising;

a wireless communications device having a user interface;

a first device in first point-to-point wireless communications with the wireless communications device;

wherein the wireless communications device monitors a first value of received signal strength of the point-to-point wireless communication and, when the first value is less than a predetermined second value of received signal strength, locks the user interface; and

a second device having a second user interface, wherein the second device is in second point-to-point wireless communication with the wireless communications device, and wherein, when the first value is less than the predetermined second value of received signal strength, the wireless communications device directs the second device to lock the second user interface.

24. The system of claim 23, further comprising the wireless communications device generating an alarm when the first value is less than the predetermined second value of received signal strength.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein:

the wireless communications device comprises a cellular telephone.