Stealth mode for wireless communications device

• US 8,351,916 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2010
• Issued: 01/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fan, James, Chen, David, Kuo, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Doan, Kiet
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vu, Michael T
• Application Number:
  US12/963,491
• Publication Number:
  US 20120149350A1
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: 455/418, 455/456.3, 455/404.1, 455/404.3, 455/456
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72421 with automatic activation of emergency service functions, e.g. upon sensing an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/256 comprising a service specific user interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/02 Calling substations, e.g. by ringing selective calling H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5116 for emergency applications

Abstract

A device is configured to enter a stealth mode in response to a trigger and/or triggering event. The trigger/triggering event can be a voice command, a depression(s) of a button(s) or pattern of buttons on the device, a keyboard and/or softkey entry, entry of a pattern on the display of the device, a designated movement of the device, detection of an event, and/or lack of detection of an event. The device activates the stealth mode without any indication to the user of the device that the device is activating the stealth mode. The stealth mode operates concurrently with all other functions of the device. A virtual secure channel can be established that allows communication with the device without providing an indication that the device is communicating via the virtual secure channel. A token can be utilized for authentication and to discriminate be stealth and normal modes.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

memory having executable instructions stored thereon; and

a processor coupled to the memory, the processor configured to execute the executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

activating a stealth mode on the device responsive to detection of a trigger;

inconspicuously performing functions in the stealth mode while concurrently performing functions in any mode other than the stealth mode, wherein;

no indication of performance of any function in the stealth mode is provided by the device to a user of the device; and

performance of any function in any mode other than the stealth mode appears to a user of the device as it would if the stealth mode were not activated;

rendering no indication of performance of any function in the stealth mode;

rendering any indication of any function in any mode other than the stealth mode as though the stealth mode were not activated;

determining from a received communication if a token is included with the communication;

if it is determined that a token is included with the communication, processing the received communication in the stealth mode; and

if it is determined that a token is not included with the communication, processing the received communication in the a mode other than the stealth mode.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the processing portion further is configured to;

establish, in the stealth mode, a virtual secure channel that allows communication with the device without providing, to the user of the device, an indication that the device is communicating via the virtual secure channel;

the input/output portion further is configured to;

inconspicuously perform communications via the virtual secure channel, wherein no indication of performance of any communications via the virtual secure channel is provided by the device to a user of the device.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein, if it is determined that a token is included with the communication, allowing the device to be controlled via a source external to the device.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the trigger comprises a physical action.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the trigger comprises at least one of a voice command, depression of button, multiple depressions of a button, depression of a pattern of buttons, a keyboard entry, a soft key entry, entry of a pattern on a display of the device, or a designated movement of the device.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the trigger comprises at least one of detection of an event or lack of detection of an event.

7. A method comprising:

activating a stealth mode on a device responsive to detection of a trigger;

inconspicuously performing functions on the device in the stealth mode while concurrently performing functions in any mode other than the stealth mode, wherein;

no indication of performance of any function in the stealth mode is provided by the device to a user of the device; and

performance of any function in any mode other than the stealth mode appears to a user of the device as it would if the stealth mode were not activated;

rendering no indication of performance of any function in the stealth mode;

rendering any indication of any function in any mode other than the stealth mode as though the stealth mode were not activated;

determining from a received communication if a token is included with the communication;

if it is determined that a token is included with the communication, processing the received communication in the stealth mode; and

if it is determined that a token is not included with the communication, processing the received communication in the a mode other than the stealth mode.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

establishing, in the stealth mode, a virtual secure channel that allows communication with the device without providing, to the user of the device, an indication that the device is communicating via the virtual secure channel;

inconspicuously performing communications via the virtual secure channel, wherein no indication of performance of any communications via the virtual secure channel is provided by the device to a user of the device.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the trigger comprises a physical action.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the trigger comprises at least one of a voice command, depression of button, multiple depressions of a button, depression of a pattern of buttons, a keyboard entry, a soft key entry, entry of a pattern on a display of the device, or a designated movement of the device.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the trigger comprises at least one of detection of an event or lack of detection of an event.

12. A computer-readable storage medium that is not a transient signal per se, the computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon executable instructions, the instructions, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to perform operations comprising:

activating a stealth mode on a device responsive to detection of a trigger;

inconspicuously perform functions on the device in the stealth mode while concurrently performing functions in any mode other than the stealth mode, wherein;

no indication of performance of any function in the stealth mode is provided by the device to a user of the device; and

performance of any function in any mode other than the stealth mode appears to a user of the device as it would if the stealth mode were not activated;

rendering no indication of performance of any function in the stealth mode;

rendering any indication of any function in any mode other than the stealth mode as though the stealth mode were not activated;

determining from a received communication if a token is included with the communication;

if it is determined that a token is included with the communication, processing the received communication in the stealth mode; and

if it is determined that a token is not included with the communication, processing the received communication in a mode other than the stealth mode.

13. The medium of claim 12, the operations further comprising:

establish, in the stealth mode, a virtual secure channel that allows communication with the device without providing, to the user of the device, an indication that the device is communicating via the virtual secure channel;

inconspicuously perform communications via the virtual secure channel, wherein no indication of performance of any communications via the virtual secure channel is provided by the device to a user of the device.

14. The medium of claim 12, the operations further comprising, if it is determined that a token is included with the communication, allowing the device to be controlled via a source external to the device.

15. The medium of claim 12, wherein the trigger comprises a physical action.

16. The medium of claim 12, wherein the trigger comprises at least one of a voice command, depression of button, multiple depressions of a button, depression of a pattern of buttons, a keyboard entry, a soft key entry, entry of a pattern on a display of the device, or a designated movement of the device.

17. The medium of claim 12, wherein the trigger comprises at least one of detection of an event or lack of detection of an event.