Multiple domain smartphone

• US 8,495,731 B1
• Filed: 10/01/2010
• Issued: 07/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ViaSat Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ViaSat Incorporated
• Inventors: Mar, Phil, Lindteigen, Ty, Hart, Steven R., Van Voorhees, Franklin David, Wren, Christopher Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Bullock, Jr., Lewis A
• Assistant Examiner(s): APONTE, FRANCISCO JAVIER
• Application Number:
  US12/896,770
• Time in Patent Office: 1,026 Days
• Field of Search: 717101-178, 726 2- 36, 455 1-899, 718 1-108, 713 1-601
• US Class Current: 726/21
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/74 operating in dual or compartmented mode, i.e. at least one secure mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2113 Multi-level security, e.g. mandatory access control
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/468 Specific access rights for resources, e.g. using capability register
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/545 where tasks reside in different layers, e.g. user- and kernel-space
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0272 Virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/086 using security domains
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/10 Integrity

Abstract

A commercial off-the-shelf smartphone is adapted, through software modifications only, to provide multiple operating domains or domains that provide differing levels of security and reliability. Each operating domain is isolated from the others. Detection of unauthorized modification is provided. Cross domain activity notification is provided.

Claims

1. A method for modifying an existing mobile communication device to operate in multiple domains, the method comprising:

installing a plurality of operating systems, one for each of a plurality of operating domains, of the plurality of operating domains occupying an isolated regions region of memory, wherein at least one of the operating domains is a business domain configured to allow communications with another communication device by wireless transmission and reception of communications, and at least another of the operating domains is a personal domain configured to allow communications with another communication device by wireless transmission and reception of communications;

installing a plurality of device drivers in another isolated region of memory separate from the isolated regions of memory occupied by the plurality of operating domains, at least one of the device drivers assigned exclusively to the business domain, at least one of the device drivers assigned exclusively to the personal domain, at least one of the device drivers shared concurrently between the business domain and the personal domain, and at least one of the device drivers switched between exclusive assignment to the business domain and exclusive assignment to the personal domain;

implementing a communication control module to enforce communication restrictions between each of the operating systems, the device drivers and device hardware;

implementing an authentication procedure to switch from the personal domain to the business domain; and

providing a trusted indicator that the mobile communication device is operating in the business domain, wherein the trusted indicator is under exclusive control of software associated with the business domain.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the authentication procedure further comprises:

establishing an expected response phrase to be supplied in response to an authentication challenge;

encoding the expected response phrase using an encoding procedure unique to the software associated with the business domain;

receiving a trial response phrase supplied in response to the authentication challenge;

encoding the trial response phrase using the unique encoding procedure; and

confirming authentication when the encoded expected response phrase matches the encoded trial response phrase.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing a trusted indicator further comprises:

setting a state of a light emitting diode (LED) on the mobile communication device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing communication transmission between the mobile communication device and a business entity associated with the business domain, through a virtual private network (VPN), while the mobile communication device is operating in the business domain.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a device erasure capability, wherein one or more of the isolated regions of memory are erased.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the device erasure is initiated by the press of a button on the mobile communication device.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the device erasure is initiated by a communication transmission from a business entity associated with the business domain.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

restricting software download to the mobile communication device for use in the business domain, subject to validation of a business entity associated with the business domain.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

clearing existing software from the mobile communication device prior to installing the plurality of operating systems.

10. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

providing a trusted indicator to indicate that the device erasure has been accomplished.

11. The method of claim 5, wherein the isolated regions of memory include one or more regions of volatile memory and one or more regions of non-volatile memory.

12. A mobile communication device configured to operate in multiple domains, the device comprising:

a plurality of isolated regions of memory;

a processing module to run a plurality of operating systems, one for each of a plurality of operating domains, each of the plurality of operating domains occupying one of the plurality of isolated regions of memory, wherein at least one of the operating domains is a business domain configured to allow communications with another communication device by wireless transmission and reception of communications, and at least another of the operating domains is a personal domain configured to allow communications with another communication device by wireless transmission and reception of communications;

a device driver module in another one of the plurality of isolated regions of memory separate from the plurality of isolated regions of memory occupied by the operating domains, the device driver module including a plurality of device drivers, at least one of the device drivers assigned exclusively to the business domain, at least one of the device drivers assigned exclusively to the personal domain, at least one of the device drivers shared concurrently between the business domain and the personal domain, and at least one of the device drivers switched between exclusive assignment to the business domain and exclusive assignment to the personal domain;

wherein the processing module is configured to instantiate a communication control module to enforce communication restrictions between each of the operating systems, the plurality of device drivers and device hardware;

wherein the processing module is configured to instantiate an authentication module to implement an authentication procedure to switch from the personal domain to the business domain; and

a trusted indicator to provide an indication that the mobile communication device is operating in the business domain, wherein the trusted indicator is under exclusive control of software associated with the business domain.

13. The mobile communication device of claim 12, wherein the authentication module further comprises:

an input module to receive an expected response phrase in response to an authentication challenge, and to receive a trial response phrase in response to the authentication challenge;

an encoding module to encode the expected response phrase, and to encode the trial response phrase; and

a confirmation module to match the encoded expected response phrase to the encoded trial response phrase, and confirm authentication based on the match.

14. The mobile communication device of claim 12, wherein the trusted indicator is an LED on the mobile communication device.

15. The mobile communication device of claim 12, further comprising:

a transceiver to provide communication transmission between the mobile communication device and a business entity associated with the business domain, through a virtual private network, while the mobile communication device is operating in the business domain.