System and method for ensuring security of data stored on electronic computing devices

• US 8,528,105 B1
• Filed: 03/09/2012
• Issued: 09/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Timothy T. Miller
• Original Assignee: Timothy T. Miller
• Inventors: Miller, Timothy T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chai, Longbit
• Application Number:
  US13/416,695
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: 726/28
• US Class Current: 726/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/78 to assure secure storage of data address-based protection against unauthorised use of memory G06F12/14; record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2143 Clearing memory, e.g. to prevent the data from being stolen

Abstract

A system and method for using a host electronic computing device to prevent access to data in a preselected memory portion of an electronic computing device remote from the host electronic computing device. Each of the electronic computing devices is adapted for selective electronic communication with the other. The system and method comprises a first software program for the remote device, the first software program comprising a unique identifier, a current expiration time value, a comparator for comparing the current expiration time value against a time-based parameter of the remote device, and a security trigger. The system and method further comprises a second software program for the host device, where the second software program includes means for identifying the remote device, means for accessing an expiration time reset schedule, and means for resetting the current expiration time value.

Claims

1. A computerized method for using a host electronic computing device to prevent access to data stored in an electronic computing device that is remote from the host, each of the electronic computing devices adapted for selective electronic communication with the other, comprising the steps of:

providing a first software program for the remote device, the first software program being adapted to receive an expiration time value, compare the expiration time value against a time based parameter, and cause a launch of a security mechanism when the comparison of the expiration time value with the time based parameter indicates that the expiration time value has passed;

providing a second software program for the host device, the second software program being configured to receive data that has been sent to the host by the remote device;

identifying the remote device via the received data sent from the remote device; and

resetting the expiration time value of the first software program when electronic communication between the host and the remote device is initiated before the first software program'"'"'s comparison of the expiration time value and the time based parameter indicates that the expiration time value has passed;

wherein the expiration time value is configured to be reset according to a day of week schedule.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a website whereby the data is sent from the remote electronic computing device to the host device via the website.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the expiration time value is received by the first software program from the remote electronic computing device.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the remote electronic computing device is a cell phone.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the second software program is further adapted to monitor the data stored in the remote electronic computing device and further comprising the steps of:

initiating a search through data stored in the remote electronic computing device when the remote device has been placed in electronic communication with the host;

extracting a copy of at least one data file stored on the remote device that satisfies a search parameter; and

transferring a copy of the at least one data file from the remote device to the host device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the expiration time value is reset by the host device to a later expiration time value which is communicated to the host device by the remote electronic computing device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of communicating an expiration time reset schedule from the remote electronic computing device to the host electronic computing device whereby the expiration time value is reset by the host device in accordance with said schedule.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the expiration time value is received by the first software program from the remote electronic computing device.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the expiration time value is received by the first software program from the host electronic computing device when electronic communication between the remote device and the host device has been initiated.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the second software program is further adapted to detect whether the security mechanism has been launched and reverse a launched security mechanism and further comprising the step of reversing a launched security mechanism after the remote device has been placed in electronic communication with the host device and the host device has identified the remote device.

11. A computerized system for using a host website to prevent access to data in an electronic computing device remote from the host website, the electronic computing device and host website being adapted for selective electronic communication with the other, comprising:

a first software program for the remote device, the first software program comprising means for receiving an expiration time value, a comparator for comparing the received expiration time value against a time-based parameter, and wherein the first software program is adapted to cause a launch of a security mechanism when the comparison of the expiration time value and the time based parameter indicates that the expiration time value has passed; and

a second software program for the host website, where the second software program is configured to;

receive data, sent from the remote device, to identify the remote device when the remote device has been used to access the host website; and

reset the expiration time value that has been received by the first software program when the remote device is used to access the website prior to the first software program'"'"'s comparison of the received expiration time and the time-based parameter indicating that the expiration time value has passed;

wherein the expiration time value is configured to be reset according to a day of week schedule.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the remote device is a cell phone.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the second software program is further adapted to:

search through data stored in the remote device when the remote device has been used to access the host website and has been identified by the host;

identify at least one data file stored in the remote electronic computing device based on at least one search parameter; and

initiate a transfer of a copy of the at least one data file from the remote device to a database in electronic communication with the host device.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the search is initiated upon the remote device being identified by the host website.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein the time based parameter is obtained by the first software program from the remote device.

16. The system of claim 11 wherein the first software program receives the expiration time value from the remote device upon entry by a system user.

17. The system of claim 11 wherein the second software program identifies the remote device upon receiving data that has been entered at the website by the remote device.

18. A system for using a host electronic computing device to prevent access to data in an electronic computing device remote from the host electronic computing device, each of the electronic computing devices adapted for selective electronic communication with the other, comprising:

a first software program for the remote device, the first software program comprising an expiration time value, a comparator for comparing the expiration time value against a time-based parameter, and wherein the first software program is adapted to cause a launch of a security mechanism when the comparison of the expiration time value and the time based parameter indicates that the expiration time value has passed; and

a second software program for the host device, where the second software program is configured to;

receive data, sent from the remote device, to identify the remote device when the remote device and the host are in electronic communication;

reset the expiration time value of the first software program when the remote device is placed in electronic communication with the host prior to the first software program'"'"'s comparison of the received expiration time value and the time-based parameter indicating that the expiration time value has passed;

wherein the expiration time value is configured to be reset according to a day of week schedule.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the host electronic computing device is a website that is adapted to be accessed by the remote device over the internet.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the second software program is further adapted to receive an expiration time reset schedule and wherein the host electronic computing device resets the expiration time value in accordance with the received expiration time reset schedule.