Bluetooth security profile

• US 8,577,294 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2012
• Issued: 11/05/2013
• 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 M., Luu, Adrianne B., Jones, Kevin W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsvey, Gennadiy
• Application Number:
  US13/401,897
• Publication Number:
  US 20120208463A1
• Time in Patent Office: 622 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/410, 340/568.1, 340/571, 340/573.1, 340/686.6, 340/539.23, 340/539.32, 340/8.1, 340/5.31
• 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 are linked together using a short range wireless communications protocol. If one of the devices becomes disconnected from the link, another device determines what actions to take based on the profile and the specific actions associated with the disconnected device. 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:

receiving, at a wireless communications device, profile data indicative of being provided by a wireless network device, the profile data comprising;

a first device identifier for a first device,

a second device identifier for a second device,

an event, and

a user-defined device action associated with the event;

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

determining, at the wireless communications device, that the first value of received signal strength being below the first predetermined value of received signal strength corresponds to the event;

responsive to determining that the first value of received signal strength being below the first predetermined value of received signal strength corresponds to the event, determining, at the wireless communications device, instructions based on the user-defined device action, wherein the instructions comprise an instruction to lock a user interface of the second device; and

transmitting the instructions from the wireless communications device to the second device using second point-to-point wireless communications.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a notification to a third device indicating that the first value of received signal strength is below the first predetermined value of received signal strength.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the user-defined device action comprises second instructions to transmit a notification to a third device indicating that the first value of received signal strength is below the first predetermined value of received signal strength.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions to perform at least one of presenting an alarm on the second device, deleting user data on the second device, encrypting the user data on the second device, or obfuscating the user data on the second device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring a second value of received signal strength of the second point-to-point wireless communications.

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 performing, at the wireless communications device based on the user-defined device action, at least one of locking a user interface of the wireless communications device, presenting an alarm on the wireless communications device, deleting user data on the wireless communications device, encrypting the user data on the wireless communications device, or obfuscating the user data on the wireless communications device.

8. A system comprising:

a memory comprising instructions; and

a processor coupled to the memory that, when executing the instructions, effectuates operations comprising;

receiving profile data indicative of being provided by a wireless network device, the profile data comprising;

a first device identifier for a first device,

a second device identifier for a second device,

an event, and

a user-defined device action associated with the event;

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

determining that the first value of received signal strength is below a first predetermined value of received signal strength;

determining that the first value of received signal strength being below the first predetermined value of received signal strength corresponds to the event;

responsive to determining that the first value of received signal strength being below the first predetermined value of received signal strength corresponds to the event, determining first instructions based on the user-defined device action, wherein the first instructions comprise an instruction to lock a user interface of the second device; and

transmitting the first instructions to the second device, using second point-to-point wireless communications.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise instructing the transmitter to transmit a notification to a third device indicating that the first value of received signal strength is below the first predetermined value of received signal strength.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the notification is one of an e-mail, a text message, a voice message, or an alarm.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the notification comprises at least one of a time at which it was determined that the first value of received signal strength is below the first predetermined value of received signal strength and geographical coordinates.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the profile data further comprises override data, and wherein the operations further comprise detecting the override data and, responsive to detecting the override data, transmitting second instructions to the second device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the override data comprises at least one of a personal identification number and an override code.

14. A wireless communications device comprising:

a memory comprising instructions and profile data received from a wireless network device, the profile data comprising;

a first device identifier for a first device,

a second device identifier for a second device,

an event, and

a user-defined device action associated with the event; and

a processor coupled to the memory that, when executing the instructions, effectuates operations comprising;

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

determining that the first value of received signal strength is below the user-defined value of received signal strength;

determining that the first value of received signal strength being below the first predetermined value of received signal strength corresponds to the event;

responsive to determining that the first value of received signal strength being below the first predetermined value of received signal strength corresponds to the event, determining first instructions based on the user-defined device action, wherein the first instructions comprise an instruction to lock a user interface of the second device; and

transmitting the first instructions to the second device using a second point-to-point wireless communications.

15. The wireless communications device of claim 14, wherein the operations further comprise determining that the first value of received signal strength being below the first predetermined value of received signal strength is not an exception.

16. The wireless communications device of claim 14, wherein the operations further comprise determining that a second value of received signal strength determined to be below a second predetermined value of received signal strength is an exception.

17. The wireless communications device of claim 14, wherein the user-defined device action comprises second instructions to transmit a notification to at least one other device that the first value of received signal strength is below the user-defined value of received signal strength.

18. The wireless communications device of claim 14, wherein the operations further comprise, responsive to determining that the first value of received signal strength being below the first predetermined value of received signal strength corresponds to the event, disabling communications with a network.

19. The wireless communications device of claim 14, wherein the operations further comprise monitoring a second value of received signal strength of the second point-to-point wireless communications.

20. The wireless communications device of claim 14, wherein the first instructions further comprise instructions to perform at least one of presenting an alarm on the second device, deleting user data on the second device, encrypting the user data on the second device, and obfuscating the user data on the second device.