Methods and apparatus for use in transferring user data between two different mobile communication devices using a removable memory card

• US 8,630,635 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2012
• Issued: 01/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Tysowski, Piotr Konrad
• Primary Examiner(s): SNYDER, STEVEN G
• Application Number:
  US13/555,584
• Publication Number:
  US 20120281835A1
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 455/419
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2757 by data transmission, e.g. downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/205 Transfer to or from user equipment or user record carrier

Abstract

Techniques for use in processing user data associated with a user account of a mobile device having an application is described. The mobile device includes a memory and an interface configured to receive a removable memory card. A encryption/decryption key is stored in the memory, but is not stored in the removable memory card. The mobile device regularly receives and stores updates to the user data in the memory for use in the application. For updates to the user data, the mobile device updates a copy of the user data stored in the removable memory card in an encrypted format in accordance with the encryption/decryption key.

Claims

1. A method for use in managing storage of user data for a mobile device having an application, the mobile device including a wireless transceiver, an internal memory, and an interface configured to receive a removable memory card which comprises a memory and a card interface controller, the method comprising:

maintaining storage of an encryption/decryption key in the internal memory;

refraining from storing the encryption/decryption key in the removable memory card which comprises the memory and the card interface controller;

regularly receiving, via the wireless transceiver, and storing, in the internal memory in unencrypted format, updates to the user data for use in the application, the updates to the user data received in an encrypted format; and

for updates to the user data, updating a copy of the user data in the removable memory card in the encrypted format in accordance with the encryption/decryption key.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device comprises a first mobile device, the method further comprising:

causing the encryption/decryption key to be transmitted to a second mobile device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the user data comprise electronic mail (e-mail) messages.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining data synchronization of the user data, via a wireless communication network using the wireless transceiver, between the mobile device having the application and a host server.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the data synchronization comprises at least one of address book synchronization for address book contacts in an address book organizer or calendar appointment synchronization for calendar appointments in a calendar application program.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the user data is communicated over the wireless communication network in the encrypted format in accordance with the encryption/decryption key during the data synchronization for the mobile device.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the mobile device comprises a first mobile device having a first application the method further comprising:

after the removable memory card is transferred from the first mobile device to a second mobile device, copying the user data from the removable memory card to memory of the second mobile device; and

maintaining data synchronization of the user data, via the wireless communication network, between the second mobile device having a second application and the host server.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the mobile device comprises a first mobile device, and the user data is communicated over the wireless communication network In the encrypted format in accordance with the encryption/decryption key during the data synchronization for the second mobile communication device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device comprises a first mobile device, the method further comprising:

after the removable memory card is transferred from the first mobile device to a second mobile device, copying the user data from the removable memory card to memory of the second mobile device.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

causing a prompt to be produced, via a user interface of the second mobile device, to initiate the transfer of the copy of the user data from the removable memory card to the memory of the second mobile device.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

causing a prompt to be produced, via a user interface of the first mobile device, to prompt the transfer of the removable memory card from the first mobile device to the second mobile device.

4. The method of movable memory card comprises a secure digital (SD) card.

13. A mobile communication device, comprising:

one or more processors;

a wireless transceiver coupled to the one or more processors;

an internal memory coupled to the one or more processors and storing an encryption/decryption key;

an interface coupled to the one or more processors, the interface being configured to receive a removable memory card which comprises a memory and a card interface controller, the removable memory card refraining from maintaining storage of the encryption/decryption key;

the one or more processors configured to manage storage of user data for the mobile device by being further configured to;

refrain from storing the encryption/decryption key in the removable memory card;

regularly receive, via the wireless transceiver, and store, in the internal memory in unencrypted format, updates to the user data for use in an application of the mobile device, the updates to the user data received in an encrypted format; and

for updates to the user data, update a copy of the user data in the removable memory card in the encrypted format in accordance with the encryption/decryption key.

14. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

cause the encryption/decryption key to be transmitted to another mobile communication device.

15. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to communicate the user data over the wireless communication network in the encrypted format in accordance with the encryption/decryption key during data synchronization.

16. The mobile communication device of claim 13, comprising a cellular telephone.

17. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein the removable memory card comprises a secure digital (SD) card.

18. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein the user data comprise electronic mail (e-mail) messages.

19. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein the wireless transceiver comprises a cellular transceiver.

20. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to maintain data synchronization of the user data, via a wireless communication network using the wireless transceiver, between the mobile device and a host server.

21. The mobile communication device of claim 20, wherein the data synchronization comprises at least one of address book synchronization for address book contacts in an address book organizer or calendar appointment synchronization for calendar appointments in a calendar application program.

22. The mobile communication device of claim 20, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to communicate the user data over the wireless communication network in the encrypted format in accordance with the encryption/decryption key during the data synchronization.

23. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein after the removable memory card Is transferred from the mobile device to the other another mobile device, the user data is copied from the removable memory card to memory of the other mobile device.