Contextual device locking/unlocking

• US 8,914,875 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2012
• Issued: 12/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Inventors: Matus, Jonathan Arie
• Primary Examiner(s): ZAIDI, SYED A
• Application Number:
  US13/662,187
• Publication Number:
  US 20140123273A1
• Time in Patent Office: 781 Days
• Field of Search: 726/17, 726/16, 455/435.1, 455/411, 455/418
• US Class Current: 726/17
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/30 Authentication, i.e. establishing the identity or authorisation of security principals
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/032 Protect output to user by software means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2139 Recurrent verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/66 with means for preventing unauthorised or fraudulent calling verifying user identity or authority in secret or secure digital communications H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions

Abstract

Particular embodiments of a computing device associated with a user may detect an event using a sensor of the computing device. The event may be a lock-triggering event or an unlock-triggering event. The computing device may assess a state of the device. The computing device may also access further information associated with the user. The computing device may also monitor activity on the computing device to detect further events if such further monitoring is warranted. Based on the gathered information, the computing device may update a lock status of the device to lock or unlock access interfaces of the computing device, functionality of the computing device, or content accessible from the computing device. If the event comprised the computing device detecting an attempt by a third party to use the device, the device may attempt to identify the third party to determine if they are authorized to use the device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

by a computing device associated with a first user, detecting an event using one or more sensors of the computing device;

by the computing device, in response to detecting the event, determining unique data associated with a second user, wherein the event was triggered by the second user;

by the computing device, assessing a state of the computing device;

by the computing device, identifying the second user based on social-networking information associated with the first user and the second user, wherein the computing device looks up the social-networking information using the unique data; and

by the computing device, updating a lock status of the computing device, wherein the lock status comprises a level of access to access interfaces of the computing device, functionality of the computing device, or content accessible from the computing device, the updating based on the event, the social-networking information, and the state, and wherein the level of access of the updated lock status is based on the social-networking information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the event comprises receipt of information indicating:

closure of a lid of the computing device;

placement of the computing device into an enclosure;

placement of the computing device onto a surface with a screen of the computing device facing down;

detection that the second party is looking at a screen of the computing device;

detection that the second party is attempting to use or handle the computing device;

disconnection of the computing device from a communications network designated as a familiar network;

detection that the computing device has been removed from being within proximity of a designated familiar device;

receipt of a personal communication while the computing device is not within the first user'"'"'s control;

or

detection that the computing device has been removed from being in a designated familiar location.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the event comprises receipt of information indicating:

release of a lid of the computing device;

removal of the computing device from an enclosure;

detection based on biometric identification that the first user is looking at a screen of the computing device;

detection, by the one or more sensors, that the first user is handling the computing device;

connection of the computing device to a communications network designated as being familiar;

detection that the computing device has been placed within proximity of a designated familiar device;

or

detection that the computing device has been placed in a designated familiar location.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an identifier for the second user based on biometric identification; and

accessing the social-networking information using the identifier.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the social-networking information indicates whether the second user is authorized to use the computing device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the assessing a state of the computing device comprises:

determining the lock status of the computing device;

determining a location of the computing device;

determining a communications environment of the computing device;

determining what other devices are in physical proximity to the computing device;

determining whether a screen of the computing device is visible;

determining what is being displayed on the screen;

determining a length of time that the computing device has been idle;

or

determining a length of time since the computing device was last used by the first user.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the updating the lock status of the computing device comprises, based on the level of access of the updated lock status:

locking one or more access interfaces of the computing device;

unlocking one or more access interfaces of the computing device;

locking one or more functions of the computing device;

unlocking one or more functions of the computing device;

blocking access to particular content or all content accessible from the computing device;

allowing access to particular content or all content accessible from the computing device;

or

logging the event in association with the lock status and a timestamp.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising accessing additional information associated with the first user, wherein the updating the lock status is further based on the additional information, and wherein the additional information comprises:

calendar information for the first user;

profile information of the first user;

configuration settings of the computing device;

or

a usage history associated with the computing device.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring activity on the computing device to detect further events prior to updating the lock status; and

wherein the updating the lock status of the computing device is further based on the activity.

10. One or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying software operable when executed to:

by a computing device associated with a first user, detect an event using one or more sensors of the computing device;

by the computing device, in response to detecting the event, determining unique data associated with a second user, wherein the event was triggered by the second user;

by the computing device, assess a state of the computing device;

by the computing device, identify the second user based on social-networking information associated with the first user and the second user, wherein the computing device looks up the social-networking information using the unique data; and

by the computing device, update a lock status of the computing device, wherein the lock status comprises a level of access to access interfaces of the computing device, functionality of the computing device, or content accessible from the computing device, the updating based on the event, the social-networking information, and the state, and wherein the level of access of the updated lock status is based on the social-networking information.

11. The media of claim 10, wherein the software is further operable when executed to:

determine an identifier for the second user based on biometric identification; and

access the social-networking information using the identifier.

12. The media of claim 11, wherein the social-networking information indicates whether the second user is authorized to use the computing device.

13. The media of claim 10, wherein the social-networking information associated with the first user and the second user comprises a degree of separation between the first user and the second user.

14. The media of claim 10, wherein the social-networking information associated with the first user and the second user comprises a group affiliation of the first user and the second user.

15. A computing device comprising:

one or more processors of a computing device associated with a first user;

a sensor; and

a memory coupled to the processors comprising instructions executable by the processors, the processors operable when executing the instructions to;

detect an event using the sensor;

in response to detecting the event, determine unique data associated with a second user, wherein the event was triggered by the second user;

assess a state of the computing device;

identify the second user based on social-networking information associated with the first user and the second user, wherein the processors look up the social-networking information using the unique data; and

update a lock status of the computing device, wherein the lock status comprises a level of access to access interfaces of the computing device, functionality of the computing device, or content accessible from the computing device, the updating based on the event, the social-networking information, and the state, and wherein the level of access of the updated lock status is based on the social-networking information.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the assessing a state of the computing device comprises:

determining the lock status of the computing device;

determining a location of the computing device;

determining a communications environment of the computing device;

determining what other devices are in physical proximity to the computing device;

determining whether a screen of the computing device is visible;

determining what is being displayed on the screen;

determining a length of time that the computing device has been idle;

or

determining a length of time since the computing device was last used by the first user.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein the update of the lock status of the computing device comprises, based on the level of access of the updated lock status:

locking one or more access interfaces of the computing device;

unlocking one or more access interfaces of the computing device;

locking one or more functions of the computing device;

unlocking one or more functions of the computing device;

blocking access to particular content or all content accessible from the computing device;

allowing access to particular content or all content accessible from the computing device;

or

logging the event in association with the lock status and a timestamp.

18. The device of claim 15, further comprising accessing additional information associated with the first user, wherein the updating the lock status is further based on the additional information, and wherein the additional information comprises:

calendar information for the first user;

profile information of the first user;

configuration settings of the computing device;

or

a usage history associated with the computing device.

19. The device of claim 15, further comprising:

monitoring activity on the computing device to detect further events prior to updating the lock status; and

wherein the updating the lock status of the computing device is further based on the activity.

20. The device of claim 15, wherein the processors are further operable when executing the instructions to:

determine an identifier for the second user based on biometric identification; and

access the social-networking information using the identifier.