Method and system for invoking a security function of a device based on proximity to another device

• US 9,092,969 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2011
• Issued: 07/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: McCown, Jonathan, Carney, Mark D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Previl, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US13/339,574
• Publication Number:
  US 20130169434A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,307 Days
• Field of Search: 340/540, 340/546, 340/566, 340/568.1, 340/571, 340/582, 340/5.54, 340/825.22, 340/5.6, 340/5.61, 340/5.64, 340/825.36, 340/825.72
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/00 Alarms responsive to a single specified undesired or abnormal condition and not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2827 Reporting to a device within the home network; wherein the reception of the information reported automatically triggers the execution of a home appliance functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems

Abstract

An approach for enabling a security function of a mobile device to be activated based on a change in proximity of another device is described. A notification service determines whether a proximity threshold between a first device and a second device is satisfied based on pairing information corresponding to a wireless link between the first device and the second device. The notification service also generates a control signal to activate a security function to restrict access on either the first device or the second device based on the determination.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

establishing a wireless link between a first device and a second device based on pairing information associated with the devices;

determining whether a proximity threshold between the first device and the second device is satisfied based on the pairing information corresponding to the established wireless link between the first device and the second device;

generating a control signal to activate and execute a security function to restrict access on either the first device or the second device based on the determination; and

initiating transmission of the control signal to the first device and/or the second device.

2. A method of claim 1, wherein one or both of the first device and the second device are mobile devices.

3. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining context information for one or both of the first device and the second device,

wherein the context information includes motion information, device usage information, device status information, location information, or a combination thereof,

wherein the context information is collected and/or processed persistently after the wireless link is established.

4. A method of claim 3, further comprising:

determining whether the first device or the second device is in use, at a known location, or a combination thereof based on the context information; and

determining a security function to activate based on the determination.

5. A method of claim 4, wherein the security function includes disabling a display of the first device or the second device, activating a screensaver of the first device or the second device, activating a login screen of the first device, restricting access to a resource associated of the first device or the second device, disabling a communication session of the first device or the second device, disabling power of the first device or the second device, encrypting the data on the first device, establishing a secure channel for storing the data on the first device, or a combination thereof.

6. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

validating a response, from the first device or the second device, to the control signal based on satisfying the proximity threshold.

7. A method of claim 6, wherein the step of validating further comprises:

determining a secret value, associated with the response, corresponds to a predetermined security criteria.

8. A method according to claim 6, wherein the predetermined security criteria relates to a secret message, a security code, one or more historical interactions between the first device and the second device, an encryption scheme, or a combination thereof.

9. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a current proximity of the first device and the second device based on the pairing information;

determining the current proximity is approaching the proximity threshold; and

initiating an alert at one or both of the first device and second device for indicating the current proximity is approaching the proximity threshold.

10. A method of claim 1, wherein the pairing information includes connection status information related to the first device and the second device, timestamp information related to the pairing, an alias of the first device and the second device, an address of the first device and the second device, or a combination thereof.

11. A method of claim 1, wherein generating comprises generating a control signal to activate a security function to restrict access on either the first device or the second device based on the proximity threshold being exceeded.

12. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,

establish a wireless link between a first device and a second device based on pairing information associated with the devices,

determining whether a proximity threshold between the first device and the second device is satisfied based on the pairing information corresponding to the established wireless link between the first device and the second device,

generating a control signal to activate and execute a security function to restrict access on either the first device or the second device based on the determination, and

initiating transmission of the control signal to the first device and/or the second device.

13. An apparatus of claim 12, wherein one or both of the first device and the second device are mobile devices and the pairing information includes connection status information related to the first device and the second device, timestamp information related to the pairing, an alias of the first device and the second device, an address of the first device and the second device, or a combination thereof.

14. An apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

determining context information for one or both of the first device and the second device,

wherein the context information includes motion information, device usage information, device status information, location information, or a combination thereof,

wherein the context information is collected and/or processed persistently after the wireless link is established.

15. An apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:

determining whether the first device or the second device is in use, at a known location, or a combination thereof based on the context information; and

determining a security function to activate based on the determination.

16. An apparatus of claim 15, wherein the security function includes disabling a display of the first device or the second device, activating a screensaver of the first device or the second device, activating a login screen of the first device, restricting access to a resource associated of the first device or the second device, disabling a communication session of the first device or the second device, disabling power of the first device or the second device, encrypting the data on the first device, establishing a secure channel for storing the data on the first device, or a combination thereof.

17. An apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

validating a response, from the first device or the second device, to the control signal based on satisfying the proximity threshold.

18. An apparatus of claim 17, wherein the step of validating further comprises:

determining a secret value, associated with the response, corresponds to a predetermined security criteria,

wherein the predetermined security criteria relates to a secret message, a security code, one or more historical interactions between the first device and the second device, an encryption scheme, or a combination thereof.

19. An apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

determining a current proximity of the first device and the second device based on the pairing information;

determining the current proximity is approaching the proximity threshold; and

initiating an alert at one or both of the first device and second device for indicating the current proximity is approaching the proximity threshold.

20. An apparatus of claim 19, wherein the alert includes an alarm, a flashing indicator, a vibration, a notification message, or a combination thereof.

21. A method comprising:

establishing a wireless link between a first device and a second device, located a proximity distance from each other, based on pairing information associated with the devices;

comparing a change in the proximity distance to a proximity threshold;

determining whether the proximity threshold between the first device and the second device is satisfied based on the change in the proximity distance and the pairing information corresponding to the established wireless link between the first device and the second device;

generating a control signal to activate and execute a security function to restrict access on either the first device or the second device based on the determination; and

initiating transmission of the control signal to the first device and/or the second device.