System and method of managing security between a portable computing device and a portable computing device docking station

• US 9,128,669 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2009
• Issued: 09/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Collopy, Thomas Kevin, Gill, Manjit Singh
• Primary Examiner(s): Lagor, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US12/644,757
• Publication Number:
  US 20100251361A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,086 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1624 with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/445 by mutual authentication, e.g. between devices or programs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/62 Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2111 Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS

Abstract

A method of managing portable computing device (PCD) and PCD docking station security is disclosed and may include determining whether a PCD is mated with a PCD docking station when the PCD is docked with the PCD docking station, initiating a back-end security call when the PCD is not mated with the PCD docking station, querying a user for a primary access code, and determining whether the primary access code is correct. The method may also include terminating the back-end security call when the access code is correct and providing limiting access to PCD content items and applications via the PCD docking station.

Claims

1. A method of managing portable computing device (PCD) and PCD docking station security, the method comprising:

determining whether a PCD is mated with a PCD docking station when the PCD is docked with the PCD docking station;

initiating a back-end security call to a security center when it is determined that the PCD is not mated with the PCD docking station;

querying a user for a first access code;

determining whether the first access code is correct;

terminating the back-end security call when the first access code is correct;

providing limiting access to PCD content items and applications via the PCD docking station;

blocking access to a PCD docking station memory while providing the limiting access to PCD content items and applications via the PCD docking station;

determining whether access to the PCD docking station memory is attempted;

querying the user for a second access code when access to the PCD docking station memory is attempted;

determining whether the second access code is correct;

allowing full access to the PCD docking station memory when the second access code is correct; and

blocking access to the PCD docking station memory when the second access code is incorrect.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether access to a secured item on the PCD is attempted;

querying the user for a third access code when access to the secured item is attempted; and

determining whether the third access code is correct.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

providing limited access to a PCD memory when the third access code is incorrect.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

providing full access to the PCD memory when the third access code is correct.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

blocking access to a PCD memory when the first access code is incorrect; and

transmitting location information associated with the PCD to the security center.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

allowing full access to a PCD memory and the PCD docking station memory when the PCD is mated with the PCD docking station.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing use of a keyboard, a mouse, a display, or a combination thereof within the PCD docking station while blocking access to the PCD docking station memory.

8. A portable computing device, comprising:

a processor configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

determining whether a PCD is mated with a PCD docking station when the PCD is docked with the PCD docking station;

initiating a back-end security call to a security center when it is determined that the PCD is not mated with the PCD docking station;

querying a first access code;

determining whether the first access code is correct;

terminating the back-end security call when the first access code is correct;

providing limiting access to PCD content items and applications via the PCD docking station;

blocking access to a PCD docking station memory while providing the limiting access to PCD content items and applications via the PCD docking station;

determining whether access to the PCD docking station memory is attempted;

querying a second access code when access to the PCD docking station memory is attempted;

determining whether the second access code is correct;

allowing full access to the PCD docking station memory when the second access code is correct; and

blocking access to the PCD docking station memory when the second access code is incorrect.

9. The portable computing device of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising:

determining whether access to a secured item on the PCD is attempted;

querying for a third access code, when access to the secured item is attempted; and

determining whether the third access code is correct.

10. The portable computing device of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising:

providing limited access to a PCD memory when the third access code is incorrect.

11. The portable computing device of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising:

providing full access to the PCD memory when the third access code is correct.

12. The portable computing device of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising:

blocking access to a PCD memory when the first access code is incorrect; and

transmitting location information associated with the PCD to the security center.

13. The portable computing device of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising:

allowing full access to a PCD memory and the PCD docking station memory when the PCD is mated with the PCD docking station.

14. The portable computing device of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising:

providing use of a keyboard, a mouse, a display, or a combination thereof within the PCD docking station while blocking access to the PCD docking station memory.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon processor-executable instructions configured to cause a processor to perform operations comprising:

determining whether a PCD is mated with a PCD docking station when the PCD is docked with the PCD docking station;

initiating a back-end security call to a security center when it is determined that the PCD is not mated with the PCD docking station;

querying a user for a first access code;

determining whether the first access code is correct;

terminating the back-end security call when the first access code is correct;

providing limiting access to PCD content items and applications via the PCD docking station;

blocking access to a PCD docking station memory while providing the limiting access to PCD content items and applications via the PCD docking station;

determining whether access to the PCD docking station memory is attempted;

querying the user for a second access code when access to the PCD docking station memory is attempted;

determining whether the second access code is correct;

allowing full access to the PCD docking station memory when the second access code is correct; and

blocking access to the PCD docking station memory when the second access code is incorrect.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are further configured to cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

determining whether access to a secured item on the PCD is attempted;

querying the user for a third access code when access to the secured item is attempted; and

determining whether the third access code is correct.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are further configured to cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

providing limited access to a PCD memory when the third access code is incorrect.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are further configured to cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

providing full access to the PCD memory when the third access code is correct.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are further configured to cause the processor to perform operations comprising

blocking access to a PCD memory when the first access code is incorrect;

and

transmitting location information associated with the PCD to the security center.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are further configured to cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

allowing full access to a PCD memory and the PCD docking station memory when the PCD is mated with the PCD docking station.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are further configured to cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

providing use of a keyboard, a mouse, a display, or a combination thereof within the PCD docking station while blocking access to the PCD docking station memory.