Secure communications smartphone system

• US 9,288,207 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2014
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Grandios Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Grandios Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Cronin, John
• Primary Examiner(s): MILLER, BRANDON J
• Application Number:
  US14/477,437
• Publication Number:
  US 20150319169A1
• Time in Patent Office: 558 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

Methods, systems, and non-transitory data storage media are provided for secured communications where biometrics are used to secure communications sent over a data communication path. A sender of a secured communication may identify one or more biometrics required from a recipient before the recipient is allowed to interpret, read, view, or listen to the communication. Communications secured by the present invention may include email, text messages, iMessages, files, links, Universal Resource Locators (URLs), videos, photos, attachments, or other forms of electronic data or media communications.

Claims

1. An apparatus for securing a communication, the apparatus comprising:

a memory;

a processor executing instructions stored in the memory and that prepares the communication for transmission;

a network communication interface; and

a display that displays a user interface including a plurality of settings, one or more of which is a user selectable biometric setting that identifies one or more biometric inputs required to be input by a recipient, wherein the recipient is an addressee identified in the communication, and the recipient inputs the one or more required biometric inputs over one or more sensors at a recipient electronic device before at least a portion of the communication can be opened by the recipient.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes a plurality of selectable communication types.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the plurality of selectable communication types are at least one of a text, an email, a document, an instant message, a group message, a video telephonic communication, an online meeting communication, a Cloud communication, a VPN communication, a calendar communication, a video communication, a voice mail, and a voice communication.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein a particular selectable communication type of the plurality of communication types included in the user interface corresponds to an icon of the particular selectable communication type.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more biometric inputs is at least one of a fingerprint, a voice input, an image of a face, a retinal input, and an iris input.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of settings are operating system settings.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is at least one of a mobile phone, a smart phone, a tablet computer, a desk computer, and a set top box.

8. A method for securing a communication, the method comprising:

receiving the communication composed by a user of an a user electronic device, wherein the communication is composed over a user interface at the user electronic device;

displaying a plurality of settings on the user interface, wherein one or more of the plurality of settings is a user selectable biometric setting;

receiving a selection over the user interface of one or more biometric inputs, wherein the one or more biometric inputs lock at least a portion of the communication, and the one or more biometric inputs are required to be input by a recipient of the communication before the at least portion of the communication can be opened by the recipient at a recipient electronic device; and

transmitting the communication over a network communication interface at the user electronic device, wherein the recipient cannot access the at least portion of the communication until after the recipient enters the one or more biometric inputs over one or more sensors at the recipient electronic device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the user interface includes a plurality of selectable communication types.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of selectable communication types are at least one of a text, an email, a document, an instant message, a group message, a video telephonic communication, an online meeting communication, a Cloud communication, a VPN communication, a calendar communication, a video communication, a voice mail and a voice communication.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein a particular selectable communication type of the plurality of communication types included in the user interface corresponds to an icon of the particular selectable communication type.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more biometric inputs is at least one of a fingerprint, a voice input, an image of a face, a retinal input, and an iris input.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the plurality of settings are operating system settings.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the user electronic device is at least one of a mobile phone, a smart phone, a tablet computer, a desktop computer, and a set top box.

15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having embodied thereon a program executable by a processor to perform a method for securing a communication, the method comprising:

receiving the communication composed by a user of an a user electronic device, wherein the communication is composed over a user interface at the user electronic device;

displaying a plurality of settings on the user interface, wherein one or more of the plurality of settings is a user selectable biometric setting;

receiving a selection over the user interface of one or more biometric inputs, wherein the one or more biometric inputs lock at least a portion of the communication, and the one or more biometric inputs are required to be input by a recipient of the communication before the at least portion of the communication can be opened by the recipient at a recipient electronic device; and

transmitting the communication over a network communication interface at the user electronic device, wherein the recipient cannot access the at least portion of the communication until after the recipient enters the one or more biometric inputs over one or more sensors at the recipient electronic device.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the user interface includes a plurality of selectable communication types.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the plurality of selectable communication types are at least one of a text, an email, a document, an instant message, a group message, a video telephonic communication, an online meeting communication, a Cloud communication, a VPN communication, a calendar communication, a video communication, a voice mail, and a voice communication.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein a particular selectable communication type of the plurality of communication types included in the user interface corresponds to an icon of the particular selectable communication type.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the one or more biometric inputs is at least one of a fingerprint, a voice input, an image of a face, a retinal input, and an iris input.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 wherein the plurality of settings are operating system settings.