System and method for protecting files stored on an electronic device

• US 9,336,393 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2010
• Issued: 05/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Softex LLC (SoftBank Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Softex Incorporated
• Inventors: Raikar, Rayesh K., Bhansali, Apurva M., Jain, Manoj K., Dube, Shradha, Iyer, Gayathri Krishnamurthy, Patel, Mehul R., Dhanani, Kamal M., Kapila, Ranjit, Varghese, Elza A., Tucker, Thomas D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tolentino, Roderick
• Application Number:
  US12/903,045
• Publication Number:
  US 20110072520A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,037 Days
• Field of Search: 726 1- 21, 726 26- 34, 700225-227, 705/18, 711/164, 713/187
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/305 by remotely controlling device operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/572 Secure firmware programming, e.g. of basic input output system [BIOS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/602 Providing cryptographic facilities or services
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2143 Clearing memory, e.g. to prevent the data from being stolen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment

Abstract

An electronic device includes a security system which provides for protection of designated files stored on an electronic device. For example, an electronic device may receive user input selecting a file for protection processing. The user input may select the file for encryption and automatic decryption under certain predetermined conditions and/or for automatic saving to a remote storage device after the device has been reported stolen, for instance. After receiving the user input selecting the file for protection processing, the electronic device may automatically receive theft information from a remote server, wherein the theft information indicates whether the electronic device has been reported stolen. After determining whether the electronic device has been reported stolen, the electronic device may automatically process the selected file according to the selected protection processing, wherein the processing is contingent on whether the electronic device has been reported stolen. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Claims

1. A method of protecting a file stored on an electronic device, the method comprising:

receiving, from a user, user input selecting a file for protection processing, wherein the file is stored in the electronic device and the user input is received before the electronic device has been stolen;

in response to receiving the user input selecting the file for protection processing, transmitting identification information for the selected file from the electronic device to a remote server before the electronic device has been reported stolen;

after receiving the user input selecting the file for protection processing, automatically receiving theft information from the remote server, wherein the theft information indicates whether the electronic device has been reported stolen;

automatically determining, at the electronic device, whether the electronic device has been reported stolen, based on the theft information from the remote server; and

after determining whether the electronic device has been reported stolen, automatically processing the selected file according to the selected protection processing, wherein the processing is contingent on whether the electronic device has been reported stolen,

wherein the operation of receiving user input selecting the file for protection processing further comprises (1) receiving user input selecting the file for encryption and automatic decryption under certain predetermined conditions, and/or (2) receiving user input selecting the file for automatic saving of the file from the electronic device to remote storage after the electronic device has been reported stolen.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the operation of receiving user input selecting the file for protection processing further comprises receiving user input selecting the file for automatic saving of the file from the electronic device to remote storage after the electronic device has been reported stolen; and

the operation of automatically processing the selected file according to the selected protection processing comprises, in response to a determination that the electronic device has been reported stolen, automatically saving the selected file from the electronic device to remote storage.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

after the electronic device has been reported stolen, automatically receiving identification information for the selected file from the remote server; and

automatically saving the selected file from the electronic device to remote storage, based on the identification information for the selected file received from the remote server.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the operation of automatically saving the selected file to remote storage comprises saving the selected file to the remote server.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the operation of receiving user input selecting the file for protection processing further comprises:

detecting that the selected file has been stored in a file folder designated for protection processing.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the operation of receiving user input selecting the file for protection processing further comprises:

detecting that the user has designated protection processing for the selected file through use of a pointer and an option menu connected to an icon for the selected file in a graphical user interface.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

after receiving user input selecting the file for protection processing, detecting a request to access the selected file;

wherein the operation of receiving user input selecting the file for protection processing further comprises receiving user input selecting the file for encryption and automatic decryption under certain predetermined conditions; and

wherein the operation of automatically processing the selected file according to the selected protection processing comprises, in response to the request to access the selected file, automatically performing operations comprising;

if the electronic device has been reported stolen, automatically denying the requested access; and

if the device has not been reported stolen, automatically allowing the requested access.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising:

in response to receiving user input selecting the file for protection processing, automatically encrypting the selected file;

wherein the operation of automatically allowing the requested access comprises;

automatically generating a decrypted version of the selected file; and

allowing access to the decrypted version.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the operation of automatically encrypting the selected file comprises encrypting the selected file with an encryption technique provided by an operating system of the electronic device.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

after receiving user input selecting the file for protection processing, detecting a request to access the selected file; and

automatically determining whether the electronic device is in communication with the Internet;

wherein the operation of receiving user input selecting the file for protection processing further comprises receiving user input selecting the file for encryption and automatic decryption under certain predetermined conditions; and

wherein the operation of automatically processing the selected file according to the selected protection processing comprises, in response to the request to access the selected file, automatically performing operations comprising;

automatically denying the requested access if the electronic device has been reported stolen or if the electronic device is not in communication with the Internet; and

automatically allowing the requested access if the device has not been reported stolen and the electronic device is in communication with the Internet.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the operation of automatically processing the selected file according to the selected protection processing further comprises:

if the electronic device has been reported stolen or if the electronic device is not in communication with the Internet, automatically prompting the user for a credential;

allowing the requested access in response to receiving a valid credential; and

denying the requested access if a valid credential is not received.

12. An electronic device, comprising:

memory;

a network interface;

a processor operably coupled to the memory and to the network interface; and

instructions stored in the memory and executable on the processor to perform operations comprising;

receiving, from a user, user input selecting a file for protection processing, wherein the file is stored in the electronic device and the user input is received before the electronic device has been stolen;

in response to receiving the user input selecting the file for protection processing, transmitting identification information for the selected file from the electronic device to a remote server before the electronic device has been reported stolen;

after receiving the user input selecting the file for protection processing, automatically receiving theft information from the remote server, wherein the theft information indicates whether the electronic device has been reported stolen;

automatically determining, at the electronic device, whether the electronic device has been reported stolen, based on the theft information from the remote server; and

after determining whether the electronic device has been reported stolen, automatically processing the selected file according to the selected protection processing, wherein the processing is contingent on whether the electronic device has been reported stolen,

wherein the operation of receiving user input selecting the file for protection processing further comprises (1) receiving user input selecting the file for encryption and automatic decryption under certain predetermined conditions, and/or (2) receiving user input selecting the file for automatic saving of the file from the electronic device to remote storage after the electronic device has been reported stolen.

13. The electronic device according to claim 12, wherein:

the operation of receiving user input selecting the file for protection processing further comprises receiving user input selecting the file for automatic saving of the file from the electronic device to remote storage after the electronic device has been reported stolen; and

the operation of automatically processing the selected file according to the selected protection processing comprises, in response to a determination that the electronic device has been reported stolen, automatically saving the selected file from the electronic device to remote storage.

14. The electronic device according to claim 13, wherein the operations further comprise:

after the electronic device has been reported stolen, automatically receiving identification information for the selected file from the remote server; and

automatically saving the selected file from the electronic device to remote storage, based on the identification information for the selected file received from the remote server.

15. The electronic device according to claim 12, wherein:

the operation of receiving user input selecting the file for protection processing further comprises receiving user input selecting the file for encryption and automatic decryption under certain predetermined conditions;

the operations further comprise, after receiving user input selecting the file for protection processing, detecting a request to access the selected file; and

the operation of automatically processing the selected file according to the selected protection processing comprises, in response to the request to access the selected file, automatically performing operations comprising;

if the electronic device has been reported stolen, automatically denying the requested access; and

if the device has not been reported stolen, automatically allowing the requested access.

16. The electronic device according to claim 15, wherein:

the operations further comprise, in response to receiving user input selecting the file for protection processing, automatically encrypting the selected file; and

the operation of automatically allowing the requested access comprises;

automatically generating a decrypted version of the selected file; and

allowing access to the decrypted version.

17. The electronic device according to claim 12, wherein:

the operation of receiving user input selecting the file for protection processing further comprises receiving user input selecting the file for encryption and automatic decryption under certain predetermined conditions;

the operations further comprise;

after receiving user input selecting the file for protection processing, detecting a request to access the selected file; and

automatically determining whether the electronic device is in communication with the Internet; and

the operation of automatically processing the selected file according to the selected protection processing comprises, in response to the request to access the selected file, automatically performing operations comprising;

automatically denying the requested access if the electronic device has been reported stolen or if the electronic device is not in communication with the Internet; and

automatically allowing the requested access if the device has not been reported stolen and the electronic device is in communication with the Internet.

18. The electronic device according to claim 17, wherein the operation of automatically processing the selected file according to the selected protection processing further comprises:

if the electronic device has been reported stolen or if the electronic device is not in communication with the Internet, automatically prompting the user for a credential;

allowing the requested access in response to receiving a valid credential; and

denying the requested access if a valid credential is not received.

19. An article of manufacture, comprising:

a non-transitory machine-readable medium; and

instructions stored in the non-transitory machine-readable medium and configured, when executed by an electronic device, to perform operations comprising;

receiving, from a user, user input selecting a file for protection processing, wherein the file is stored in the electronic device and the user input is received before the electronic device has been stolen;

in response to receiving the user input selecting the file for protection processing, transmitting identification information for the selected file from the electronic device to a remote server before the electronic device has been reported stolen;

after receiving the user input selecting the file for protection processing, automatically receiving theft information from the remote server, wherein the theft information indicates whether the electronic device has been reported stolen;

automatically determining, at the electronic device, whether the electronic device has been reported stolen, based on the theft information from the remote server; and

after determining whether the electronic device has been reported stolen, automatically processing the selected file according to the selected protection processing, wherein the processing is contingent on whether the electronic device has been reported stolen,

wherein the operation of receiving user input selecting the file for protection processing further comprises (1) receiving user input selecting the file for encryption and automatic decryption under certain predetermined conditions, and/or (2) receiving user input selecting the file for automatic saving of the file from the electronic device to remote storage after the electronic device has been reported stolen.

20. The article of manufacture according to claim 19, wherein:

the operation of receiving user input selecting the file for protection processing further comprises receiving user input selecting the file for automatic saving of the file from the electronic device to remote storage after the electronic device has been reported stolen; and

the operation of automatically processing the selected file according to the selected protection processing comprises, in response to a determination that the electronic device has been reported stolen, automatically saving the selected file from the electronic device to remote storage.

21. The article of manufacture according to claim 20, wherein the operations further comprise:

after the electronic device has been reported stolen, automatically receiving identification information for the selected file from the remote server; and

automatically saving the selected file from the electronic device to remote storage, based on the identification information for the selected file received from the remote server.

22. The article of manufacture according to claim 19, wherein:

the operation of receiving user input selecting the file for protection processing further comprises receiving user input selecting the file for encryption and automatic decryption under certain predetermined conditions;

the operations further comprise, after receiving user input selecting the file for protection processing, detecting a request to access the selected file; and

the operation of automatically processing the selected file according to the selected protection processing comprises, in response to the request to access the selected file, automatically performing operations comprising;

if the electronic device has been reported stolen, automatically denying the requested access; and

if the device has not been reported stolen, automatically allowing the requested access.

23. The article of manufacture according to claim 22, wherein:

the operations further comprise, in response to receiving user input selecting the file for protection processing, automatically encrypting the selected file; and

the operation of automatically allowing the requested access comprises;

automatically generating a decrypted version of the selected file; and

allowing access to the decrypted version.

24. The article of manufacture according to claim 19, wherein:

the operation of receiving user input selecting the file for protection processing further comprises receiving user input selecting the file for encryption and automatic decryption under certain predetermined conditions;

the operations further comprise;

after receiving user input selecting the file for protection processing, detecting a request to access the selected file; and

automatically determining whether the electronic device is in communication with the Internet; and

the operation of automatically processing the selected file according to the selected protection processing comprises, in response to the request to access the selected file, automatically performing operations comprising;

automatically denying the requested access if the electronic device has been reported stolen or if the electronic device is not in communication with the Internet; and

automatically allowing the requested access if the device has not been reported stolen and the electronic device is in communication with the Internet.

25. The article of manufacture according to claim 24, wherein the operation of automatically processing the file according to the selected protection processing further comprises:

if the electronic device has been reported stolen or if the electronic device is not in communication with the Internet, automatically prompting the user for a credential;

allowing the requested access in response to receiving a valid credential; and

denying the requested access if a valid credential is not received.