Controlling mobile device access with a paired device

• US 9,749,864 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2015
• Issued: 08/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2015
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation, Tokyo Electron Limited
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Deng, Yu, Li, Jenny S., Tai, Theresa Y., Zeng, Liangzhao
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Luu
• Assistant Examiner(s): Baum, Ronald
• Application Number:
  US14/749,678
• Publication Number:
  US 20160381557A1
• Time in Patent Office: 796 Days
• Field of Search: 726 4
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/107 wherein the security policies are location-dependent, e.g. entities privileges depend on current location or allowing specific operations only from locally connected terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/084 using delegated authorisation, e.g. open authorisation [OAuth] protocol
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/088 using filters or firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

Embodiments of the disclosure relate to controlling access to a mobile device with a paired device. Aspects include pairing the paired device with the mobile device and defining a security profile for the mobile device. Aspects also include receiving a user access request for a desired action via the mobile device and determining signal strength between the paired device and the mobile device. Aspects further include executing the desired action based on a determination that the signal strength is greater than a threshold in the security profile for the desired action.

Claims

1. A method for controlling access to a mobile device with a paired device, comprising:

pairing the paired device with the mobile device;

defining a security profile for the mobile device, wherein the security profile includes a plurality of actions capable of being executed by the mobile device, a threshold minimum signal strength for each of the plurality of actions and an authorization level associated with each of the plurality of actions;

receiving a user access request for a desired action via the mobile device;

determining a signal strength between the paired device and the mobile device;

based on a determination that the signal strength is greater than one of the threshold minimums,

authorizing the execution of the desired action up to the authorization level associated with a highest threshold minimum signal that exceeds the signal strength;

based on a determination that the signal strength is not greater than one of the threshold minimums;

denying the user access request;

transmitting an exception request by the mobile device to the paired device requesting permission to execute the desired action while the signal strength is less than a corresponding a threshold minimum of the desired action; and

executing the desired action based on receiving an authorization to the exception request, wherein execution of the desired action is performed without adjusting the signal strength between the paired device and the mobile device;

based on a determination that the signal strength is not greater than the one of the threshold minimums but is greater than a second one of the threshold minimums;

prompting a user for an access code to proceed with the desired action;

receiving the access code from the user; and

based on determining that the access code provided is valid,

executing the desired action; and

based on a determination that the signal strength is not greater than the second one of the threshold minimums,

denying the user access request.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

based on a determination that the signal strength is not greater than the threshold;

prompting a user for an access code to proceed with the desired action;

receiving the access code from the user; and

based on determining that the access code provided is valid, executing the desired action.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the paired device is one of a wearable device, a smart phone, and a tablet device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device includes a user interface for use in defining a security profile that displays the signal strength between the paired device and the mobile device.

5. A computer program product for controlling access to a mobile device with a paired device, the computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method comprising;

pairing the paired device with the mobile device;

defining a security profile for the mobile device, wherein the security profile includes a plurality of actions capable of being executed by the mobile device, a threshold minimum signal strength for each of the plurality of actions and an authorization level associated with each of the plurality of actions;

receiving a user access request for a desired action via the mobile device;

determining a signal strength between the paired device and the mobile device;

based on a determination that the signal strength is greater than one of the threshold minimums, authorizing the execution of the desired action up to the authorization level associated with a highest threshold minimum signal that exceeds the signal strength;

based on a determination that the signal strength is not greater than one of the threshold minimums;

denying the user access request;

transmitting an exception request by the mobile device to the paired device requesting permission to execute the desired action while the signal strength is less than a corresponding a threshold minimum of the desired action; and

executing the desired action based on receiving an authorization to the exception request, wherein execution of the desired action is performed without adjusting the signal strength between the paired device and the mobile device;

based on a determination that the signal strength is not greater than the one of the threshold minimums but is greater than a second one of the threshold minimums;

prompting a user for an access code to proceed with the desired action;

receiving the access code from the user; and

based on determining that the access code provided is valid,

executing the desired action; and

based on a determination that the signal strength is not greater than the second one of the threshold minimums,

denying the user access request.

6. The computer program product of claim 5, wherein the method further comprises:

based on a determination that the signal strength is not greater than the threshold;

prompting a user for an access code to proceed with the desired action;

receiving the access code from the user; and

based on determining that the access code provided is valid, executing the desired action.

7. The computer program product of claim 5, wherein the paired device is a wearable device.

8. The computer program product of claim 5, wherein the mobile device includes a user interface for use in defining a security profile that displays the signal strength between the paired device and the mobile device.

9. A system for controlling access to a mobile device with a paired device, the system comprising:

a mobile device having a processor configured to;

pair, by the processor, the paired device with the mobile device;

define a security profile for the mobile device, wherein the security profile includes a plurality of actions capable of being executed by the mobile device, a threshold minimum signal strength for each of the plurality of actions and an authorization level associated with each of the plurality of actions;

receive a user access request for a desired action via the mobile device;

determine, by the processor, a signal strength between the paired device and the mobile device;

based on a determination that the signal strength is greater than one of the threshold minimums, authorizing the execution of the desired action up to the authorization level associated with a highest threshold minimum signal that exceeds the signal strength;

based on a determination that the signal strength is not greater than one of the threshold minimums;

deny the user access request;

transmit an exception request by the mobile device to the paired device requesting permission to execute the desired action while the signal strength is less than a corresponding a threshold minimum of the desired action; and

execute the desired action based on receiving an authorization to the exception request, wherein execution of the desired action is performed without adjusting the signal strength between the paired device and the mobile device;

based on a determination that the signal strength is not greater than the one of the threshold minimums but is greater than a second one of the threshold minimums;

prompting a user for an access code to proceed with the desired action;

receiving the access code from the user; and

based on determining that the access code provided is valid,

executing the desired action; and

based on a determination that the signal strength is not greater than the second one of the threshold minimums,

denying the user access request.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the mobile device includes a user interface for use in defining a security profile that displays the signal strength between the paired device and the mobile device.