Information protection method and system

• US 9,836,625 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2013
• Issued: 12/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC (Allied Inventors Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC (Allied Inventors Management, LLC)
• Inventors: Khesin, Oscar
• Primary Examiner(s): Gee, Jason K
• Application Number:
  US14/364,076
• Publication Number:
  US 20150254478A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,530 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/24 Resetting means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/87 by means of encapsulation, e.g. for integrated circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2143 Clearing memory, e.g. to prevent the data from being stolen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/30043 LOAD or STORE instructions; Clear instruction
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/80 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/30 Public key, i.e. encryption algorithm being computationally infeasible to invert or user's encryption keys not requiring secrecy
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3226 using a predetermined code, e.g. password, passphrase or PIN network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using passwords in a packet data network H04L63/083

Abstract

Techniques described herein generally relate to protecting information stored in a mobile communication device. In one embodiment, a mobile communication device may include a data security module, a control circuitry, a first memory unit configured to store a first information, a first battery unit configured to supply power to the mobile communication device, and a second battery unit configured to supply power to the data security module and the control circuitry in response to a trigger event. The data security module is further configured to activate the control circuitry to perform a particular action on the first information, such as at least a partial erasure of the first information.

Claims

1. A mobile communication device, comprising:

a data security circuit;

control circuitry;

a first memory configured to store first information;

a first battery configured to supply power to the mobile communication device; and

a second battery configured to supply power to the data security circuit and the control circuitry in response to at least one trigger event, wherein the second battery is disposed at a sealed location inside the mobile communication device that is reachable by removal or disassembly of a plurality of internal components located inside of a housing of the mobile communication device,

wherein the at least one trigger event includes the mobile communication device being out of communication coverage of a communication network of the mobile communication device,

wherein the data security circuit is configured to determine whether to partially or entirely erase the first information ahead of second information stored in the first memory, in response to;

a time duration during which power was not supplied to the mobile communication device from the first battery exceeds a particular duration, and

a number of times in which an entry of authentication information prompted by the data security circuit has failed is greater than a threshold value, and

wherein the control circuitry is configured to partially or entirely erase the first information based on the determination.

2. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the at least one trigger event includes detection, by a sensor of the mobile communication device, of an opening of a cover of the mobile communication device.

3. The mobile communication device of claim 2, wherein the at least one trigger event includes interruption of the power supplied by the first battery to the mobile communication device due to physical tampering of the first battery.

4. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the data security circuit is configured to authenticate information received by the mobile communication device within a period of time before the control circuitry partially or entirely erases the first information.

5. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the data security circuit is configured to cause the control circuitry to power a communication interface of the mobile communication device to send out positional information of the mobile communication device.

6. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the data security circuit is configured to prompt for an input of an authentication information before having the second battery supply power to the data security circuit and the control circuitry.

7. An apparatus, comprising:

a data security circuit;

control circuitry;

a first memory coupled to the control circuitry and configured to store first information and second information;

a plurality of internal components coupled to the first memory and configured to support mobile communication;

a sensor that includes one of an integrated light emitting diode and a photo-detector; and

a housing coupled to the sensor and configured to contain the data security circuit, the control circuitry, the first memory, and the plurality of internal components, wherein;

the first memory and at least some of the plurality of internal components are configured to be powered by a first battery,

the data security circuit and the control circuitry are configured to be powered by a second battery in response to at least one trigger event, wherein the at least one trigger event includes detection, by the sensor, of an opening of a cover of the housing, wherein the cover comprises a strip, wherein the strip includes a reflective strip, wherein the sensor is configured to detect the opening of the cover when an alignment or vicinity of the strip changes relative to the sensor, and wherein the detection of the opening of the cover is determined from a loss of reflected light caused by the change in one of the alignment or vicinity of the strip relative to the sensor as a result of the opening of the cover,

the data security circuit is further configured to activate, in response to the at least one trigger event, the control circuitry to perform at least a partial erasure of the first information stored in the first memory in response to a level of sensitivity of the first information being higher than a level of sensitivity of the second information stored in the first memory, and

the second battery is disposed at a sealed location inside the housing, the sealed location being reachable by removal or disassembly of at least one of the plurality of internal components contained in the housing.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least one trigger event includes a failure to receive valid authentication information within a timeframe.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:

a printed circuit board; and

a holder coupled to the printed circuit board, wherein at least one of the second battery and the first memory is sealed within the holder.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the sensor includes one of an inductive micro sensor, an integrated light-emitting diode and photo-detector, and an electromechanical micro switch.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least one trigger event includes the apparatus being out of communication coverage of a communication network of the apparatus.

12. An apparatus, comprising:

a data security circuit;

control circuitry;

a first memory coupled to the control circuitry and configured to store first information and second information;

a plurality of internal components coupled to the first memory and configured to support mobile communication;

a sensor that includes an inductive coil micro sensor; and

a housing coupled to the sensor and configured to contain the data security circuit, the control circuitry, the first memory, and the plurality of internal components, wherein;

the first memory and at least some of the plurality of internal components are configured to be powered by a first battery,

the data security circuit and the control circuitry are configured to be powered by a second battery in response to at least one trigger event, wherein the at least one trigger event includes detection, by the sensor, of an opening of a cover of the housing, wherein the cover comprises a strip, wherein the strip includes a magnetic strip, wherein the sensor is configured to detect the opening of the cover when an alignment or vicinity of the strip changes relative to the sensor, and wherein the detection of the opening of the cover is determined by estimation of a difference in an inducted current generated by the change in one of the alignment or vicinity of the strip relative to the sensor caused by the opening of the cover,

the data security circuit is further configured to activate, in response to the at least one trigger event, the control circuitry to perform at least a partial erasure of the first information stored in the first memory in response to a level of sensitivity of the first information being higher than a level of sensitivity of the second information stored in the first memory, and

the second battery is disposed at a sealed location inside the housing, the sealed location being reachable by removal or disassembly of at least one of the plurality of internal components contained in the housing.