Apparatus and methods for preventing information disclosure

• US 9,854,444 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2016
• Issued: 12/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xiaomi Inc. (Xiaomi Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xiaomi Inc. (Xiaomi Corp.)
• Inventors: Wan, Yuzhen, Sun, Peng, Jin, Fan, Lin, Junqi
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngo, Chuong A
• Application Number:
  US15/097,063
• Publication Number:
  US 20160227414A1
• Time in Patent Office: 623 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/082 using revocation of authorisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/12 Detection or prevention of fraud
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/126 Anti-theft arrangements, e.g. protection against subscriber identity module [SIM] cloning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]

Abstract

The present application is directed to apparatuses and methods for preventing information disclosure. According to example embodiments of the present application, after a mobile terminal of a user is lost, a first short message may be sent to the mobile terminal through a short message network. When the mobile terminal determines that the received short message is the first short message, user information stored in the mobile terminal may be erased by the mobile terminal.

Claims

1. A computer server system, comprising:

at least one non-transitory storage medium comprising a set of instructions for preventing information disclosure from a mobile terminal;

an executing unit in communication with the storage medium, wherein when executing the set of instructions stored in the storage medium the executing unit is directed to perform a multiple protection procedure in the mobile terminal to;

receive a command from a user to lock the mobile terminal;

determine whether the mobile terminal is in connection with an Internet connection network;

when the mobile terminal is in connection with the Internet connection network, send an instruction in a first data format to the mobile terminal through the Internet connection network to lock the mobile terminal in a state unavailable for any operation other than receiving and verifying an unlocking password; and

when the mobile terminal is not in connection with the Internet connection network, send the instruction in a second data format to the mobile terminal through a short message network that is different from the Internet connection network, wherein the second data format is a short message service (SMS) data format.

2. The computer server system according to claim 1,

wherein the first data format of the instruction is a predefined Internet command.

3. The computer server system according to claim 1, wherein the instruction comprises at least one of a locking password or a ciphertext corresponding to the locking password.

4. The computer server system according to claim 3, wherein the locking password is same as the unlocking password.

5. The computer server system according to claim 1, wherein the instruction is further configured to instruct the mobile terminal to erase information predetermined by the user and stored in the mobile terminal.

6. The computer server system according to claim 1, wherein the instruction is further configured to instruct the mobile terminal to erase a predetermined portion of information stored in the mobile terminal.

7. A method for performing a multiple protection procedure to prevent information disclosure from a mobile terminal, comprising:

receiving, by a computer server system, a command from a user to lock the mobile terminal;

determining, by the computer server system, whether the mobile terminal is in connection with an Internet connection network;

when the mobile terminal is in connection with the Internet connection network, sending, by the computer server system, an instruction in a first data format to the mobile terminal through the Internet connection network to lock the mobile terminal in a state unavailable for any operation other than receiving and verifying an unlocking password; and

when the mobile terminal is not in connection with the Internet connection network, sending, by the computer server system, the instruction in a second data format to the mobile terminal through a short message network that is different from the Internet connection network, wherein the second data format is a short message service (SMS) data format.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the first data format of the instruction is a predefined Internet command.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the instruction comprises at least one of a locking password or a ciphertext corresponding to the locking password.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the locking password is same as the unlocking password.

11. The method according to claim 7, wherein the instruction is further configured to instruct the mobile terminal to erase information predetermined by the user and stored in the mobile terminal.

12. The method according to claim 7, wherein the instruction is further configured to instruct the mobile terminal to erase a predetermined portion of information stored in the mobile terminal.

13. A mobile terminal, comprising:

at least one non-transitory storage medium comprising a set of instructions for preventing information disclosure;

an executing unit in communication with the storage medium, wherein when executing the set of instructions the at least one executing unit is directed to perform a multiple protection procedure to;

connect to at least one of an Internet connection network and a short message network, wherein the short message network that is different from the Internet connection network;

when the Internet connection network is connected, receive through the Internet connection network an instruction in a first data format to lock the mobile terminal;

when the Internet connection network is not connected, receive through the short message network the instruction in a second data format to lock the mobile terminal; and

lock the mobile terminal in a state unavailable for any operation other than receiving and verifying an unlocking password according to the instruction.

14. The mobile terminal according to claim 13, wherein the instruction in the first data format is a predefined Internet command.

15. The mobile terminal according to claim 13, wherein the executing unit is further directed to erase at least one of

information predetermined by the user and stored in the mobile terminal according to the instruction;

or

a predetermined portion of information stored in the mobile terminal.

16. The mobile terminal according to claim 13, wherein the mobile terminal does not include a SIM card.

17. A method for performing a multiple protection procedure to prevent information disclosure from a mobile terminal, comprising:

connecting, by the mobile terminal, to at least one of an Internet connection network and a short message network, wherein the short message network that is different from the Internet connection network;

when the Internet connection network is connected, receiving, by the mobile terminal through the Internet connection network, an instruction in a first data format to lock the mobile terminal;

when the Internet connection network is not connected, receiving, by the mobile terminal through the short message network, the instruction in a second data format to lock the mobile terminal; and

locking, by the mobile terminal, the mobile terminal in a state unavailable for any operation other than receiving and verifying an unlocking password according to the instruction.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the instruction in the first form is a predefined Internet command.

19. The method according to claim 17, further comprising erasing at least one of

information predetermined by the user and stored in the mobile terminal according to the instruction;

or

a predetermined portion of information stored in the mobile terminal.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein the mobile terminal does not include a SIM card.