Data security device

• US 20080014869A1
• Filed: 07/03/2007
• Published: 01/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Data Transfer & Communications Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Data Transfer & Communications Ltd.
• Inventors: Curry, Alistair, Bloch, Stephen, Demirbasa, Saban
• Granted Patent: US 8,032,084 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/082 using revocation of authorisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/126 Anti-theft arrangements, e.g. protection against subscriber identity module [SIM] cloning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/10 Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A portable data storage device is described, which includes a short range wireless communication interface. The device is configured to communicate with a backup device over a wireless communication link and further comprises an alerting device for initiating an alert procedure on separation of the backup device from the portable data storage device. The alert procedure may include one or more of: disabling at least one function of the portable data storage device, for rendering the portable data storage device at least partially inoperable in the absence of communication from the backup device, locking the portable data storage device, generating an audible, visible or vibrational signal, restricting access to certain functions of the portable data storage device, preventing use of the portable data storage device except to telephone a specified number to report the device as lost or to re-enable the device and/or communicating a unique identifier of the portable data storage device to a network.

Claims

1. A portable data storage device having a short range wireless communication interface and configured to communicate with a backup device over a wireless communication link, the device further comprising an alerting device for initiating an alert procedure on separation of the backup device from the portable data storage device.

2. A portable data storage device according to claim 1 wherein the device for initiating an alert procedure comprises at least one alerting device selected from the group of alerting devices, consisting of:

an alerting device for disabling at least one function of the portable data storage device;

an alerting device for rendering the portable data storage device at least partially inoperable in the absence of communication from the backup device;

an alerting device for locking the portable data storage device;

an alerting device for generating an audible, visible or vibrational signal;

an alerting device for restricting access to certain functions of the portable data storage device;

an alerting device for preventing use of the portable data storage device except to telephone a specified number to report the device as lost or to re-enable the device;

an alerting device for communicating a unique identifier of the portable data storage device to a network.

3. A portable data storage device according to claim 1 wherein the alert procedure is initiated at the portable data storage device at the backup device or at both the portable data storage device and the backup device.

4. A portable data storage device according to claim 1 further comprising a device for enabling the user to override the alert procedure.

5. A portable data storage device according to claim 1 wherein communicating with the backup device comprises communicating periodically or quasi-continuously between the backup device and the portable data storage device.

6. A portable data storage device according to claim 1 further comprising a monitoring device for checking for separation of the backup device from the portable data storage device.

7. A portable data storage device according to claim 1 further comprising a transmitter for transmitting data to the backup device.

8. A portable data storage device according to claim 7 wherein the data comprises at least one type of data selected from the group consisting of:

a unique identifier of the portable data storage device;

a unique identifier of a subscriber module associated with the portable data storage device; and

user profile data for the portable data storage device, preferably a PIN code used to access the portable data storage device.

9. A method of operating a portable data storage device having a short range wireless communication interface, the method comprising:

communicating with a backup device over a wireless communication link using the short range wireless communication interface;

initiating an alert procedure on separation of the backup device from the portable data storage device.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein the alert procedure comprises at least one procedure selected from the group of procedures consisting of:

disabling at least one function of the portable data storage device;

rendering the portable data storage device at least partially inoperable in the absence of communication from the backup device;

locking the portable data storage device;

generating an audible, visible or vibrational signal;

restricting access to certain functions of the portable data storage device;

preventing use of the portable data storage device except to telephone a specified number to report the device as lost or to re-enable the device;

communicating a unique identifier of the portable data storage device to a network.

11. A method according to claim 9 further comprising receiving an input from a user to override the alert procedure

12. A method according to claim 9 wherein communicating comprises transmitting data from the portable data storage device to the backup device.

13. A method according to claim 12 wherein the data comprises at least one type of data selected from the group consisting of:

a unique identifier of the portable data storage device;

an IMEI number associated with the portable data storage device;

a unique identifier of a subscriber module associated with the portable data storage device; and

user profile data for the portable data storage device, preferably a PIN code used to access the portable data storage device.

14. A method according to claim 12 comprising transmitting data automatically on connection to the backup device.

15. A method according to claim 9 wherein communicating with the backup device comprises communicating periodically or quasi-continuously between the backup device and the portable data storage device.

16. A method according to claim 9 further comprising monitoring for separation of the backup device from the portable data storage device.

17. A method of safeguarding against the loss of a portable data storage device, the method comprising:

providing a backup device having a wireless communication link for communicating with the portable data storage device;

communicating between the backup device and the portable data storage device over the wireless communication link;

signalling to a remote station over a separate network if the portable data storage device is out of range of communication over the wireless communication link.

18. A method according to claim 17 wherein the separate network is a telecommunications network.

19. A method according to claim 17 further comprising transmitting a unique identifier of the portable data storage device to the separate network.

20. A method according to claim 19 wherein the unique identifier comprises at least one identifier selected from the group consisting of:

the IMEI number of the portable data storage device;

the SIM identifier of a SIM card associated with the portable data storage device;

a Bluetooth (RTM) identifier associated with a Bluetooth (RTM) chip incorporated into the portable data storage device.

21. A method according to claim 17 further comprising disabling at least one function of the portable data storage device if the portable data storage device is out of range of communication over the wireless communication link.