APPARATUS, METHODS AND COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIA FOR SECURITY PROVISIONING AT A COMMUNICATION DEVICE

• US 20110088003A1
• Filed: 10/13/2010
• Published: 04/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rohrer, Thomas L., Dhanasarnsombat, Dhana, Swink, Cristy, Snydal, Jonathan Solis, Sikes, Jason, Fineman, Benjamin, Todd, Sara Louise
• Granted Patent: US 9,172,669 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/863
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/10 Multimedia information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/216 Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4594 Address books, i.e. directories containing contact information about correspondents telephone directories in user terminals H04M1/27453
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0892 by using authentication-authorization-accounting [AAA] servers or protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72433 for voice messaging, e.g. dictaphones for answering incoming calls H04M1/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72439 for image or video messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 : for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 : Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 : Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

Apparatus, methods and computer-readable storage medium are provided for security provisioning at a communication device. In some embodiments, a method can include: executing a high security application on a communication device based, at least, on detecting that high security is enabled for the communication device and detecting execution of a low security application; outputting, via a user interface (UI), information configured to detect an entry to the communication device; detecting an entry at the UI of the communication device; determining whether the entry corresponds to security access information stored in the communication device; and providing access to the communication device based, at least, on determining that the entry corresponds to the security access information.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

executing a high security application on a communication device based, at least, on detecting that high security is enabled for the communication device and detecting execution of a low security application;

outputting, via a user interface (UI), information configured to detect an entry to the communication device;

detecting an entry at the UI of the communication device;

determining whether the entry corresponds to security access information stored in the communication device; and

providing access to the communication device based, at least, on determining that the entry corresponds to the security access information.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the UI is a touch screen and the information is a hexagonal keypad, and wherein the detecting the entry comprises detecting at least one of a numeric entry or an alpha entry at the hexagonal keypad.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the execution of the low security application comprises:

displaying, via the UI, a first region associated with an unlocked state of the UI and a second region associated with a locked state of the UI;

detecting a swipe gesture from the second region to the first region; and

unlocking the UI of the communication device based, at least, on the detecting the swipe gesture, wherein the unlocking the UI of the communication device comprises maintaining the communication device in a locked state while unlocking the UI of the communication device.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the executing the high security application is further based on detecting a communication device event, wherein the communication device event comprises at least one of an activation of a hard key of the communication device, initiation of a boot sequence associated with the communication device, illumination of a backlight of the communication device or movement of a physical keypad associated with the communication device, wherein the communication device is a mobile, hand-held communication device.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising providing limited access to the communication device based, at least, on determining that the entry does not correspond to the security access information, wherein the limited access consists of initiating emergency calls and displaying in case of emergency information.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a number of times that an entry that does not correspond to the security access information has been detected at the communication device; and

initiating a timeout state of the communication device in which no access to the communication device is provided, based, at least, on determining that the number of times exceeds a predetermined maximum number of times for attempted access to the communication device.

7. An apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a security component configured to;

detect whether high security is enabled for the apparatus;

execute a high security application on the apparatus based, at least, on detection that high security is enabled for the apparatus and execution of a low security application at the apparatus;

receive a signal indicative of an entry at the apparatus;

determine whether the entry corresponds to security access information accessible by the apparatus;

unlock the apparatus based, at least, on determining that the entry corresponds to the security access information; and

display information associated with the high security application and configured to receive the entry; and

a computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions that, if executed, cause the processor to perform one or more functions of the security component.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the information associated with the high security application comprises a keypad having an outer perimeter that is hexagonal and comprises at least one of numeric information or alpha information.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the information associated with the high security application further comprises status information comprising a first icon configured to display a first image based, at least, on the security component unlocking the apparatus, and a second image prior to the security component unlocking the apparatus.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the UI is configured to display low security information prior to displaying the keypad associated with the high security application,

wherein the low security information comprises a display including a first region associated with an unlocked state of the UI and a second region associated with a locked state of the UI,

wherein the security component is further configured to execute the low security application prior to executing the high security application,

and wherein the security component is configured to unlock the UI based, at least, on receiving a signal indicative of the UI detecting an input gesture at the first region.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the security component is further configured to execute the high security based on detecting a communication device event, wherein the communication device event comprises at least one of an activation of a hard key of the apparatus, initiation of a boot sequence associated with the apparatus, illumination of a backlight of the apparatus or movement of a physical keypad associated with the apparatus, wherein the apparatus is a mobile, hand-held device.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the security component is further configured to provide limited access to the apparatus based, at least, on determining that the entry does not correspond to the security access information, wherein the limited access consists of initiation of emergency calls and display of in case of emergency information.

13. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the security component is further configured to:

determine a number of times that an entry that does not correspond to the security access information has been detected at the UI; and

initiate a timeout state of the apparatus in which no access to the apparatus is provided, based, at least, on determining that the number of times exceeds a predetermined maximum number of times for attempted access to the apparatus.

14. A computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions that, if executed on a processor of a communication device, cause the communication device to:

detect whether high security is enabled for the communication device;

display, via a user interface (UI), information associated with the high security application; and

execute a high security application on the communication device based, at least, on detection that high security is enabled for the communication device and execution of a low security application at the communication device.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the processor to:

receive a signal indicative of an entry at the communication device;

determine whether the entry corresponds to security access information accessible by the communication device; and

unlock the communication device based, at least, on determining that the entry corresponds to the security access information.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the information associated with the high security application comprises a keypad having an outer perimeter that is hexagonal and comprising at least one of numeric information or alpha information.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the information associated with the high security application further comprises status information comprising a first icon configured to display a first image based, at least, on the processor unlocking the communication device, and a second image prior to the processor unlocking the communication device.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the processor to:

execute a low security application prior to executing the high security application;

display, via the UI, low security information prior to displaying the information associated with the high security application, wherein the low security information comprises a display including a first region associated with an unlocked state of the UI and a second region associated with a locked state of the UI; and

unlock the UI based, at least, on receiving a signal indicative of receiving an input gesture at the first region of the UI.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the processor to:

execute the high security application on the communication device based, at least, on detecting that a communication device event has occurred, wherein the communication device event comprises at least one of an activation of a hard key of the communication device, initiation of a boot sequence associated with the communication device, illumination of a backlight of the communication device or movement of a physical keypad associated with the communication device, and the communication device is a mobile hand-held device.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the processor to provide limited access to the communication device based, at least, on determining that the entry does not correspond to the security access information, wherein the limited access consists of emergency calls and in case of emergency information.