SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SURELY BUT CONVENIENTLY CAUSING RESET OF A COMPUTERIZED DEVICE

• US 20120221841A1
• Filed: 05/07/2012
• Published: 08/30/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Adams, Neil P., Little, Herbert A., Owen, Russell N.
• Granted Patent: US 8,751,784 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/24 Resetting means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2213/0038 System on Chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/033 of the user plane, e.g. user's traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

Enhanced reset logic is included in a user'"'"'s computerized device so that the device owner (e.g., the user'"'"'s employer) can assure prompt reset (e.g., to insure device use of newly downloaded software versions or other control or security data) while still allowing user convenience (e.g., some limited continued normal use of the device before reset is forced upon the user thus permitting the user to avoid possibly aggravating losses of data and/or ongoing usage).

Claims

1. A method for causing reset of a device, the method comprising:

initializing a notification counter to a maximum number, N, of successive instances of indicating a reset notification, N being greater than one, the reset notification including representations of reset-now and reset-later; and

responsive to determining that the notification counter has been decremented to zero, resetting the device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said reset notification includes an explanation of reason for the reset.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the indicating comprises displaying the reset notification on a display of the device.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising, until determining that the notification counter has been decremented to zero, displaying, on the display, an icon representative of a pending reset.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the initializing is initiated upon detection of receipt of a set of instructions relating to privileges available to applications that reside on the device.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the privileges relate to modification of stored cryptographic information.

7. A device comprising:

a processor capable of;

initializing a notification counter to a maximum number, N, of successive instances of indicating a reset notification, N being greater than one, the reset notification including representations of reset-now and reset-later; and

resetting the device upon determining that the notification counter has been decremented to zero.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said reset notification includes an explanation of reason for the reset.

9. The device of claim 7 wherein the indicating comprises displaying the reset notification on a display of the device.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein the processor is further capable of displaying, on the display, an icon representative of a pending reset, until determining that the notification counter has been decremented to zero.

11. The device of claim 7 wherein the processor is further capable of initiating the initializing upon detection of receipt of a set of instructions relating to privileges available to applications that reside on the device.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein the privileges relate to modification of stored cryptographic information.

14. The non-transitory digital storage medium of claim 8 wherein said reset notification includes an explanation of reason for the reset.

15. The non-transitory digital storage medium of claim 8 wherein the indicating comprises displaying the reset notification on a display of the device.

16. The non-transitory digital storage medium of claim 15 further comprising, until determining that the notification counter has been decremented to zero, displaying, on the display, an icon representative of a pending reset.

17. The non-transitory digital storage medium of claim 8 wherein the initializing is initiated upon detection of receipt of a set of instructions relating to privileges available to applications that reside on the device.

18. The non-transitory digital storage medium of claim 17 wherein the privileges relate to modification of stored cryptographic information.

13. A non-transitory digital storage medium containing a computer program configured to, when executed by a device including a processor, cause the processor to:

initialize a notification counter to a maximum number, N, of successive instances of indicating a reset notification, N being greater than one, the reset notification including representations of reset-now and reset-later; and

reset the device responsive to determining that the notification counter has been decremented to zero.

19. A method for causing reset of a device, the method comprising:

detecting initiation of a reset process;

controlling indication of a reset notification, the reset notification including a representation that the device will be reset responsive to detection of a trigger event; and

responsive to detecting the trigger event, resetting the device.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the detecting the initiation of the reset process comprises at least one of:

receiving a reset command;

detecting that code needs to be installed;

receiving an encryption key;

receiving owner control information;

or

detecting receipt of a set of instructions relating to privileges available to applications that reside on the device.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the privileges relate to modification of stored cryptographic information.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein the detecting the trigger event comprises detecting an expiration of an indicated time period.

23. The method of claim 19 wherein the detecting the trigger event comprises detecting the device entering a locked state.

24. The method of claim 19 wherein said reset notification includes an explanation of reason for the reset.

25. The method of claim 19 wherein the indicating comprises displaying the reset notification on a display of the device.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising, until determining that the notification counter has been decremented to zero, displaying, on the display, an icon representative of a pending reset.

27. A device comprising:

a processor capable of;

detect initiation of a reset process;

control indication of a reset notification, the reset notification including a representation that the device will be reset responsive to detection of a trigger event; and

reset of the device responsive to detecting the trigger event.

28. A non-transitory digital storage medium containing a computer program configured to, when executed by a device including a processor, cause the processor to:

detect initiation of a reset process;

control indication of a reset notification, the reset notification including a representation that the device will be reset responsive to detection of a trigger event; and

reset of the device responsive to detecting the trigger event.