METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING AND DEALING WITH A LOST ELECTRONICS DEVICE

• US 20160285837A1
• Filed: 06/08/2016
• Published: 09/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Parameswaran, Rajikrishnan, Cai, Lukai, Menendez, Jose R., Silverstein, Roy Benjamin
• Granted Patent: US 10,009,323 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/24 Key scheduling, i.e. generating round keys or sub-keys for block encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/06 for supporting key management in a packet data network cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key management H04L9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/14 using a plurality of keys or algorithms
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/66 with means for preventing unauthorised or fraudulent calling verifying user identity or authority in secret or secure digital communications H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724631 by limiting the access to the user interface, e.g. locking a touch-screen or a keypad
• 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 52/0261 managing power supply demand, e.g. depending on battery level
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0264 by selectively disabling software applications
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Techniques for detecting and dealing with a lost electronics device are disclosed. In one design, the device may autonomously determine whether it is lost. The device may destroy at least one component to render it inoperable and may perform other actions in response to determining that it is lost. In another design, the device may determine available battery power of the device upon determining that it is lost, select at least one action in a list of possible actions based on the available battery power, and perform the selected action(s). In yet another design, upon determining that it is lost, the device may prevent access to information on the device based on a secondary security key, which is not used for encrypting information during normal operation. In yet another design, the device may notify at least one contact and may perform at least one additional action upon determining that it is lost.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining that a device is lost; and

preventing access to information on the device based on a secondary security key not used for encrypting the information during normal operation of the device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

encrypting the information based on a primary security key to secure the information prior to determining that the device is lost, and

wherein the preventing access to the information comprises re-encrypting the encrypted information based on the secondary security key after determining that the device is lost.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the preventing access to the information comprises preventing access to the information unless the secondary security key is received by the device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the secondary security key is inaccessible to an owner of the device and is accessible to a trusted entity for the device.

5. An apparatus comprising:

means for determining that a device is lost; and

means for preventing access to information on the device based on a secondary security key not used for encrypting the information during normal operation of the device.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising:

means for encrypting the information based on a primary security key to secure the information prior to determining that the device is lost, and

wherein the means for preventing access to the information comprises means for re-encrypting the encrypted information based on the secondary security key after determining that the device is lost.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the means for preventing access to the information comprises means for preventing access to the information unless the secondary security key is received by the device.

8. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor configured to determine that a device is lost, and to prevent access to information on the device based on a secondary security key not used for encrypting the information during normal operation of the device.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one processor is configured to encrypt the information based on a primary security key to secure the information prior to determining that the device is lost, and to re-encrypt the encrypted information based on the secondary security key after determining that the device is lost.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one processor is configured to prevent access to the information unless the secondary security key is received by the device.

11. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising;

code for causing at least one computer to determine that a device is lost, and

code for causing the at least one computer to prevent access to information on the device based on a secondary security key not used for encrypting the information during normal operation of the device.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, the non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprising:

code for causing the at least one computer to encrypt the information based on a primary security key to secure the information prior to determining that the device is lost, and

code for causing the at least one computer to re-encrypt the encrypted information based on the secondary security key after determining that the device is lost.

13. The computer program product of claim 11, the non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprising:

code for causing the at least one computer to prevent access to the information unless the secondary security key is received by the device.