Cryptographic system and method for geolocking and securing digital information
DCFirst Claim
1. An information processing device, comprising:
- a geographic location determining unit;
a file storage unit; and
a processor operatively coupled to the geographic location determining unit and file storage unit, and having suitable memory adapted to store operating system instructions operable to cause the processor to manage files within the file storage unit, including the functions of;
selecting location data corresponding to a specific geographic location at which access rights for a selected file by the information processing device is permitted;
generating a location attribute value based in part on the location data;
associating the location attribute value with the selected file; and
inhibiting file management operations pertaining to the selected file, including any copying, saving and deleting of the selected file, unless a current location of the information processing device corresponds to the location attribute value;
wherein the location attribute value is based in part on an area parameter defining a shape of a region that encompasses the specific geographic location;
wherein the functions further include generating an encrypting key based on the area parameter; and
wherein the associating function further comprises encrypting the selected file using the encrypting key.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for controlling access to digital information utilizes a location identity attribute that defines a specific geographic location. The location identity attribute is associated with the digital information such that the digital information can be accessed only at the specific geographic location. The location identity attribute further includes a location value and a proximity value. The location value corresponds to a location of an intended recipient appliance of the digital information, and may be further defined in terms of latitude, longitude and altitude dimensions. The digital information is encrypted using a geolocking key based at least in part on the location identity attribute. The geolocking key is based on a shape parameter that is determined from the location identity attribute and is included with the encrypted digital information. The shape parameter describes a shape of a geographic area, but does not identify where the geographic area is located. The appliance that receives the encrypted digital information can generate the geolocking key to decrypt the digital information based on the received shape parameter and the appliance location. If the appliance location is not within the proximate area of the location identity attribute, the appliance will be unable to generate the geolocking key to decrypt the digital information.
78 Citations
33 Claims
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1. An information processing device, comprising:
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a geographic location determining unit; a file storage unit; and a processor operatively coupled to the geographic location determining unit and file storage unit, and having suitable memory adapted to store operating system instructions operable to cause the processor to manage files within the file storage unit, including the functions of; selecting location data corresponding to a specific geographic location at which access rights for a selected file by the information processing device is permitted; generating a location attribute value based in part on the location data; associating the location attribute value with the selected file; and inhibiting file management operations pertaining to the selected file, including any copying, saving and deleting of the selected file, unless a current location of the information processing device corresponds to the location attribute value; wherein the location attribute value is based in part on an area parameter defining a shape of a region that encompasses the specific geographic location; wherein the functions further include generating an encrypting key based on the area parameter; and wherein the associating function further comprises encrypting the selected file using the encrypting key. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A file management system for use in an information processing device, the file management system comprising executable instructions fixed in a suitable medium and operable to perform the functions of:
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selecting location data corresponding to a specific geographic location at which access rights for a selected file by the information processing device is permitted; generating a location attribute value based in part on the location data; associating the location attribute value with the selected file; and inhibiting file management operations pertaining to the selected file, including any copying, saving and deleting of the selected file, unless a current location of the information processing device corresponds to the location attribute value; wherein the location attribute value is based in part on an area parameter defining a shape of a region that encompasses the specific geographic location; wherein the functions further include generating an encrypting key based on the area parameter; and wherein the associating function further comprises encrypting the selected file using the encrypting key. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of managing files in an information processing device comprising the steps of:
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selecting location data corresponding to a specific geographic location at which access rights for a selected file by the information processing device is permitted; generating a location attribute value based in part on the location data; associating the location attribute value with the selected file; and inhibiting file management operations pertaining to the selected file, including any copying, saving and deleting of the selected file, unless a current location of the information processing device corresponds to the location attribute value; wherein the location attribute value is based in part on an area parameter defining a shape of a region that encompasses the specific geographic location generating an encrypting key based on the area parameter wherein the associating step further comprises encrypting the selected file using the encrypting key. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification