Data security device

• US 8,032,084 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2007
• Issued: 10/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Data Transfer & Communications Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Data Transfer & Communications Ltd.
• Inventors: Demirbasa, Saban, Bloch, Stephen, Curry, Alistair
• Primary Examiner(s): Doan, Kiet
• Application Number:
  US11/822,288
• Publication Number:
  US 20080014869A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,554 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41, 455/426, 455/41.2, 455/557, 455/550.1, 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 370/253, 370/338, 340/571, 340/539, 709/203
• 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 method of operating a portable data storage device having a short range wireless communication interface, the method comprising:

preregistering a portable data storage device with a backup device in an authorization mode and then creating a secure pairing between the portable data storage device and the backup device to enable secure communication between the portable data storage device and the backup device over the wireless communication link, wherein the portable data storage device and the backup device are preregistered using a first key code and a secure pairing is created using a second key code;

communicating with the backup device over a wireless communication link using a short range wireless communication interface, wherein communicating with the backup device comprises communicating periodically or quasi-continuously between the backup device and the portable data storage device to monitor for separation of the backup device from the portable data storage device; and

initiating an alert procedure on separation of the backup device from the portable data storage device wherein the alert procedure comprises disabling at least one function of the portable data storage device.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the alert procedure comprises at least one procedure selected from the group of procedures consisting of:

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

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

3. The method according to claim 1 further comprising receiving an input from a user to override the alert procedure.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein communicating comprises transmitting data from the portable data storage device to the backup device.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the data comprises at least one type of data selected from the group consisting of:

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.

6. The method according to claim 1 comprising transmitting data automatically on connection to the backup device.

7. 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, wherein communicating with the backup device comprises communicating periodically or quasi-continuously between the backup device and the portable data storage device to monitor for separation of the backup device from the portable data storage device, the device further comprising an alerting device for initiating an alert procedure on separation of the backup device from the portable data storage device, the device for initiating an alert procedure comprising an alerting device for disabling at least one function of the portable data storage device;

wherein the portable data storage device and the backup device preregister over the wireless communication link before a secure pairing is created between the portable data storage device and the backup device, and

wherein the portable data storage device preregisters the backup device over the wireless communication link using a first key code and wherein the secure pairing is created using a second key code.

8. The portable data storage device according to claim 7 wherein the device for initiating the alert procedure comprises at least one alerting device selected from the group of alerting devices consisting of:

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; and

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

9. The portable data storage device according to claim 7 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.

10. The portable data storage device according to claim 7 further comprising a device for enabling the user to override the alert procedure.

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

12. The portable data storage device according to claim 11 wherein the data comprises at least one type of data selected from the group consisting of:

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.