Computing device with environment aware features

• US 9,137,668 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2014
• Issued: 09/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Hassan, Ahmed E., Wilson, John Ferguson, Chiu, Denny
• Primary Examiner(s): Sarwar, Babar
• Application Number:
  US14/260,375
• Publication Number:
  US 20140237548A1
• Time in Patent Office: 509 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.1, 4554121-4122, 455/414.1, 455418-420, 455/550.1, 455/556.2, 455/566, 370/328, 370/338, 713/323, 713/324, 713/502
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/62 Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2105 Dual mode as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2111 Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2137 Time limited access, e.g. to a computer or data
• 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 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• 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 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/084 using delegated authorisation, e.g. open authorisation [OAuth] protocol
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A method and mobile electronic device are provided which automatically adjust settings based on the environment of the mobile electronic device. The settings of the mobile electronic device which are adjusted may be security settings, filter settings, or status for instant messaging in dependence on the determined location of the mobile electronic device.

Claims

1. A method for providing security to a mobile electronic device, the method comprising:

setting a lock state of the mobile electronic device to match a lock state of a computer in response to determining that the mobile electronic device is locally connected to the computer;

initiating a preset time delay in response to determining that the lock state of the computer has changed from unlocked to locked; and

locking the mobile electronic device in response to determining each of at least one condition is satisfied, the at least one condition comprising that the mobile electronic device remains locally connected to the computer after the expiry of the preset time delay.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein if the mobile electronic device is not locally connected to the computer after the expiry of the preset time delay, then the mobile electric device remains unlocked.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prompting, during the preset time delay, for input indicating whether the mobile electronic device is to remain unlocked;

wherein the at least one condition further comprises that input indicating that the mobile electronic device is to remain unlocked is not received within the preset time delay.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said determining that the mobile electronic device is locally connected to the computer comprises determining that the mobile electronic device is physically connected to the computer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said determining that the mobile electronic device is locally connected to the computer comprises determining that the mobile electronic device is wirelessly connected to the computer.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

unlocking the mobile electronic device in response to determining that the lock state of the computer has changed from locked to unlocked.

7. A mobile electronic device, comprising:

a processor; and

a user input device connected to the processor;

wherein the processor is configured to;

set a lock state of the mobile electronic device to match a lock state of a computer in response to determining that the mobile electronic device is locally connected to the computer;

initiate a preset time delay in response to determining that the lock state of the computer has changed from unlocked to locked; and

lock the mobile electronic device in response to determining each of at least one condition is satisfied, the at least one condition comprising that the mobile electronic device remains locally connected to the computer after the expiry of the preset time delay.

8. The mobile electronic device of claim 7, wherein if the mobile electronic device is not locally connected to the computer after the expiry of the preset time delay, then the mobile electric device remains unlocked.

9. The mobile electronic device of claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to:

prompt, during the preset time delay, for input indicating whether the mobile electronic device is to remain unlocked;

wherein the at least one condition further comprises that input indicating that the mobile electronic device is to remain unlocked is not received within the preset time delay.

10. The mobile electronic device of claim 9, further comprising:

a display screen,

wherein the processor is further configured to display, during the preset time delay, a prompt in a user interface window displayed on the display screen requesting input indicating whether the mobile electronic device is to remain unlocked.

11. The mobile electronic device of claim 7, wherein:

said determining that the mobile electronic device is locally connected to the computer comprises determining that the mobile electronic device is physically connected to the computer.

12. The mobile electronic device of claim 7, wherein:

said determining that the mobile electronic device is locally connected to the computer comprises determining that the mobile electronic device is wirelessly connected to the computer.

13. The mobile electronic device of claim 7, wherein:

the processor is further configured to unlock the mobile electronic device in response to determining that the lock state of the computer has changed from locked to unlocked.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions executable by a processor, wherein the instructions, when executed, configure the processor to:

set a lock state of a mobile electronic device to match a lock state of a computer in response to determining that the mobile electronic device is locally connected to the computer;

initiate a preset time delay in response to determining that the lock state of the computer has changed from unlocked to locked; and

lock the mobile electronic device in response to determining each of at least one condition is satisfied, the at least one condition comprising that the mobile electronic device remains locally connected to the computer after the expiry of the preset time delay.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein if the mobile electronic device is not locally connected to the computer after the expiry of the preset time delay, then the mobile electric device remains unlocked.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the instructions, when executed, further configure the processor to:

prompt, during the preset time delay, for input indicating whether the mobile electronic device is to remain unlocked; and

wherein the at least one condition further comprises that input indicating that the mobile electronic device is to remain unlocked is not received within the preset time delay.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein:

said determining that the mobile electronic device is locally connected to the computer comprises determining that the mobile electronic device is physically connected to the computer.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein:

said determining that the mobile electronic device is locally connected to the computer comprises determining that the mobile electronic device is wirelessly connected to the computer.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein:

said determining that the mobile electronic device is locally connected to the computer comprises determining that the mobile electronic device is connected to the computer by a short-range wireless interface.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the instructions, when executed, further configure the processor to:

unlock the mobile electronic device in response to determining that the lock state of the computer has changed from locked to unlocked.