Locker service for mobile device and mobile applications authentication

• US 9,635,546 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2014
• Issued: 04/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Carr, Forrest L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ajibade Akonai, Olumide T
• Application Number:
  US14/230,985
• Publication Number:
  US 20150281950A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,121 Days
• Field of Search: 455410, 455411, 455418, 455419, 4554563, 455566
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/107 wherein the security policies are location-dependent, e.g. entities privileges depend on current location or allowing specific operations only from locally connected terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/30 Security of mobile devices; Security of mobile applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/63 Location-dependent; Proximity-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/68 Gesture-dependent or behaviour-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A method, a device, and a non-transitory storage medium to receive a locker setting that indicates at least one of a geographic location of a user device, a state of motion of the user device, or a state of connection of the user device relative to a network or another device; store the locker setting; monitor a current state of the user device, wherein the current state corresponds to a current at least one of geographic location, state of motion, or state of connection of the user device; compare the current state to the locker setting; determine whether to enter a locked state based on a comparison, wherein the locked state requires that a user of the user device re-enters login information; and enter the locked state in response to a determination to enter the locked state, such that the user device and/or an application enters the locked state.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a user device and via a graphical user interface, a locker setting from a user, wherein the locker setting indicates at least one of a geographic location of the user device, a state of motion of the user device, or a state of connection of the user device relative to a network or another device, and wherein the locker setting indicates that the user device is to enter a locked state or an unlocked state when a current state of the user device matches the locker setting;

storing, by the user device, the locker setting;

executing, by the user device, an end user application while the user device is in the unlocked state, wherein the end user application uses the locker setting to govern whether to enter an application locked state or an application unlocked state, and while executing, the end user application operates in the application unlocked state;

monitoring, by the user device, the current state of the user device, wherein the current state corresponds to at least one of a current geographic location, a current state of motion, or a current state of connection of the user device;

comparing, by the user device and based on the monitoring, the current state to the locker setting while the user device is in the unlocked state and the end user application is executing;

determining, by the user device and based on the comparing, whether to enter the locked state or remain in the unlocked state;

determining, by the end user application and based on the comparing, whether to enter the application locked state or remain in the application unlocked state;

entering, by the user device, the locked state in response to determining that the user device is to enter the locked state, wherein when in the locked state, the user has to enter login information to unlock the user device, and remaining, by the end user application, in the application unlocked state in response to determining that the end user application is to remain in the application unlocked state; and

remaining, by the user device, in the unlocked state in response to determining that the user device is to remain in the unlocked state, and entering, by the end user application, the application locked state in response to determining that the end user application is to enter the application locked state.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the locker setting indicates a period of inactivity of the user of the user device, and the method further comprising:

monitoring, by the user device, the current state of the user device, wherein the current state includes a current period of inactivity of the user of the user device; and

comparing, by the user device, the current state to the locker setting.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the comparing comprises:

determining that the current state matches the locker setting.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the comparing comprises:

determining that the current state does not match the locker setting.

5. The method of claim 1,

wherein when in the application locked state, the user has to enter login information to unlock the end user application.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the user device is a mobile device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the state of motion indicates a type of motion or a degree of motion, and the method further comprising:

prompting, by the user device and via another graphical user interface, the user to enter the login information subsequent to entering the locked state.

8. A mobile device comprising:

a communication interface;

a memory, wherein the memory stores instructions; and

a processor, wherein the processor executes the instructions to;

receive a locker setting via a graphical user interface, from a user, wherein the locker setting indicates at least one of a geographic location of the mobile device, a state of motion of the mobile device, or a state of connection of the mobile device relative to a network or another device, and wherein the locker setting indicates that the mobile device is to enter a locked state or an unlocked state when a current state of the mobile device matches the locker setting;

store the locker setting;

execute a mobile device application while the mobile device is in the unlocked state, wherein the mobile device application uses the locker setting to govern whether to enter an application locked state or an application unlocked state, and while executing, the mobile device application operates in the application unlocked state;

monitor the current state of the mobile device, wherein the current state corresponds to at least one of a current geographic location, a current state of motion, or a current state of connection of the mobile device;

compare the current state to the locker setting while the mobile device is in the unlocked state and the mobile device application is executing, based on the monitorship;

determine whether to enter the locked state or remain in the unlocked state based on the comparison;

determine whether to enter the application locked state or remain in the application unlocked state based on the comparison;

enter the locked state in response to a determination that the mobile device is to enter the locked state, wherein when in the locked state, the user has to enter login information to unlock the user device, and remain in the application unlocked state in response to a determination that the mobile device application is to remain in the application unlocked state; and

remain in the unlocked state in response to a determination that the mobile device is to remain in the unlocked state, and enter the application locked state in response to a determination that the mobile device application is to enter the application locked state.

9. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein the locker setting indicates a period of inactivity of the user of the mobile device, and wherein the processor further executes the instructions to:

monitor the current state of the mobile device, wherein the current state includes a current period of inactivity of the user of the mobile device; and

compare the current state to the locker setting.

10. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein, when comparing, the processor further executes the instructions to:

determine that the current state matches the locker setting.

11. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein the locker setting indicates the geographic location of the mobile device, the geographic location indicating a first location, the processor further executes the instructions to:

store a second location, wherein the second location includes at least one of a home of the user or a work place of the user, and the second location is different than the first location; and

identify whether the mobile device is at the first location based on whether the mobile device is not at the second location.

12. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein, wherein comparing, the processor further executes the instructions to:

determine that the current state does not match the locker setting.

13. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein the locker setting includes the current state of motion, the current state of motion including a type of motion and a duration of motion, and the mobile device further comprising:

at least one of a motion sensor, a gyroscope, or an accelerometer, wherein the processor further executes the instructions to;

determine a current type of motion; and

determine a current duration of motion.

14. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein the processor further executes the instructions to:

receive a request from the user to execute the mobile device application; and

prompt the user for login information in response to the receipt of the request.

15. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein the processor further executes the instructions to:

prompt the user for login information in response to the entrance of the mobile device application in the application locked state.

16. A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium storing instructions executable by a processor of a computational device, which when executed cause the computational device to:

receive a locker setting via a graphical user interface, from a user, wherein the locker setting indicates at least one of a geographic location of the computational device, a state of motion of the computational device, or a state of connection of the computational device relative to a network or another device, and wherein the locker setting indicates that the computational device is to enter a locked state or an unlocked state when a current state of the computational device matches the locker setting;

store the locker setting;

execute an end user application while the computational device is in the unlocked state, wherein the end user application uses the locker setting to govern whether to enter an application locked state or an application unlocked state, and while executing. the end user application operates in the application unlocked state;

monitor the current state of the computational device, wherein the current state corresponds to at least one of a current geographic location, a current state of motion, or a current state of connection of the computational device;

compare the current state to the locker setting while the computational device is in the unlocked state and the end user application is executing, based on the monitorship;

determine whether to enter the locked state or remain in the unlocked state based on the comparison;

determine whether to enter the application locked state or remain in the application unlocked state based on the comparison;

enter the locked state in response to a determination that the computational device is to enter the locked state, wherein when in the locked state, the user has to enter login information to unlock the computational device, and remain in the application unlocked state in response to a determination that the end user application is to remain in the application unlocked state; and

remain in the unlocked state in response to a determination that the computational device is to remain in the unlocked state, and enter the application locked state in response to a determination that the end user application is to enter the application locked state.

17. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the locker setting indicates the geographic location of the computational device, the geographic location indicating a first location, and further storing instructions executable by the processor of the computational device, which when executed cause the computational device to:

store a second location, wherein the second location includes at least one of a home of the user or a work place of the user, and the second location is different than the first location; and

identify whether the computational device is at the first location based on whether the computational device is not at the second location.

18. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, further storing instructions executable by the processor of the computational device, which when executed cause the computational device to:

receive a request from the user to execute the end user application; and

prompt the user for login information in response to the receipt of the request.

19. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, further storing instructions executable by the processor of the computational device, which when executed cause the computational device to:

prompt the user for login information in response to the entrance of the end user application in the application locked state.

20. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, further storing instructions executable by the processor of the computational device, which when executed cause the computational device to:

calculate a duration of motion of the computational device, wherein the computational device is a mobile device.