System and method of security function activation for a mobile electronic device

1. A system for protecting information on a mobile device, the system comprising:

a mobile device holder comprising a magnet; and

a mobile device comprising a proximity detector,

wherein the proximity detector is configured to detect that the mobile device is in close proximity to the magnet; and

wherein the mobile device is configured to protect confidential information stored on the mobile device by deleting the confidential information when the proximity detector detects that the mobile device is in close proximity to the magnet.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein said information comprises a decrypted version of encrypted information.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the mobile device is further configured to restrict access to select information stored in, received at, or input to the device, when it detects that the mobile device is in close proximity to the magnet.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the mobile device is further configured to restrict access to all resources of the mobile device, when it detects that the mobile device is in close proximity to the magnet.

5. A system for protecting information on a mobile device, the system comprising:

a mobile device holder comprising a magnet; and

a mobile device comprising a proximity detector, the proximity detector being configured to detect that the mobile device is in close proximity to the magnet,

wherein the mobile device is configured to protect information stored on the mobile device when the proximity detector detects that the mobile device is in close proximity to the magnet, and

wherein the mobile device is further configured to provide different protection levels for different mobile device holders.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the mobile device is configured to provide a highest protection level, when the mobile device is stored in a carrying holder; and to provide a lower protection level, when the mobile device is stored in a mobile device cradle.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the mobile device is further configured to lock the mobile device, when it detects that the mobile device is in close proximity to the magnet.

8. A method of activating protection of information on a mobile device, the method comprising:

detecting whether a mobile device is in close proximity to a magnet, the magnet being coupled to a holder for the mobile device; and

protecting confidential information stored on said mobile device by deleting the confidential information when the mobile device is in close proximity to the magnet.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the information comprises a decrypted version of encrypted information.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

displaying information on a display of the mobile device; and

clearing the displayed information when the mobile device is in close proximity to the magnet.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

restricting access to select information stored in, received at, or input to the mobile device, when the mobile device is in close proximity to the magnet.

12. A method of activating protection of information on a mobile device, the method comprising:

detecting whether a mobile device is in close proximity to a magnet, the magnet being coupled to a holder for the mobile device;

protecting information stored on said mobile device when the mobile device is in close proximity to the magnet;

differentiating between multiple mobile device holders; and

providing different levels of protection for different mobile device holders.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

providing a highest protection level when the mobile device is stored in a carrying holder; and

providing a lower protection level when the mobile device is stored in a mobile device cradle.

14. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

locking the mobile device when the mobile device is in close proximity to the magnet.

15. A mobile device comprising a proximity detector, wherein the proximity detector is configured to detect that the mobile device is in close proximity to a magnet, the magnet being coupled to a holder for the mobile device, and

wherein the mobile device is configured to protect confidential information on said mobile device by deleting the confidential information when the proximity detector detects that the mobile device is in close proximity to the magnet.

16. The mobile device of claim 15 , further comprising a processor configured to monitor the proximity detector to determine whether the mobile device is in close proximity to the magnet.

17. The mobile device of claim 15 , wherein the information comprises a decrypted version of encrypted information.

18. The mobile device of claim 15 , wherein the mobile device is configured to display information on a display, and wherein the displayed information is cleared from the display when the mobile device is in close proximity to the magnet.

19. The mobile device of claim 15 , wherein the mobile device is configured to restrict access to select information stored in, received at, or input to the device, when it detects that the mobile device is in close proximity to the magnet.

20. The mobile device of claim 19 , wherein the mobile device is configured to restrict access to all resources of the mobile device, when it detects that the mobile device is in close proximity to the magnet.

21. A system for protecting information on a mobile device, the system comprising:

a mobile device holder comprising a magnet; and

a mobile device comprising a proximity detector, the proximity detector being configured to detect that the mobile device is in close proximity to the magnet,

wherein the mobile device is configured to protect information stored on the mobile device when the proximity detector detects that the mobile device is in close proximity to the magnet,

wherein the mobile device is further configured to display information on a display of the mobile device, and

wherein the displayed information is cleared from the display when the mobile device is in close proximity to the magnet.

22. A system for protecting information on a mobile device, the system comprising:

a mobile device holder comprising a magnet; and

a mobile device comprising a proximity detector, the proximity detector being configured to detect that the mobile device is in close proximity to the magnet,

wherein the mobile device is configured to protect information stored on the mobile device when the proximity detector detects that the mobile device is in close proximity to the magnet, and

wherein the mobile device is adapted to provide different protection levels which are configurable by a mobile device owner.

23. A system for protecting information on a mobile device, the system comprising:

a mobile device holder comprising a magnet; and

a mobile device comprising a proximity detector, the proximity detector being configured to detect that the mobile device is in close proximity to the magnet,

wherein the mobile device is configured to protect information stored on the mobile device when the proximity detector detects that the mobile device is in close proximity to the magnet, and

wherein the proximity detector is configured to differentiate between multiple mobile device holders.

24. A system for protecting information on a mobile device, the system comprising:

a mobile device holder comprising a magnet; and

a mobile device comprising a proximity detector, the proximity detector being configured to detect that the mobile device is in close proximity to the magnet,

wherein the mobile device is configured to protect information stored on the mobile device when the proximity detector detects that the mobile device is in close proximity to the magnet, and

wherein the mobile device is further configured to perform a secure garbage collection, when it detects that the mobile device is in close proximity to the magnet.

25. A method of activating protection of information on a mobile device, comprising:

detecting whether a mobile device is in close proximity to a magnet, the magnet being coupled to a holder for the mobile device;

protecting information stored on said mobile device when the mobile device is in close proximity to the magnet; and

performing a secure garbage collection function when the mobile device is in close proximity to the magnet.

26. A mobile device comprising a proximity detector, wherein the proximity detector is configured to detect that the mobile device is in close proximity to a magnet, the magnet being coupled to a holder for the mobile device,

wherein the mobile device is configured to protect information on said mobile device when the proximity detector detects that the mobile device is in close proximity to the magnet, and

wherein the mobile device is further configured to perform a secure garbage collection, when it detects that the mobile device is in close proximity to the magnet.

27. The system of claim 21 , wherein protecting information stored on the mobile device comprises preventing access to one or more resources of the mobile device until a correct password is received.

28. The system of claim 27 , wherein the password is user-configurable.

29. The system of claim 27 , wherein when the mobile device is no longer in close proximity to the magnet and in response to receiving a correct password, the mobile device is further configured to redisplay the displayed information on the display of the mobile device.

30. The system of claim 21 , wherein the mobile device is configured to conserve battery power in response to detecting that the magnet of the mobile device holder is in proximity to the proximity detector of the mobile device.

31. The system of claim 27 , wherein the one or more resources of the mobile device comprise information stored on the mobile device.

32. The system of claim 27 , wherein the one or more resources of the mobile device comprise services provided on the mobile device.

33. The system of claim 27 , wherein the one or more resources of the mobile device comprise messages stored on the mobile device.

34. The system of claim 22 , wherein protecting information stored on the mobile device comprises preventing access to one or more resources of the mobile device until a correct password is received.

35. The system of claim 34 , wherein the password is user-configurable.

36. The system of claim 34 , wherein when the mobile device is no longer in close proximity to the magnet and in response to receiving a correct password, the mobile device is further configured to redisplay the displayed information on the display of the mobile device.

37. The system of claim 22 , wherein the mobile device is configured to conserve battery power in response to detecting that the magnet of the mobile device holder is in proximity to the proximity detector of the mobile device.

38. The system of claim 34 , wherein the one or more resources of the mobile device comprise information stored on the mobile device.

39. The system of claim 34 , wherein the one or more resources of the mobile device comprise services provided on the mobile device.

40. The system of claim 34 , wherein the one or more resources of the mobile device comprise messages stored on the mobile device.