IP Library Granted Patent US 8,724,814
Granted Patent B2
US 8,724,814 · App. 13/244,800 · Granted May 13, 2014

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

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,724,814
App. No.
13/244,800
Granted
May 13, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system and a method are provided for activating one or more security functions of a mobile electronic device. The system and method provide for the activation of one or more security functions when the mobile electronic device is stored in a mobile electronic device holder. Security functions include, for example, closing a data item currently being displayed on the mobile electronic device, erasing decrypted information stored on the mobile electronic device, locking the mobile electronic device, and performing a secure garbage collection operation.

Claims (43)

1. A mobile electronic system comprising:

a display;

a detector; and

a magnet;

the detector being configured to detect the magnet;

the mobile electronic system being configured to activate one or more security functions after the magnet has been detected, the one or more security functions comprising protecting the mobile electronic system from unauthorized use.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more security functions comprise preventing access to one or more resources of the mobile electronic device until a correct password is received.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the password is user-configurable.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the mobile electronic device is configured to conserve power in response to detecting that the magnet is in proximity to the detector of the mobile electronic device.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the mobile electronic device is configured to shut off the display in response to detecting that the magnet is in proximity to the detector of the mobile electronic device.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the detector comprises a Hall effect sensor.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more security functions comprise locking the mobile electronic device.

8. A mobile electronic device comprising:

a detector

configured to detect a magnet;

the mobile electronic device being configured to activate one or more security functions after the magnet has been detected,

the one or more security functions comprising protecting the mobile electronic device from unauthorized use.

9. The mobile electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the one or more security functions comprise preventing access to one or more resources of the mobile electronic device until a correct password is received.

10. The mobile electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the password is user-configurable.

11. The mobile electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the one or more resources of the mobile electronic device comprise information stored on the mobile electronic device.

12. The mobile electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the one or more resources of the mobile electronic device comprise services provided on the mobile electronic device.

13. The mobile electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the one or more resources of the mobile electronic device comprise messages stored on the mobile electronic device.

14. The mobile electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the mobile electronic device is configured to conserve power in response to detecting that the magnet is in proximity to the detector of the mobile electronic device.

15. The mobile electronic device of claim 14 , wherein the mobile electronic device is configured to shut off a display of the mobile device in response to detecting that the magnet is in proximity to the detector of the mobile electronic device.

16. The mobile electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the detector comprises a Hall effect sensor.

17. The mobile electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the one or more security functions comprise locking the mobile electronic device.

18. A non-transitory computer readable medium containing instructions that when executed by a processor perform a method for providing security for a mobile electronic device, the method comprising:

detecting a magnet; and

activating one or more security functions after the magnet has been detected,

the one or more security functions comprising protecting the mobile electronic device from unauthorized use.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the one or more security functions comprise preventing access to one or more resources of the mobile electronic device until a correct password is received.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the password is user-configurable.

21. The method of claim 19 , wherein the one or more resources of the mobile electronic device comprise information stored on the mobile electronic device.

22. The method of claim 19 , wherein the one or more resources of the mobile electronic device comprise services provided on the mobile electronic device.

23. The method of claim 19 , wherein the one or more resources of the mobile electronic device comprise messages stored on the mobile electronic device.

24. The method of claim 19 , wherein the mobile electronic device is configured to conserve power in response to detecting that the magnet is in proximity to a detector of the mobile electronic device.

25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the mobile electronic device is configured to shut off a display of the mobile device in response to detecting that the magnet is in proximity to a detector of the mobile electronic device.

26. The method of claim 19 , wherein the detecting is performed by a detector of the mobile electronic device.

27. The method of claim 26 , wherein the detector comprises a Hall effect sensor.

28. The method of claim 18 , wherein the one or more security functions comprise locking the mobile electronic device.

29. A holder for protecting a mobile electronic device, the holder comprising:

a cover including a magnet configured such that when the magnet is positioned proximate to a detector of the mobile electronic device, the cover is positioned to obscure the display and cause the mobile electronic device to activate one or more security functions.

30. The holder of claim 29 , wherein the holder facilitates storage of the mobile electronic device when not in use.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 19, 2021
From: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
To: NEC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 055954/0766 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 12, 2014
From: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
To: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 032438/0896 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 23, 2011
From: LITTLE, HERBERT A.; ADAMS, NEIL P.; TOTZKE, SCOTT W.
To: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
Reel/Frame 027273/0790 →