IP Library Granted Patent US 10,855,664
Granted Patent B1
US 10,855,664 · App. 15/427,607 · Granted Dec 1, 2020

Proximity-based logical access

Inventors: Siamak Ziraknejad (Reston, VA); Feng Xia (Vienna, VA); Liang Chen (McLean, VA); Quan Jia (Vienna, VA)
Assignee: MicroStrategy Incorporated
H04L63/0492H04B17/318H04L63/08H04W4/02H04W4/80H04W76/10
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,855,664
App. No.
15/427,607
Granted
Dec 1, 2020
Kind
B1
Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for proximity-based logical access. In some implementations, a method includes receiving, by a mobile electronic device, a request from a server system to approve a session for a logical resource accessed by a second electronic device. In response to receiving the request, the mobile electronic device, initiates communication over a wireless communication link using a radio of the mobile electronic device. The mobile electronic device receives data from the second electronic device over the wireless communication link, the received data from the second electronic device indicating a session identifier. After receiving the data from the second electronic device, the mobile electronic device provides a response to the server system that indicates approval of the session and indicates the session identifier.

Claims (62)

1. A method performed by a mobile electronic device, the method comprising:

receiving, by the mobile electronic device, a request from a server system to approve a session for a second electronic device to access a logical resource;

in response to receiving the request, initiating, by the mobile electronic device, communication with the second electronic device over a wireless communication link using a radio of the mobile electronic device;

receiving, by the mobile electronic device, data from the second electronic device over the wireless communication link, the received data from the second electronic device indicating a session identifier; and

after receiving the data from the second electronic device, providing, by the mobile electronic device, a response to the server system that (i) indicates approval of the session for the second electronic device to access the logical resource and (ii) indicates the session identifier received from the second electronic device over the wireless communication link.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein initiating communication comprises initiating communication with the second electronic device over a direct wireless link between the mobile electronic device and the second electronic device;

wherein the method further comprises:

determining, by the mobile electronic device, a signal strength for signals received from the second electronic device; and

determining, by the mobile electronic device, that the determined signal strength is greater than or equal to a minimum signal strength threshold representing a level of physical proximity of the mobile electronic device to the second electronic device;

wherein providing the response that indicates approval of the session is based at least in part on determining that the determined signal strength is greater than or equal to a minimum signal strength threshold.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, by the mobile electronic device, a message from the second electronic device over the wireless communication link, the message indicating an identifier for the second electronic device; and

based on the identifier for the second electronic device and data stored at the mobile electronic device, determining, by the mobile electronic device, that the mobile electronic device was previously paired with the second electronic device.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

identifying one or more conditions that limit use of a user credential linked to the pairing of the mobile electronic device and the second electronic device; and

determining that the one or more conditions are satisfied;

wherein providing the response that indicates approval of the session is based at least in part on determining that the one or more conditions are satisfied.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the one or more conditions limit use of the credential at certain times prior to expiration of the credential; and

wherein determining that the one or more conditions are satisfied comprises determining that a current time is within a range of time that use of the credential is not restricted.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the one or more conditions restrict geographic locations where the credential can be used; and

wherein determining that the one or more conditions are satisfied comprises determining that the mobile electronic device is located within a geographic region where the credential is authorized to be used.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the one or more conditions disallow use of the credential outside one or more particular geographic areas; and

wherein determining that the one or more conditions are satisfied comprises determining, based on a GPS reading of the mobile electronic device, that the mobile electronic device is within the one or more particular geographic areas.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the request comprises receiving a silent push notification that causes the mobile electronic device to initiate communication over the wireless communication link without displaying a notification on the mobile electronic device.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the request comprises receiving a request to approve a session for the second electronic device to obtain access to an Internet resource.

10. A non-transitory machine-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a mobile electronic device, cause the mobile computing device to perform actions comprising:

receiving, by the mobile electronic device, a request from a server system to approve a session for a second electronic device to access a logical resource;

in response to receiving the request, initiating, by the mobile electronic device, communication with the second electronic device over a wireless communication link using a radio of the mobile electronic device;

receiving, by the mobile electronic device, data from the second electronic device over the wireless communication link, the received data from the second electronic device indicating a session identifier; and

after receiving the data from the second electronic device, providing, by the mobile electronic device, a response to the server system that (i) indicates approval of the session for the second electronic device to access the logical resource and (ii) indicates the session identifier received from the second electronic device over the wireless communication link.

11. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein initiating communication comprises initiating communication with the second electronic device over a direct wireless link between the mobile electronic device and the second electronic device;

wherein the actions further comprise:

determining, by the mobile electronic device, a signal strength for signals received from the second electronic device; and

determining, by the mobile electronic device, that the determined signal strength is greater than or equal to a minimum signal strength threshold representing a level of physical proximity of the mobile electronic device to the second electronic device;

wherein providing the response that indicates approval of the session is based at least in part on determining that the determined signal strength is greater than or equal to a minimum signal strength threshold.

12. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the actions further comprise:

receiving, by the mobile electronic device, a message from the second electronic device over the wireless communication link, the message indicating an identifier for the second electronic device;

based on the identifier for the second electronic device and data stored at the mobile electronic device, determining, by the mobile electronic device, that the mobile electronic device was previously paired with the second electronic device.

13. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the actions further comprise:

identifying one or more conditions that limit use of a user credential linked to the pairing of the mobile electronic device and the second electronic device;

determining that the one or more conditions are satisfied; and

wherein providing the response that indicates approval of the session is based at least in part on determining that the one or more conditions are satisfied.

14. A mobile electronic device comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more data storage devices storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the mobile computing device to perform actions comprising:

receiving, by the mobile electronic device, a request from a server system to approve a session for a second electronic device to access a logical resource;

in response to receiving the request, initiating, by the mobile electronic device, communication with the second electronic device over a wireless communication link using a radio of the mobile electronic device;

receiving, by the mobile electronic device, data from the second electronic device over the wireless communication link, the received data from the second electronic device indicating a session identifier; and

after receiving the data from the second electronic device, providing, by the mobile electronic device, a response to the server system that (i) indicates approval of the session for the second electronic device to access the logical resource and (ii) indicates the session identifier received from the second electronic device over the wireless communication link.

15. The mobile electronic device of claim 14 , wherein initiating communication comprises initiating communication with the second electronic device over a direct wireless link between the mobile electronic device and the second electronic device;

wherein the actions further comprise:

determining, by the mobile electronic device, a signal strength for signals received from the second electronic device; and

determining, by the mobile electronic device, that the determined signal strength is greater than or equal to a minimum signal strength threshold representing a level of physical proximity of the mobile electronic device to the second electronic device;

wherein providing the response that indicates approval of the session is based at least in part on determining that the determined signal strength is greater than or equal to a minimum signal strength threshold.

16. The mobile electronic device of claim 14 , wherein the actions further comprise:

receiving, by the mobile electronic device, a message from the second electronic device over the wireless communication link, the message indicating an identifier for the second electronic device; and

based on the identifier for the second electronic device and data stored at the mobile electronic device, determining, by the mobile electronic device, that the mobile electronic device was previously paired with the second electronic device.

17. The mobile electronic device of claim 14 , wherein receiving the request comprises receiving a request to approve a session for the second electronic device to access an web application, a web page, or a virtual private network.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein initiating communication over the wireless communication link using a radio of the mobile electronic device comprises initiating communication over a Bluetooth link between the mobile electronic device and the second electronic device.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second electronic device is a user device.

20. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the response to the server system comprises providing the response to the server system over a communication link that is different from the communication link between the mobile electronic device and the second electronic device.

21. The method of claim 1 , wherein the request from the server system to the mobile electronic device is provided in response an action of the second electronic device to initiate access to the logical resource.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 19, 2025
From: MICROSTRATEGY INCORPORATED
To: STRATEGY INC
Reel/Frame 072910/0511 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT AT REEL/FRAME: 056647/0687, REEL/FRAME: 057435/0023, REEL/FRAME: 059256/0247, REEL/FRAME: 062794/0255 AND REEL/FRAME: 066663/0713 Recorded Sep 26, 2024
From: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, IN ITS CAPACITY AS COLLATERAL AGENT FOR THE SECURED PARTIES
To: MICROSTRATEGY INCORPORATED; MICROSTRATEGY SERVICES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 069065/0539 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 22, 2021
From: MICROSTRATEGY INCORPORATED
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 056647/0687 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 9, 2019
From: ZIRAKNEJAD, SIAMAK; XIA, FENG; CHEN, LIANG; JIA, QUAN
To: MICROSTRATEGY INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 048826/0133 →