Patents by Inventor Neil P. Adams

Neil P. Adams has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20130019318
    Abstract: Systems and methods of owner application control of an electronic device are provided. Owner application control information is stored on the electronic device and/or one or more remote servers. Owner application control information is consulted to determine if one or more required applications are available for execution on the electronic device. If not, one or more required applications not available are downloaded and installed. This could be in a manner transparent to the user of the electronic device. If one or more required applications are not available on the electronic device, the device can be functionally disabled in whole, or in part, until one or more required applications are available.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Neil P. Adams, Michael G. Kirkup, Herbert A. Little, Russell N. Owen
  • Patent number: 8355701
    Abstract: A mobile communications device for the display of an incrementally received message includes a message viewer application for scanning the received portions of the message. On determination that the received portion of the message includes a first displayable portion of the message content, the system signals to a message server to halt the message server from forwarding further portions of the message content. The system provides a mechanism for the user of the mobile communications device to cause the mobile communications device to further signal the message server to recommence the forwarding of further portions of the secure message content to permit the verification of the e-mail based on the further portions of the secure message content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Neil P. Adams, Michael S. Brown, Herbert A. Little, Michael K. Brown
  • Publication number: 20130013917
    Abstract: A system and method for searching and retrieving certificates, which may be used in the processing of encoded messages. In one embodiment, a certificate synchronization application is programmed to perform certificate searches by querying one or more certificate servers for all of the certificates on those certificate servers. If all of the certificates on a certificate server cannot be successfully retrieved using a single search query, due to a search quota on the certificate server being exceeded for example, the search is re-performed through multiple queries, each corresponding to a narrower subsearch. Embodiments described herein enable large amounts of certificates to be automatically searched for and retrieved from certificate servers, thereby minimizing the need for users to manually search for individual certificates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael S. Brown, Neil P. Adams, David F. Tapuska, Herbert A. Little
  • Publication number: 20130013919
    Abstract: A system and method for processing certificates located in a certificate search. Certificates located in a certificate search are processed at a data server (e.g. a mobile data server) coupled to a computing device (e.g. a mobile device) to determine status data that can be used to indicate the status of those certificates to a user of the computing device. Selected certificates may be downloaded to the computing device for storage, and the downloaded certificates are tracked by the data server. This facilitates the automatic updating of the status of one or more certificates stored on the computing device by the data server, in which updated status data is pushed from the data server to the computing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Neil P. Adams, Herbert A. Little, Michael K. Brown, Michael S. Brown, Michael G. Kirkup
  • Publication number: 20130012248
    Abstract: A mobile device for the display of messages includes a message viewer application for displaying segments of the message received from a server. The message can include content that is encoded in a first encoding that is renderable for display on the device, and the same content encoded in a second encoding. On determination that the received portion of the message includes a first part comprising content encoded in a first encoding and is renderable for display, first displayable portion of the message content, the server is signalled to halt forwarding further segments of the message.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Neil P. ADAMS, Michael S. BROWN, Herbert A. LITTLE, Michael K. BROWN
  • Publication number: 20130012171
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operation upon a wireless mobile device to handle message notifications. A method can include receiving a message by the wireless mobile device over a wireless communications network. The received message is processed so that at least a portion of the sender's message is displayed to a user of the wireless mobile device before a signed receipt is provided to the sender.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Neil P. ADAMS, Herbert A. LITTLE, Michael K. BROWN, Michael S. BROWN
  • Publication number: 20130014250
    Abstract: A wireless communication device (and its related method of operation) includes, if invoked, password protected access to data stored therewithin and/or to normal device operations and further includes duress password checking logic that automatically causes a duress message to be sent if a duress password has been entered. The duress message is preferably sent without maintaining any user accessible indication of such sending. It is also preferred that the password checking logic automatically cause an end-of-duress message to be sent if a normal password is entered after a duress password has been entered. A plurality of different duress passwords may be entered into a duress password portion of data memory in the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Michael S. Brown, Neil P. Adams, Herbert A. Little, Michael G. Kirkup, Michael K. Brown, Ian M. Robertson, Jonathan F. Hammel
  • Publication number: 20130013918
    Abstract: A system and method for retrieving certificates and/or verifying the revocation status of certificates. In one embodiment, when a user opens a digitally signed message, a certificate that is required to verify the digital signature on the message may be automatically retrieved if it is not stored on the user's computing device (e.g. a mobile device), eliminating the need for users to initiate the task manually. Verification of the digital signature may also be automatically performed by the application after the certificate is retrieved. Verification of the revocation status of a certificate may also be automatically performed if it is determined that the time that has elapsed since the status was last updated exceeds a pre-specified limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: RESARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael S. Brown, Michael K. Brown, Neil P. Adams, Michael G. Kirkup, Herbert A. Little
  • Publication number: 20130007445
    Abstract: A system and method for retrieving certificates and/or verifying the revocation status of certificates. In one embodiment, when a user opens a digitally signed message, a certificate that is required to verify the digital signature on the message may be automatically retrieved if it is not stored on the user's computing device (e.g. a mobile device), eliminating the need for users to initiate the task manually. Verification of the digital signature may also be automatically performed by the application after the certificate is retrieved. Verification of the revocation status of a certificate may also be automatically performed if it is determined that the time that has elapsed since the status was last updated exceeds a pre-specified limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: RESARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael S. Brown, Michael K. Brown, Neil P. Adams, Michael G. Kirkup, Herbert A. Little
  • Publication number: 20130007446
    Abstract: A system and method for processing certificates located in a certificate search. Certificates located in a certificate search are processed at a data server (e.g. a mobile data server) coupled to a computing device (e.g. a mobile device) to determine status data that can be used to indicate the status of those certificates to a user of the computing device, without having to download those certificates to the computing device in their entirety. The data server is further adapted to transmit the status data to the computing device. In one embodiment, at least one status property of the certificates is verified at the data server in determining the status data. In another embodiment, additional certificate data is determined and transmitted to the computing device, which can be used by the computing device to verify, at the computing device, at least one other status property of the certificates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Neil P. Adams, Herbert A. Little, Michael K. Brown, Michael S. Brown, Michael G. Kirkup
  • Publication number: 20130007447
    Abstract: A system and method for searching and retrieving certificates, which may be used in the processing of encoded messages. In one broad aspect, certificate identification data that uniquely identifies a certificate associated with a message is generated. The certificate identification data can then be used to determine whether the certificate is stored on a computing device. Only the certificate identification data is needed to facilitate the determination alleviating the need for a user to download the entire message to the computing device in order to make the determination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Neil P. Adams, Michael S. Brown, Herbert A. Little
  • Publication number: 20130003710
    Abstract: A communications device includes multiple data transceivers, each configured for communication via a respective communication transport mode. The communication device has one or more data packets which are associated with one of the communication transport modes. The handheld communication device transmits or receives the data packet(s) via the data transceiver that is configured for communication with the corresponding communication transport mode. A user-indication of the communication transport mode of the data packet(s) is provided in accordance with the data transceiver that communicates the data packet(s). The user indication is provided on a per-data packet basis, substantially contemporaneously with the communication of the data packet(s) via the one data transceiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventor: Neil P. ADAMS
  • Publication number: 20130007459
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for pre-processing encrypted and/or signed messages at a host system before the message is transmitted to a wireless mobile communication device. The message is received at the host system from a message sender. There is a determination as to whether any of the message receivers has a corresponding wireless mobile communication device. For each message receiver that has a corresponding wireless mobile communication device: the message is processed so as to modify the message with respect to encryption and/or authentication aspect. The processed message is transmitted to a wireless mobile communication device that corresponds to the first message receiver. The system and method may include post-processing messages sent from a wireless mobile communications device to a remote system. Authentication and/or encryption message processing is performed upon the message. The processed message may then be sent through the remote system to one or more receivers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: James A. Godfrey, Herbert A. Little, Michael K. Brown, Neil P. Adams, Carl L. Cherry, Timothy R. Tyhurst, Michael S. Brown
  • Publication number: 20130003974
    Abstract: A mobile device for the display of messages receives messages in segments or incrementally from a server, and includes a message viewer application for displaying portions of the message. On determination using the received portion of the message that the message is digitally signed or encrypted, the server is signalled to halt automatic transmission of further segments of the message. When a verify command is received by the mobile device, a command is transmitted to the server so that automatic reception of message segments can be resumed at the mobile device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Neil P. ADAMS, Michael S. BROWN, Herbert A. LITTLE, Michael K. BROWN
  • Patent number: 8347089
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for secure messaging on mobile computing devices. The method and system provide for an indication of a security trust level associated with a security method used with an electronic message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Research In Motion (TX office)
    Inventors: Neil P. Adams, Michael S. Brown, Herbert A. Little, Michael K. Brown
  • Patent number: 8340289
    Abstract: A system and method for providing an indication of randomness quality of random number data generated by a random data service. The random data service may provide random number data to one or more applications adapted to generate key pairs used in code signing applications, for example. In one aspect, the method comprises the steps of: retrieving random number data from the random data service; applying one or more randomness tests to the retrieved random number data to compute at least one indicator of the randomness quality of the random number data; associating the at least one indicator with at least one state represented by a color; and displaying the color associated with the at least one indicator to a user. The color may be displayed in a traffic light icon, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Neil P. Adams, Michael G. Kirkup, Herbert A. Little, Michael Rybak, David F. Tapuska
  • Publication number: 20120322414
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Herbert A. Little, Neil P. Adams, Scott W. Totzke
  • Patent number: 8332935
    Abstract: A smart card, system, and method for securely authorizing a user or user device using the smart card is provided. The smart card is configured to provide, upon initialization or a request for authentication, a public key to the user input device such that the PIN or password entered by the user is encrypted before transmission to the smart card via a smart card reader. The smart card then decrypts the PIN or password to authorize the user. Preferably, the smart card is configured to provide both a public key and a nonce to the user input device, which then encrypts a concatenation or other combination of the nonce and the user-input PIN or password before transmission to the smart card. The smart card reader thus never receives a copy of the PIN or password in the clear, allowing the smart card to be used with untrusted smart card readers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Michael K. Brown, Neil P. Adams, Herbert A. Little
  • Patent number: 8331911
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operation upon a wireless mobile device to handle message notifications. A method can include receiving a message by the wireless mobile device over a wireless communications network. The received message is processed so that at least a portion of the sender's message is displayed to a user of the wireless mobile device before a signed receipt is provided to the sender.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Neil P. Adams, Herbert A. Little, Michael K. Brown, Michael S. Brown
  • Publication number: 20120311323
    Abstract: Methods and systems for handling on an electronic device a secure message to be sent to a recipient. Data is accessed about a security key associate with the recipient. The received data is used to perform a validity cheek related to sending a secure message to the recipient. The validity check may uncover an issue that exists with sending a secure message to the recipient. A reason is determined for the validity check issue and is provided to the mobile device's user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael K. Brown, Michael S. Brown, Herbert A. Little, Neil P. Adams