Patents by Inventor Eric K. Olsen

Eric K. Olsen 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).

  • Securing a mobile computing device
    Patent number: 8249558
    Abstract: In general, this disclosure describes techniques for unlocking certain functionality of a mobile computing device upon wirelessly detecting that an external device is in relatively close proximity to the mobile computing device. One example method comprises: providing a phone application and a second, different application; initiating a first mode of operation when the mobile computing device becomes locked; prohibiting user access to the second application during the first mode of operation when the mobile computing device fails to wirelessly detect a presence of an external device; and initiating a second mode of operation when the mobile computing device wirelessly detects the presence of the external device and when the mobile computing device has received user input specifying an access password, wherein the mobile computing device allows complete user access to both the phone application and the second application during the second mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Eric K. Olsen, Nicholas Julian Pelly
  • Securing a mobile computing device
    Patent number: 8249556
    Abstract: In general, this disclosure describes techniques for unlocking certain functionality of a mobile computing device upon wirelessly detecting that an external device is in relatively close proximity to the mobile computing device. One example method comprises: providing a phone application and a second, different application; initiating a first mode of operation when the mobile computing device becomes locked; prohibiting user access to the second application during the first mode of operation when the mobile computing device fails to wirelessly detect a presence of an external device; and initiating a second mode of operation when the mobile computing device wirelessly detects the presence of the external device and when the mobile computing device has received user input specifying an access password, wherein the mobile computing device allows complete user access to both the phone application and the second application during the second mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Eric K. Olsen, Nicholas Julian Pelly
  • SECURING A MOBILE COMPUTING DEVICE
    Publication number: 20120021724
    Abstract: In general, this disclosure describes techniques for unlocking certain functionality of a mobile computing device upon wirelessly detecting that an external device is in relatively close proximity to the mobile computing device. One example method comprises: providing a phone application and a second, different application; initiating a first mode of operation when the mobile computing device becomes locked; prohibiting user access to the second application during the first mode of operation when the mobile computing device fails to wirelessly detect a presence of an external device; and initiating a second mode of operation when the mobile computing device wirelessly detects the presence of the external device and when the mobile computing device has received user input specifying an access password, wherein the mobile computing device allows complete user access to both the phone application and the second application during the second mode of operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventors: Eric K. Olsen, Nicholas Julian Pelly
  • SECURING A MOBILE COMPUTING DEVICE
    Publication number: 20120015629
    Abstract: In general, this disclosure describes techniques for unlocking certain functionality of a mobile computing device upon wirelessly detecting that an external device is in relatively close proximity to the mobile computing device. One example method comprises: providing a phone application and a second, different application; initiating a first mode of operation when the mobile computing device becomes locked; prohibiting user access to the second application during the first mode of operation when the mobile computing device fails to wirelessly detect a presence of an external device; and initiating a second mode of operation when the mobile computing device wirelessly detects the presence of the external device and when the mobile computing device has received user input specifying an access password, wherein the mobile computing device allows complete user access to both the phone application and the second application during the second mode of operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Eric K. Olsen, Nicholas Julian Pelly