Patents by Inventor Herbert A. Little

Herbert A. Little 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).

  • Patent number: 8661531
    Abstract: Systems and methods for secure control of a wireless mobile communication device are disclosed. Each of a plurality of domains includes at least one wireless mobile communication device asset. When a request to perform an operation affecting at least one of the assets is received, it is determined whether the request is permitted by the domain that includes the at least one affected asset, by determining whether the entity with which the request originated has a trust relationship with the domain, for example. The operation is completed where it is permitted by the domain. Wireless mobile communication device assets include software applications, persistent data, communication pipes, and configuration data, properties or user or subscriber profiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Russell N. Owen, Herbert A. Little, David P. Yach, Michael Shenfield
  • Patent number: 8645684
    Abstract: Systems and methods for processing messages within a wireless communications system are disclosed. A server within the wireless communications system maintains a list of certificates contained in devices that use the server. The server synchronizes or updates the list of certificates based on information contained in message to and from the device. By providing a server with certificates associated with devices that use the server, and providing a system and method for synchronizing the certificates between the device and server, the server can implement powerful features that will improve the efficiency, speed and user satisfaction of the devices. The exemplary embodiments also enable advantageous bandwidth savings by preventing transmission of certificates unnecessarily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Michael K. Brown, Michael S. Brown, Herbert A. Little, Neil P. Adams
  • Publication number: 20140031008
    Abstract: A system and method for handling message indicator processing on a wireless mobile communications device. Message state data is stored in a cache for use in generating message indicators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael S. BROWN, Neil P. ADAMS, Herbert A. LITTLE
  • Publication number: 20140013124
    Abstract: A system and method for encrypting data provides for retrievial of an encryption key; identification of the address in memory of a first portion of the data to be encrypted; derivation of a first unique key from the encryption key and the address of the first portion of data; encryption of the first portion of data using the first unique key; identification of the address in memory of a second portion of data to be encrypted; derivation of a second unique key from the encryption key and the address of the second portion of data; and encryption of the second portion of data using the second unique key.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Inventors: Herbert A. LITTLE, Jerrold R. RANDELL, Richard C. MADTER, Ryan J. HICKEY, Andrew A. FERGUSON
  • Patent number: 8626139
    Abstract: Systems and methods of connection control for wireless mobile communication devices enabled for communication via a plurality of communication connections are provided. Connection control information associates software applications with communication connections. When a connection request specifying a requested connection is received from a software application, it is determined whether the requested connection is permitted by the connection control information. Where the requested connection is permitted by the connection control information, the requested connection is opened. If the requested connection is a first connection opened by the software application, then the software application is associated with the requested connection in the connection control information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Michael G. Kirkup, Herbert A. Little, David P. Yach
  • Patent number: 8620297
    Abstract: Systems and methods of connection control for wireless mobile communication devices enabled for communication via a plurality of communication connections are provided. Connection control information associates software applications with communication connections. When a connection request specifying a requested connection is received from a software application, it is determined whether the requested connection is permitted by the connection control information. Where the requested connection is permitted by the connection control information, the requested connection is opened. If the requested connection is a first connection opened by the software application, then the software application is associated with the requested connection in the connection control information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Michael G. Kirkup, Herbert A. Little, David P. Yach
  • Patent number: 8615661
    Abstract: A method of handling cryptographic information in a communication comprising body elements and attachment elements to a mobile device includes the steps of determining if the communication includes an attachment element comprising cryptographic information and converting the attachment element into a body element upon determining that the communication includes an attachment element comprising cryptographic information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Herbert A. Little, Albert Hecht-Enns, David F. Tapuska, Michael S. Brown, Michael G. Kirkup
  • Patent number: 8607334
    Abstract: Systems and methods for secure e-mail message processing. A device is configured to receive a secure electronic message. The message may then be processed to determine whether the sender's address provided in the message is indicative of the sender's address provided in a sender's security-related certificate. A message's recipient can be notified based upon the determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Michael K. Brown, Michael S. Brown, Michael G. Kirkup, Neil P. Adams, Herbert A. Little
  • Patent number: 8601261
    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 check 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: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Michael K. Brown, Michael S. Brown, Herbert A. Little, Neil P. Adams
  • Patent number: 8601279
    Abstract: The present invention provides a secure JTAG interface to an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). In the preferred embodiment the invention operates through the combined efforts of a Security Module (SM) comprising a state machine that controls the security modes for the ASIC, and a Test Control Module (TCM) which contains the JTAG interface. The TCM operates in either a restricted mode or an unrestricted mode, depending on the state of the SM state machine. In a restricted mode, only limited access to memory content is permitted. In an unrestricted mode, full access to memory content is permitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Herbert A. Little, Jerrold R. Randell, Richard C. Madter, Ryan J. Hickey
  • Patent number: 8595630
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for a user of a mobile wireless communications device to have the option of viewing security status messages in a large or small format depending upon the user's preferences, form factor of the mobile communications device, or the like. In accordance with an exemplary aspect of the invention, a user may opt to display status icons on one row of a display and include an abbreviated text associated with each icon that is displayed when a particular icon is highlighted by the user. If no icon is highlighted by the user, the most important status text (determined based on predetermined criteria) is displayed. The user has the option of switching to a large status display to view additional information relating to the status icons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Neil P. Adams, Michael Stephen Brown, Herbert A. Little
  • Publication number: 20130308779
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein are generally directed to methods and devices in which computing devices, and mobile devices in particular, establish a shared encryption key for a device group comprising at least three mobile devices. In accordance with one example embodiment, a public key of a mobile device is computed using a shared password as performed in accordance with authentication acts of a password-authenticated key exchange protocol, and transmitted to at least one other mobile device of the group. A public value is computed as a function of a mobile device private key and of a public key of at least one other mobile device of the device group, in accordance with a group key establishment protocol. The public values of the mobile devices of the device group are used to compute a shared encryption key.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Inventor: Herbert A. Little
  • Publication number: 20130305180
    Abstract: A method is provided for reducing a number of keys that a user is required to depress on a device having a keyboard with a limited number of keys when the user enters a password. The method comprising the following steps. A subset of characters used to define the password is determined. A filter to apply to the keyboard is determined in accordance with the determined subset of characters. The filter is applied when the user depresses the keys. Devices: and computer readable medium for implementing the method arc also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Michael Kenneth Brown, Neil Patrick Adams, George Babu, Herbert Little, Michael Stephen Brown
  • Patent number: 8583056
    Abstract: A mobile wireless communication device also has at least one wired communication port. Enhanced security is achieved by permitting the device to automatically disable one or more wireless ports when connected to a wired port. Specific combinations/permutations of such automatic control may be effected by use of an IT Policy also resident on the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Blackberry Limited
    Inventors: Michael G. Kirkup, Michael K. Brown, Herbert A. Little, Ian Robertson, Michael S. Brown
  • Patent number: 8583809
    Abstract: A method and system for establishing a secure over-the-air (OTA) connection between a connection owner and a server, the connection owner being associated with a wireless device connected to the server via a communications network. A secure session is instantiated on behalf of the connection owner, the secure session being maintained by the server and defining a context for the secure OTA connection. A registration key and a reset key are defined, and stored in association with the secure session on both the server and the wireless device. Access to the secure session is controlled using at least the registration key, and the secure session is maintained on the server only as long as the connection owner has a valid registration key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Alexander Sherkin, Srimantee Karmakar, Laura Doktorova, Brindusa Laura Fritsch, Kamen Vitanov, Herbert Little, Michael Hung
  • Patent number: 8578171
    Abstract: A system and method for the creation and automated selection and inclusion an automated signature text with an electronic message, wherein the automated selection of the automated signature text is dependent on attributes of the message, the designated recipients, or attributes of the designated recipients as compared to the sender's attributes, such as the encoding type and/or transport method selected for the electronic message or the location of the recipient without the need for multiple user profiles or manual editing by the sender. At least one of a plurality of automated signature texts is associated with at least one encoding type of a plurality of encoding types, at least one message transport type, or with at least one predetermined recipient attribute or the outcome of a comparison of the recipient attribute with the sender's attributes. The appropriate automated signature text is inserted prior to encoding of the message for transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Neil P. Adams, David Victor MacFarlane, Herbert A. Little
  • Patent number: 8578057
    Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment, a system for providing data access between an information source and a mobile communication device includes a transcoding system and a first network device. The transcoding system includes a plurality of transcoders, and each transcoder is operable to transcode information content from a respective first content type into a respective second content type. The first network device is in communication with the transcoding system and includes a connection handler system. The connection handler system is operable to receive connection data for a connection between the information source and the mobile communication device and to select a corresponding connection handler. The connection handler is operable to select one or more transcoders from the plurality of transcoders to transcode the information content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Salim H. Omar, Russell N. Owen, Herbert A. Little, Tomasz K. Rybak, Michael S. Brown, David P. Yach
  • Patent number: 8571221
    Abstract: A system and method of creating and managing encryption keys in a data processing device generates subsequent encryption keys by combining the existing encryption key with an existing password and seed value. In the preferred embodiment, the initial encryption key is embedded during manufacture and is unknown to the user and manufacturer, thus ensuring that all subsequent encryption keys are derived from an unknown value. When a subsequent encryption key is generated, all data encrypted using the existing encryption key is decrypted using the existing encryption key and re-encrypted using the subsequent encryption key before the existing encryption key is overwritten. In a further aspect, during encryption/decryption the encryption key is combined with the sector address of the data to be encrypted/decrypted in order to generate a unique key for each sector of data to be encrypted/decrypted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Herbert A. Little, Jerrold R. Randell, Richard C. Madter, Ryan J. Hickey, Andrew A. Fergusson
  • Patent number: 8572389
    Abstract: A system and method for protecting master transport encryption keys stored on a computing device. Master transport encryption keys are used to secure data communications between computing devices. In one example embodiment, there is provided a method in which a copy of a master transport encryption key is generated and stored in a volatile store of a first computing device (e.g. a mobile device). This copy of the master transport encryption key can be used to facilitate the decryption of data received at the first computing device from a second computing device (e.g. a data server), even while the first computing device is locked. The method also comprises encrypting the master transport encryption key, with a content protection key for example, and storing the encrypted master transport encryption key in a non-volatile store of the first computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Blackberry Limited
    Inventor: Herbert A. Little
  • Patent number: 8553885
    Abstract: A wireless personal area network (WPAN) system includes a plurality of WPAN devices using encrypted wireless communication therebetween when in an enabled state and not wirelessly communicating when in a disabled state. At least one of the WPAN devices includes a WPAN identity reader for reading at least one identifying parameter of a user, for confirming that the user is an authorized user based upon reading the at least one identifying parameter, and for wirelessly communicating with at least one other WPAN device to switch the at least one other WPAN device from the disabled state to the enabled state based upon confirming the user is an authorized user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Herbert A. Little, Scott D. Rose, Scott W. Totzke, Mihal Lazaridis