Patents by Inventor Herbert Little

Herbert 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: 8140863
    Abstract: A mobile communications device, server, and method for providing security on a mobile communications device are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Michael S. Brown, Neil Adams, Steven Fyke, Herbert Little
  • Publication number: 20120046015
    Abstract: Various embodiments are described herein for a mobile communication device that authenticates a smart battery prior to use. The mobile device includes a main processor and a device memory. The device memory stores first and second portions of security information used for authentication. The smart battery includes a battery processor and a battery memory. The battery memory stores a third portion of security information used for authentication. The main processor sends an authentication request including the first portion of security information to the battery processor, and the battery processor generates a response based on the first and third portions of security information and sends the generated response to the main processor. The smart battery is authenticated if the generated response matches the second portion of security information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventor: Herbert Little
  • Publication number: 20110321171
    Abstract: A system includes a first wireless-enabled device that transparently stores confidential information and a second wireless-enabled device that stores the same confidential information. The confidential information is to be used to secure a wireless communication link between the first device and the second device. One or both of the first device and the second device is to delete the confidential information upon fulfillment of one or more conditions related to the communication link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Neil Adams, Michael S. Brown, Michael K. Brown, Herbert Little, Scott Totzke
  • Publication number: 20110191585
    Abstract: Authentication of two devices in communication with a third device is achieved where the first and second devices each possess a shared secret value. The authentication includes communication of authentication values from the first device to the second device using the third device. Similarly, there is communication of values from the second device to the first device using the third device. The third device retains the communicated values. The values are calculated to permit the third device to authenticate the first and second devices without the third device receiving the shared secret value. The authentication may be used to establish a communications channel between the first and the second devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2010
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Michael Brown, Herbert Little, Dinah Davis
  • Publication number: 20110126262
    Abstract: Various embodiments are described for providing password approval on a device. The password approval includes getting the user password, generating at least one symbolically equivalent password and then comparing the at least one symbolically equivalent password with at least one specified forbidden password. The user password is disapproved if one of the symbolically equivalent passwords corresponds to the at least one forbidden password.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Herbert Little, Michael S. Brown
  • Publication number: 20110084136
    Abstract: A wireless device may alert a wireless smart card reader that communication of data between the wireless device and the wireless smart card reader is probably imminent by sending an activation alert. Upon receipt of the activation alert, if the wireless smart card reader is in a low-power state, the wireless smart card reader may enter a higher-power state. If the wireless smart card reader is in the higher-power state upon receipt of the activation alert, the wireless smart card reader may remain in the higher-power state until a timeout period has expired. The wireless device may instruct the wireless smart card reader to enter the low-power state by sending a deactivation alert if the wireless device detects that communication of data between the wireless device and the wireless smart card reader is not likely to occur within a specified period of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2010
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Neil Adams, Herbert Little
  • Patent number: 7904729
    Abstract: Various embodiments are described for providing password approval on a device. The password approval includes getting the user password, generating at least one symbolically equivalent password and then comparing the at least one symbolically equivalent password with at least one specified forbidden password. The user password is disapproved if one of the symbolically equivalent passwords corresponds to the at least one forbidden password.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Herbert Little, Michael S. Brown
  • Patent number: 7878395
    Abstract: A wireless device may alert a wireless smart card reader that communication of data between the wireless device and the wireless smart card reader is probably imminent by sending an activation alert. Upon receipt of the activation alert, if the wireless smart card reader is in a low-power state, the wireless smart card reader may enter a higher-power state. If the wireless smart card reader is in the higher-power state upon receipt of the activation alert, the wireless smart card reader may remain in the higher-power state until a timeout period has expired. The wireless device may instruct the wireless smart card reader to enter the low-power state by sending a deactivation alert if the wireless device identifies that communication of data between the wireless device and the wireless smart card reader is not likely to occur within a specified period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Neil Adams, Herbert Little
  • Publication number: 20100317324
    Abstract: A mobile communications device, method and computer program product for providing security are described. In one embodiment, the device comprises: a processor; a communications subsystem; a storage element having application modules and data; and a security module operable to detect a locked state of the device and initiate a lockout data protection timer for a predetermined duration upon detection of the locked state. The security module is operable to, after the lockout data protection timer has been initiated, detect if a password is entered through a user input device within the predetermined duration and to terminate the lockout data protection timer if entry of the password is detected to perform a security action comprising erasing or encrypting at least some of the data if entry of the password is not detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael S. Brown, Neil Adams, Steven Fyke, Herbert Little
  • Patent number: 7809353
    Abstract: A mobile communications device, method and computer program product for providing security are described. In one embodiment, the device comprises: a processor; a communications subsystem; a storage element having application modules and data; and a security module operable to detect a locked state of the device and initiate a lockout data protection timer for a predetermined duration upon detection of the locked state. The security module is operable to, after the lockout data protection timer has been initiated, detect if a password is entered through a user input device within the predetermined duration and to terminate the lockout data protection timer if entry of the password is detected to perform a security action comprising erasing or encrypting at least some of the data if entry of the password is not detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Michael S. Brown, Neil Adams, Steven Fyke, Herbert Little
  • Patent number: 7796979
    Abstract: A first wireless device controls its visibility by disabling its discoverable mode or modes upon ascertaining that a second wireless device does not require the first device to be in a discoverable mode in order to establish connections therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Neil Adams, Herbert Little, Michael K. Brown
  • Publication number: 20100197366
    Abstract: Various embodiments are described herein for a mobile communication device that utilizes a smart battery. The mobile device includes a main processor for controlling the operation of the mobile communication device. The smart battery is coupled to the main processor and provides supply power. The smart battery includes a battery processor for controlling the operation of the smart battery and communicating with the main processor, and a battery module having one or more batteries for providing the supply power. A battery interface is provided for coupling between the main processor and the battery processor for providing communication therebetween. The battery interface comprises a data communication line and protection circuitry for protecting the main processor from electrostatic discharge. A communication protocol is also provided for communication between the main processor and the battery processor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Christopher Pattenden, Christopher Book, Martin Guthrie, Jonathan Brubacher, Herbert Little
  • Publication number: 20100197367
    Abstract: Various embodiments are described herein for a mobile communication device that utilizes a smart battery. The mobile device includes a main processor for controlling the operation of the mobile communication device. The smart battery is coupled to the main processor and provides supply power. The smart battery includes a battery processor for controlling the operation of the smart battery and communicating with the main processor, and a battery module having one or more batteries for providing the supply power. A battery interface is provided for coupling between the main processor and the battery processor for providing communication therebetween. The battery interface comprises a data communication line and protection circuitry for protecting the main processor from electrostatic discharge. A communication protocol is also provided for communication between the main processor and the battery processor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Christopher Pattenden, Christopher Book, Martin Guthrie, Jonathan Brubacher, Herbert Little
  • Publication number: 20100187309
    Abstract: A wireless-enabled smart card reader receives an Answer to Reset (ATR) from a smart card and transmits the ATR using a wireless communication link to a computing device without waiting for an ATR request from the computing device. The computing device may cache the ATR and use it for subsequent communication sessions with the smart card.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2010
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Neil P. Adams, Herbert Little
  • Patent number: 7697957
    Abstract: Various embodiments are described herein for a mobile communication device that utilizes a smart battery. The mobile device includes a main processor for controlling the operation of the mobile communication device. The smart battery is coupled to the main processor and provides supply power. The smart battery includes a battery processor for controlling the operation of the smart battery and communicating with the main processor, and a battery module having one or more batteries for providing the supply power. A battery interface is provided for coupling between the main processor and the battery processor for providing communication therebetween. The battery interface comprises a data communication line and protection circuitry for protecting the main processor from electrostatic discharge. A communication protocol is also provided for communication between the main processor and the battery processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Christopher Pattenden, Christopher Book, Martin Guthrie, Jonathan Brubacher, Herbert Little
  • Patent number: 7690579
    Abstract: A wireless-enabled smart card reader receives an Answer to Reset (ATR) from a smart card and transmits the ATR using a wireless communication link to a computing device without waiting for an ATR request from the computing device. The computing device may cache the ATR and use it for subsequent communication sessions with the smart card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Neil Adams, Herbert Little
  • Patent number: 7667429
    Abstract: Various embodiments are described herein for a mobile communication device that authenticates a smart battery prior to use. The mobile device includes a main processor and a device memory. The device memory stores first and second portions of security information used for authentication. The smart battery includes a battery processor and a battery memory. The battery memory stores a third portion of security information used for authentication. The main processor sends an authentication request including the first portion of security information to the battery processor, and the battery processor generates a response based on the first and third portions of security information and sends the generated response to the main processor. The smart battery is authenticated if the generated response matches the second portion of security information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventor: Herbert Little
  • Publication number: 20100031028
    Abstract: Systems and methods for selecting a certificate for use in securing a message to be transmitted from a computing device is described herein. A set of certificates is determined and the certificates are ranked based on one or more predetermined ranking criteria. At least the highest ranking certificate is displayed, and a certificate is selected for securing the message.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Neil Adams, Michael S. Brown, Herbert Little
  • Publication number: 20090219166
    Abstract: A method of event notification on a handheld communications device involves first receiving an indication of an occurrence of an event at the handheld communications device. The communications device comprises a display device, and the event has an associated notification definition for providing a visual notification of the occurrence of the event. The notification definition comprises a content parameter that specifies a scope of the content of the visual notification, and an action parameter that specifies the action to be taken on the communications device after the visual notification is initiated. Then, a visual notification of the occurrence is provided on the display device in accordance with the associated notification definition. The visual notification provides particulars of the event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Inventors: Tammy MacFarlane, Alain Gagne, Chris Wormald, Herbert Little
  • Publication number: 20090112978
    Abstract: A click detection method, apparatus and system is provided. An embodiment includes a method that receives a request from a client destined for a server and a unique identifier for the client. The method of the method also includes generating a representation of the unique identifier, and forwarding the unique identifier and the request to the server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Russell Owen, Michael Brown, Herbert Little