Patents by Inventor Kenneth A. Brown

Kenneth A. Brown 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).

  • Secure message handling on a mobile device
    Patent number: 8935526
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and software for providing digital security to a child message transmitted from a mobile device to a messaging server, where the mobile device typically does not transmit the parent message with the child message to the messaging server. Whether to apply digital security, such as encryption or a digital signature, or both, is determined, and if the mobile device does not include a complete copy of a parent message for insertion into the child message, the mobile device selectively downloads the parent message from the messaging server prior to the computation of a digital signature or prior to encryption. The systems and methods may also provide a check of the child message size, when the child message includes inserted parent content, to ensure that the child message does not exceed any prescribed limits on message size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Michael Stephen Brown, Michael Kenneth Brown
  • Multi-layer multi-point or randomized passwords
    Patent number: 8931083
    Abstract: A method of authenticating a user of a computing device is proposed, together with computing device on which the method is implemented. In the method a modified base image is overlaid with a modified overlay image on a display. At least one of the modified base image and modified overlay image is moved by the user. Positive authentication is indicated in response a first point relative to the base image reference point being aligned with a second point relative to the overlay image reference point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Jason Tyler Griffin, Steven Henry Fyke, Jerome Pasquero, Neil Patrick Adams, Michael Kenneth Brown
  • Method of generating and providing a password to a handheld electronic device
    Patent number: 8922398
    Abstract: A method of providing a password to a handheld electronic device having a reduced keyboard and a non-predictive keystroke interpretation system, wherein the reduced keyboard is of a particular keyboard type and the non-predictive keystroke interpretation system is of a particular system type. The method includes receiving a first character string in an electronic device, such as, without limitation, a PC, that is separate from the handheld electronic device, generating one or more second character strings in the electronic device based on the particular keyboard type, the first character string, and, possibly, the particular system type, and transmitting the one or more second character strings from the electronic device to the handheld electronic device as the password.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Michael Kenneth Brown, Michael Grant Kirkup, Michael Stephen Brown
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WIPING AND DISABLING A REMOVED DEVICE
    Publication number: 20140380045
    Abstract: A system and method implemented at a server system, for securely wiping a remote mobile device after the device registration has been removed from the server system. Prior to removal of the device registration from the server system, a “pre-packaged” command is created and stored at the server system. In the event that it is determined, after removal of the registration, that the device should be wiped or disabled, means are provided for an administrator to issue the previously stored command to the target mobile device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Michael Kenneth Brown, Scott William Totzke, Michael Grant Kirkup
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING APPLICATIONS TO MITIGATE THE EFFECTS OF MALICIOUS SOFTWARE
    Publication number: 20140373155
    Abstract: Methods and systems for mitigating the effects of a malicious software application are disclosed. A dedicated module on the computing device receives from a malicious software detector a message indicating whether the application is malicious or has a malicious component. The dedicated module obtains a set of permissions to be granted to the application, and instructs software on the computing device that controls the permissions of the application to grant the set of permissions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
    Inventors: Oliver Whitehouse, Michael Grant Kirkup, Christopher Lyle Bender, MIchael Kenneth Brown
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EXCHANGING ENCRYPTION KEYS BETWEEN A MOBILE DEVICE AND A PERIPHERAL DEVICE
    Publication number: 20140359274
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing additional security for data being transmitted across a wireless connection that has been established using a known wireless protocol (e.g. Bluetooth) are described. An encryption key is exchanged between a computing device (e.g. a mobile device) and a wireless peripheral device (e.g. a keyboard, a printer). In some embodiments, the encryption key is generated at one of the two devices. Data associated with the encryption key is output at the one device, which can be input by the user at the other device. The encryption key is then recovered at the other device from the input, thereby completing the key exchange. The encryption key can then be used to encrypt and decrypt data transmitted over the established wireless connection, providing additional security.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Michael Grant Kirkup, Michael Kenneth Brown, Michael Stephen Brown
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR UPDATING MESSAGE TRUST STATUS
    Publication number: 20140351599
    Abstract: Systems and methods for processing encoded messages within a wireless communications system are disclosed. A server within the wireless communications system performs signature verification of an encoded message and provides, together with the message, an indication to the mobile device that the message has been verified. In addition, the server provides supplemental information, such as, for example, a hash of the certificate or certificate chain used to verify the message, to the device, to enable the device to perform additional checks on the certificate, such as, for example, validity checks, trust checks, strength checks, or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Michael Kenneth Brown, Herbert Anthony Little, Michael Stephen Brown
  • System and method of indicating the strength of encryption
    Patent number: 8862875
    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: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Neil Patrick Adams, Michael Stephen Brown, Herbert Anthony Little, Michael Kenneth Brown
  • Password entry using 3D image with spatial alignment
    Patent number: 8863271
    Abstract: A method of authenticating a user of a computing device is proposed, together with computing device on which the method is implemented. In the method a modified base image is overlaid with a modified overlay image on a display. At least one of the modified base image and modified overlay image is moved by the user. Positive authentication is indicated in response to the base image reference point on the modified base image being aligned, at least one of the base image reference point and the overlay image reference point having coordinates in three dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Jason Tyler Griffin, Steven Henry Fyke, Jerome Pasquero, Neil Patrick Adams, Michael Kenneth Brown
  • System and method for exchanging encryption keys between a mobile device and a peripheral device
    Patent number: 8855310
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing additional security for data being transmitted across a wireless connection that has been established using a known wireless protocol (e.g. Bluetooth) are described. An encryption key is exchanged between a computing device (e.g. a mobile device) and a wireless peripheral device (e.g. a keyboard, a printer). In some embodiments, the encryption key is generated at one of the two devices. Data associated with the encryption key is output at the one device, which can be input by the user at the other device. The encryption key is then recovered at the other device from the input, thereby completing the key exchange. The encryption key can then be used to encrypt and decrypt data transmitted over the established wireless connection, providing additional security.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Michael Grant Kirkup, Michael Kenneth Brown, Michael Stephen Brown
  • Controlling connectivity of a wireless-enabled peripheral device
    Patent number: 8833651
    Abstract: A system includes a wireless-enabled peripheral device configured to be coupled to a personalized security device. The wireless-enabled peripheral device has a wireless communication interface. The system also includes a mobile device configured to establish a wireless connection with the wireless-enabled peripheral device via the wireless communication interface. Upon establishment of the wireless connection, the mobile device is further configured to control establishment of at least one contemporaneous connection of the wireless-enabled peripheral device to one or more other devices attempting to access the personalized security device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Michael Kenneth Brown, Herbert Anthony Little, Neil Patrick Adams
  • Catalyst materials
    Patent number: 8835346
    Abstract: A catalyst material including a catalyst carrier including a porous alumina support and a hindrance layer on the alumina support, the hindrance layer comprising one or more barium sulfate, strontium sulfate, zirconium sulfate, and calcium sulfate is described. The catalyst carrier further includes a rare earth oxide. The catalyst material can further comprise a platinum group metal oxide. The hindrance layer may prevent the rare earth oxide from forming a complex with the support. The catalyst material is useful for methods and systems of abating pollutants from automotive exhaust gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: BASF Corporation
    Inventors: Gary A. Gramiccioni, Stephan Siemund, Shau-Lin F. Chen, Kenneth Brown
  • System and method for controlling applications to mitigate the effects of malicious software
    Patent number: 8839421
    Abstract: Methods and systems for mitigating the effects of a malicious software application are disclosed. A dedicated module on the computing device receives from a malicious software detector a message indicating whether the application is malicious or has a malicious component. The dedicated module obtains a set of permissions to be granted to the application, and instructs software on the computing device that controls the permissions of the application to grant the set of permissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Oliver Whitehouse, Michael Grant Kirkup, Christopher Lyle Bender, Michael Kenneth Brown
  • Generating a Symmetric Key to Secure a Communication Link
    Publication number: 20140237246
    Abstract: A symmetric key to be used to secure a communication link between a first device and a second device is generated as follows: a first symmetric key is generated; a second symmetric key is generated; packets communicated between the first device and the second device over communication link are hashed to create a hash result; the first symmetric key, the second symmetric key and the hash result are hashed to generate a third symmetric key to be used to secure the communication link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael Kenneth Brown, Herbert Anthony Little, Michael Stephen Brown, Neil Patrick Adams
  • System and method for controlling message attachment handling functions on a mobile device
    Patent number: 8804966
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling message attachment handling functions on a mobile device is described herein. An attachment handling control can be set to identify one of a number of selected attachment handling control modes. Depending on the attachment handling control mode identified, a request for the attachment structure that includes a decrypted session key for an encrypted message received at the mobile device may or may not be automatically sent to a remote server. This may provide the user with increased control over the content of an encrypted message that the remote server may access when determining the attachment structure for a message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Michael Stephen Brown, Michael Kenneth Brown, Michael Grant Kirkup
  • Method and apparatus for providing enhanced streaming content delivery with multi-archive support using secure download manager and content-indifferent decoding
    Patent number: 8799411
    Abstract: A system, apparatuses and methods are provided to download and process data and other content streamed over a wide area network using one or more dynamically fetched, material specific, data handlers (e.g., download assistants). A download assistant fetches a data stream from a remote location and processes the streamed data iteratively using buffers and multi-threaded processes through the decoder (e.g., codec), allowing source material-specific processing of the data as it is streamed from one or more download sources as well as content-indifferent and platform-indifferent decoding. To minimize versioning issues, payload construction for secure delivery is simplified to packing and encrypting a directory tree containing any number of files or other digital media into an archive and, when needed, dividing a payload into multiple files or archives with a descriptor that lists the archives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Arvato Digital Services Canada, Inc.
    Inventors: David Aldis, Kenneth Brown, Andrew Gallant
  • System and method for retrieving certificates associated with senders of digitally signed messages
    Patent number: 8788812
    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: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Michael Stephen Brown, Herbert Anthony Little, Neil Patrick Adams, Michael Grant Kirkup, Michael Kenneth Brown
  • System and method for handling message receipt notification
    Patent number: 8781443
    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: May 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Neil Patrick Adams, Herbert Anthony Little, Michael Stephen Brown, Michael Kenneth Brown
  • System and method for retrieving certificates associated with senders of digitally signed messages
    Patent number: 8775798
    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: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Michael Stephen Brown, Herbert Anthony Little, Neil Patrick Adams, Michael Grant Kirkup, Michael Kenneth Brown
  • Multi-layer multi-point or pathway-based passwords
    Patent number: 8769641
    Abstract: A method of authenticating a user of a computing device is proposed, together with computing device on which the method is implemented. In the method a modified base image is overlaid with a modified overlay image on a display and at least one of the modified base image and modified overlay image is moved by the user. In addition to the moving, a change in orientation of at least one of the modified base image and the modified overlay image is required. Positive authentication is indicated in response to the base image reference point on the modified base image being aligned with the overlay image reference point on the modified overlay image after moving through at least one other pre-selected reference point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Jason Tyler Griffin, Steven Henry Fyke, Jerome Pasquero, Neil Patrick Adams, Michael Kenneth Brown