Patents by Inventor Kenneth Browne

Kenneth Browne 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: 20140115665
    Abstract: A secure message that includes an attachment is received at a server. The secure message may have a secure layer that indicates that the secure message is at least digitally signed. The secure message may be provided without the attachment to the mobile device over a wireless network. A request may be received from the mobile device to access the attachment. The request may include an attachment identifier (ID) that identifies the attachment in accordance with a message-attachment indexing system. In response to the request to access the attachment, the server may perform an index lookup to find the attachment based upon the attachment ID, may look through the secure layer of the secure message in order to locate the attachment within the secure message, and may render at least an initial portion of the attachment by the server in a format for viewing by the mobile device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Inventors: Michael Kenneth Brown, Neil Patrick Adams, Michael Stephen Brown
  • Publication number: 20140114858
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to the authentication of contactless payments attempted by a device having embedded contactless payment functionality. In particular, the disclosure is directed to systems and methods that utilize authentication schemes that already exist on a device in which the contactless payment functionality is embedded. One example of such authentication schemes is the use of password protection to lock or unlock the device in which the contactless payment functionality is embedded. Using the password protection functionality may provide varying levels of authentication protection based on the desires of the user. A number of exemplary uses of such a method and apparatus are disclosed herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Neil Patrick ADAMS, Michael Kenneth BROWN, Michael S. BROWN
  • Patent number: 8694769
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling data communications between a server and a client device, such as a mobile device. Embodiments relate generally to a technique where stop data is provided to the client device. This stop data can be transmitted (e.g. by the client device) to the server. When processed by the server, the stop data indicates to the server that at least some of the encrypted data received by the client device from the server was not decrypted using the second key (e.g. as may be the case when the second key has been deleted). Upon receiving the stop data, the server may, for example, withhold the transmission of data encrypted with the first key to the client device until the second key is restored on the client device. In one embodiment, the stop data is provided to the client device in an encoded (e.g. encrypted) form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Dave Bajar, Philip Chi-Jim Luk, Michael Kenneth Brown, Darrell Reginald May
  • Patent number: 8689286
    Abstract: A device comprising a processor is disclosed herein. In one broad aspect, the processor is configured to: determine whether a general message encoding configuration setting at the device is set to a first setting indicating that when a security encoding is to be applied to a message, the security encoding is to be established by a policy engine, wherein the established security encoding cannot be overridden by a security encoding selection algorithm at the device; and if the general message encoding configuration setting is set to the first setting, transmit the message to at least one message recipient via the policy engine such that the policy engine applies the security encoding to the message prior to the policy engine transmitting the message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Michael Kenneth Brown, Michael Stephen Brown, Michael Grant Kirkup
  • Patent number: 8667266
    Abstract: A system and method for sending encrypted messages to a distribution list. In one embodiment, the method comprises: identifying a distribution list address in a message; determining one or more member addresses associated with the distribution list address; for each member address, determining if a public key for a member identified by the member address is available on the computing device; and if so, encrypting the message to the member; sending the encrypted message to the distribution list address only if each of the one or more member addresses associated with the distribution list identifies a member for which a public key is available on the computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Neil Patrick Adams, Michael Stephen Brown, Michael Kenneth Brown
  • Publication number: 20140059342
    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 associated 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: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Inventors: Michael Kenneth Brown, Michael S. Brown, Herbert Anthony Little, Neil Patrick Adams
  • Patent number: 8661530
    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 and the change in orientation matching a pre-selected orientation criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Jason Tyler Griffin, Steven Henry Fyke, Jerome Pasquero, Neil Patrick Adams, Michael Kenneth Brown
  • Patent number: 8653964
    Abstract: Responsive to intercepting an outbound command, a command interceptor may, upon determining that the command is associated with a particular category of commands, transmit an anticipatory response to the source of the command, for example, to prematurely indicate that the command has met with success. Accordingly, a given application whose further execution is dependent upon the successful completion of the command may further execute earlier than would be the case if the given application was to await the transmission of the command, the generation of a response indicating success and the receipt of the response indicating success.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Ravi Singh, Michael Kenneth Brown, Neil Patrick Adams, Dinah Lea Marie Davis
  • Patent number: 8650635
    Abstract: A method of authenticating a user of a computing device is proposed, together with a computer readable medium and a 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 either the modified base image or modified overlay image is moved by the user. Positive authentication is indicated in response to alignment of a base image reference point and an overlay image reference point and an indication of a correct level of pressure applied to a pressure sensitive input device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Jason Tyler Griffin, Steven Henry Fyke, Jerome Pasquero, Neil Patrick Adams, Michael Kenneth Brown
  • Patent number: 8650258
    Abstract: Systems and methods for processing encoded messages within a wireless communication system. A server within the wireless communication system provides one or more indications to a mobile device as to certain conditions existing with respect to an encoded message. The mobile device performs a different message processing function based upon whether the indication is provided. The indications may include indicating whether a message exceeds a message size threshold and/or may indicate whether a partial message is being sent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Michael Kenneth Brown, Michael Stephen Brown, Herbert Anthony Little
  • Patent number: 8640950
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to the authentication of contactless payments attempted by a device having embedded contactless payment functionality. In particular, the disclosure is directed to systems and methods that utilize authentication schemes that already exist on a device in which the contactless payment functionality is embedded. One example of such authentication schemes is the use of password protection to lock or unlock the device in which the contactless payment functionality is embedded. Using the password protection functionality may provide varying levels of authentication protection based on the desires of the user. A number of exemplary uses of such a method and apparatus are disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Blackberry Limited
    Inventors: Neil Patrick Adams, Michael Kenneth Brown, Michael S. Brown
  • Publication number: 20140027508
    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: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Michael Kenneth Brown, Herbert Anthony Little, Neil Patrick Adams
  • Publication number: 20140031197
    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: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: BASF Corporation
    Inventors: Gary A. Gramiccioni, Stephan Siemund, Shau-Lin F. Chen, Kenneth Brown
  • Patent number: 8640222
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method for protecting real-time data exchanged between a mobile electronic device and a VPN gateway over a communications link. The method comprises: establishing a first VPN connection between the mobile electronic device and the VPN gateway through the communications link; establishing, while the first VPN connection is established, a second VPN connection between the mobile electronic device and the VPN gateway through the communications link; providing key information to at least one of the mobile electronic device or VPN gateway through the first VPN connection; and exchanging real-time data packets between the mobile electronic device and the VPN gateway through the second VPN connection, wherein the key information is for encrypting and decrypting the real-time data packets exchanged through the second VPN connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Michael Kenneth Brown, Ian Robertson, Thomas C. Nagy
  • Patent number: 8631487
    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. The modified overlay image comprises a plurality of numbers. 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, in sequence, with two or more numbers from the overlay image that equal a pre-selected algebraic result when one or more algebraic operator is apply to the numbers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Jason Tyler Griffin, Steven Henry Fyke, Jerome Pasquero, Neil Patrick Adams, Michael Kenneth Brown
  • Patent number: 8615086
    Abstract: A key agreement method is carried out by a first system in conjunction with a second system over a bidirectional communication path, including generating a first key pair having a first public key and a first private key, sending the first public key to the second system, receiving a second public key generated by the second system, and calculating a master key based upon the first private key, the second public key, a long-term private key, and a long-term public key. The long-term private key was generated by the first system during a previous key-agreement method as part of a long-term key pair. The long-term public key was generated by the second system and received during the previous key-agreement method. The previous key-agreement method required a secret to be known to the first system and the second system, thus conferring authentication based on the secret to the long-term public key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Herbert Anthony Little, Michael Kenneth Brown
  • Patent number: 8611936
    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: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Neil Patrick Adams, Herbert Anthony Little, Michael Stephen Brown, Michael Kenneth Brown
  • Patent number: 8606871
    Abstract: A displayed string of emails is effectively compressed for improved readability by deleting some or all headers and/or by skipping the cursor from one message body to another in response to hot key actuation(s) by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Michael Kenneth Brown, Michael Grant Kirkup, Michael Stephen Brown
  • Patent number: 8601570
    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 and the change in orientation matching a pre-selected orientation criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Jason Tyler Griffin, Steven Henry Fyke, Jerome Pasquero, Neil Patrick Adams, Michael Kenneth Brown
  • Publication number: 20130318344
    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 one or more encryption and/or authentication aspects. 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 host system. Authentication and/or encryption message processing is performed upon the message. The processed message may then be sent through the host system to one or more receivers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: Blackberry Limited
    Inventors: Michael Stephen Brown, Neil Patrick Adams, Michael Kenneth Brown, Michael Grant Kirkup, Herbert Anthony Little