Patents by Inventor Michael Grant Kirkup

Michael Grant Kirkup 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: 20130232334
    Abstract: Systems and methods for updating status of digital certificate subkeys. A request is made to a key server to verify if a given key is revoked. If it is not, then the key with its subkeys is acquired from the key server. If one or more subkeys or signatures of the subkeys are different in the acquired key, then the key is replaced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael Kenneth Brown, Michael Grant Kirkup, Herbert Anthony Little
  • Patent number: 8527767
    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: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Michael Stephen Brown, Neil Patrick Adams, Michael Kenneth Brown, Michael Grant Kirkup, Herbert Anthony Little
  • Patent number: 8515068
    Abstract: A challenge response scheme authenticates a requesting device by an authenticating device. The authenticating device generates and issues a challenge to the requesting device. The requesting device combines the challenge with a hash of a password provided by a user, and the combination is further hashed in order to generate a requesting encryption key used to encrypt the user supplied password. The encrypted user supplied password is sent to the authenticating device as a response to the issued challenge. The authenticating device generates an authenticating encryption key by generating the hash of a combination of the challenge and a stored hash of an authenticating device password. The authenticating encryption key is used to decrypt the response in order to retrieve the user-supplied password. If the user-supplied password hash matches the stored authenticating device password hash, the requesting device is authenticated and the authenticating device is in possession of the password.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Michael Kenneth Brown, Michael Stephen Brown, Herbert Anthony Little, Michael Grant Kirkup
  • Patent number: 8516068
    Abstract: A system and method for processing messages being composed by a user of a computing device (e.g. a mobile device). Embodiments are described in which the performance of certain tasks is initiated before a direction is received from a user to send a message being composed by the user. This may involve, for example, “pre-fetching” security-related data that will be required in order to send a message that is in the process of being composed by the user securely. Such data may include security policy data, certificate data, and/or certificate status data, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Michael Kenneth Brown, Michael Stephen Brown, Michael Grant Kirkup
  • Patent number: 8503974
    Abstract: A wireless communication device (and its related method of operation) includes, if invoked, password protected access to data stored therewithin and/or to normal device operations and further includes duress password checking logic that automatically causes a duress message to be sent if a duress password has been entered. The duress message is preferably sent without maintaining any user accessible indication of such sending. It is also preferred that the password checking logic automatically cause an end-of-duress message to be sent if a normal password is entered after a duress password has been entered. A plurality of different duress passwords may be entered into a duress password portion of data memory in the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Michael Kenneth Brown, Neil Patrick Adams, Herbert Anthony Little, Michael Grant Kirkup, Ian Robertson, Jonathan F. Hammell, Michael Stephen Brown
  • Patent number: 8478830
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing digitally signed messages in which address mismatch errors are detected. In at least one aspect, the number of address mismatch errors reported to a user for a message may be minimized for messages that properly incorporate message portions signed by someone other than the sender of the message, as may be the case where the message contains a conversation thread for example, by performing at least one pre-determined action for digital signatures corresponding to signed data appearing after a message separator. The message separator may indicate that the message contains data from an older forwarded message or from an older message that has been replied to, for example. The at least one-predetermined action may comprise bypassing verification of address matches for those digital signatures, or verifying address matches for those digital signatures but suppressing user notification of any address mismatch errors, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Michael Kenneth Brown, Michael Grant Kirkup, Michael Stephen Brown
  • Patent number: 8452970
    Abstract: A system and method for code signing. The entities may be software application developers or other individuals or entities that wish to have applications digitally signed. Signing of the applications may be required in order to enable the applications to access sensitive APIs and associated resources of a computing device when the applications are executed on the computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Herbert Anthony Little, Neil Patrick Adams, Michael Grant Kirkup, David Francis Tapuska
  • Patent number: 8429456
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing intelligent error messaging is disclosed wherein a user of a mobile communications device is provided with descriptive error messaging information to assist the user in overcoming errors associated with the processing of electronic messages and data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Neil Patrick Adams, Herbert Anthony Little, Michael Stephen Brown, Michael Grant Kirkup, Michael Kenneth Brown
  • Patent number: 8370896
    Abstract: A system and method for determining a security encoding to be applied to a message being sent by a user of a computing device. In one broad aspect, the device comprises a processor configured to: determine whether a general message encoding configuration setting indicates that when a security encoding is to be applied to a message then the security encoding is to be established by a policy engine; if the general message encoding configuration setting so indicates, query the policy engine for the security encoding to be applied to the message; otherwise, determine the security encoding to be applied to the message in accordance with a user-selected security encoding; and apply the determined security encoding to the message prior to transmission of the message to at least one recipient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Michael Kenneth Brown, Michael Grant Kirkup, Michael Stephen Brown
  • Patent number: 8365305
    Abstract: A method for preventing a recipient of an electronically transmitted message from taking at least one action in relation to the message is disclosed. The message has at least two parts with one of the parts having a higher level of security than the other part. The method includes the step of extracting information from the message. The information indicates that the higher level security part is not permitted to have the action taken on it while the other part is so permitted. The method also includes the step of preventing the higher level security part from having the action taken on it in reaction to said recipient making an offending request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Michael Kenneth Brown, Michael Stephen Brown, Michael Grant Kirkup
  • Patent number: 8341399
    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: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Michael Stephen Brown, Herbert Anthony Little, Neil Patrick Adams, Michael Grant Kirkup, Michael Kenneth Brown
  • Patent number: 8335500
    Abstract: A communication device includes a display screen upon which information is displayed. A microprocessor configured to execute at least one notification program is provided that displays a notification descriptive of an access control request on the display screen. The at least one notification program is programmed to receive data indicative of an access control request and to receive data descriptive of the access control request. Additionally, the at least one notification program is further programmed to display a notification indicative of the access control request and comprising an explanation of the access control request based on the received descriptive data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Christopher Lyle Bender, Michael Grant Kirkup, Michael Kenneth Brown, Radu Alexandru Manea, Brian Alexander Zubert
  • Patent number: 8315601
    Abstract: A system and method for processing attachments to messages sent to a mobile device is described herein. Embodiments described herein apply to encrypted messages comprising multiple message parts, in which different encryption keys (e.g. session keys) have been used to encrypt the different message parts. In at least one example embodiment, the encrypted session keys for every message content part comprising an attachment is received at the mobile device. In one embodiment, all of the encrypted session keys are stored together in a main message header. The mobile device may then decrypt the encrypted session key associated with a user requested attachment, and transmits the decrypted session key to one or more remote servers in an attachment request for use in decrypting the requested attachment. Data associated with the requested attachment, in decrypted form, is returned to the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Michael Kenneth Brown, Michael Grant Kirkup, Michael Stephen Brown
  • Patent number: 8289916
    Abstract: A wireless communication device (and its related method of operation) includes, if invoked, password protected access to data stored therewithin and/or to normal device operations and further includes duress password checking logic that automatically causes a duress message to be sent if a duress password has been entered. The duress message is preferably sent without maintaining any user accessible indication of such sending. It is also preferred that the password checking logic automatically cause an end-of-duress message to be sent if a normal password is entered after a duress password has been entered. A plurality of different duress passwords may be entered into a duress password portion of data memory in the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Michael Kenneth Brown, Neil Patrick Adams, Hebert Anthony Little, Michael Grant Kirkup, Ian Robertson, Jonathan F. Hammell, Michael Stephen Brown
  • Patent number: 8285801
    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: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Michael Kenneth Brown, Michael Grant Kirkup, Michael Stephen Brown
  • Patent number: 8244820
    Abstract: A system and method for processing messages being composed by a user of a computing device (e.g. a mobile device). Embodiments are described in which the performance of certain tasks is initiated before a direction is received from a user to send a message being composed by the user. This may involve, for example, “pre-fetching” security-related data that will be required in order to send a message that is in the process of being composed by the user securely. Such data may include security policy data, certificate data, and/or certificate status data, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Michael Kenneth Brown, Michael Stephen Brown, Michael Grant Kirkup
  • Patent number: 8195128
    Abstract: A system and method for processing attachments to messages sent to a mobile device is described herein. Embodiments described herein apply to encrypted messages comprising multiple message parts, in which different encryption keys (e.g. session keys) have been used to encrypt the different message parts. In at least one example embodiment, the encrypted session keys for every message content part comprising an attachment is received at the mobile device. In one embodiment, all of the encrypted session keys are stored together in a main message header. The mobile device may then decrypt the encrypted session key associated with a user requested attachment, and transmits the decrypted session key to one or more remote servers in an attachment request for use in decrypting the requested attachment. Data associated with the requested attachment, in decrypted form, is returned to the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Michael Kenneth Brown, Michael Grant Kirkup, Michael Stephen Brown
  • Publication number: 20120075175
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method and device for providing system status information. The method comprises: receiving, from an input mechanism associated with a communication device, a request to share system status information; and in response to receiving the request to share the system status information: (i) obtaining system status information associated with the communication device; and (ii) automatically populating one or more portions of an electronic message based on the system status information. The system status information comprises processor usage information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael Grant Kirkup, Andrew Ho Yin Leung
  • Publication number: 20110271273
    Abstract: A method and device for installing an application to a device are provided. The method includes: receiving, at the device, application files associated with the application, the application files including computer readable instruction files and resource files; installing, by an installation manager, the computer readable instruction files to a first memory component associated with the device; and storing the resource files on a second memory component associated with the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Inventors: Paul Mark Joseph Dumais, Brian Alexander Zubert, Michael Grant Kirkup
  • Publication number: 20110214184
    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 19, 2010
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Inventors: Oliver Whitehouse, Michael Grant Kirkup, Christopher Lyle Bender, Michael Kenneth Brown