Patents by Inventor Michael K. Brown

Michael K. 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).

  • Publication number: 20130007445
    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: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: RESARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael S. Brown, Michael K. Brown, Neil P. Adams, Michael G. Kirkup, Herbert A. Little
  • Publication number: 20130007770
    Abstract: A system and method for facilitating communication of packets between one or more applications residing on a first computing device and at least one second computing device. The system comprises a connection manager adapted to receive packets from the at least one second computing device, and a packet cache for storing packets received by the connection manager. The connection manager, upon receiving a packet from a second computing device, transmits the packet to the packet cache for storage and notifies each of the applications of receipt of the packet. Subsequently, the packet is retrievable from the packet cache by a notified application, and verification that the packet is intended for communication to the notified application is made.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Jonathan F. Hammell, Michael K. Brown
  • Publication number: 20130007448
    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: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael K. BROWN, Michael S. BROWN, Herbert A. Little
  • Publication number: 20130007454
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for outputting an alert on a mobile device to indicate the use of a weak hash function are disclosed herein. In one example embodiment, the method comprises receiving data (e.g. from a server) that identifies at least one first hash function, identifying a hash digest generated using a second hash function, determining if the second hash function is weak using the received data, and outputting an alert indicating that the second hash function is weak if it is determined that the second hash function is weak.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Christopher L. Bender, Michael K. Brown, Michael S. Brown
  • Publication number: 20130003974
    Abstract: A mobile device for the display of messages receives messages in segments or incrementally from a server, and includes a message viewer application for displaying portions of the message. On determination using the received portion of the message that the message is digitally signed or encrypted, the server is signalled to halt automatic transmission of further segments of the message. When a verify command is received by the mobile device, a command is transmitted to the server so that automatic reception of message segments can be resumed at the mobile device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Neil P. ADAMS, Michael S. BROWN, Herbert A. LITTLE, Michael K. BROWN
  • Publication number: 20130001301
    Abstract: A system includes a wireless-enabled smart card reader able to be connected concurrently to at least two devices and a mobile device able to be connected wirelessly to the smart card reader and to control connections of the smart card reader.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Michael K. Brown, Herb Little, Neil Adams
  • Publication number: 20130007459
    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 encryption and/or authentication aspect. 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 remote system. Authentication and/or encryption message processing is performed upon the message. The processed message may then be sent through the remote system to one or more receivers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: James A. Godfrey, Herbert A. Little, Michael K. Brown, Neil P. Adams, Carl L. Cherry, Timothy R. Tyhurst, Michael S. Brown
  • Patent number: 8347089
    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: February 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Research In Motion (TX office)
    Inventors: Neil P. Adams, Michael S. Brown, Herbert A. Little, Michael K. Brown
  • Patent number: 8346312
    Abstract: A mobile communication device is capable of communicating with a battery authorization server. Determining an authorization status of a smart battery currently powering the mobile communication device involves an initial authorization process and a subsequent authorization process. The initial authorization process is conducted between the mobile communication device and the smart battery. If the initial authorization process is successful, it is followed by a subsequent authorization process between the mobile communication device and the battery authorization server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Michael K. Brown, Ian Robertson, Herbert A. Little, Lyall Winger
  • Publication number: 20120331079
    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: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael K. BROWN, Michael G. Kirkup, Michael S. Brown
  • Publication number: 20120326861
    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: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Ravi Singh, Michael K. Brown, Dinah Lea Marie Davis, Neil Patrick Adams
  • Patent number: 8341411
    Abstract: If a smart card is to be used for a particular purpose, and there is no certificate initialized on the smart card for this purpose, a computerized device enables a user to select one of the certificates already installed in the smart card for the particular purpose. The selected certificate may be imported into the computerized device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Michael K. Brown, Neil Adams, Herbert Little
  • Patent number: 8335823
    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: August 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Michael K. Brown, Michael S. Brown, Herbert A. Little
  • Patent number: 8331911
    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: June 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Neil P. Adams, Herbert A. Little, Michael K. Brown, Michael S. Brown
  • Patent number: 8332935
    Abstract: A smart card, system, and method for securely authorizing a user or user device using the smart card is provided. The smart card is configured to provide, upon initialization or a request for authentication, a public key to the user input device such that the PIN or password entered by the user is encrypted before transmission to the smart card via a smart card reader. The smart card then decrypts the PIN or password to authorize the user. Preferably, the smart card is configured to provide both a public key and a nonce to the user input device, which then encrypts a concatenation or other combination of the nonce and the user-input PIN or password before transmission to the smart card. The smart card reader thus never receives a copy of the PIN or password in the clear, allowing the smart card to be used with untrusted smart card readers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Michael K. Brown, Neil P. Adams, Herbert A. Little
  • Publication number: 20120311323
    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 cheek 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: August 15, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael K. Brown, Michael S. Brown, Herbert A. Little, Neil P. Adams
  • Publication number: 20120303786
    Abstract: In a system with a policy server, a first device able to communicate with the policy server and a second device able to communicate with the first device and unable to communicate with the policy server, the first device is to act as a policy proxy. The policy server may push to the first device a policy for the second device, and the first device may push the policy to the second device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael K. Brown, Neil P. Adams, Herbert A. Little
  • Publication number: 20120303731
    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: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael K. Brown, Michael S. Brown, Michael G. Kirkup
  • Publication number: 20120297195
    Abstract: If a smart card is to be used for a particular purpose, and there is no certificate initialized on the smart card for this purpose, a computerized device enables a user to select one of the certificates already installed in the smart card for the particular purpose. The selected certificate may be imported into the computerized device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael K. Brown, Neil Adams, Herbert Little
  • Publication number: 20120297194
    Abstract: A first device in possession of a value is able to determine, without communicating the value and without communicating any information from which the value can be identified, whether a second device is also in possession of the value. The first device accomplishes this with the assistance of a third device that is able to communicate with the first device and with the second device. The second device also does not communicate the value and does not communicate any information from which the value can be identified. The first device may send additional information to the third device which, if passed to the second device, enables the second device to determine that the first device is in possession of the value. The value may be a secret.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Michael K. Brown, Herbert A. Little, Dinah L. M. Davis