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).

  • Patent number: 8316416
    Abstract: A first device has a display that is able to show information. The information is to be exchanged with a second device. The information is cleared from the display following receipt of an indication from the second device that the information has been successfully inputted at the second device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Michael K. Brown, Herb Little, Michael S. Brown, Neil Adams
  • Publication number: 20120290844
    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: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael S. Brown, Michael K. Brown, Michael G. Kirkup
  • Patent number: 8306989
    Abstract: An embodiment relates to a novel apparatus and method for changing modes of notification in an electronic device. An electronic device includes a calendar application and a variety of other applications such as the message reader application or the daily alarm application. The device is configured to use the calendar application to track whether and how the user is notified of the receipt of an electronic message. In one embodiment, the user specifically associates a profile behavior to the calendar entry when the calendar entry is first created.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: David Yach, David Castell, Neil Adams, Michael K. Brown, Ian Patterson
  • Patent number: 8301903
    Abstract: Before an application is allowed to execute a secure function, code signing keys associated with the application are analyzed for correspondence with the class that contains the secure function as well as correspondence with the secure function. Optionally, code signing keys associated with the application are analyzed for correspondence with the input parameters to the function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: David MacFarlane, Michael K. Brown
  • Publication number: 20120272053
    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: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Michael K. Brown, Thomas C. Nagy, Ian M. Robertson
  • Patent number: 8295486
    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: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Christopher L. Bender, Michael K. Brown, Michael S. Brown
  • Patent number: 8291216
    Abstract: A system and method for processing certificates located in a certificate search. Certificates located in a certificate search are processed at a data server (e.g. a mobile data server) coupled to a computing device (e.g. a mobile device) to determine status data that can be used to indicate the status of those certificates to a user of the computing device. Selected certificates may be downloaded to the computing device for storage, and the downloaded certificates are tracked by the data server. This facilitates the automatic updating of the status of one or more certificates stored on the computing device by the data server, in which updated status data is pushed from the data server to the computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Neil P. Adams, Herbert A. Little, Michael K. Brown, Michael S. Brown, Michael G. Kirkup
  • Patent number: 8291215
    Abstract: A system and method for processing certificates located in a certificate search. Certificates located in a certificate search are processed at a data server (e.g. a mobile data server) coupled to a computing device (e.g. a mobile device) to determine status data that can be used to indicate the status of those certificates to a user of the computing device, without having to download those certificates to the computing device in their entirety. The data server is further adapted to transmit the status data to the computing device. In one embodiment, at least one status property of the certificates is verified at the data server in determining the status data. In another embodiment, additional certificate data is determined and transmitted to the computing device, which can be used by the computing device to verify, at the computing device, at least one other status property of the certificates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Neil P. Adams, Herbert A. Little, Michael K. Brown, Michael S. Brown, Michael G. Kirkup
  • Patent number: 8291212
    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: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: 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
  • Publication number: 20120257746
    Abstract: A method for secure bidirectional communication between two systems is described. A first key pair and a second key pair are generated, the latter including a second public key that is generated based upon a shared secret. First and second public keys are sent to a second system, and third and fourth public keys are received from the second system. The fourth public key is generated based upon the shared secret. A master key for encrypting messages is calculated based upon a first private key, a second private key, the third public key and the fourth public key. For re-keying, a new second key pair having a new second public key and a new second private key is generated, and a new fourth public key is received. A new master key is calculated using elliptic curve calculations using the new second private key and the new fourth public key.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael K. Brown, Herbert A. Little, David Victor MacFarlane, Michael S. Brown, Dinah Lea Marie Davis
  • Patent number: 8274380
    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: December 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Ravi Singh, Michael K. Brown, Dinah Lea Marie Davis, Neil Patrick Adams
  • Patent number: 8271782
    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: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Michael K. Brown, Michael S. Brown, Herbert A. Little, Neil P. Adams
  • Patent number: 8261338
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Michael K. Brown, Neil P. Adams, Herbert A. Little
  • Patent number: 8255695
    Abstract: An electronic device includes password protected functionality using a password that can be changed by the user. A user-specified password is stored in association with unique version data that is subsequently provided to help user recall of the password associated therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Michael K. Brown, Herbert A. Little, Michael G. Kirkup
  • Patent number: 8254582
    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: September 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Michael S. Brown, Michael K. Brown, Michael G. Kirkup
  • Publication number: 20120216042
    Abstract: A method is provided for provisioning a device certificate. A device certificate request is transmitted from a communication device to a server in a communication network using an established communications channel between the communication device and the server. The device certificate request comprises at least a user identifier and a device identifier. The server provides to the communication device a device certificate that includes the user identifier and the device identifier and that is signed by a private key of a certificate authority.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Michael K. Brown, Michael S. Brown, Michael Kirkup
  • Publication number: 20120213365
    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: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael K. Brown, Michael G. Kirkup, Michael S. Brown
  • Publication number: 20120216032
    Abstract: System and methods for processing encoded messages at a message receiver are described. Encoded message processing is performed in multiple stages. In a first stage, a new received message is at least partially decoded by performing any decoding operations that require no user input and a resulting context object is stored in memory, before a user is notified that the new message has been received. When the user accesses the new message, any further required decoding operations are performed on the stored context object in a second stage of processing. The message can subsequently be displayed or otherwise processed relatively quickly, without repeating the first stage decoding operations. Decoding operations may include signature verification, decryption, other types of decoding, or some combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Herbert A. LITTLE, Michael S. BROWN, Michael K. BROWN
  • Patent number: 8239934
    Abstract: Protection of real-time data such as voice data exchanged as packets between a mobile electronic device and a VPN gateway during a media session over a communications link that includes a wireless network. A first VPN connection is established between the mobile electronic device and the VPN gateway through the communications link, the first VPN connection using key-based encryption to protect data exchanged therethrough. While the first VPN connection is established, a second VPN connection is established between the mobile electronic device and the VPN gateway through the communications link, the second VPN connection using key-based encryption to protect data exchanged therethrough. Real-time data packets are exchanged between the mobile electronic device and the VPN gateway through the second VPN connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Michael K. Brown, Thomas C. Nagy, Ian M. Robertson
  • Publication number: 20120191978
    Abstract: A system and method for securing data for redirecting and transporting over a wireless network are generally described herein. In accordance with some embodiments, when it is determined that an electronic message that is protected with a first encryption algorithm is to be transported over a wireless network to a wireless device, the electronic message is converted to a data structure that is recognizable by the wireless device and the data structure is encrypted with a second encryption algorithm using a random session key. The second encryption algorithm has a stronger security than the first encryption algorithm. The random session key is encrypted with a public key and packets that comprise the encrypted data structure and the encrypted random session key are transmitted to the wireless device over the wireless network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Inventors: Herbert A. Little, Michael K. Brown, Jonathan F. Hammell, Michael S. Brown, Michael G. Kirkup, Neil P. Adams