Patents by Inventor Michael S. Brown

Michael S. 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: 20120065962
    Abstract: Standard word lists that are often used for such operations as predictive text, spell checking, and word completion are based on general linguistic data that might not accurately reflect actual text usage patterns of particular users. Systems and methods of building and using a custom word list for use in text operations on an electronic device are provided. A collection of text items associated with a user of the electronic device is scanned to identify words in the text items. A weighting is then assigned to each identified word, and the words and corresponding weightings are stored.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventors: Robert J. Lowles, Jason T. Griffin, Michael S. Brown
  • Patent number: 8135951
    Abstract: A system and method for automatic key and certificate management is disclosed. In particular, a key store in a base computer contains both new and previously viewed cryptographic keys. In one embodiment, for each new key, if a corresponding certificate matches an existing certificate, the new certificate may be automatically downloaded to a mobile communications device without prompting a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Neil P. Adams, Michael S. Brown, Herbert A. Little
  • Publication number: 20120060026
    Abstract: A method and system for Certificate management and transfer between messaging clients are disclosed. When communications are established between a first messaging client and a second messaging client, one or more Certificates stored on the first messaging client may be selected and transferred to the second messaging client. Messaging clients may thereby share Certificates. Certificate management functions such as Certificate deletions, Certificate updates and Certificate status checks may also be provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Herbert A. Little, Neil P. Adams, David F. Tapuska, Michael S. Brown, Michael G. Kirkup, James A. Godfrey
  • Patent number: 8130957
    Abstract: In accordance with the teachings described herein, systems and methods are provided for securing data for transmission to a wireless device. The disclosed systems and methods may include an electronic messaging system used to send and receive data over a first network and also used to forward data to a wireless device operable in a second network. The electronic messaging system may receive an electronic message encrypted with a first encryption algorithm and addressed to a message recipient in the first network, the message recipient having an associated wireless device operable in the second network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Herbert A. Little, Michael K. Brown, Jonathan F. Hammell, Michael S. Brown, Michael G. Kirkup, Neil P. Adams
  • Publication number: 20120045057
    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: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael K. BROWN, Michael S. BROWN, Michael G. KIRKUP, Herbert A. LITTLE
  • Publication number: 20120042161
    Abstract: Electronic messages are sent from a sending system to an identified recipient and are encrypted using information contained in a certificate for that recipient. An electronic device and method are provided for detecting receipt of a command to initiate transmission of a composed message to a recipient, and after said detection but prior to transmitting the message, determining that no valid digital certificate for said recipient is available at the communication device; retrieving a valid digital certificate for said recipient from a source over a network; and encrypting said composed message using the valid digital certificate; then initiating transmission of the encrypted, composed message to the recipient. Retrieval of the valid digital certificate can include repeated retrieval and validation of certificates until a valid certificate is obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael S. BROWN, Michael G. KIRKUP, Herb LITTLE
  • Publication number: 20120036582
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for implementation on a mobile device to force the mobile device into a secure state upon detection or determination of a triggering event. Once it is determined that a triggering event has occurred, each application operating on the mobile device is caused to immediately unreference sensitive objects and a secure garbage collection operation is performed upon the unreferenced sensitive objects to render data associated therewith unreadable. The mobile device is then caused to enter a secure state, in which the mobile device cannot be accessed without authorization. A microprocessor within the mobile device is configured to determine the existence of the triggering event according to a configuration data structure and to perform the secure garbage collection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Herbert A. Little, Neil P. Adams, Michael K. Brown, Michael S. Brown
  • Publication number: 20120023436
    Abstract: There is disclosed a user interface for selecting a photo tag. In an embodiment, the user interface embodies a method of selecting a photo tag for a tagged photo, comprising: providing a tag entry field for entering a photo tag; in dependence upon a string entered by a user, displaying in a matching tag list any tags from one or more selected tag sources matching the entered string. The method may further comprise displaying a tag type for each tag appearing in the matching tag list. The method may further comprise allowing user selection of a tag in the matching tag list to complete the tag entry field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventors: Michael S. BROWN, Gerhard D. Klassen, Terrill Dent
  • Patent number: 8099593
    Abstract: A system and method for searching and retrieving certificates, which may be used in the processing of encoded messages. In one embodiment, a certificate synchronization application is programmed to perform certificate searches by querying one or more certificate servers for all certificate authority (CA) certificates and cross-certificates on the certificate servers. In another embodiment, all certificates related to an identified certificate are retrieved from the certificate servers automatically by the certificate synchronization application, where the related certificates comprise at least one of one or more CA certificates and one or more cross-certificates. Embodiments of the invention facilitate at least partial automation of the downloading and establishment of certificate chains, thereby minimizing the need for users to manually search for individual certificates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Michael S. Brown, Michael K. Brown, Herbert A. Little, Neil P. Adams, Michael G. Kirkup
  • Patent number: 8099060
    Abstract: A mobile wireless communication device also has at least one wired communication port. Enhanced security is achieved by permitting the device to automatically disable one or more wireless ports when connected to a wired port. Specific combinations/permutations of such automatic control may be effected by use of an IT Policy also resident on the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Research in Motion Limited
    Inventors: Michael G. Kirkup, Michael K. Brown, Herbert A. Little, Ian Robertson, Michael S. Brown
  • Patent number: 8099759
    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, such as a mobile device, for example. In one broad aspect, the method comprises determining, at the computing device, whether a general message encoding configuration setting thereon indicates that the security encoding to be applied to the message is to be established by a policy engine; if the general message encoding configuration setting on the computing device indicates that the security encoding to be applied to the message is to be established by the policy engine, determining the security encoding to be applied to the message by querying the policy engine for the security encoding to be applied to the message; applying the determined security encoding to the message; and transmitting the message to which the security encoding has been applied to the at least one recipient. In one embodiment, the policy engine is a PGP Universal Server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Michael K. Brown, Michael S. Brown, Michael G. Kirkup
  • Publication number: 20120005293
    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: September 12, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael K. Brown, Michael S. Brown, Michael G. Kirkup
  • Patent number: 8090786
    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: January 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Michael K. Brown, Michael G. Kirkup, Michael S. Brown
  • Patent number: 8090409
    Abstract: A system and method for enabling functions on a primary mobile device from a secondary mobile device are described. The primary mobile device is configured to enable at least selected functions of the mobile communications device if authorization information is received at the primary mobile device at periodic intervals of time. The method comprises: storing at the secondary mobile device the authorization information; establishing a short range direct wireless communications link between the secondary mobile device and the primary mobile device; and periodically transmitting the authorization information to the primary mobile device to enable the at least selected functions of the mobile communications device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Michael K. Brown, Michael Kirkup, Michael S. Brown
  • Publication number: 20110318807
    Abstract: Ghrelin O-acyltransferase (GOAT) is inhibited with designed small molecules. Methods comprise contacting the GOAT with an inhibitor and detecting a resultant inhibition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Inventors: Patrick G. Harran, Michael S. Brown, Joseph L. Goldstein, Jin Yang, Tong-Jin Zhao
  • Publication number: 20110321171
    Abstract: A system includes a first wireless-enabled device that transparently stores confidential information and a second wireless-enabled device that stores the same confidential information. The confidential information is to be used to secure a wireless communication link between the first device and the second device. One or both of the first device and the second device is to delete the confidential information upon fulfillment of one or more conditions related to the communication link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Neil Adams, Michael S. Brown, Michael K. Brown, Herbert Little, Scott Totzke
  • Publication number: 20110320807
    Abstract: Systems and methods for processing encoded messages at a message receiver. A received encoded message is decoded and stored in a memory. The stored decoded message can subsequently be displayed or otherwise processed without repeating the decoding operations. Decoding operations may include signature verification, decryption, other types of decoding, or some combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Herbert A. Little, Michael S. Brown
  • Patent number: 8078867
    Abstract: A system and method that facilitates the authentication of streamed data received at a device, where authentication information is not distributed over the data stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Michael K. Brown, David F. Tapuska, Michael S. Brown
  • Publication number: 20110299687
    Abstract: A system and method for automatic key and certificate management is disclosed. In particular, a key store in a base computer contains both new and previously viewed cryptographic keys. In one embodiment, for each new key, if a corresponding certificate matches an existing certificate, the new certificate may be automatically downloaded to a mobile communications device without prompting a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Neil Patrick Adams, Michael S. Brown, Herbert A. Little
  • Publication number: 20110302407
    Abstract: A system and method for sending encrypted messages to a distribution list that facilitates the sending of such messages only to individuals or other entities associated with the distribution list that will be able to read the message.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Neil P. Adams, Michael S. Brown, Michael K. Brown