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).

  • 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: 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
  • 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: 8279173
    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: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Michael S. Brown, Gerhard D. Klassen, Terrill Dent
  • Publication number: 20120246706
    Abstract: Embodiments of the systems, devices, and methods described herein generally facilitate the secure transmittal of security parameters. In accordance with at least one embodiment, a representation of first data comprising a password is generated at the first computing device as an image or audio signal. The image or audio signal is transmitted from the first computing device to the second computing device. The password is determined from the image or audio signal at the second computing device. A key exchange is performed between the first computing device and the second computing device wherein a key is derived at each of the first and second computing devices. In at least one embodiment, one or more security parameters (e.g. one or more public keys) are exchanged between the first and second computing devices, and techniques for securing the exchange of security parameters or authenticating exchanged security parameters are generally disclosed herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael S. Brown, Herbert A. Little
  • Publication number: 20120239927
    Abstract: A system and method for searching and retrieving certificates, which may be used in the processing of encoded messages. In one broad aspect, a method is provided in which a certificate search request is received, a search of one or more certificate servers for certificates satisfying the request is performed, located certificates are retrieved and processed at a first computing device to determine data that uniquely identifies each located certificate, and search result data comprising the determined data is communicated to a second device (e.g. a mobile device) for use in determining whether each located certificate is already stored on the second device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Neil P. Adams, Michael S. Brown, Herbert A. Little
  • 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: 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
  • Patent number: 8254890
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for sharing data amongst a group of a plurality of mobile devices without requiring a database or server to centrally store the shared data. The shared data is instead stored by each group member individually while controlling the manner in which the shared data is updated. The shared data can be used to manage tasks in a group project. To manage updates, the shared data is atomized such that individual databases in the shared data are separated or otherwise delineated into one or more records, each record having associated therewith, a value. To maintain a common copy of the shared data at each device, any update is sent to all group members using an intermediate message exchange service that is capable of transmitting a sent message to more than one recipient if necessary. In this way, the updates are multicast to the group. To manage the content of the shared data, each update comprises one or more changes to a current copy of a corresponding record.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Michael Hung, Herbert A. Little, 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
  • 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: 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: 20120210389
    Abstract: In one embodiment, there is provided a mobile communications device comprising: a processor; a communications subsystem operable to exchange signals with a wireless network; a storage element having application modules and data stored thereon, the data comprising at least user application data associated with the application modules and service data including data for establishing communications with the wireless network; and a security module operable to detect policy messages received by the device, and to perform a security action if a first policy message to enforce a first data protection policy is received and a subsequent policy message to enforce a second data protection policy is not received within a predetermined duration from the time at which the first policy message is received; wherein the security action comprises erasing or encrypting at least some of the data on the storage element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Michael S. Brown, Neil Adams, Steven Fyke, Herbert Little
  • Patent number: 8240560
    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: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Neil Patrick Adams, Michael Kenneth Brown, Michael S. Brown
  • Publication number: 20120198236
    Abstract: Embodiments of the systems, devices, and methods described herein generally facilitate the secure transmittal of security parameters. In accordance with at least one embodiment, a representation of first data comprising a password is generated at the first computing device as an audio signal. The audio signal is transmitted from the first computing device to the second computing device. The password is determined from the audio signal at the second computing device. A key exchange is performed between the first computing device and the second computing device wherein a key is derived at each of the first and second computing devices. In at least one embodiment, one or more security parameters (e.g. one or more public keys) are exchanged between the first and second computing devices, and techniques for securing the exchange of security parameters or authenticating exchanged security parameters are generally disclosed herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael S. BROWN, Herbert A. LITTLE
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8229413
    Abstract: A communication device is configured to receive messages. The communication device may comprise a display screen upon which messages are displayed. A microprocessor configured to execute at least one message management program on the communication device, filters incoming messages. The message management program comprising a message filter application filters messages based on a comparison of sender identification data associated with a message to approved sender identification data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Michael K. Brown, Michael S. Brown, Michael E. McCallum
  • Publication number: 20120179917
    Abstract: A code signing system and method is provided. The code signing system operates in conjunction with a signed software application having a digital signature and includes an application platform, an application programming interface (API), and a virtual machine. The API is configured to link the software application with the application platform. The virtual machine verifies the authenticity of the digital signature in order to control access to the API by the software application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Inventors: David P. YACH, Michael S. BROWN, Herbert A. LITTLE
  • Patent number: 8218773
    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: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Michael K. Brown, Herbert A. Little, David Victor MacFarlane, Michael S. Brown, Dinah Lea Marie Davis
  • Patent number: 8214645
    Abstract: Embodiments of the systems, devices, and methods described herein generally facilitate the secure transmittal of security parameters. In accordance with at least one embodiment, a representation of first data comprising a password is generated at the first computing device as an image or audio signal. The image or audio signal is transmitted from the first computing device to the second computing device. The password is determined from the image or audio signal at the second computing device. A key exchange is performed between the first computing device and the second computing device wherein a key is derived at each of the first and second computing devices. In at least one embodiment, one or more security parameters (e.g. one or more public keys) are exchanged between the first and second computing devices, and techniques for securing the exchange of security parameters or authenticating exchanged security parameters are generally disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Michael S. Brown, Herbert A. Little