Safe case with security choke point control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11115075-B2
Application number	US-201916526394-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 30, 2019
Priority date	Jul 30, 2019
Publication date	Sep 7, 2021
Grant date	Sep 7, 2021

Abstract

In accordance with some embodiments, an apparatus that controls security choke points on a personal communication device is provided. The apparatus includes a housing arranged to hold a second device. The apparatus receives a first input and classifies the first input. The apparatus then determines which of a combination of one or more sensors on the second device that the first input is directed to based on an input type classification associated with the first input. The apparatus further disables a first combination of the one or more sensors on the second device in accordance with determining that the first input corresponds to a first input type classification.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
at a first apparatus including a housing, a controller, a non-transitory memory, and one or more communication devices at least partially supported by the housing, wherein the housing is arranged to hold a second device that is distinct from the first apparatus:
receiving, by the first apparatus, a first input, wherein the first input is detected by a second sensor on the second device and a second input is detected by a first sensor on the first apparatus;
classifying the first input as a first input type based on an input type classification, wherein a respective input type in the input type classification corresponds to a plurality of inputs, and the second input also corresponds to the first input type, wherein the first input type comprises inputs associated with moving a mechanical part;
determining which of a combination of one or more sensors on the second device that the first input is directed to based on the input type classification and sensor assignments, wherein the sensor assignments specify each corresponding input type for a set of sensors on the second device; and
directing the second device to selectively enable or disable a first combination of the one or more sensors on the second device without intervening user inputs in accordance with determining that the first input corresponds to the first input type and the first input type corresponds to the first combination of the one or more sensors on the second device in the sensor assignments.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving, by the first apparatus, the first input includes receiving, via a communication channel between the first apparatus and the second device, the first input detected by the second sensor on the second device.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the input type classification includes one or more of moving a mechanical part, entering a touch input, receiving a voice input, detecting a device movement, or obtaining a biometric input.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors include one or more of a switch, a touch sensor, a force sensor, an electronic actuator, a biometric sensor, a chemical sensor, a light sensor, a sound sensor, a radio frequency signal detector, or a vibration sensor.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein directing the second device to selectively enable or disable the first combination of the one or more sensors on the second device includes controlling one or more sensor paths associated with the one or more sensors.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining that the second input is directed to the first combination of the one or more sensors based on the input type classification and the sensor assignments; and
directing the second device to selectively enable or disable the first combination of the one or more sensors on the second device.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, by the first apparatus, a third input, different from the first input and the second input; and
directing the second device to selectively enable or disable a second combination of the one or more sensors in accordance with determining that the third input is associated with a second input type different from the first input type, wherein the second combination of sensors is at least partially different from the first combination of sensors.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
maintaining an operation of a second combination of the one or more sensors, different from the first combination of the one or more sensors.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining whether or not activities of the second device meet a criterion associated with the first combination of the one or more sensors; and
directing the second device to selectively disable or enable the first combination of the one or more sensors on the second device in accordance with a determination that the criterion has been met.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
associating combinations of the one or more sensors with the input type classification; and
storing associations of the combinations of the one or more sensors with the input type classification as the sensor assignments in the non-transitory memory.

11. An apparatus comprising:
a housing arranged to hold a second device, distinct from the apparatus;
a non-transitory memory;
one or more communication devices at least partially supported by the housing;
an input type classifier, stored in the non-transitory memory, operable to receive a first input, wherein the first input is detected by a second sensor on the second device and a second input is detected by a first sensor on the first apparatus, and classify the first input as a first input type based on an input type classification, wherein a respective input type in the input type classification corresponds to a plurality of inputs, and the second input also corresponds to the first input type, wherein the first input type comprises inputs associated with moving a mechanical part;
a sensor combination selector, coupled to the input type classifier, operable to determine which of a combination of one or more sensors on the second device that the first input is directed to based on the input type classification and sensor assignments, wherein the sensor assignments specify each corresponding input type for a set of sensors on the second device; and
a controller, coupled to the sensor combination selector and the input type classifier, operable to direct the second device to selectively enable or disable a first combination of the one or more sensors on the second device without intervening user inputs in accordance with the sensor combination selector determining that the first input to the first input type and the first input type corresponds to the first combination of the one or more sensors on the second device in the sensor assignments.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein receiving the first input includes receiving, via a communication channel between the apparatus and the second device, the first input detected by the second sensor on the second device.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the input type classification includes one or more of moving a mechanical part, entering a touch input, receiving a voice input, detecting a device movement, or obtaining a biometric input.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the one or more sensors include one or more of a switch, a touch sensor, a force sensor, an electronic actuator, a biometric sensor, a chemical sensor, a light sensor, a sound sensor, a radio frequency signal detector, or a vibration sensor.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein directing the second device to selectively enable or disable the first combination of the one or more sensors on the second device includes controlling one or more sensor paths associated with the one or more sensors.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein:
the sensor combination selector is further operable to determine that the second input is directed to the first combination of the one or more sensors based on the input type classification and the sensor assignments; and
the controller is further operable to direct the second device to selective enable or disable the first combination of the one or more sensors on the second device.

17. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein:
the input type classifier is further operable to receive a third input, different from the first input and the second input; and
the controller is further operable to direct the second dev

Assignees

• Ppip Llc

Inventors

• Fong Michael
• Taylor Haydn Bennett
• Thomas Teddy David

Classifications

• H04M1/724092

  Interfacing with an external cover providing additional functionalities · CPC title

• H04M1/72463

  to restrict the functionality of the device · CPC title

• H04M1/72412

  using two-way short-range wireless interfaces · CPC title

• A45C11/002

  for storing portable handheld communication devices, e.g. pagers or smart phones · CPC title

• H04M1/185

  Improving the shock resistance of the housing, e.g. by increasing the rigidity · CPC title