Providing access to and enabling functionality of first device based on communication with second device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9351098-B2
Application number	US-201414281145-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 19, 2014
Priority date	May 19, 2014
Publication date	May 24, 2016
Grant date	May 24, 2016

Abstract

In one aspect, a device includes a processor and a memory accessible to the processor. The memory bears instructions executable by the processor to receive at least a first Bluetooth low energy (BLE) signal from a BLE beacon and enable a first function of the first device at least in part in based on receipt of the first BLE signal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A first device, comprising:
a processor; and
a memory accessible to the processor and bearing instructions executable by the processor to:
receive at least a first Bluetooth low energy (BLE) signal from a BLE beacon; and
enable a first function of the first device at least in part in based on receipt of the first BLE signal, wherein the first BLE signal contains location information for a first location in which the first BLE beacon in disposed, wherein the instructions are executable to:
enable the first function for a threshold time in response to receipt of the first BLE signal; and
disable the first function in response to expiration of the threshold time during which at least one subsequent BLE signal containing the location information is not received.

2. The first device of claim 1 , wherein the first BLE signal contains location information for a first location in which the first BLE beacon is disposed, and the instructions are executable to enable the first function only in response to receipt of the location information, the instructions being executable to otherwise disable the first function.

3. The first device of claim 1 , wherein the first function that is enabled is ability of the first device to communicate with other devices.

4. The first device of claim 1 , wherein the first function is enabled at least in part in based on receipt of the first BLE signal and wherein a second function different from the first function is disabled at least in part based on receipt of the first BLE signal.

5. The first device of claim 4 , wherein the second function is one of receipt of a telephone call and receipt of a text message.

6. The first device of claim 1 , wherein a first hardware component of the first device is enabled at least in part in based on receipt of the first BLE signal.

7. The first device of claim 1 , wherein the first function is access to an encrypted portion of a hard drive of the first device.

8. The first device of claim 1 , wherein the first function is presentation of data stored at the first device on a display of a second device different from the first device.

9. A first device, comprising: a processor; and
a memory accessible to the processor and hearing instructions executable by the processor to:
receive at least a first Bluetooth low energy (BLE) signal from a BLE beacon;
enable a first function of the first device at least in part in based on receipt of the first BLE signal;
receive at least a second BLE signal at a predefined time subsequent to receipt of the first BLE signal; and
responsive to not receiving the second BLE signal at the predefined time, disable the first function.

10. The first device of claim 9 , wherein the first BLE signal contains location information for a first location in which the first BLE beacon is disposed, and the instructions are executable to enable the first function only in response to receipt of the location information, the instructions being executable to otherwise disable the first function.

11. The first device of claim 9 , wherein the first function that is enabled is ability of the first device to communicate with other devices.

12. The first device of claim 9 . wherein the first function is access to an encrypted portion of a hard drive of the first device.

13. The first device of claim 9 , wherein the first function is presentation of data stored at the device on a display of a second device different from the first device.

14. The first device of claim 9 , wherein the first function is enabled at least in part based on receipt of the first BLE signal and wherein a second function different from the first function is disabled at least in part based on receipt of the first BLE signal.

15. The first device of claim 9 , wherein a first hardware component of the first device is enabled at least in part in based on receipt of the first BLE signal.

16. The first device, comprising:
a processor; and
a memory accessible to the processor and bearing instructions executable by the processor to:
receive at least a first Bluetooth low energy (BLE) signal from a BLE beacon;
enable a first function of the first device at least in part in based on receipt of the first BLE signal; wherein the first BLE signal includes a public key, and wherein the instructions are further executable to:
store the public key;
transmit a nonce to the provider of the first BLE signal;
receive from the provider the nonce signed by the provider;
verify the signed nonce using the public key; and
enable the first function of the first device at least in part based on verification of the signed nonce.

17. The first device of claim 16 , wherein the public key is a public encryption key is a public encryption key.

18. The first device of claim 16 , wherein the first function is access to an encrypted portion of a hard drive of the first device.

19. The first device of claim 16 , wherein the first function is presentation of data stored at the first device on a display of a second device different from the first device.

20. The first device of claim 16 , wherein the nonce is a first nonce, and wherein the instructions are executable to:
transmit a second nonce to the provider of the first BLE signal;
in response to expiration of a threshold time during which receipt of the second nonce signed by the provider does not occur, disable the first function.

21. The first device of claim 16 , wherein all functions for the first device including the first function are enabled at least in part based on receipt of the first BLE signal, and wherein all functions for the first device including the first function are disabled in response to failure to receive from the provider the second nonce signed by the provider.

22. The first device of claim 16 , wherein the first BLE signal contains location information for a first location in which the first BLE beacon is disposed, and the instructions are executable to enable the first function only in response to receipt of the location information, the instructions being executable to otherwise disable the first function.

23. The first device of claim 16 , wherein the first function that is enabled is ability of the first device to communicate with other devices.

24. The first device of claim 16 , wherein the first function is enabled at least in part in based on receipt of the first BLE signal and wherein a second function different from the first function is disabled at least in part based on receipt of the first BLE signal.

25. The first device of claim 16 , wherein a first hardware component of the first device is enabled at least in part in based on receipt of the first BLE signal.

26. A method, comprising:
receiving at least a first Bluetooth low energy(BLE) signal from a BLE beacon; and
enabling the first function of a first device at least in part in based on receipt of the first BLE signal, wherein the first BLE signal contains location information for a first location in which the first BLE beacon is disposed, and wherein the enabling comprises:
enabling the first function for a threshold time in response to receipt of the first BLE signal; and
disabling the first function in response to expiration of the threshold time during which at least one subsequent BLE signal containing the location information is not received.

27. The method of claim 26 ,

Assignees

• Lenovo Singapore Pte Ltd

Inventors

• Rivera David
• Wetsel Peter Hamilton
• Jakes Philip John
• Hebel Daniel Justin
• Laltrello Joseph Nicholas

Classifications

• H04M1/72463

  to restrict the functionality of the device · CPC title

• H04W4/008 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H04L63/061

  for key exchange, e.g. in peer-to-peer networks (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key agreement H04L9/0838) · CPC title

• H04M1/72597

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H04W12/06

  Authentication · CPC title