Automatic password handling

摘要

A user of a cellular telephone also has a peripheral device, such as a wristlet or ring, for example, that is worn on, and contacts, the user's body. When the user depresses a user control, such as a power button or other control on the cellular telephone, a Body Area Network (BAN) communication link is established between the cellular telephone and the peripheral device. The BAN link utilizes the user's body as a transmission medium to carry data between the cellular telephone and the peripheral device. Additionally, a passcode stored at the peripheral device is sent to the cellular telephone over the BAN link. If the passcode is valid, the device will bypass a passcode entry screen and unlock the cellular telephone for the user.

主权项

1. A method for unlocking a cellular telephone with a peripheral device using a Body Area Network (BAN), the method performed at the cellular telephone and comprising:
establishing a wireless communications link with one or more remote communications devices via a wireless communications network, wherein the wireless communications link comprises an air interface; establishing a BAN link with a peripheral device in contact with a user's body responsive to the user actuating a user control on the cellular telephone, wherein the BAN link uses the user's body as a transmission medium; receiving a passcode from the peripheral device over the BAN link; determining whether the passcode received over the BAN link is valid; responsive to determining that the passcode received over the BAN link is not valid:
invoking a passcode lock function on the cellular telephone that requires the user to manually enter the passcode; andmaintaining the cellular telephone in a locked state to prevent the user from accessing the data stored on the cellular telephone until the user enters a valid passcode; and responsive to determining that the passcode received over the BAN link is valid:
bypassing the passcode lock function on the cellular telephone that requires the user to manually enter the passcode to access the data stored on the cellular telephone; andunlocking the cellular telephone for the user, wherein unlocking the cellular telephone allows the user to access the data stored on the cellular telephone.