| 摘要 |
Mobile devices provide security based on geographic location. With such a technique, a mobile device may automatically check its current location against geographic information as to the location(s) in which it is permitted to operate. When the user attempts access to the device, the mobile device will prompt the user for his/her credential only if the geographic location matches an allowed location. The user gains access then by inputting information corresponding to the credential, e.g. username and password, of a valid user. In the examples, if the geographic location does not match an allowed location, the mobile device provides a warning to the user, and the user is not allowed to enter any credential information. Optionally, the mobile device may send an alert message about the device being taken outside a specified boundary, e.g. to report the situation to other personnel. |
| 主权项 |
1. A method of authenticating a user to operate a mobile device, comprising steps of:
(a) determining a geographic location of the mobile device; (b) comparing the determined geographic location to information defining a location of permitted operation of the mobile device which is bounded, stored in the mobile device, to determine whether or not the mobile device is at the location of permitted operation, wherein the information defining the location of permitted operation of the mobile device includes at least one time period of permitted operation associated with the location of permitted operation of the mobile device; (c) permitting user access to the mobile device, only upon determining:
1) that the mobile device is within the location of permitted operation,2) a time during which the mobile device is in the location of permitted operation is within the associated time period of permitted operation, and3) that the mobile device is not at a location at which operation is not permitted regardless of the associated time period of permitted operation, wherein the step of permitting user access to the mobile device includes:
generating a prompt to the user for entering credential information into the mobile device;receiving input of credential information into the mobile device from the user; andpermitting user access to the mobile device only upon a match of the input credential information to credential information of a valid user, stored in the mobile device; and (d) blocking user access to the mobile device, upon determining that the mobile device is at a location at which operation is not permitted; and (e) blocking user access to the mobile device upon determining that the mobile device is at the location of permitted operation at a time that is not within the time period of permitted operation associated with the location of permitted operation of the mobile device, even if user access to the mobile device is located at the location of permitted operation at the time period wherein step (d) comprises generating a warning for the user that the mobile device is not at the location of permitted operation, and restricting generating the prompt to the user for entering credential information. |
