RFID-Controlled Mobile Computing Power States for Location Security
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile computing devices lack robust location-based security measures to manage power states and access control, especially when transitioning between different physical or geographic locations, posing risks to data security and privacy.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that utilize RFID components integrated with mobile computing devices to receive and enforce control policies based on location, enabling dynamic management of power states, access to hardware and software components, and data wiping, using boot control programs and encryption to ensure security.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If mobile computing devices are freely transported between public spaces and organization-controlled spaces, then device mobility and ease of operation are improved, but data security and access control are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts device power states and access controls based on real-time location detection. When the device enters organization-controlled spaces detected via RFID, the system automatically transitions to a controlled state with restricted access, whereas in public spaces the device operates with normal access permissions. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by maintaining security without compromising mobility.
Solution Approach 2:
The RFID reader and control policy system act as intermediaries between the mobile device and security enforcement mechanisms. The RFID reader detects device presence in controlled spaces and triggers policy enforcement, which then mediates between the user's mobility needs and security requirements by implementing location-based power state transitions and access controls.
2Reliability
If location-based control policies are enforced to secure data, then data security is improved, but device complexity and operational restrictions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts security enforcement logic from the main device operating system and implements it as a separate boot control program that runs independently during system initialization. This separation allows security policies to be enforced without complicating the main device software, as the control program operates in a dedicated security context with its own execution flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The boot control program performs security policy evaluation and power state control actions before the main operating system boots. By enforcing security restrictions during the boot process rather than during normal operation, the system establishes security controls upfront without adding complexity to the running system, as the controls are already in place before applications and users interact with the device.
3Reliability
If the device is restricted to specific power states in certain locations, then access control and security are improved, but operational flexibility and user autonomy are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different operational characteristics to the device based on its location. In organization-controlled spaces detected via RFID, the device operates with restricted power states and access controls. In public spaces, the device returns to its normal operational state with full flexibility. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by providing strict control only where needed while maintaining operational freedom elsewhere.
Solution Approach 2:
The device's operational state dynamically changes based on its geographic location and the security policies associated with detected RFID tags. The system automatically transitions between restricted and unrestricted modes without user intervention, adapting the device's behavior to the security requirements of the current environment while maintaining user convenience through automated management.
Data Source
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AI summary
An exemplary mobile computing device, including a memory device for storing a control policy defining a functional configuration of the mobile computing device; and a processor configured to place the mobile computing device in one of one of plural states based on a validation result of the control policy.