Secure Data Pairing Between Tablet and Smartphone

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Tethered devices face challenges in maintaining data security and integrity when sharing data between paired devices, as sensitive information may not be secure if transferred to another device, leading to restrictions that detract from the original purpose of pairing.

Innovation Solution

The method involves a first device providing a set of addresses and identifiers to a second device, which deletes the addresses when disconnected, allowing the identifiers to be associated with data for later transfer upon reconnection, enabling secure communication through the first device using corresponding addresses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If data is transferred to the tablet computer when paired with the smartphone, then data accessibility and functionality are improved, but data security and sensitivity are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata accessibilityVSAvoiddata security
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments data into two categories: sensitive data that remains exclusively on the smartphone and non-sensitive data that can be accessed on the tablet. This segmentation allows the system to provide data accessibility on the tablet while maintaining data security on the smartphone, resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a data selection mechanism that acts as an intermediary between the smartphone and tablet. This intermediary selectively transfers only non-sensitive data to the tablet while keeping sensitive data on the smartphone, thus enabling data accessibility without compromising data security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If data is restricted to be used only on the smartphone or only while actively paired, then data security is maintained, but the original purpose of pairing is detracted from

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata securityVSAvoidpairing functionality
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the user selectively identify and mark sensitive data before pairing occurs. This pre-classification allows the system to automatically handle data security requirements during pairing, enabling seamless functionality without requiring continuous user intervention or restrictive pairing conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic data sharing where the tablet can access non-sensitive data even when not actively paired with the smartphone. The system dynamically adjusts data accessibility based on the pairing state and data sensitivity classification, maintaining both security and operational flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If all data is made accessible on the tablet computer, then ease of operation is improved, but data integrity and sensitivity protection are lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata accessibilityVSAvoiddata sensitivity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by assigning different access permissions to different data elements based on their sensitivity. Non-sensitive data is made fully accessible on the tablet for ease of operation, while sensitive data retains restricted access only on the smartphone, thus protecting data sensitivity while maintaining operational ease.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates copies of non-sensitive data that can be stored and accessed on the tablet computer. These copies enable ease of operation on the tablet without affecting the original sensitive data on the smartphone, thus protecting data sensitivity while improving accessibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP2663061B1Avoiding potentially sensitive data from being left behind on a tablet computer after having been paired with smartphone
Publication Date: 2014.07.09 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP2663061B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2663061B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2663061B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The application relates to pairing or tethering of two devices such as tablet computer and a smartphone. One problem associated with tethered devices is the potential sensitivity in providing access to some data and functionality. For example, data that is securely controlled on the smart phone may not necessarily be secure if transferred to the tablet computer and thus such data may be restricted to be used only on the smart phone or only while the devices are actively paired. It has been recognized that to protect and/or maintain the integrity of address data shared between paired or "tethered" devices, identifiers (28), such as names, that enable a first device sharing the address data to recognize respective addresses, can be provided to a second device paired to the first device, in association with the address data (16), such as email addresses. By providing IDs with the address data, the second device can delete the address data (16) when not paired to the first device, to avoid potentially sensitive data from being left behind on the second device, while being able to provisionally prepare communications that can be sent using the first device when the first and second devices are subsequently paired.