Location based security modification system and method

Abstract

A method or system for providing a level of data security dependent on the location of the user of a wireless device is disclosed. One exemplary embodiment relates to a method of adjusting security for a network user node in communication with a network based upon the location of the node. The method is performed by determining the location of a network user node, selecting a single level of security from a group of more than two security levels based on the determined location, and modifying the security protection for the network user node based upon the selected level of security.

1 . A method of adjusting security for a mobile computing device, comprising: 
 determining the location of the mobile computing device; and    configuring a security level for the mobile computing device at the mobile computing device, the security level being associated with the location.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising restricting access to data stored on the mobile computing device based on the security level provided.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising restricting access to functionality of the mobile computing device based on the security level provided.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile computing device comprises a handheld device.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein configuring the security level comprises requiring a password to access the data stored on the mobile computing device.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the password is required after a predetermined period of time of non-use of the network user node.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the predetermined period of time is dependent upon the location of the network user node.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the predetermined period of time is received from a user of the network user node.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein configuring the security level comprises requiring a password to enable functionality of the mobile computing device.  
     
     
         10 . A method of adjusting security for a mobile computing device, comprising: 
 determining the location of the mobile computing device; and    determining whether to require a password in order for a user to access data via the mobile computing device based upon the location of the mobile computing device.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , 
 wherein determining whether to require the password in order for a user to access the data is further based upon the mobile computing device being idle for a period of time; and    wherein the period of time is a function of the location of the mobile computing device.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the period of time is defined by a user of the mobile computing device.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the data is stored on the mobile computing device.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the mobile computing device is a handheld computing device.  
     
     
         15 . A mobile computing device network user node, comprising: 
 a processor;    a location sensing system coupled to the processor; and    a memory coupled to the processor;    wherein the processor restricts access to data stored in the memory based upon location information provided to the processor by the location sensing system.    
     
     
         16 . The mobile computing device of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 a table of at least three security settings;    wherein the processor restricts access to the of data stored in the memory by selecting and applying one of the security settings based upon the location information.    
     
     
         17 . The mobile computing device of  claim 16 , wherein the security settings are configurable by a user of the mobile computing device at the mobile computing device.  
     
     
         18 . The mobile computing device of  claim 16 , wherein at least one security setting includes a password requirement to access the data stored in the memory.  
     
     
         19 . The mobile computing device of  claim 16 , wherein at least one security setting includes restrictions on access to less than all of the data stored in the memory.  
     
     
         20 . The mobile computing device of  claim 15 , wherein the mobile computing device is a handheld computing device.