Mobile Device Authentication

Abstract

A mobile device has an authentication module that detects a proximity-based authentication component and unlocks sensitive areas of the mobile device when the proximity-based authentication component is within a desired proximity of the mobile device. If the proximity-based authentication component is not within the desired proximity of the mobile device, the mobile device automatically locks the secured areas of the mobile device. The proximity-based authentication component is separate from the mobile device in that it is not inserted or slid within the mobile device, or in any way attached to the mobile device, in order to be used.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mobile device, comprising:
 a mobile communication component that communicates over a mobile communication network;   an authentication module that automatically detects whether a separate, proximity-based authentication component is within a predefined proximity of the authentication module and, in response to detecting that the separate, proximity-based authentication component is within the predefined proximity, the authentication module automatically unlocking a secured area of the mobile device, the authentication module, in response to detecting that the separate, proximity-based authentication component is outside of the predefined proximity, automatically locking the secured area of the mobile device; and   a processor, being a functional part of the mobile device and activated by the mobile communication component and the authentication module to facilitate communication, detection, locking and unlocking.   
     
     
         2 . The mobile device of  claim 1  wherein the separate, proximity-based authentication component comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, the authentication module further comprising:
 an RFID reader that detects whether the RFID tag is within the predefined proximity by attempting to read the RFID tag. 
 
     
     
         3 . The mobile device of  claim 1  wherein the separate, proximity-based authentication component comprises a near field communication (NFC) device, the authentication module further comprising:
 an NFC reader that detects whether the NFC device is within the predefined proximity by attempting to communicate with the NFC device. 
 
     
     
         4 . The mobile device of  claim 1  and further comprising:
 a user interface display device displaying user interface displays that instruct a user to select an authentication mechanism used by the mobile device to detect whether the separate, proximity-based authentication component is within the predefined proximity of the authentication module. 
 
     
     
         5 . The mobile device of  claim 1  wherein the secured area comprises given functionality of the mobile device. 
     
     
         6 . The mobile device of  claim 1  wherein the secured area comprises given data accessible by the mobile device. 
     
     
         7 . The mobile device of  claim 6  wherein the secured area comprises one or more given folders accessible by the mobile device. 
     
     
         8 . The mobile device of  claim 6  wherein the secured area comprises one or more given files accessible by the mobile device. 
     
     
         9 . The mobile device of  claim 1  wherein the secured area comprises one or more given applications run on the mobile device. 
     
     
         10 . The mobile device of  claim 1  wherein the secured area comprises given tasks performed with the mobile device. 
     
     
         11 . An authentication system, comprising:
 a mobile device, comprising:   a mobile communication component that communicates over a mobile communication network;   an authentication module that automatically locks and unlocks a secured area of the mobile device based on an authentication mechanism; and   a processor, being a functional part of the mobile device and activated by the mobile communication component and the authentication module to facilitate communication, detection, locking and unlocking; and   a separate, proximity-based authentication component, selected by a user as the authentication mechanism used by the authentication module, the authentication module automatically detecting whether the separate, proximity-based authentication component is within a predefined proximity of the authentication module and, in response to detecting that the separate, proximity-based authentication component is within the predefined proximity, the authentication module automatically unlocking the secured area of the mobile device, and, in response to detecting that the separate, proximity-based authentication component is outside of the predefined proximity, the authentication module automatically locking the secured area of the mobile device.   
     
     
         12 . The authentication system of  claim 11  wherein the separate, proximity-based authentication component comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag and wherein the authentication module further comprises:
 an RFID reader that detects whether the RFID tag is within the predefined proximity by attempting to read the RFID tag. 
 
     
     
         13 . The authentication system of  claim 11  wherein the separate, proximity-based authentication component comprises a near field communication (NFC) device, and wherein the authentication component further comprises:
 an NFC reader that detects whether the NFC device is within the predefined proximity by attempting to communicate with the NFC device. 
 
     
     
         14 . The authentication system of  claim 11  wherein the secured area comprises given functionality of the mobile device. 
     
     
         15 . The authentication system of  claim 11  wherein the secured area comprises given data accessible by the mobile device. 
     
     
         16 . The authentication system of  claim 1  wherein the secured area comprises one or more given applications run on the mobile device. 
     
     
         17 . The authentication system of  claim 1  wherein the secured area comprises given tasks performed with the mobile device. 
     
     
         18 . A processor-implemented method of controlling a mobile device, comprising:
 automatically detecting whether a separate, proximity-based authentication component is within a predefined proximity of the mobile device;   in response to detecting that the separate, proximity-based authentication component is within the predefined proximity, automatically unlocking a secured area of the mobile device; and   in response to detecting that the separate, proximity-based authentication component is outside of the predefined proximity, automatically locking the secured area of the mobile device.   
     
     
         19 . The processor-implemented method of  claim 18  wherein automatically detecting comprises:
 automatically attempting to read a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag. 
 
     
     
         20 . The processor-implemented method of  claim 18  wherein automatically detecting comprises:
 automatically attempting to read a near field communication (NFC) device.