Apple Patent Filing Targets Jailbreakers

The chatter about 'jailbreaking' of iPhones, which was recently declared legal by the US Copyright Office, may have died down, but Apple is still licking its wounds. The company has applied for a patent that would automatically protect devices from "unauthorized users".

Focal Points:

• The patent, titled 'Systems and Methods for Identifying Unauthorized Users of an Electronic Device', covers a series of security measures which would target thieves, hackers and jailbreakers - who allow devices to run apps not approved by the phone or OS owner. The iPhone is the main target of such activity because of Apple's tight control of its platform and app store.
• The patent filing, originally submitted in February 2009 and published on Thursday, describes measures to identify "particular activities that may indicate suspicious behavior", so that "safety measures" can be activated. These would restrict the device's functions and send SMS or email warnings to its owner. Those activities include the "hacking, jailbreaking, unlocking, or removal of a SIM card," according to the application.
• Further, the system would help identify the unauthorized user, via methods such as activating a camera that would capture and geotag the device's surroundings, and send that data to a server or remote device. Photos, voice recordings or even heartbeat patterns of the unauthorized user could be compared with those of the authorized owner, and if a mismatch was found, the measures would be activated.
• Other newly awarded Apple patents include 'slide to unlock' and 'virtual keyboard keys popping up when you type on them'. Officially called 'animated graphical user interfaces for a display screen or portion thereof;, and 'animated graphical user interface for a display screen or portion thereof', these were applied for in July 2007 and now awarded by the US Patent Office. Possible clashes could be seen with Android's 'draw a pattern to unlock' screen.

Editor’s Note: This snapshot highlights the continued battle against intellectual and manufacturing property theft that many vendors have with their users. As user become more sophisticated, manufacturers will have to spend more time and effort to police their goods and services to make sure that inappropriate use is not allowed.