DESCRIPTION
Title of Invention
ACCESS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Technical Field
[0001]
The present invention relates to a system, methods, and associated devices for managing
data access rights and in particular, but not limited to, the management of access rights for data
stored in the memory of a mobile communications device or on a portable storage device suitable
for connection to a mobile communications device.
Background Art
[0002]
Based on current development trends it seems inevitable that each new generation of
mobile device will be provided with improved memory storage capability compared to previous
generations. This improved memory storage capability may, for example, come both through
increases in local internal memory capacity and through the capability to attach portable storage
devices such as universal serial bus (USB) keys, secure digital (SD) cards, other devices having
embedded flash memory, or the like (new developments of which will also have increased
storage capacities).
[0003]
In parallel with this will come a greater emphasis on so called cloud computing, in
which on-demand access is provided to a shared pool of configurable computer resources over
the internet. In this forthcoming cloud computing era, it will be necessary to address the
important issue of securely managing corporate data (for example data owned by a user's
employer), and in particular providing the right balance between security and data access
flexibility, especially when large quantities of the corporate data could potentially be stored
locally at the terminal device.
Summary of Invention
Technical Problem
[0004]
It is usual, for example, for a company to want to preserve information generated
internally, and to prevent such information from being disclosed, copied, moved, or altered
outside its internal network. However, in the case of cloud computing the potential changes in
the storage context of the corporate data results in challenges for effective data rights
management. For example, although the data can remain in the internal network, large quantities
of it can also reside in the local memory of (and/or in a portable storage device attached to) a
mobile device, to allow a user the flexibility to access the information when the mobile device
becomes disconnected from the network. This situation might arise, for example, in the case of a
mobility scenario (e.g. when the user is travelling outside the company, or when the user
manually disconnects the mobile device from the network to preserve the battery).
[0005]
As a result of the potential changing context of the corporate data, there is a need to
provide flexible data access rights management (for example, management of access rights such
as read permissions, write permissions, permissions to execute, or the like) which maintains
effective control of the data without significantly compromising data security or integrity.
[0006]
Accordingly, the present invention seeks to provide improved access rights
management.
Solution to Problem
[0007]
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of
managing access rights for data, characterised by determining the connectivity of a mobile
communications device to a network and granting access rights for the data in dependence on
said connectivity.
[0008]
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of
provisioning a mobile device for managing access rights for data held locally relative to the
mobile communications device, characterised by receiving, at the mobile device, configuration
parameters defining access rights for the data, which access rights vary in dependence on the
connectivity of the mobile communications device to a network.
[0009]
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of
provisioning a mobile device for managing access rights for data, characterised by providing the
mobile device with configuration parameters defining access rights for the data, which access
rights vary in dependence on the connectivity of the mobile communications device to a
network.
[0010]
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of
managing access rights for data held locally relative to a mobile communications device, the
method comprising: deterrnining connectivity of the mobile communications device to a
network; granting a first set of access rights for the data when the mobile communications device
is connected to the network; and granting a second set of access rights for the data when the
mobile communications device is not connected to the network; wherein the first set of access
rights is different to said second set of access rights.
[0011]
It will be appreciated that the step of granting the first set of access rights for the data,
when the mobile communications device is connected to the network, may be performed at the
mobile commumcations device or at the server device.
[0012]
The second set of access rights may comprises at least one access right which is more
restrictive than a corresponding access right of the first set of access rights. The first and second
set of access rights may each comprise at least one of read permissions, write permissions, and
execute permissions.
[0013]
The granting of said first and/or said second set of access rights may further comprise
granting access rights which vary in dependence on at least one of: an identity of a file
comprising the data; a file type of the file comprising the data; a rights access level assigned to
the file comprising the data; membership of the file comprising the data in a predefined group;
and/or an identity of a directory in which the file comprising the data is located.
[0014]
The granting said first and/or said second set of access rights may further comprise
granting access rights which vary in dependence on an identity of a user of the mobile device
and/or membership of the user of the mobile device in a predefined user group.
[0015]
Determining the connectivity of the mobile communications device to a network may
comprise determining connectivity of said mobile device to predefined server apparatus and said
first and second set of access rights may be granted in dependence on said connectivity to said
predefined server apparatus.
[0016]
Determining the connectivity to said predefined server apparatus may comprise:
determining that the mobile communications device is connected to server apparatus; may
comprise obtaining information representing the identity of the server apparatus to which the
mobile device is connected; may comprise obtaining information representing the identity of the
predefmed server apparatus; and may comprise comparing the identity of the server apparatus to
which the mobile device is connected with the identity of the predefined server apparatus,
whereby to determine the connectivity of said mobile device to said predefined server apparatus.
The method may be performed by a rights management module operating on the mobile device
and the information representing the identity of the predefined server apparatus may be obtained
from configuration parameters provided for configuring the rights management module. The
information representing the identity of the predefined server apparatus may be obtained by
retrieving it from the data held locally relative to the mobile communications device. The
identity of the predefined server apparatus may be obtained by receiving it from an application
running locally on the mobile communications device.
[0017]
The data may be encrypted and the method may comprise decrypting the data for which
the access rights are granted on the mobile communications device when the mobile
communications device is not connected to the network. The data may be encrypted and the
method may comprise receiving a decrypted version of the data for which the access rights are
granted, from server apparatus, when the mobile communications device is connected to the
network.
[0018]
The method may comprise detecting an attempt to mount a portable storage device on
which said data is stored on the mobile communications device, may comprise requesting entry
of secure input information from a user of the mobile communications device, may comprise
receiving the secure input information from the user, verifying the received secure input
information, may comprise allowing successful mounting of the portable storage device if the
secure input information is successfully verified, and may comprise inhibiting mounting of the
portable storage device if the secure input information is not successfully verified.
[0019]
The method may comprise detecting a change in the connectivity of the mobile
communications device to a network from connected state to disconnected state and may
comprise adjusting the access rights from the first set of access rights to the second set of access
rights on detection of the change.
[0020]
The method may comprise detecting a change in the connectivity of the mobile
communications device to a network from disconnected to connected and may comprise
adjusting the access rights from the second set of access rights to the first set of access rights on
detection of the change.
[0021]
The method may comprise determining the differences between the first and second set
of access rights and using this result for adjusting the access rights to accelerate the access right
adjustment process.
[0022]
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of
provisioning a mobile device for managing access rights for data held locally relative to the
mobile communications device, the method comprising: receiving, at the mobile
communications device, configuration parameters defining a first set of access rights for the data
for use when the mobile communications device is connected to a network; receiving, at the
mobile communications device, configuration parameters defining a second set of access rights
for the data for use when the mobile communications device is not connected to the network; and
storing said configuration parameters for use in managing said access rights for the data held
locally relative to the mobile communications device; wherein the first set of access rights is
different to said second set of access rights.
[0023]
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method
(for example performed by a server) of provisioning a mobile device for managing access rights
for data held locally relative to the mobile communications device, the method comprising:
providing the mobile communications device with configuration parameters defining a first set
of access rights for the data for use when the mobile communications device is connected to a
network; and providing the mobile communications device with configuration parameters
defining a second set of access rights for the data for use when the mobile communications
device is not connected to the network; wherein the first set of access rights is different to said
second set of access rights.
[0024]
The method may comprise determining that updated configuration parameters are
available, and may comprise providing the updated configuration parameters to the mobile
communications device in response to said determination.
[0025]
Providing the configuration parameters may comprise providing configuration
parameters which define access rights which are dependent on at least one of: an identity of a file
comprising the data; a file type of the file comprising the data; a rights access level assigned to
the file comprising the data; membership of the file comprising the data in a predefined group;
and/or an identity of a directory in which the file comprising the data is located.
[0026]
The method, as performed at the server, may comprise: detecting an attempt to mount a
portable storage device on which said data is stored on the mobile communications device,
sending a request for entry of secure input information by a user to the mobile communications
device, receiving the secure input information from the mobile communications device, verifying
the received secure input information, allowing successful mounting of the portable storage
device if the secure input information is successfully verified, and inhibiting mounting of the
portable storage device if the secure input information is not successfully verified.
[0027]
The data may be encrypted and the method performed at the server may comprise
receiving the encrypted data from the mobile communications device, decrypting the encrypted
data, and sending the decrypted data to the mobile communications device.
[0028]
The data may be encrypted and the method performed at the server may comprise
receiving the encrypted data from the mobile communications device, decrypting the encrypted
data, and providing remote access to the decrypted data to the mobile commumcations device.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a mobile
communications device having means for managing access rights for data held locally relative to
the mobile communications device, the access rights managing means comprising: means for
determining the connectivity of the mobile communications device to a network; means for
granting a first set of access rights for the data when the mobile communications device is
connected to the network; and means for granting a second set of access rights for the data when
the mobile communications device is not connected to the network; wherein the first set of
access rights is different to said second set of access rights.
[0029]
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a mobile
communications device having means for managing access rights for data held locally relative to
the mobile communications device, the access rights managing means comprising: means for
receiving, at the mobile communications device, configuration parameters defining a first set of
access rights for the data for use when the mobile communications device is connected to a
network; means for receiving, at the mobile communications device, configuration
parameters defining a second set of access rights for the data for use when the mobile
communications device is not connected to the network; and means for storing said configuration
parameters for use in managing said access rights for the data held locally relative to the mobile
communications device; wherein the first set of access rights is different to said second set of
access rights.
[0030]
The rights managing means may comprise a rights management module operable to run
on said mobile communications device. The rights management module may be operable to
initiate on boot-up of the mobile device.
[0031]
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided server
apparatus having means for provisioning a mobile device to manage access rights for data held
locally relative to the mobile communications device, the provisioning means comprising: means
for providing the mobile communications device with configuration parameters defining a first
set of access rights for the data for use when the mobile communications device is connected to a
network; and means for providing the mobile communications device with configuration
parameters defining a second set of access rights for the data for use when the mobile
communications device is not connected to the network; wherein the first set of access rights is
different to said second set of access rights.
[0032]
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a computer
program, computer program product or computer readable medium comprising instructions for
carrying out a method according to any of the method aspects.
[0033]
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a mobile
communications device having a module for managing access rights for data held locally relative
to the mobile communications device, the access rights managing module being operable to: (i)
determine the connectivity of the mobile communications device to a network; (ii) grant a first
set of access rights for the data when the mobile commumcations device is connected to the
network, and (iii) grant a second set of access rights for the data when the mobile
communications device is not connected to the network; wherein the first set of access rights is
different to said second set of access rights.
[0034]
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a mobile
communications device having a module for managing access rights for data held locally relative
to the mobile communications device, the access rights managing module being operable to: (i)
receive configuration parameters defining a first set of access rights for the data for use when the
mobile communications device is connected to a network; (ii) receive configuration parameters
defining a second set of access rights for the data for use when the mobile communications
device is not connected to the network; and (iii) store said configuration parameters for use in
managing said access rights for the data held locally relative to the mobile communications
device; wherein the first set of access rights is different to said second set of access rights.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided server apparatus
having a provisioning module for provisioning a mobile device to manage access rights for data
held locally relative to the mobile communications device, the provisioning module being
operable to provide the mobile communications device with: (i) configuration parameters
defining a first set of access rights for the data for use when the mobile communications device
is connected to a network, and (ii) configuration parameters defining a second set of access
rights for the data for use when the mobile communications device is not connected to the
network; wherein the first set of access rights is different to said second set of access rights.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0035]
Advantageously, the present invention enables to provide improved access rights
management.
Brief Description of Drawings
[0036]
[Fig- 1]
Fig. 1 shows, in simplified overview, a communication system in which corporate data
may be accessed in a number of different contexts.
[Fig- 2]
Fig. 2 shows, in simplified overview, a communication system having improved access
rights management.
[Fig. 3]
Fig. 3 is a simplified functional block schematic of an implementation of a mobile
device suitable for use in the communication system of Fig. 2.
[Fig. 4]
Fig. 4 is a simplified functional block schematic of an implementation of a cloud server
suitable for use in the communication system of Fig. 2.
[Fig- 5]
Fig. 5 is a simplified flow diagram illustrating an access rights management procedure
for use in the communication system of Fig. 2.
Description of Embodiments
[0037]
Fig. 1 shows, in simplified overview, a communication system generally at 110. The
communication system comprises a mobile communications device 112 which is capable of
connecting to a cloud server 114 via a computer network 116 such as the internet. As seen in Fig.
1, the mobile communications device 112 is connectable to the computer network 116 wirelessly,
for example, via a base station 118 of a mobile telecommunications network, and/or via a
wireless router 120.
[0038]
The cloud server 114 is provided with storage in which software applications 122
(referred to as 'remote' applications) and 'corporate' data 124 are stored. These applications 122
and the corporate data 124 are remotely accessible by a user of the mobile communications
device 112, via the computer network 116. Such access can be done through a wide range of
technologies (a File Transfer Protocol session, an HTTP web session, a thin client connection, a
Secure Shell connection, etc.). The corporate data 124 comprises information owned by a third
party who wishes to manage accessibility to the corporate data 124 in accordance with their
corporate policies. The third party may, for example, be the employer of the user or the provider
of a service to which the user subscribes.
[0039]
The mobile communications device 112 is provided with its own internal memory in
which local software applications 126 are stored. The local applications 126 comprise an
application for providing virtualised access 128 to the remote applications 1 2 and to corporate
data 124 stored at the cloud server 114. The mobile communications device 112 is also provided
with an external portable storage device 130 which can be mounted on the mobile device 112 via
an appropriate interface (e.g. USB, SD, or the like). The portable storage device 130 comprises a
secure memory area 132 in which some of the corporate data 131 (or a copy of it) may be stored
locally, for access when the mobile device 112 is no longer connected to the cloud server 114.
Some of the corporate data 131 (or a copy of it) may, alternatively or additionally, be stored in
the internal memory of the mobile communications device 112.
[0040]
The cloud server 114 of the communication system is configured to apply appropriate
access control procedures for the corporate data 131 stored in its storage device 130 and/or to
impose a rules based policy on the mobile device 112 to limit the way in which it interacts with
the remote applications 122, to allow access to the portable storage device 130, and/or to handle
the corporate data 124, 131.
[0041]
In operation, the corporate data 124, 131 is accessible by the user of the mobile device
112, through virtualised interface access 128 to the remote applications 122, when the mobile
device 112 is connected to the cloud server 114 via the computer network 116. In practice the
secured memory area 132 can be mounted by the cloud server 114 so that remote applications
122 can access the corporate data 131 as if it was locally available at the cloud server 114. The
locally stored corporate data 131 is, however, also accessible directly using the local applications
126. This allows a user to have access to the locally stored corporate data 131 when, for example,
the mobile device 112 becomes disconnected from the cloud server 114 unintentionally as a
result of lack of coverage or intentionally to conserve battery life. Notwithstanding any access
control procedures and/or rules based policies imposed by the cloud server 114, however, this
local accessibility represents a potential weakness in the ability of the cloud server 114 to
manage the corporate data 124, 131 effectively and, in particular, to ensure adequate security
and/or the integrity of the corporate data 124, 131. Whilst steps could be taken to restrict access
only to the remote applications 122 via virtualised access, or to prevent a copy of the corporate
data 124, 131 being maintained locally at the mobile device 112, such restrictions are inflexible,
can be particularly inconvenient to remote users, and can limit the ability of key employees to
work effectively when out of the office.
[0042]
An exemplary embodiment of a communication system will now be described in which
improved access rights management is provided to address or at least mitigate some of the above
issues.
[0043]
Fig. 2 shows, generally at 210, a communication system incorporating an exemplary
embodiment of the invention which aims to provide a versatile system in which a balance
between providing flexibility for an end user and mamtaining data security and integrity can be
achieved more effectively.
[0044]
The communication system 10 is similar to the communication system 110 shown in
Fig. 1 (with like parts having reference numerals having the same last two digits).
[0045]
The communication system comprises a mobile communications device 212 which is
capable of connecting to any of a plurality of cloud servers 214 of a corporate network via a
computer network 216, such as the internet, as generally described previously. The mobile
communications device 212 is configured to achieve this connectivity using known technologies,
for example, via a VPN connection, or a secured thin client connection (e.g. using Remote
Desktop Protocol, Independent Computing Architecture, etc.).
[0046]
Each cloud server 214 is provided with storage local to the cloud server 214 in which
software applications 222 (referred to as 'remote' applications) and 'corporate' data 224 are
stored. These applications 222 and the corporate data 224 are remotely accessible by a user of
the mobile communications device 212, via the computer network 216. The corporate data 224
comprises information owned by a third party who wishes to manage accessibility to the
corporate data 224 in accordance with their corporate policies. The third party may, for example,
be the employer of the user or the provider of a service to which the user subscribes.
[0047]
The mobile communications device 212 is provided with its own internal memory in
which local software applications 226 are stored. The mobile communications device 212 is also
provided with an interface for connecting any of a plurality of portable storage devices 230 to the
mobile device 212. Each portable storage device 230 comprises a secure memory area 232 in
which some or all of the corporate data 231 (or a copy of it) may be stored locally and a further
non-secured memory area 233 for storing personal data. Similarly, the internal memory of the
mobile device 212 is provided with a local file system 225 having a secured memory area 227 in
which some or all of the corporate data 231 may be stored and a non-secured further memory
area 229 for storing personal data.
[0048]
The corporate data in the secured memory areas 232, 227 of portable storage device 230
and the local file system 225 can be accessed and decrypted locally on the mobile device 212
(which will be referred to as being 'locally' mounted). The corporate data in the secured memory
areas 232, 227 of portable storage device 230 can also be accessed and decrypted remotely by
the server 214 (which will be referred to as being 'virtually' or 'remotely' mounted) when the
mobile device 212 is connected to it.
[0049]
The mobile communications device 212 and the server 214 are also respectively
provided with a rights adjustment module 236, and a rights provisioning module 462. The rights
adjustment module 236 is configured to determine whether the mobile device 212 is connected
to one or more remote servers 214 and, depending on this determined connectivity, to adjust data
access rights for any locally stored corporate data 231 (i.e. the corporate data stored in memory
area 227 or in memory area 232). The rights provisioning module 462 is configured for general
management of access rights and for providing the configuration parameters required to set up
the rights adjustment module 236 of the mobile device 212 (if set up remotely), based on an
internal corporate network policy. When the mobile device 212 connects to a remote server 214
of the corporate network, the rights adjustment module 236 detects the connection. If the
corporate data is mounted and decrypted locally, the rights adjustment module 236 then modifies
the access rights for the corporate data 231 residing in the secure area 232 of the external storage
device 230 and/or the secure area 227 of the local file system 225, to grant data access rights to
the user of the mobile device 212 in accordance with the internal corporate network policy. For
example, the user may be granted full access rights including rights to read and modify the data
and/or execute data forming an executable file if the mobile device 212 is connected to the server
214.
[0050]
When the mobile device 212 connects to a remote server 214 of the corporate network,
the rights provisioning module 462 also detects the connection. If the corporate data is virtually
mounted and decrypted remotely on the remote server 214, the rights provisioning module 462
then modifies the access rights for the virtually mounted corporate data 231 residing in the
secure area 232 of the external storage device 230 and/or the secure area 227 of the local file
system 225 of the mobile device 212, to grant data access rights to the user of the mobile device
212 in accordance with the internal corporate network policy. When the mobile device 212
disconnects from the corporate network, the rights adjustment module 236 detects this change in
connectivity and adjusts the access rights for the corporate data 231 residing in the locally
attached secure memory areas 227, 232, to limit the access rights, in dependence on the
corporate policy. For example, the access rights may be modified to allow a user to read the data
but not to modify it.
[0051]
The rights adjustment module 236 of the mobile device 212 operates under the control
of the server 214 to allow the owner of the corporate data 231 to manage access rights effectively.
In this way, the rights adjustment module 236 can be dynamically provisioned, for example to
update the access control policy for the secure areas 227, 232 and/or provide new local access
permissions when required.
[0052]
Accordingly, the system advantageously provides a method and apparatus by which
access rights to locally held corporate data 231 can be adjusted dynamically and managed under
the control of the data owner in dependence on whether or not the mobile device is connected to
a corporate server 214. This allows the owner of the corporate data 224, 231 greater versatility to
provide an appropriate balance between flexibility for an end user and the need to maintain the
security and integrity of the corporate data 224, 23 1 when the corporate data 231 is effectively
stored externally to the corporate network.
[0053]
Mobile Device
Fig. 3 schematically illustrates the main components of the mobile communication
device 212 shown in Fig. 2. In this embodiment, the mobile device 212 operates as a thin client
device which connects to a virtual machine running on the server 214 via a user session.
In this embodiment, the mobile device 212 comprises a mobile telephone having a transceiver
circuit 371 which is operable to transmit signals to and to receive signals from a base station of a
conventional mobile telecommunications network via a base station interface 373. The
transceiver circuit 371 is also operable to transmit signals to and to receive signals from the
servers 214 over the computer network 216 (e.g. the internet) either through an access point via a
network interface 372 or through a mobile telephone network via the base station interface 373.
As shown, the mobile device 212 also includes at least one controller 375 comprising a processor
which controls the operation of the mobile device 212 and which is connected to the transceiver
circuit 371 and to a loudspeaker 377, a microphone 379, a display 381, and a keypad 383. The
processor 375 operates in accordance with software instructions stored within memory 385. As
shown, these software instructions provide, amongst other things, an operating system 387, the
local applications 226, the rights adjustment module 236, and a connection/communications
control module 391. As discussed previously, the rights adjustment module 236 is operable to
control access rights to the corporate data 231 stored locally. The connection/communications
control module 391 is operable to control communications made via the transceiver circuit 371
and to manage network connections with the remote server 214 via the network interface 372 or
via the mobile network.
[0054]
The mobile device 212 is provided with internal and external data storage capabilities in
the form of the local file system 225 which resides in the memory 385, and a storage interface
389 via which any of the plurality of portable storage devices 230 (e.g. a USB key and/or an SD
card) may be connected. The local file system 225 and the portable storage device 230 are
configured with a personal memory area 229, 233 for storing personal data and a secured
memory area 227, 232 for storing corporate data 224, 231. All data stored in the secured memory
areas 227, 232 is encrypted to effectively prevent it from being read or modified without use of a
corresponding encryption/decryption key, password, and/or keyfile.
[0055]
The rights adjustment module 236, manages the rights of corporate data stored locally
either in the local file system 225 or in the secured area of a mounted portable storage devices
230. The rights adjustment module 236 also manages decryption of the encrypted corporate data
when the mobile device is disconnected from the server 214.
[0056]
The rights adjustment module 236 is typically implemented in the form of a software
service running on the operating system 387 hosted on the mobile device 212. In this
embodiment, the rights adjustment module 236 is run as a daemon and initiated during boot-up
of the mobile device 212 after which it is capable of analysing whether the mobile device 212 is
connected to the remote server 214, of monitoring the connectivity for any changes, and of
determining whether a portable storage device 230 carrying corporate data 231 is mounted via
the interface 389.
[0057]
In this embodiment the rights adjustment module 236 is provided with configuration
parameters for identifying each remote server 214 for which connectivity based access rights
management is to be applied (e.g. servers belonging to the corporate network). When connection
to a remote server 214 is detected, the rights adjustment module 236 compares the identity of the
server(s) identified by the configuration parameters with identification data received from the
remote server 214 for which connection has been detected. If the identification data received
from the remote server indicates that it is a server represented by the configuration parameters,
and if the corporate data 231 is to be mounted locally, then access rights management for the
connected state is applied. Otherwise, if the identification data received from the remote server
indicates that it is not a server represented by the configuration parameters, then access rights
management for the disconnected state continues to be applied.
[0058]
As described previously, when the rights adjustment module 236 detects that the mobile
device 212 becomes connected to a remote server 214 of the corporate network for which
connectivity based access rights management is to be implemented, it modifies the access rights
for the corporate data 23 1 residing in the secure area 232 of the portable storage device 230
and/or the secure area 227 of the local file system 225, to grant data access rights to the user of
the mobile device 212 in accordance with an associated corporate network policy. When the
rights adjustment module 236 detects that the mobile device 212 changes from a connected to a
disconnected state, however, it modifies these access rights to ensure data security and integrity
is maintained.
[0059]
The rights adjustment module 236 also detects when an attempt is made to mount a
portable storage device 230 having a secured area 232 via the interface 389, or to access the
secured area 227 of the local file system 225. On detection of such an attempt, when the mobile
device 212 is not connected to the corporate network, the rights adjustment module requests the
entry of secret input information such as a secret key, password or the like. The secret input
information entered is subject to a verification process and, if successfully (i.e. the password or
other secret information is correctly entered) the rights adjustment module 236 allows the
portable storage device 230 to be mounted or the secured area 227 of the local file system 225 to
be accessed. Otherwise successful mounting of the portable storage device 230, r access to the
secured area 227, 232, is prevented. When the portable storage device 230 has been mounted
successfully, or access to the secure area 227 of the local file-system 225 has been allowed, the
rights adjustment module 236 grants appropriate data access rights for any corporate data 231
stored on the storage device 230 or in the local file-system 225 accordingly. For example, when
the mobile device 212 is not connected to the cloud server 214 and a user (or a local application)
successfully mounts an encrypted volume in which corporate data 231 is stored, the rights
adjustment module 236 adjusts the access rights for the corporate data 231 in dependence on the
corporate network policy.
[0060]
The rights adjustment module 236 maintains the security credentials (e.g. keys,
passwords, and/or keyfiles) required for decrypting the locally stored corporate data 23 .
Accordingly, when the mobile device 212 is disconnected from the corporate network,
decryption of corporate data 224, 231 stored in any of the secured areas 227, 232, is performed
in the local memory 385, under the supervision of the rights adjustment module 236. Similarly,
when the mobile device 212 is connected to the server 214, and the corporate data is mounted
locally, decryption of corporate data 224, 231 stored in any of the secured areas 227, 232, is
performed in the local memory 385, under the supervision of the rights adjustment module 236.
[0061]
The corporate network policy sets configuration parameters for the rights adjustment
module 236, which parameters define how and under what conditions the rights adjustment
module 236 adjusts the access rights and, in this embodiment, the identity of the cloud servers
214 for which connectivity based access rights management is to be applied. The corporate
network policy may, for example, define different 'confidentiality' or 'rights access' levels for
different files, file types, groups to which the files belong and/or directories and, based upon
these different rights access levels, different access policies may be applied by the rights
adjustment module 236. The corporate network policy also defines up-to-date keys, passwords,
and/or keyfiles required for encryption/decryption of locally stored corporate data 231 under the
supervision of the rights adjustment module 236. The rights adjustment module 236 is operable
to receive corporate policy updates from the server 214, from time to time, when the mobile
device 212 is connected to allow the owner of the corporate data 224, 231 to manage access
rights effectively. In this way, the rights adjustment module 236 can be dynamically provisioned
by the server.
[0062]
In dependence on the corporate policy, for example, a user may be granted full access
rights to the corporate data 231 when connected and more restrictive or 'partial' access rights
(e.g. read only) when disconnected. The access rights may be adjusted in this way for a whole
secured volume or for individual files, file types, or directories stored in that volume. Thus, when
the mobile device is disconnected, a file can be defined with a read only permission thereby
granting a user the ability to read the file, or read the names of the files in a directory, whereas
when the mobile device is connected, the same file can be provided with read and write
permissions to allow modification of the file or entries in the directory.
[0063]
In summary, therefore, the mobile device 212 shown in Fig. 3 is capable of interfacing
with external portable storage devices 230 such as SD cards, USB sticks or the like. The mobile
device 212 is also capable of accessing an internal file system 225, in the local random access
memory 385, which file system 225 was initialised during boot-up of the device 212. The mobile
device 212 can connect to a cloud server 214 via a user session on a virtual machine configured
to run the preferred applications of the user. The mobile device 212 runs a rights adjustment
module 236, which is provisioned by the rights provisioning module 462 running on the server
214, and which is configured to adjust the access permissions for corporate data 231 stored
locally on an encrypted volume 227, 232, when the encrypted volume is locally mounted and the
mobile device 212 becomes disconnected from the cloud server 214.
[0064]
Server
In Fig. 4 the main components of one of the cloud servers 214 shown in Fig. 2 are
illustrated schematically. In this embodiment, the cloud server 214 operates as a thin client
management server device which is capable of accepting a user connection request from a
mobile device 212, and for configuring a user session on a virtual machine running on the server
in response to the request.
[0065]
As seen in Fig. 4, the server 214 comprises transceiver circuitry 453 which is operable
to transmit signals to and to receive signals from the mobile device 12 via an associated
network interface 451 and a computer network such as the internet. As shown, the server 14
comprises a controller 450 which controls the operation of the cloud server 214 and which is
connected to the transceiver circuit 453. The controller 450 operates in accordance with software
instructions stored within memory 457. As shown, these software instructions include, amongst
other things, an operating system 459, a communications/connection module 460, the rights
provisioning module 462, and an encrypted volume 464 on which corporate data 224 resides.
Also stored in memory, as described previously, are the remote software applications 222 which
the server 214 may host on behalf of the mobile device 212.
[0066]
The communications/connection module 460 is operable to control communications
made via the transceiver circuitry 453, to accept/reject connection requests from a mobile device
1 , to set up a connection with the mobile device 212 when a request is accepted, and to
manage the connection once set up.
[0067]
The rights provisioning module 462 provides the configuration parameters required to
set up the rights adjustment module 236 of the mobile device 212 (if set up remotely), based on
the corporate network policy. The rights provisioning module 462 also provides, from time to
time, updates of these configuration parameters to the rights adjustment module 236 to ensure
that the rights adjustment policy applied by the rights adjustment module 236 remains up-to-date.
In this embodiment the rights provisioning module 462 also manages decryption of the encrypted
corporate data when the mobile device is connected to the server 214.
[0068]
The rights provisioning module 462 also carries out a number of tasks, when the mobile
device 212 is connected, which are similar to those performed by the rights adjustment module
236 when the mobile device 212 is not connected. For example, when the mobile device 212 is
connected, the rights provisioning module 462 detects when an attempt is made: to virtually
mount a portable storage device 230 having a secured area 232 via the interface 389 of the
mobile device 212; to virtually access the secured area 227 of the local file system 225; or to
mount the encrypted volume 464 of the server 214. On detection of such an attempt, in the case
of virtual mounting, it is the rights provisioning module 462, rather than the rights adjustment
module on the mobile device 212, which requests the entry of the secret key, password or the like
before allowing access to the secured area 227, 232.
[0069]
The rights provisioning module 462 also maintains the security credentials (e.g. keys,
passwords, and/or keyfiles) required for decrypting both the locally and the remotely stored
corporate data 224. Accordingly, when the mobile device 212 is connected to the server 214, and
the corporate data physically stored locally to the mobile device 212 is virtually mounted,
decryption of corporate data 224, 23 1 stored in any of the local or remote secured and encrypted
areas 227, 232, 464, for access by a user, may be performed, by the server on-the-fly. Thus, the
decryption is performed on the mobile device 212 if the encrypted corporate data 231 is locally
mounted, and is performed on the remote server 224 when the mobile device 212 is virtually
mounted remotely.
[0070]
In summary therefore, the cloud server 214 is capable of accepting user connection
requests and of configuring a user session on a virtual machine for a remote user. The server 214
is also capable of accessing corporate data 231 stored in the memory attached to the mobile
device (in the local file-system 225, or in an external portable storage device 230). The server
214 allows encrypted volumes to be mounted for use by the remote user in dependence on the
correct entry of a secret key selected by the user or the owner of the volume. The encrypted
volume can be part of the file-system 225 available on the mobile device, can be a secured
memory area 232 (or 'container') configured in an external portable storage device 230 (SD card,
SIM, USB KEY), or can be a remotely accessible secured memory area 464 located at the server
214. The server 214 can decrypt the encrypted data, on-the-fly, for use by the 'local' applications
226 of the mobile device 212 and/or by 'remote' applications 222 of the server 214. The server
214 also configures the rights adjustment module 236 of the mobile device 212 and provisions
the rights adjustment module 236 dynamically to allow changes in corporate policy and/or the
policy for existing or new corporate data 224, 231 to be updated.
[0071]
Rights Adjustment Procedure
An exemplary rights adjustment procedure which may be implemented by the rights
adjustment module 236 of the mobile device 212 is illustrated in the flow chart of Fig. 5.
[0072]
As seen in Fig. 5 when the rights adjustment module 236 detects a network connection
with the server 214 of the corporate network (SI), it grants data access rights for corporate data
231 mounted and decrypted locally at the mobile device 212 at a first level in dependence on the
corporate policy (S2). Similarly, when the rights provisioning module 462 detects a network
connection with the mobile device 212 of the corporate network it grants data access rights for
corporate data 231 virtually mounted and decrypted remotely at the server 214 at the first level in
dependence on the corporate policy.
[0073]
The rights adjustment module 236 continues to monitor the connection until the mobile
device disconnects from the corporate network (S3). At this point the rights adjustment module
236 modifies the access rights for the locally stored corporate data 231 to a second level which,
in this embodiment, is more restrictive than the first but nevertheless allows limited access (S4).
For example, the first level of access rights may allow both reading of and writing to the data
whilst the second level may allow reading of the access rights only. The rights adjustment
module 236 and right provisioning module 462 then return to monitoring the connectivity until
connection is detected once again (S5), at which point the access rights for the corporate data
231 are adjusted back to the first level once again in accordance with the corporate policy.
[0074]
Accordingly, the communication system described above enables the management of
data rights for locally stored corporate data 231 when the device becomes disconnected from a
corporate network. This approach to rights management provides greater flexibility by allowing
adjustment of the access rights/permissions for the data in dependence on connectivity. Thus a
user is still provided with the ability to access the data when disconnected, based on a corporate
security policy, albeit potentially in a more restricted manner than when they are connected to
the corporate network.
[0075]
Modifications andAlternatives
A detailed embodiment has been described above. As those skilled in the art will
appreciate, a number of modifications and alternatives can be made to the above embodiment
whilst still benefiting from the inventions embodied therein. By way of illustration only a
number of these alternatives and modifications will now be described.
[0076]
In the embodiments described above, the mobile device 212 and server 214 each include
transceiver circuitry. Typically this circuitry will be formed by dedicated hardware circuits.
However, in some embodiments, part of the transceiver circuitry may be implemented as
software run by the corresponding controller.
[0077]
In the above embodiment, a number of software modules were described. As those
skilled will appreciate, the software modules may be provided in compiled or un-compiled form
and may be supplied to the server or to the mobile device as a signal over a computer network, or
on a recording medium. Further, the functionality performed by part or all of this software may
be performed using one or more dedicated hardware circuits. However, the use of software
modules is preferred as it facilitates the updating of server and the mobile device in order to
update their functionalities. Further, the modules described above may not be defined as separate
modules and may instead be built in to the operating system of the server and/or the mobile
telephone.
[0078]
In the above description, the server 214 and the mobile device 212 are described, for
ease of understanding, as having a number of discrete modules (such as the
connection/communications control and rights assignment modules 391, 236). Whilst these
modules may be provided in this way for certain applications, for example where an existing
system has been modified to implement the invention, in other applications, for example in
systems designed with the inventive features in mind from the outset, these modules may be built
into the overall operating system or code and so these modules may not be discernible as discrete
entities. Where separate modules are provided, the functionality of one or more of the above
modules may be performed by a single module.
[0079]
Whilst the embodiments have been described primarily with reference to a single
mobile device 212 and a single server 214 it will be understood that a plurality of mobile devices
may be connected or disconnected from the corporate network and have their rights adjusted
accordingly. Similarly a mobile device 212 may be connectable to any number of servers 214 in
a corporate network (or in different networks having different data owners).
[0080]
It will be further appreciated that communication between the mobile device 212 and
the computer network 214, may use any suitable wireless or wired communication protocol and
associated technology. For example the mobile device may be configured for communication
using a Bluetooth and/or WiFi protocol in the case of radio communication, an IrDA (Infrared
Data Association) protocol in the case of infrared communication and/or a Universal Serial Bus
(USB) protocol in the case of wired communication. The mobile device 212 and server 214 may
also be configured for long range communication via a mobile telephone network (e.g. via base
station, radio network controller, core network etc) to allow long range connection to the server
214.
[0081]
It will be appreciated that although the mobile device 212 is described as a mobile or
cellular telephone (e.g. a Smartphone) it may be any suitable device for example a personal
digital assistant (PDA), palmtop or notebook computer.
[0082]
It will also be appreciated that the identity of the server(s) for which connectivity based
access rights management is to be applied, may alternatively or additionally be provided to the
rights adjustment module 236 by a local application 226, which provides access to a remote user
session, upon successful connection setup with the cloud server 14. Moreover, data identifying
the server(s), connectivity with which rights management is to be based upon, may be stored
on the external storage device 230 (e.g. in the secured area 232 of a USB device or the like)
and/or in the secured area 227 of the local file system 225.
[0083]
The rights adjustment module 236 may act as a local agent that is effectively given an
administrative role to grant full or limited access to the corporate data in accordance with the
corporate policy. It will be appreciated, however, that a separate program may alternatively or
additionally be given the role of adjusting the rights, under the control of the rights adjustment
module.
[0084]
The provisioning of configuration parameters for defining how and under what
conditions the rights adjustment module 236 adjusts the access rights can be performed using
any suitable mechanism, for example, Over-the-Air techniques, SMS Push methods, and/or
OMA Device Management mechanisms. Initial provisioning, however, may alternatively or
additionally be provided during initial installation and/or setup of the rights adjustment module
236 by storing initial and/or default configuration parameters in the secured memory area 227 of
the local file system 225 (or portable storage device 230).
[0085]
The access rights may be defined on a file by file or document by document basis, for
example based on a security level assigned to the document and/or based on the identity of a
particular user or the user's membership of a particular group. Moreover, the data (corporate or
personal) stored locally and/or remotely may be encrypted in such a way that users who are not
explicitly granted access rights cannot access to the data.
[0086]
The different assignable access rights may extend beyond simple reading and writing of
the stored data and may include: rights to copy documents and/or move them to a different
location; rights to print the data or attach a file to an email; rights to access the data using certain
local applications (e.g. word processors, spreadsheets, document viewers); rights to manipulate
the data in a particular way using a corresponding functions of the local applications; or the like.
Access rights may, therefore, include, read permissions, write permissions, print permissions,
copy permissions, share permissions, send permissions, permissions to edit with (or without)
tracking changes, permissions to execute, or the like.
[0087]
Whilst it is particularly advantageous for a user to be granted more limited (restrictive)
access rights when disconnected from the corporate network than when connected, the rights
adjustment module could be configured to grant less restricted access rights when the mobile
devices disconnects (e.g. to allow a user to make local editable copies when disconnected but not
when connected). Moreover, when disconnected, some access rights could be made more
restrictive (e.g. to prevent writing to a 'master' copy) whilst other access rights could be made
less restrictive (e.g. to allow editable copies to be made). More restrictive rights may also be
used in a connected state to reduce the risk of infection of the corporate network by a virus
infecting the user's mobile device (e.g. to prevent execution of executable files stored locally to
the mobile device).
[0088]
Whilst two different levels of access rights were described there may be any number of
levels (or combinations) of access rights which may be assigned based on different factors and
the connectivity with the corporate network. Different combinations of access rights may also be
granted based on which of a plurality of different servers a user's device is connected to.
Moreover, different access rights may be granted based simply on whether or not the mobile
device is connected to the internet regardless of whether the mobile device is connected to a
particular cloud server via the internet - this is particularly useful for preventing confidential files
from being deliberately or unintentionally shared or otherwise publically disclosed over the
internet.
[0089]
It will be appreciated that since the rights adjustment module 236 and/or the rights
provisioning module 462 know which access rights should be applied when the mobile device is
connected to the server and which access rights should be applied when the mobile device is
disconnected, they may be configured to apply only the differences between the different sets of
access rights when adjusting (or re-adjusting) the access rights. Advantageously, this can provide
faster access to the data because only the differences between first and second level is applied.
Various other modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art and will not be described
in further detail here.
[0090]
A program can be stored and provided to a computer using any type of non-transitory
computer readable media. Non-transitory computer readable media include any type of
tangible storage media. Examples of non-transitory computer readable media include magnetic
storage media (such as floppy disks, magnetic tapes, hard disk drives, etc.), optical magnetic
storage media (e.g. magneto-optical disks), CD-ROM (compact disc read only memory), CD-R
(compact disc recordable), CD-R/W (compact disc rewritable), and semiconductor memories
(such as mask ROM, PROM (programmable ROM), EPROM (erasable PROM), flash ROM,
RAM (random access memory), etc.). The program may be provided to a computer using any
type of transitory computer readable media. Examples of transitory computer readable media
include electric signals, optical signals, and electromagnetic waves. Transitory computer
readable media can provide the program to a computer via a wired communication line (e.g.
electric wires, and optical fibers) or a wireless communication line.
[0091]

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from United Kingdom
patent application No. 1007 151.2, filed on April 29, 20 0, the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
Industrial Applicability
[0092]
The present invention relates to a system, methods, and associated devices for managing
data access rights and in particular, but not limited to, the management of access rights for data
stored in the memory of a mobile communications device or on a portable storage device suitable
for connection to a mobile communications device.
Reference Signs List
[0093]
110, 210 COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
112, 212 MOBILE DEVICE
114 CLOUD SERVER
116 COMPUTER NETWORK
118 BASE STATION
120 WIRELESS ROUTER
122 APPLICATIONS
124, 3 , 224, 23 1 CORPORATE DATA
126, 226 APPLICATIONS
128 VIRTUALIZED ACCESS
130 PORTABLE STORAGE DEVICE
132, 227, 232 SECURED MEMORY AREA
214 CLOUD SERVERS
216 BPNW
222 APPLICATIONS
225 LOCAL FILESYSTEM
229, 233 PERSONAL AREA
230 PORTABLE STORAGE DEVICES
236 RIGHT ADJUSTMENT MODULE
371, 453 TRANCEIVER CIRCUIT
372, 451NETWORK INTERFACE
373 BASE STATION INTERFACE
375, 450 CONTROLLER
377 LOUDSPEAKER
379 MICROPHONE
381 DISPLAY
383 KEYPAD
385, 457 MEMORY
387, 459 OPERATING SYSTEM
389 STORAGE UNIT INTERFACE
391, 460 CONNECTION/COMMUNICATION CONTROL
462 RIGHETS PROVISIONING
464 ENCRYPTED VOLUME
CLAIMS
[Claim 1]
A method of managing access rights for data held locally relative to a mobile
communications device connected to a network, the data having a first set of access rights, the
method comprising:
detecting disconnection of the mobile communications device from the network; and
adjusting the access rights from the first set of access rights to a second set of access
rights for the data on detection of the disconnection;
wherein the first set of access rights is different to said second set of access rights.
[Claim 2]
A method according to claim 1 wherein the second set of access rights comprises at least
one access right which is more restrictive than a corresponding access right of the first set of
access rights.
[Claim 3]
A method according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the first and second set of access rights
each comprises at least one of read permissions, write permissions, and execute permissions.
[Claim 4]
A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said adjusting said access rights
to said second set of access rights comprises granting access rights which vary in dependence on
at least one of: an identity of a file comprising the data; a file type of the file comprising the data;
a rights access level assigned to the file comprising the data; membership of the file comprising
the data in a predefined group; and an identity of a directory in which the file comprising the
data is located.
[Claim 5]
A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said adjusting said access rights
to said second set of access rights comprises granting access rights which vary in dependence on
an identity of a user of the mobile device and/or membership of the user of the mobile device in
a predefined user group.
[Claim 6]
A method according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein detecting disconnection of the
mobile communications device from the network comprises detecting disconnection of said
mobile device from predefined server apparatus.
[Claim 7]
A method according to claim 6 wherein said method further comprises: determining that
the mobile communications device is connected to server apparatus; obtaining information
representing the identity of the server apparatus to which the mobile device is connected;
obtaining information representing the identity of the predefined server apparatus; and
comparing the identity of the server apparatus to which the mobile device is connected with the
identity of the predefined server apparatus, whereby to determine connectivity of said mobile
device to said predefined server apparatus.
[Claim 8]
A method according to claim 7 wherein said method is performed by a rights
management module operating on said mobile device and wherein said information representing
the identity of the predefined server apparatus is obtained from configuration parameters
provided for configuring said rights management module.
[Claim 9]
A method according to claim 7 wherein said information representing the identity of the
predefined server apparatus is obtained by retrieving it from the data held locally relative to the
mobile communications device.
[Claim 10]
A method according to claim 7 wherein said information representing the identity of the
predefined server apparatus is obtained by receiving it from an application running locally on the
mobile communications device.
[Claim 11]
A method according to any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein the data is encrypted and
wherein the method comprises decrypting the data for which the access rights are granted on the
mobile communications device when the mobile communications device is not connected to the
network.
[Claim 12]
A method according to any one of claims 1to 11 wherein the data is encrypted and
wherein the method comprises receiving a decrypted version of the data for which the access
rights are granted, from server apparatus, when the mobile communications device is connected
to the network.
[Claim 13]
A method according to any one of claims 1to 12 wherein the method comprises
detecting an attempt to mount a portable storage device on which said data is stored on the
mobile communications device, requesting entry of secure input information from a user of the
mobile communications device, receiving the secure input information from the user, verifying
the received secure input information, allowing successful mounting of the portable storage
device if the secure input information is successfully verified, and inhibiting mounting of the
portable storage device if the secure input information is not successfully verified.
[Claim 14]
A method according to any one of claims 1 to 13 wherein the method further comprises
detecting a change in the connectivity of the mobile communications device to a network from
disconnected to connected and adjusting the access rights from the second set of access rights to
the first set of access rights on detection of the change.
[Claim 15]
A method of provisioning a mobile communications device for managing access rights
for data held locally relative to the mobile communications device, the method comprising:
receiving, at the mobile communications device, configuration parameters defining a
first set of access rights for the data for use when the mobile communications device is
connected to a network;
receiving, at the mobile communications device, configuration parameters defining a
second set of access rights for the data for use when the mobile communications device is not
connected to the network; and
storing said configuration parameters for use in managing said access rights for the data
held locally relative to the mobile communications device;
wherein the first set of access rights is different to said second set of access rights.
[Claim 16]
A method of provisioning a mobile communications device for managing access rights
for data held locally relative to the mobile communications device, the method comprising:
providing the mobile communications device with configuration parameters defining a
first set of access rights for the data for use when the mobile communications device is
connected to a network; and
providing the mobile communications device with configuration parameters defining a
second set of access rights for the data for use when the mobile communications device is not
connected to the network;
wherein the first set of access rights is different to said second set of access rights.
[Claim 17]
A method as claimed in claim 16 wherein the method comprises determining that
updated configuration parameters are available, and providing said updated configuration
parameters to said mobile communications device in response to said determination.
[Claim 18]
A method according to claim 16 or 17 wherein said providing said configuration
parameters comprises providing configuration parameters which define access rights which are
dependent on at least one of: an identity of a file comprising the data; a file type of the file
comprising the data; a rights access level assigned to the file comprising the data; membership of
the file comprising the data in a predefined group; and/or an identity of a directory in which the
file comprising the data is located.
[Claim 19]
A mobile communications device having means for managing access rights for data held
locally relative to the mobile communications device, the access rights managing means
comprising: means for connecting to a network, wherein when the mobile device is connected to
the network the data has a first set of access rights: means for detecting disconnection of the
mobile communications device from the network; and means for adjusting the access rights from
the first set of access rights to a second set of access rights for the data on detection of the
disconnection; wherein the first set of access rights is different to said second set of access rights.
[Claim 20]
A mobile communications device having means for managing access rights for data held
locally relative to the mobile communications device, the access rights managing means
comprising: means for receiving, at the mobile communications device, configuration parameters
defining a first set of access rights for the data for use when the mobile communications device
is connected to a network; means for receiving, at the mobile communications device,
configuration parameters defining a second set of access rights for the data for use when the
mobile communications device is not connected to the network; and means for storing said
configuration parameters for use in managing said access rights for the data held locally relative
to the mobile communications device; wherein the first set of access rights is different to said
second set of access rights.
[Claim 21]
A mobile commumcations device as claimed in claim 19 wherein said rights managing
means comprises a rights management module operable to run on said mobile communications
device.
[Claim 22]
A mobile communications device as claimed in claim 2 1 wherein said rights
management module is operable to initiate on boot-up of the mobile device.
[Claim 23]
Server apparatus having means for provisioning a mobile device to manage access
rights for data held locally relative to the mobile communications device, the provisioning means
comprising: means for providing the mobile communications device with configuration
parameters defining a first set of access rights for the data for use when the mobile
communications device is connected to a network; and means for providing the mobile
communications device with configuration parameters defining a second set of access rights for
the data for use when the mobile communications device is not connected to the network;
wherein the first set of access rights is different to said second set of access rights.
[Claim 24]
A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program for causing a computer
to carry out a method according to any of claims 1 to17.
[Claim 25]
A mobile communications device having a module for managing access rights for data
held locally relative to the mobile communications device, the access rights managing module
being operable to: (i) determine the connectivity of the mobile communications device to a
network; (ii) grant a first set of access rights for the data when the mobile commumcations
device is connected to the network, and (iii) grant a second set of access rights for the data when
the mobile communications device is not connected to the network; wherein the first set of
access rights is different to said second set of access rights.
[Claim 26]
A mobile communications device having a module for managing access rights for data
held locally relative to the mobile communications device, the access rights managing module
being operable to: (i) receive configuration parameters defining a first set of access rights for the
data for use when the mobile communications device is connected to a network; (ii) receive
configuration parameters defining a second set of access rights for the data for use when the
mobile communications device is not connected to the network; and (iii) store said configuration
parameters for use in managing said access rights for the data held locally relative to the mobile
communications device; wherein the first set of access rights is different to said second set of
access rights.
[Claim 27]
Server apparatus having a provisioning module for provisioning a mobile device to
manage access rights for data held locally relative to the mobile communications device, the
provisioning module being operable to provide the mobile communications device with: (i)
configuration parameters defining a first set of access rights for the data for use when the mobile
communications device is connected to a network, and (ii) configuration parameters defining a
second set of access rights for the data for use when the mobile communications device is not
connected to the network; wherein the first set of access rights is different to said second set of
access rights.