More on Apple's 20100207721 application

Zeropaid suggested a posting on Slashdot suggested that Apple is trying to patent (through the “Systems And Methods for Identifying Unauthorized Users of An Electronic Device” patent [application]) the ability to remotely disable jailbroken phones. Unfortunately, that wasn’t really true going through both links in the report.

Zeropaid also managed to include reference to a recent posting on TechDirt about patent grant rate going up.

The word "jailbreaking" shows up in claim 4 of the patent application:

The method of claim 3, wherein the particular activity comprises one or more of hacking the electronic device, jailbreaking the electronic device, unlocking the electronic device, removing a SIM card from the electronic device, and moving at least a predetermined distance away from a synced device.

The "particular activity" from claim 3 is one which indicates "suspicious behavior", which goes back to claim 1, with the method being one for " identifying an unauthorized user of an electronic device ". Thus, claim 4 is claiming a method for
-- identifying an unauthorized user of an electronic device -- wherein the suspicious behavior is jailbreaking.

Paragraph [0005] of the specification notes:

In some embodiments, an unauthorized user can be detected by noting particular activities that can indicate suspicious behavior. For example, activities such as entering an incorrect password a predetermined number of times in a row, hacking of the electronic device, jailbreaking of the electronic device, unlocking of the electronic device, removing a SIM card from the electronic device, or moving a predetermined distance away from a synced device can be used to detect an unauthorized user.

Thus, the claimed invention is NOT about preventing an authorized user of the device from "jailbreaking."

See previous IPBiz posts

http://ipbiz.blogspot.com/2010/08/apples-us-20100207721-unauthorized.html

http://ipbiz.blogspot.com/2010/08/techdirt-praises-patentlyo-on-patent.html

Also
http://www.patentvest.com/console/reports/docs/app/20100207721.html

KRAMER LEVIN NAFTALIS & FRANKEL LLP is handling the prosecution of US 20100207721. and the examiner is Brian ZIMMERMAN.
No IDSs have been filed in the case yet. The application number is 12/389,106.

**[update] On Apple paranoia, from PCWorld:

Conspiracy theories over the lengths Apple will go to in order to preserve its walled garden aside, the patent [application] describes a number of innovative methods for determining if a device has been lost or stolen, and alerting a responsible party. It also provides the means for taking action to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information on the iPhone or iPad, and gathering details that might help track the device down.

***In passing

Apple blocks iPhones from green ranking scheme