Apple’s new patent indicates the company developed an upgraded and personalized interface design, settings, configurations and security levels that are based on the location of its iPhone user.
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) published the patent document titled Location-sensitive security levels and setting profiles based on detected location.
The updates installed allow the mobile device to recognize if the user is in a public location and demand the user of Touch ID, or to require less often the user’s Apple ID password if the user is at home. In other words, user can enjoy an automatic security lock and other configurations depending on user’s current location, simplifying the task of checking in and out of the device to change security and other settings as needed.
"Because some locations may be inherently more secure, such as a user's home or office, these locations may be considered 'safe' and require less stringent security," said Apple’s document. "It can be desirable to have decreased security requirements when the mobile device is at a secure location. Conversely, some locations may be considered higher risk or 'unsecure.' In these locations, it can be desirable to implement stronger security protections."
Not only are security levels changeable according to user location, the same holds true to user profiles. For instance once the iPhone recognizes the user is behind the wheels, some features may be disabled but may make it much easier for emergency calls. While at work, productivity apps may be more obvious.
To determine the location of the iPhone user, various connections will be used. Wi-Fi network used at home will indicate the user is right about his home. On the other hand, cellular towers, GPS and the like will mean the iPhone is outside the user’s home. This way, iPhone users are given the opportunity to create several security levels depending on space and location.
Research shows Apple is working non-stop to develop and boost the security levels of its iPhone devices. For one, there was Touch ID, a fingerprint scanner, to unlock the mobile phone instead of making use of a pin code. Another patent document was published in March that indicated Apple’s move to develop a system for synching all devices of users, such as smartphones, tablets and laptops, using identical biometric data.
Apple’s patent application to the USPTO for its iPhone device was filed Dec. 31, 2012, with inventors credited in the document, namely David Amm, Julian Missig, Alexander Reitter, and Raymond Walsh.
