PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-8208900-B2
Application Number: US-34764708-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Secure device configuration profiles

Abstract:
A method for configuring a device includes receiving a first configuration profile comprising a first configuration and a first certificate and a second certificate, verifying the first configuration profile with the first certificate, receiving a user input indicating to accept the first configuration profile, configuring the device according to the first configuration, receiving a second configuration profile comprising a second configuration, verifying the second configuration profile with the second certificate and updating the device according to the second configuration, wherein the user is unaware of the updating.

Claims:
1. A machine implemented method for configuring a wireless device, the method comprising:
 receiving a request, from the wireless device, to create a configurable profile, the request being received by a data processing system of an enterprise; 
 creating, in response to the request, the configuration profile for the wireless device, the configuration profile being designed to configure the wireless device for communication with one or more data processing systems of the enterprise, and wherein the creating includes signing the configuration profile to allow the wireless device to authenticate the configuration profile, and the communication is a secure communication in which sender and receiver are authenticated to each other, security of the secure communication is configured by the configuration profile, the request is generated by one of a web browser program, an e-mail program or a media management program and wherein the configuration profile comprises at least one of a policy for use of the wireless device or a restriction on the use of the wireless device which effectively disables a feature of the wireless device, and the configuration profile is configured to have an updatable root of trust certificate and wherein the configuration profile comprises an identity which comprises an encrypted certificate and an encrypted key of a private key/public key pair; and 
 transmitting the configuration profile to the wireless device with a connectionless network protocol. 
 
     
     
       2. The method as in  claim 1  wherein the configuration profile specifies a minimum size of a PIN (personal identification number) to be entered by a user of the wireless device. 
     
     
       3. The method as in  claim 1  wherein the configuration profile is transmitted wirelessly, at least in a portion of a path, to the wireless device and wherein the configuration profile is created in response to options selected by the user. 
     
     
       4. The method as in  claim 1  wherein the method is performed by one or more servers configured to perform the method on behalf of the enterprise. 
     
     
       5. A machine implemented method for configuring a wireless device, the method comprising:
 receiving, at the wireless device, an input for a request to establish communication with at least one data processing system of an enterprise; 
 receiving, in response to the request, a configuration profile for the wireless device, the configuration profile being designed to configure the wireless device for communication with the at least one data processing system of the enterprise, wherein the configuration profile is signed to allow the wireless device to authenticate the configuration profile, and the communication is a secure communication in which sender and receiver are authenticated to each other, security of the secure communication is configured by the configuration profile, the configuration profile is received through a connectionless network protocol, the request is generated by one of a web browser program, an e-mail program or a media management program and wherein the configuration profile comprises at least one of a policy for use of the wireless device or a restriction on the use of the wireless device which effectively disables a feature of the wireless device, and the configuration profile is configured to have an updatable root of trust certificate and wherein the configuration profile comprises an identity which comprises an encrypted certificate and an encrypted key of a private key/public key pair. 
 
     
     
       6. The method as in  claim 5  wherein the configuration profile specifies a minimize size of a PIN to be entered by a user of the wireless device. 
     
     
       7. The method as in  claim 5  wherein the configuration profile is received wirelessly and wherein the configuration profile is created based on options selected by a user of the wireless device. 
     
     
       8. The method as in  claim 5  wherein a user of the wireless device creates the configuration profile from a wireless, in part, connection to a website and receives the configuration profile through a download process. 
     
     
       9. A machine implemented method for configuring a wireless device, the method comprising:
 receiving a request, from the wireless device, to transmit a configuration profile, the request being received by a data processing system of an enterprise; and 
 transmitting, in response to the request, the configuration profile for the wireless device, wherein the configuration profile configures the wireless device for communication with one or more data processing systems of the enterprise, and wherein the configuration profile is signed to allow the wireless device to authenticate the configuration profile, and the communication is a secure communication in which sender and receiver are authenticated to each other, security of the secure communication is configured by the configuration profile, the configuration profile is transmitted with a connectionless network protocol, the request is generated by one of a web browser program, an e-mail program or a media management program and wherein the configuration profile comprises at least one of a policy for use of the wireless device or a restriction on the use of the wireless device which effectively disables a feature of the wireless device and the configuration profile is configured to have an updatable root of trust certificate and wherein the configuration profile comprises an identity which comprises an encrypted certificate and an encrypted key of a private key/public key pair. 
 
     
     
       10. The method as in  claim 9  wherein the configuration profile specifies a minimum size of a PIN (personal identification number) to be entered by a user of the wireless device. 
     
     
       11. A machine-readable storage medium storing instructions which when executed by a data processing system cause the data processing system to perform a method of processing data, the method comprising:
 receiving a request, from the wireless device, to create a configuration profile, the request being received by a data processing system of an enterprise; 
 creating, in response to the request, the configuration profile for the wireless device, the configuration profile being designed to configure the wireless device for communication with one or more data processing systems of the enterprise, and wherein the creating includes signing the configuration profile to allow the wireless device to authenticate the configuration profile, and the communication is a secure communication in which sender and receiver are authenticated to each other, security of the secure communication is configured by the configuration profile, the request is generated by one of a web browser program, an e-mail program or a media management program and wherein the configuration profile comprises at least one of a policy for use of the wireless device or a restriction on the use of the wireless device which effectively disables a feature of the wireless device, and the configuration profile is configured to have an updatable root of trust certificate and wherein the configuration profile comprises an identity which comprises an encrypted certificate and an encrypted key of a private key/public key pair; and 
 transmitting the configuration profile to the wireless device with a connectionless network protocol. 
 
     
     
       12. The machine-readable storage medium as in  claim 11  wherein the configuration profile specifies a minimum size of a PIN (personal identification number) to be entered by a user of the wireless device. 
     
     
       13. The machine-readable storage medium as in  claim 11  wherein the configuration profile is transmitted wirelessly, at least in a portion of a path, to the wireless device and wherein the configuration profile is created in response to options selected by the user. 
     
     
       14. The machine-readable storage medium as in  claim 11  wherein the method is performed by one or more servers configured to perform the method on behalf of the enterprise. 
     
     
       15. A machine-readable storage medium storing instructions which when executed by a data processing system cause the data processing system to perform a method of processing data, the method comprising:
 receiving, at the wireless device, an input for a request to establish communication with at least one data processing system of an enterprise; 
 receiving, in response to the request, a configuration profile for the wireless device, the configuration profile being designed to configure the wireless device for communication with the at least one data processing system of the enterprise, wherein the configuration profile is signed to allow the wireless device to authenticate the configuration profile, and the communication is a secure communication in which sender and receiver are authenticated to each other, security of the secure communication is configured by the configuration profile, the configuration profile is received through a connectionless network protocol, the request is generated by one of a web browser program, an e-mail program or a media management program and wherein the configuration profile comprises at least one of a policy for use of the wireless device or a restriction on the use of the wireless device which effectively disables a feature of the wireless device, and the configuration profile is configured to have an updatable root trust certificate and wherein the configuration profile comprises an identity which comprises an encrypted certificate and an encrypted key of a private key/public key pair. 
 
     
     
       16. The machine-readable storage medium as in  claim 15  wherein the configuration profile specifies a minimize size of a PIN to be entered by a user of the wireless device. 
     
     
       17. The machine-readable storage medium as in  claim 15  wherein the configuration profile is received wirelessly and wherein the configuration profile is created based on options selected by a user of the wireless device. 
     
     
       18. The machine-readable storage medium as in  claim 15  wherein a user of the wireless device creates the configuration profile from a wireless, in part, connection to a website and receives the configuration profile through a download process. 
     
     
       19. A machine-readable storage medium storing instructions which when executed by a data processing system cause the data processing system to perform a method of processing data, the method comprising:
 receiving a request, from the wireless device, to transmit a configuration profile, the request being received by a data processing system of an enterprise; and 
 transmitting, in response to the request, the configuration profile for the wireless device, wherein the configuration profile configures the wireless device for communication with one or more data processing systems of the enterprise, and wherein the configuration profile is signed to allow the wireless device to authenticate the configuration profile, and the communication is a secure communication in which sender and receiver are authenticated to each other, security of the secure communication is configured by the configuration profile, the configuration profile is transmitted with a connectionless network protocol, the request is generated by one of a web browser program, an e-mail program or a media management program and wherein the configuration profile comprises at least one of a policy for use of the wireless device or a restriction on the use of the wireless device which effectively disables a feature of the wireless device, and the configuration profile is configured to have an updatable root of trust certificate and wherein the configuration profile comprises an identity which comprises an encrypted certificate and an encrypted key of a private key/public key pair. 
 
     
     
       20. The machine-readable storage medium as in  claim 19  wherein the configuration profile specifies a minimum sire of a PIN (personal identification number) to be entered by a user of the wireless device. 
     
     
       21. A data processing system comprising:
 means for receiving a request, from the wireless device, to create a configuration profile, the request being received by a data processing system of an enterprise; 
 means for creating, in response to the request, the configuration profile for the wireless device, the configuration profile being designed to configure the wireless device for communication with one or more data processing systems of the enterprise, and wherein the creating includes signing the configuration profile to allow the wireless device to authenticate the configuration profile, and the communication is a secure communication in which sender and receiver are authenticated to each other, security of the secure communication is configured by the configuration profile the request is generated by one of a web browser program, an e-mail program or a media management program and wherein the configuration profile comprises at least one of a policy for use of the wireless device or a restriction on the use of the wireless device which effectively disables a feature of the wireless device, and the configuration profile is configured to have an updatable root of trust certificate and wherein the configuration profile comprises an identity which comprises an encrypted certificate and an encrypted key of a private key/public key pair; and 
 means for transmitting the configuration profile to the wireless device with a connectionless network protocol. 
 
     
     
       22. A data processing system comprising:
 means for receiving, at the wireless device, an input for a request to establish communication with at least one data processing system of an enterprise; 
 means for receiving, in response to the request, a configuration profile for the wireless device, the configuration profile being designed to configure the wireless device for communication with the at least one data processing system of the enterprise, wherein the configuration profile is signed to allow the wireless device to authenticate the configuration profile, and the communication is a secure communication in which sender and receiver are authenticated to each other, security of the secure communication is configured by the configuration profile, the configuration profile is received through a connectionless network protocol, the request is generated by one of a web browser program, an e-mail program or a media management program and wherein the configuration profile comprises at least one of a policy for use of the wireless device or a restriction on the use of the wireless device which effectively disables a feature of the wireless device, and the configuration profile is configured to have an updatable root of trust certificate and wherein the configuration profile comprises an identity which comprises an encrypted certificate and an encrypted key of a private key/public key pair. 
 
     
     
       23. A data processing system comprising:
 means for receiving a request, from the wireless device, to transmit a configuration profile, the request being received by a data processing system of an enterprise; and 
 means for transmitting, in response to the request, the configuration profile for the wireless device, wherein the configuration profile configures the wireless device for communication with one or more data processing systems of the enterprise, and wherein the configuration profile is signed to allow the wireless device to authenticate the configuration profile, and the communication is a secure communication in which sender and receiver are authenticated to each other, security of the secure communication is configured by the configuration profile, the configuration profile is transmitted with a connectionless network protocol, the request is generated by one of a web browser program, an e-mail program or media management program and wherein the configuration profile comprises at least one of a policy for use of the wireless device or a restriction on the use of the wireless device which effectively disables a feature of the wireless device, and the configuration profile is configured to have an updatable root of trust certificate and wherein the configuration profile comprises an identity which comprises an encrypted certificate and an encrypted key of a private key/public key pair.

Description:
This application claims priority to co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/033,755 filed on Mar. 4, 2008, which provisional application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety; this application claims the benefit of the provisional&#39;s filing date under 35 U.S.C. §119(e). 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the invention relate to data processing systems, and more particularly to securely configuring devices using profiles. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DESCRIPTION 
     In one embodiment described herein, a method for configuring a wireless device includes receiving a request, from the wireless device, to create configuration profile, the request being received by a data processing system of an enterprise, creating, in response to the request, the configuration profile for the wireless device, the configuration profile being designed to configure the wireless device for communication with one or more data processing systems of the enterprise, and wherein the creating includes signing the configuration profile to allow the wireless device to authenticate the configuration profile, and transmitting the configuration profile to the wireless device. The communication may be through a network of devices, and the configuration profile may be transmitted with a connectionless network protocol. 
     In one embodiment described herein, a method for configuring a wireless device includes receiving, at the wireless device, an input for a request to establish communication with at least one data processing system of an enterprise, and receiving, in response to the request, a configuration profile for the wireless device, the configuration profile being designed to configure the wireless device for communication with the at least one data processing system of the enterprise, wherein the configuration profile is signed to allow the wireless device to authenticate the configuration profile. In one embodiment described herein, a method for configuring a device includes receiving a first configuration profile comprising a first configuration and a first certificate and a second certificate, verifying the first configuration profile with the first certificate, receiving a user input indicating to accept the first configuration profile, configuring the device according to the first configuration, receiving a second configuration profile comprising a second configuration, verifying the second configuration profile with the second certificate and updating the device according to the second configuration, wherein the user is unaware of the updating. 
     In one embodiment, a user accesses an enterprise website and selects a configuration setting on the enterprise website and the enterprise website creates the first configuration profile using the configuration setting. In one embodiment, receiving the first configuration profile comprises transferring the first configuration profile from one of the following: a website, a media management application, a FTP site, a SMS message, and an e-mail message. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. 
         FIG. 1  shows a block diagram of one embodiment of a device configured with a configuration profile transmitted to the device. 
         FIG. 2  shows a flowchart of one embodiment of a method for configuring a device with a secure configuration profile. 
         FIG. 3  shows a flowchart of one embodiment of a method for configuring a device with a secure configuration profile and updating the profile. 
         FIG. 4  shows a flowchart of one embodiment of a method for creating a secure device configuration profile. 
         FIG. 5  shows a flowchart of one embodiment of a method for creating a device configuration profile. 
         FIG. 6  shows a block diagram of one embodiment of a secure configuration profile. 
         FIG. 7  shows one example of a typical computer system which may be used in conjunction with the embodiments described herein. 
         FIG. 8  shows one example of a data processing system which may be used in conjunction with the embodiments described herein. 
         FIG. 9  shows a block diagram of one embodiment of a secure configuration profile and configuration components. 
         FIG. 10  shows a block diagram of one embodiment of an identity. 
         FIG. 11  shows an example of a user interface which may be used to create or install one or more configuration profiles or provisioning profiles. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Various embodiments and aspects of the inventions will be described with reference to details discussed below, and the accompanying drawings will illustrate the various embodiments. The following description and drawings are illustrative of the invention and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. Numerous specific details are described to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments of the present invention. However, in certain instances, well-known or conventional details are not described in order to provide a concise discussion of embodiments of the present inventions. 
     Reference in the specification to one embodiment or an embodiment means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearance of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. 
     Unless specifically stated otherwise, it is appreciated that throughout the description, discussions utilizing terms such as “processing” or “computing” or “calculating” or “determining” or “displaying” or the like, refer to the action and processes of a data processing system, or similar electronic computing device, that manipulates and transforms data represented as physical (electronic) quantities within the computer system&#39;s registers and memories into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the computer system memories or registers or other such information storage, transmission or display devices. 
     The algorithms and displays presented herein are not inherently related to any particular computer or other apparatus. Various general-purpose systems may be used with programs in accordance with the teachings herein, or it may prove convenient to construct more specialized apparatus to perform the required machine-implemented method operations. The required structure for a variety of these systems will appear from the description below. In addition, embodiments of the present invention are not described with reference to any particular programming language. It will be appreciated that a variety of programming languages may be used to implement the teachings of embodiments of the invention as described herein. 
     At least certain embodiments of the inventions may be part of a digital media player, such as a portable music and/or video media player, which may include a media processing system to present the media, a storage device to store the media and may further include a radio frequency (RF) transceiver (e.g., an RF transceiver for a cellular telephone) coupled with an antenna system and the media processing system. In certain embodiments, media stored on a remote storage device may be transmitted to the media player through the RF transceiver. The media may be, for example, one or more of music or other audio, still pictures, or motion pictures. 
     The portable media player may include a media selection device, such as a touch screen input device, pushbutton device, movable pointing input device or other input device. The media selection device may be used to select the media stored on the storage device and/or the remote storage device. The portable media player may, in at least certain embodiments, include a display device which is coupled to the media processing system to display titles or other indicators of media being selected through the input device and being presented, either through a speaker or earphone(s), or on the display device, or on both display device and a speaker or earphone(s). 
     Embodiments of the inventions described herein may be part of other types of data processing systems, such as, for example, entertainment systems or personal digital assistants (PDAs), or general purpose computer systems, or special purpose computer systems, or an embedded device within another device, or cellular telephones which do not include media players, or devices which combine aspects or functions of these devices (e.g., a media player, such as an iPod®, combined with a PDA, an entertainment system, and a cellular telephone in one portable device), or devices or consumer electronic products which include a multi-touch input device such as a multi-touch handheld device or a cell phone and handheld computer with a multi-touch input device. 
       FIG. 1  shows a block diagram of one embodiment of a device configured with a configuration profile transmitted to the device. An enterprise configures device  105  with configuration profiles  110  and  130 , which server  155  transmits to device  105  through various transfer means  145 . Profiles  160  and  165  correspond to profiles  110  and  130 . In one embodiment, profile  110  includes a VPN component  115 , a WPA2 component  120 , and a certificate  125 . In one embodiment, certificate  125  uses well-known public key encryption techniques to sign profile  110 . Device  105  can confirm the authenticity of signed profile  110  independently of transfer means  145 , since a secured channel is not required to verify the source of the profile. For example, device  105  may receive profile  110  over a wireless internet connection in a coffee shop, over a cellular data network, over a wired Ethernet connection, through an e-mail message, a website, or some other source, such as a media management application. Regardless of the transmission medium, the device is able to verify the authenticity of the configuration profile. For example, the device can verify, through the digital signature which is part of the configuration profile, that the configuration profile came from a particular enterprise. 
     The particular enterprise may, when creating the configuration profile, sign the profile with its own digital certificate (or have another service sign the profile with a certificate) to prove that the configuration profile is from the enterprise (or otherwise is authorized to be used to configure the device receiving the profile to communicate with a data processing system owned or controlled by the enterprise). The signed profile assures the device that it can rely upon the profile to configure the device for secure (e.g., fully authenticated at both ends) communication between the device and one or more data processing systems of the enterprise. 
     The enterprise may be a commercial for-profit entity (e.g., Fed Ex), or a government entity (e.g., the U.S. Treasury), or a non-profit entity (e.g., PBS) or an educational entity (e.g., M.I.T.), etc. Once the profile configures the device, it can participate in two-way communication with data processing systems of the enterprise in a secure manner knowing that such systems have been initially authenticated by the initial configuration profile (and vice versa). 
     VPN  115  and WPA2  120  provide configuration information specific to accessing a virtual private network and a wireless network, respectively. In one embodiment, a virtual private network provides a communication channel between the device and an enterprise data processing system. In one embodiment, data transmitted between the device and the enterprise data processing system through the virtual private network is encrypted. In one embodiment, WPA2  120  includes a root of trust, overcoming a shortcoming in the WPA2 design. Profile  130  includes user restrictions  135  and certificate  140 . Certificate  140  operates similarly to certificate  125 . In one embodiment, different signing entities provide certificate  125  and certificate  140 . User restrictions  135  form part of a policy setting mechanism for the device. In one embodiment, restrictions  135  prevent a cellular phone user from using the phone to make long distance calls. In one embodiment, restrictions  135  prevent the user from using a digital camera built into device  105 . In one embodiment, restriction  135  prevents a media player on the device from playing digital media files that fail DRM verification. In one embodiment, restrictions  135  restrict a web-enabled device to a single proxy server for web browsing. In one embodiment, restriction  135  enforces a larger PIN length, which increases security of the device by making it more difficult to penetrate a locked device. 
       FIG. 2  shows a flowchart of one embodiment of a method for configuring a device with a secure configuration profile. At block  205 , the method receives a configuration profile on the device, such as through transfer means  145  in  FIG. 1 . At block  210 , the method verifies the authenticity of the configuration profile using, for example, a certificate that arrived with the profile. Using known public key infrastructure techniques, the method determines that the signing entity sent the configuration profile (or had the profile sent on its behalf). Since the authenticity of the configuration profile does not depend on a secure transmission channel, the actual medium by which the configuration profile reaches the device is unimportant. 
     At block  215 , the method presents the profile to the user and how the profile will configure the device. It will be understood that block  215  may precede block  210  in time. For example, an enterprise seeking to enforce its ownership of the device would configure the device in several ways. One way would be to provide WPA2 and VPN access for the device. Another would be to restrict certain functions of the device. The configuration might provide a root of trust certificate for the device, allowing the device to authenticate anything using the enterprise as a signature authority. The configuration might provide an identity corresponding to the user of the device, which would allow the user to sign documents and otherwise provide a digital signature via the device. 
     At block  220 , the method receives a user input accepting the profile. In one embodiment, the user must accept configuration profiles in their entirety. In another embodiment, the user may accept configuration profiles piecemeal. For example, an enterprise asserting ownership and setting policy on a device may prefer that users of the enterprise devices accept a configuration entirely. Alternatively, a configuration profile containing several wallpapers for the background of the device display may be accepted piecemeal (i.e., only the desired wallpaper is accepted). At block  225 , the method configures the device according the configuration profile received by the method at block  205 . In one embodiment, a user may subsequently undo a configuration profile and remove the configuration from the device, or deactivate it while leaving the configuration profile present in a data storage component of the device. 
       FIG. 3  shows a flowchart of one embodiment of a method for configuring a device with a secure configuration profile and updating the profile. At block  305 , the method receives an initial configuration profile including an update certificate. In one embodiment, an initial configuration profile includes a certificate used to verify the authenticity of the initial configuration profile and a second certificate used to verify the authenticity of subsequent profiles updating the configuration profile. In another embodiment, the device uses the same certificate to authenticate the initial profile and subsequent update profiles. 
     At block  310 , the method authenticates the configuration profile using a certificate contained in the profile. At block  315 , the method presents the profile, potential configuration, and the request for automatic updates to the user of the device. It will be understood that block  315  may precede block  310 . At block  320 , the method receives input from a user accepting the configuration. At block  325 , the method configures the device according to the accepted configuration. In one embodiment, an enterprise uses an initial configuration profile to implement policy, network access, etc. on a device. Over time, elements of the initial configuration profile may require changing, such as the VPN access information, the enterprise root of trust, etc. The user, having accepted the initial configuration, is likely to accept the updated configuration as well. The update certificate provided by the initial configuration profile allows the device to determine that an update configuration profile is an authentic update to a previously accepted initial configuration profile. 
     At block  330 , the device receives a configuration profile signed with the update certificate received at block  305 , such as through transfer means  145  in  FIG. 1 . In one embodiment, the device need not receive the update profile through the same transfer means as the initial configuration profile received by the method at block  305 . At block  335 , the method verifies that the update certificate from the initial configuration profile has signed the configuration profile received at block  330 . At block  340 , the method updates the existing configuration profile with the updated profile received at block  335  without informing the user. In one embodiment, the profile received at block  330  signed with the update certificate is only entitled to modify elements of the device configuration modified by the initial configuration profile. In another embodiment, the update profile may modify more or less of the device configuration than that modified by the initial configuration profile. 
       FIG. 4  shows a flowchart of one embodiment of a method for creating a secure device configuration profile. At block  405 , a user loads an enterprise website using a web browser and sends login information identifying the user to the enterprise. In one embodiment, the user loads the enterprise website from a device the user is seeking to configure. In one embodiment, the enterprise website is an intranet website and the user loads the website from within the enterprise network. 
     At block  410 , the user selects, through a user interface provided by the enterprise website, one or more settings, services, and information sources. For example, the user may select a VPN configuration, an identity, a root of trust certificate for the enterprise, a proprietary application used by the enterprise on devices of this kind, a file containing the enterprise phone listing, etc. In one embodiment, the user selects from a list of pre-existing configurations. For example, an enterprise IT group may create configurations. In one embodiment, the user is restricted as to which configurations or settings the user can select. At block  415 , the enterprise website creates a configuration profile containing the settings, services, and information sources selected by the user at block  410 . Using the enterprise key, the website signs the configuration profile and inserts the certificate into the profile, allowing the device to authenticate the profile. At block  420 , the device downloads the signed configuration profile from the website, through the web browser on the device, for use by the profile service. In one embodiment, the profile service is associated with a configuration profile user interface providing high level and detailed views and management features for managing configuration profiles on the device. In one embodiment, a media management application, such as Apple iTunes®, creates the signed profile. In one embodiment, the enterprise website is accessed from a data processing system other than the device and the signed configuration profile is sent to the device through, for example, transfer means  145  in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 5  shows a flowchart of one embodiment of a method for creating a device configuration profile. At block  505 , the method locates a certificate on a storage volume. For example, a root of trust certificate or an identity certificate. At block  510 , the method generates an unsigned configuration profile and inserts the contents of the located certificate into the configuration profile. In one embodiment, unsigned configuration profiles containing certificate information allows the user of the device to utilize the profile system and associated user interface to manage the contents of the certificates. In one embodiment, a user e-mails certificates containing various identities of the user to the user&#39;s device and creates unsigned configuration profiles to wrap the certificates. In one embodiment, the user is able to modify an existing configuration profile using the unsigned configuration profile. For example, the user may replace a root of trust in an existing configuration with a root of trust certificate contained in an unsigned configuration profile. In one embodiment, a root of trust certificate may be referred to as an anchor certificate. 
       FIG. 6  shows a block diagram of one embodiment of a secure configuration profile.  FIG. 9  shows, in greater detail, the secure configuration profile  605  shown in  FIG. 6 . The following discussion of the components of profile  605  applies to  FIGS. 6 and 9 . Profile  605  includes VPN  610 , WPA2  615 , user restrictions  620 , update certificate  625 , user ID  630 , profile certificate  635 , root of trust  640 , and provisioning profile  645 . In one embodiment, an enterprise distributes profile  605  to devices owned by the enterprise to set a device policy for the device. In one embodiment, VPN  610  and WPA2  615  provide configuration data allowing the device to connect to the enterprise virtual private network and wireless internet network. In one embodiment, user restriction  620  enforces enterprise policy as to how a user may use a device. For example, restrictions  620  may disable the device&#39;s camera, or enforce a longer PIN length than is standard on the device. In the latter case, restrictions  620  enables previously unavailable functionality by allowing the device to behave in a new manner (e.g., capable of using a longer PIN). 
     In one embodiment, update certificate  625  indicates to the device (and through the device, to the user) that the enterprise may update profile  605  through subsequent profiles signed with certificate  625 . In one embodiment, certificate  625  is the same certificate as certificate  635 . In one embodiment, certificate  625  and certificate  635  are certificates formatted according to the X.509 standard. In one embodiment, user ID  630  is an identity or digital signature provided by the enterprise to the user. In one embodiment, ID  630  is a PKCS#12 container for a storing private keys and accompanying public certificates, protected with a symmetric key. ID  630  is described in greater detail below in conjunction with  FIG. 10 . In one embodiment, profile certificate  635  is used by the device to authenticate profile  605  and ensure that profile  605  originated with the enterprise. In one embodiment, root of trust  640  is a certificate provided by the enterprise to enable the device to authenticate, for example, a secured website that is signed using the enterprise as the signature authority. 
     In one embodiment, provisioning profile  645  is included in profile  605  to authenticate an application on the device and to provide the device with the entitlements corresponding to the application. For example, a user might download a proprietary application used by the enterprise on the device. In one embodiment, the device is not permitted to execute the code image of the application until it has been verified and even if it has been verified, the entitlements may specify limits on the use of the application. Verification of an application may be provided with a provisioning profile. In one embodiment, entitlements of the application are included by the enterprise in the application verification. Application entitlements describe the extent to which an application may directly and indirectly utilize the functionality of a device. For example, an application may not be entitled to use the network interface on the device or the application may only be allowed to operate for a limited period of time, or the camera is disabled when the application is executing or the cellular telephone is disabled when the application is executing, etc. These entitlements may be created on an application by application basis (e.g. each application is restricted by its own associated entitlement) or the entitlements may establish how a group of applications behave on a device (e.g. a common set of restrictions for the applications in the group). 
       FIG. 10  shows a block diagram of one embodiment of an identity. Identity  1005  is formatted according to the PKCS#12 standard published by RSA Laboratories. Identity  1005  contains public key certificate  1010  and private key  1015 , which together allow the digital signing of e-mails, documents, etc. To protect the identity  1005  from identity theft, certificate  1010  and key  1015  are encrypted within the container using symmetric key encryption  1020 . 
     The one or more profiles described herein may be created on a host data processing system or server data processing system and then transmitted and installed on a device, such as a wireless device shown in  FIG. 8 . The profiles are typically created in response to a request from a device and then transmitted and installed on the device; the transmission of the profiles may be completely through wires (e.g., the device is coupled to a host system through a wired dock or cable) or at least in part through a wireless (e.g., RF radio) connection. The one or more profiles may be created and/or installed with the assistance of one or more application programs which are executed on a host data processing system or a server data processing system. 
     In one embodiment, a host data processing system may determine that a configuration profile should be removed from a wireless device. The host data processing system may transmit a command to the wireless device which causes the wireless device to render the configuration profile inoperable on the wireless device. For example, if a wireless device is stolen, the host data processing system could disable the wireless device by rendering the configuration profile inoperable. An inoperable configuration profile may deny user access to the device, delete all data from the device, etc. In another embodiment, the host data processing system may transmit a command to the wireless device causing the wireless device to automatically transmit location information to the host data processing system (e.g., GPS coordinates). 
       FIG. 11  shows an example of a user interface created and displayed by such an application program. The application program may be used to create one or more profiles (which can then be transmitted to a device) or may be used to install previously created profiles (e.g. a profile loaded onto a host can then be installed on a device coupled to the host) or may be used to both create and install one or more profiles. The profiles may be the configuration profiles described herein which may or may not include provisioning profiles, or the profiles may be merely provisioning profiles (e.g. profiles without configuration intervention which configure a device for secure communication through a network of devices). 
     In one embodiment, the user interface shown in  FIG. 11  may be used to download and install at least one previously created profile onto a device, such as a wireless cellular telephone having an architecture shown in  FIG. 8 . In another embodiment, the user interface shown in  FIG. 11  may be used to manually create profiles which can then be uploaded to a distribution server data processing system (such as the server system shown in  FIG. 1 ) to allow distribution (e.g., through e-mail, FTP, HTTP, etc.) of the created profiles. The user interface shown in  FIG. 11  includes a window  1101  which includes three regions: a source list view region  1103 , a selection list view region  1105 , and a detail view region  1107  which includes a plurality of tabs  1109 . 
     The source list view region  1103  may display device records, provisions (e.g., provisioning profiles for applications), configuration profiles (e.g., to configure a VPN connection between a device and one or more servers of an enterprise), and connected devices. The user may select items displayed within the region  1103 . After the selection, the user may perform an operation (e.g., profile creation, editing, removal, distribution, etc.) on the selected item. The selection list view region  1105  may display items relating to an item selected in the region  1103 . For example, if a user selects an item, such as a provisioning profile or a configuration profile, in the region  1103 , further information and/or commands relating to the item selected in region  1103  can be displayed in the selection list view region  1105 . If the item selected in region  1103  is a configuration profile, the region  1105  may display information relating to that profile, such as the type of communication configured by the profile (e.g., a secure VPN) and other information (e.g., see  FIG. 9 ). 
     The detail view region  1107  may be a tabbed interface to display, edit, or create the context of the selected item (e.g., to display and edit a provisioning profile or a configuration profile). The detail view region  1107  may be a tabbed interface to display, edit, and create device record information (e.g., owner and/or contact information), profiles (e.g., allows for complete creation and/or management of configuration profiles and/or provisioning profiles), and connected devices (e.g., allows for management of configuration profile distribution). 
       FIG. 7  shows one example of a data processing system which may be used with one embodiment of the present invention. Note that while  FIG. 7  illustrates various components of a computer system, it is not intended to represent any particular architecture or manner of interconnecting the components as such details are not germane to the present invention. It will also be appreciated that network computers and other data processing systems which have fewer components or perhaps more components may also be used with the present invention.  FIG. 7  may represent the server system shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the computer system  700 , which is a form of a data processing system, includes a bus  703  which is coupled to a microprocessor(s)  705  and a ROM (Read Only Memory)  707  and volatile RAM  709  and a non-volatile memory  711 . The microprocessor  705  is coupled to cache  704 . The microprocessor  705  may retrieve the instructions from the memories  707 ,  709 ,  711  and execute the instructions to perform operations described above. The bus  703  interconnects these various components together and also interconnects these components  705 ,  707 ,  709 , and  711  to a display controller and display device  713  and to peripheral devices such as input/output (I/O) devices which may be mice, keyboards, modems, network interfaces, printers and other devices which are well known in the art. Typically, the input/output devices  715  are coupled to the system through input/output controllers  717 . The volatile RAM (Random Access Memory)  709  is typically implemented as dynamic RAM (DRAM) which requires power continually in order to refresh or maintain the data in the memory. 
     The mass storage  711  is typically a magnetic hard drive or a magnetic optical drive or an optical drive or a DVD RAM or a flash memory or other types of memory systems which maintain data (e.g. large amounts of data) even after power is removed from the system. Typically, the mass storage  711  will also be a random access memory although this is not required. While  FIG. 7  shows that the mass storage  711  is a local device coupled directly to the rest of the components in the data processing system, it will be appreciated that the present invention may utilize a non-volatile memory which is remote from the system, such as a network storage device which is coupled to the data processing system through a network interface such as a modem, an Ethernet interface or a wireless network. The bus  703  may include one or more buses connected to each other through various bridges, controllers and/or adapters as is well known in the art. 
     The term “memory” as used herein is intended to encompass all volatile storage media, such as dynamic random access memory (DRAM) and static RAM (SRAM). Computer-executable instructions can be stored on non-volatile storage devices, such as magnetic hard disk, an optical disk, and are typically written, by a direct memory access process, into memory during execution of software by a processor. One of skill in the art will immediately recognize that the term “machine-readable storage medium” includes any type of volatile or non-volatile storage device that is accessible by a processor. 
       FIG. 8  shows an example of another data processing system which may be used with one embodiment of the present invention. The data processing system  800  shown in  FIG. 8  includes a processing system  811 , which may be one or more microprocessors, or which may be a system on a chip integrated circuit, and the system also includes memory  801  for storing data and programs for execution by the processing system. The system  800  also includes an audio input/output subsystem  805  which may include a microphone and a speaker for, for example, playing back music or providing telephone functionality through the speaker and microphone. The system  800  can, in at least certain embodiments, request the one or more profiles described herein and download those profiles to configure the device for communication through a network. The system  800  can download those profiles from a server data processing system which may be the system shown in  FIG. 7 . In one embodiment, the system  800  may be the device  105  shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     A display controller and display device  807  provide a visual user interface for the user; this digital interface may include a graphical user interface which is similar to that shown on a Macintosh computer when running OS X operating system software. The system  800  also includes one or more wireless transceivers  803  to communicate with another data processing system, such as the system  700  of  FIG. 7 . A wireless transceiver may be a WiFi transceiver, an infrared transceiver, a Bluetooth transceiver, and/or a wireless cellular telephony transceiver. It will be appreciated that additional components, not shown, may also be part of the system  800  in certain embodiments, and in certain embodiments fewer components than shown in  FIG. 8  may also be used in a data processing system. 
     The data processing system  800  also includes one or more input devices  813  which are provided to allow a user to provide input to the system. These input devices may be a keypad or a keyboard or a touch panel or a multi touch panel. The data processing system  800  also includes an optional input/output device  815  which may be a connector for a dock. It will be appreciated that one or more buses, not shown, may be used to interconnect the various components as is well known in the art. The data processing system shown in  FIG. 8  may be a handheld computer or a personal digital assistant (PDA), or a cellular telephone with PDA like functionality, or a handheld computer which includes a cellular telephone, or a media player, such as an iPod, or devices which combine aspects or functions of these devices, such as a media player combined with a PDA and a cellular telephone in one device. In other embodiments, the data processing system  800  may be a network computer or an embedded processing device within another device, or other types of data processing systems which have fewer components or perhaps more components than that shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof. It will be evident that various modifications may be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative sense rather than a restrictive sense.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20081231
Publication Date: 20120626
Grant Date: 20120626
Priority Date: 20080304
Inventors: ADLER MITCHELL D.
GALLOWAY CURTIS C.
ALLIE CHRISTOPHE
SAUERWALD CONRAD
DE ATLEY DALLAS BLAKE
SIEGMUND DIETER
REDA MATTHEW
BROUWER MICHAEL LAMBERTUS HUBERTUS
YEPEZ ROBERTO G.
JIRMAN STAN
GANATRA NITIN
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H04L63/0272", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04L63/0823", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W8/18", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04L63/083", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04L63/20", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 41054150