Internal signal diversion apparatus and method for mobile communication devices

Abstract

A mobile communications device includes a display, a plurality of sources which may comprise at least one microphone and/or at least one camera, a wireless communications module, a main processor, and a secured processor inaccessible by the main processor. A housing of the device is configured for hand-held manipulation and to support the display, the sources, the communications module, the main processor, and the secured processor. A switch is actuatable by a user of the device and coupled to at least the sources, the main processor, and the secured processor. The switch is configured to divert signals produced by the sources away from the main processor when activated, and couple signals produced by the sources to the main processor when deactivated.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mobile communications device, comprising:
 a display;   a plurality of sources comprising at least one microphone and at least one camera;   a wireless communications module;   a main processor;   a secured processor inaccessible by the main processor;   a housing configured for hand-held manipulation and to support the display, the microphone, the camera, the communications module, the main processor, and the secured processor; and   a switch actuatable by a user of the device and coupled to at least the sources, the main processor, and the secured processor, the switch configured to divert signals produced by the sources away from the main processor when activated, and couple signals produced by the sources to the main processor when deactivated.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the switch is configured to:
 divert signals produced by the sources away from the main processor and to the secured processor when activated; and   couple signals produced by the sources away from the secured processor and to the main processor when deactivated.   
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the diverted signals are communicated from the secured processor to the wireless communications module for transmission to an external location. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a secured wireless communications module coupled to the secured processor;   wherein the diverted signals are communicated away from the main processor and to the secured processor, and from the secured processor to the secured wireless communications module for transmission to an external location when the switch is activated.   
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the secured processor is configured to encrypt the diverted signals, and to decrypt signals received from an external location when the switch is activated. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , comprising:
 one or more sensors;   wherein the switch is configured to:
 divert signals produced by the one or more sensors away from the main processor when activated; and 
 couple signals produced by the one or more sensors to the main processor when deactivated. 
   
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the switch is configured to:
 divert signals produced by the one or more sensors away from the main processor and to the secured processor when activated; and   couple signals produced by the one or more sensors away from the secured processor and to the main processor when deactivated.   
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , comprising a secured wireless communications module coupled to the secured processor and inaccessible by the main processor and the wireless communications module. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein device is a mobile phone, a tablet or a laptop. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is configured for use in a vehicle, and the switch is disposed on a control panel of the vehicle or on a housing of the device. 
     
     
         11 . A mobile communications device, comprising:
 a display;   a plurality of sources comprising at least one microphone and at least one camera;   a wireless communications module;   a switch matrix configured to selectively couple the sources to an unsecured transmission path within the device and to a secured transmission path within the device;   a main processor coupled to the switch matrix via the unsecured transmission path, the secured transmission path inaccessible by the main processor; and   a switch mechanism coupled to the switch matrix and activatable by a user of the device, the switch matrix configured to:
 couple the sources to the secured transmission path and decouple the sources from the unsecured transmission path in response to activation of the switch mechanism; and 
 couple the sources to the unsecured transmission path and decouple the sources from the secured transmission path in response to deactivation of the switch mechanism. 
   
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the switch matrix is configured to:
 couple the sources to terminated paths within the device and decouple the sources from the unsecured transmission path in response to activation of the switch mechanism; and   couple the sources to the unsecured transmission path and decouple the sources from the terminated paths in response to deactivation of the switch mechanism.   
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the secured transmission path comprises a secured processor inaccessible by the main processor, and the switch matrix is configured to:
 couple the sources to the secured processor and decouple the sources from the unsecured transmission path in response to activation of the switch mechanism; and   couple the sources to the unsecured transmission path and decouple the sources from the secured processor in response to deactivation of the switch mechanism.   
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the secured transmission path comprises a secured processor and a secured wireless communications module coupled to the secured processor; and   the secured transmission path is inaccessible by the main processor and the wireless communications module.   
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 11 , comprising one or more sensors, wherein the switch matrix is configured to:
 couple the one or more sensors to the secured transmission path and decouple the one or more sensors from the unsecured transmission path in response to activation of the switch mechanism; and   couple the one or more sensors to the unsecured transmission path and decouple the one or more sensors from the secured transmission path in response to deactivation of the switch mechanism.   
     
     
         16 . A mobile communications device, comprising:
 a display;   an unsecured transmission path within the device comprising:
 a plurality of unsecured sources including at least one microphone and at least one camera; 
 a main processor coupled to the unsecured sources; and 
 an unsecured wireless communications module coupled to the main processor; 
   a secured transmission path within the device inaccessible by the main processor and comprising:
 a plurality of secured sources including at least one microphone and at least one camera; 
 a secured processor coupled to the secured sources; and 
 a secured wireless communications module coupled to the secured processor; and 
   a switch actuatable by a user of the device and coupled to the unsecured transmission path and the secured transmission path, the switch configured to:
 when activated, enable the secured transmission path for operation and disable the unsecured transmission path for operation; and 
 when deactivated, enable the unsecured transmission path for operation and disable the secured transmission path for operation. 
   
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , comprising a plurality of sensors, wherein:
 the unsecured transmission path comprising one or more of the sensors; and   the switch, when activated, is configured to disable the one or more sensors of the unsecured transmission path.