Network-based device locking management

• US 10,171,649 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2017
• Issued: 01/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Karimli, Yasmin, Asandului, Cristian, Bylund, Kimberly Ann, Lucht, Thomas P., Ramisetty, Phani, Seward, Shelby, Silis, Arturo
• Primary Examiner(s): Gonzalez, Amancio
• Application Number:
  US15/494,305
• Publication Number:
  US 20180309868A1
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: 455411
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/44 Program or device authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/629 to features or functions of an application
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3816 Mechanical arrangements for accommodating identification devices, e.g. cards or chips; with connectors for programming identification devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724631 by limiting the access to the user interface, e.g. locking a touch-screen or a keypad
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724634 With partially locked states, e.g. when some telephonic functional locked states or applications remain accessible in the locked states

Abstract

Network-based device management is described. In an example, a server may receive, from a device, a request to change from a first, locked state to a second state. The server may access data associated with at least one of the device or an account associated with the device, and may compare the data with one or more predetermined rules. Satisfaction of the one or more predetermined rules may be necessary to effectuate a change from the first, locked state to the second state. The server may determine that the data satisfies the one or more predetermined rules and the server may send, to the device, an instruction to enable the device to change from the first, locked state to the second state. The instruction may direct an application on the device to effectuate a change to the subscriber identity module (SIM) card associated with the device.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a serving device, the serving device comprising;

a database, the database including a data entry corresponding to an account holder associated with a telecommunications service, the data entry being associated with additional data identifying one or more attributes relating to at least one of a mobile device operated by the account holder or an account of the account holder;

one or more processors;

one or more instructions executable by the one or more processors to perform operations comprising;

accessing one or more predetermined rules in a set of predetermined rules, individual ones of the predetermined rules being mapped to the mobile device and indicating when the mobile device may be unlocked;

accessing, via the database, the additional data identifying the one or more attributes;

comparing the additional data identifying the one or more attributes to the set of predetermined rules;

determining that the additional data identifying the one or more attributes satisfies at least one of the one or more predetermined rules in the set of predetermined rules; and

sending an instruction to the mobile device; and

an application executable by the mobile device, the application including one or more instructions to perform operations comprising;

receiving the instruction from the serving device;

executing the instruction to modify at least one of;

a relationship between the mobile device and a subscriber identity module (SIM) card associated with the mobile device;

or

a profile of the SIM card; and

effectuating a change from a locked state to an unlocked state.

2. The system as claim 1 recites, wherein the one or more instructions are further executable by the one or more processors to perform operations comprising receiving, from the mobile device, a request to unlock the mobile device.

3. The system as claim 2 recites, wherein the application further includes one or more instructions to present a graphical user interface via a display of the mobile device, the graphical user interface including a control, actuation of the control generating the request.

4. The system as claim 1 recites, wherein:

the instruction is associated with at least one time condition or geographical condition; and

the unlocked state comprises a temporary unlocked state such that upon occurrence of at least one of the time condition or the geographical condition, the application locks the mobile device.

5. The system as claim 1 recites, wherein executing the instruction to modify the relationship between the mobile device and the SIM card comprises modifying when the mobile device is to look for the SIM card.

6. The system as claim 1 recites, wherein executing the instruction to modify the profile of the SIM card comprises at least one of adding, removing, or modifying a group identifier associated with the profile.

7. The system as claim 1 recites, wherein the one or more attributes include at least one of:

a point of sale associated with the mobile device;

a duration of time associated with an activation of the account;

a rate plan associated with the account;

or

a payment history associated with the account.

8. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, from a device, a request to change from a first state to a second state, the first state corresponding to a locked state;

accessing data associated with at least one of the device or an account associated with the device;

comparing the data with one or more predetermined rules, individual ones of the predetermined rules being mapped to the device, satisfaction of at least one of the one or more predetermined rules being necessary to change from the first state to the second state;

determining that the data satisfies at least one of the one or more predetermined rules; and

sending, to the device, an instruction to enable the device to change from the first state to the second state, the instruction directing an application on the device to effectuate a change to a subscriber identity module (SIM) card associated with the device.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the second state corresponds to a permanently unlocked state, the permanently unlocked state enabling the device to access all previously unavailable services and previously unavailable functionalities.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the second state corresponds to a temporarily unlocked state, the temporarily unlocked state enabling the device to access all previously unavailable services and previously unavailable functionalities until an occurrence of an event.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein the event comprises at least one of:

a lapse of a predetermined period of time;

a determination that the device is outside of a predetermined geographic area;

or

a determination that the account is in default.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the instruction causes a change to a group identifier associated with the SIM card.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the instruction relieves the device from accessing the SIM card.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the data associated with at least one of the device or the account comprises at least one of:

an indication whether the device has been paid in full;

a rate plan associated with the account;

a duration of time that the account has been active;

or

a payment history associated with the account.

15. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, perform operations comprising:

receiving, from a device, a request to change from a first state to a second state;

accessing, via a database, data associated with an account associated with the device;

comparing the data with one or more predetermined rules, satisfaction of at least one of the one or more predetermined rules being necessary to change from the first state to the second state;

determining that the data satisfies at least one of the one or more predetermined rules; and

sending, to the device, an instruction to enable the device to change from the first state to the second state, the instruction directing an application on the device to effectuate a change to a subscriber identity module (SIM) card associated with the device; and

based at least in part on the device effectuating the change to the SIM card, granting an account associated with the device, access to at least one previously locked feature of a telecommunications service.

16. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media as claim 15 recites, wherein the previously locked feature comprises a particular rate plan.

17. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media as claim 15 recites, wherein the previously locked feature comprises a particular service provider.

18. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media as claim 15 recites, wherein granting the account associated with the device, access to the at least one previously locked feature of the telecommunications service comprises temporarily granting the account associated with the device, access to the at least one previously locked feature.

19. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media as claim 15 recites, wherein granting the account associated with the device, access to the at least one previously locked feature of the telecommunications service comprises permanently granting the account associated with the device, access to the at least one previously locked feature.

20. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media as claim 15 recites, wherein the change to the SIM card comprises a modification to at least one of a relationship between the device and the SIM card associated with the device or a profile of the SIM card.