System and method for remotely controlling mobile communication devices

• US 20030088633A1
• Filed: 10/28/2002
• Published: 05/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Gao, Wen, Chiu, Denny K., Godfrey, James A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,870,228 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/06 Optimizing the usage of the radio link, e.g. header compression, information sizing , discarding information system modifying transmission characteristic according to link quality by modifying frame length H04L1/0007; dynamic adaptation of the packet size for flow control or congestion control H04L47/365
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities

Abstract

A system for remotely controlling mobile communication devices includes a redirection system, a remote control system and a mobile data communication device. The redirection system detects a triggering event at a host system and in response to the triggering event continuously redirects data items from the host system to a wireless network. The mobile data communication device receives data items from the wireless network and executes a plurality of device operations. The remote control system receives control information from a user interface and transmits the control information through the redirection system to the wireless network. The control information is received and executed by the mobile data communication device to remotely control one or more of the device operations. Methods of controlling the operation of mobile data communication devices are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A system for redirecting data items from a host system to a mobile data communication device and remotely controlling the operation of the mobile data communication device, comprising

a redirection system that detects a triggering event at the host system and in response to the triggering event continuously redirects data items from the host system to a wireless network;

a mobile data communication device that receives data items from the wireless network and that executes a plurality of device operations; and

a remote control system that receives control information from a user interface and that transmits the control information through the redirection system to the wireless network, wherein the control information is received and executed by the mobile data communication device to remotely control one or more of the device operations.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote control system is a software application executing on the redirection system.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile data communication device includes a control message processing system that executes control information received by the mobile data communication device.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the mobile data communication device includes a processing device that controls the plurality of device operations and wherein the control message processing system is a software application executing on the processing device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the redirection system is a redirector software program executing on a processor.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the processor is an enterprise server.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote control system encapsulates the control information into a control message packet that is transmitted by the redirection system and received by the mobile data communication device, and wherein the mobile data communication device retrieves the control information from the control message packet.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote control system appends the control information to a control message that is transmitted by the redirection system and received by the mobile device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the control message is in the form of an electronic mail message.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the control information is encrypted by the remote control system and decrypted by the mobile data communication device.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote control system appends a digital signature to the control information and the mobile data communication device processes the digital signature to authenticate the control information.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein one of the device operations deletes data stored in the device.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein one of the device operations disables wireless communication functions in the mobile data communication device.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein one of the device operations disables user interface functions in the mobile data communication device.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the control information also causes the mobile data communication device to display a message.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the host system is an electronic mail system.

17. A method for controlling the operation of a mobile data communication device in a communication system, wherein the communication system includes a redirection system that detects a triggering event at the host system and in response to the triggering event continuously redirects data items from the host system over a wireless network to the mobile data communication device, comprising the steps of:

configuring the mobile communication device to perform a plurality of operations;

receiving an administrative command that identifies at least one operation of the mobile communication device;

generating a control message corresponding to the administrative command;

transmitting the control message through the redirection system to the wireless network;

receiving the control message with the mobile data communication device; and

in response to the control message, automatically executing the administrative command on the mobile data communication device to cause the mobile data communication device to perform the identified operation.