TEXT MESSAGE BASED MOBILE PHONE SECURITY METHOD AND DEVICE

• US 20060199598A1
• Filed: 11/30/2005
• Published: 09/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: BenQ Corporation (Qisda Corporation)
• Original Assignee: BenQ Corporation (Qisda Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Chang-Hung, Chen, Shu-Yi
• Application Number:
  US11/164,602
• Publication Number:
  US 20060199598A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

A method includes wirelessly receiving a text string at a mobile phone and parsing the text string to obtain security configuration data of the mobile phone. The method determines whether a code in the security configuration data matches a corresponding code in the mobile phone. The method further includes locking or unlocking a predetermined feature of the mobile phone when the code in the security configuration data matches the corresponding code in the mobile phone.

Claims

1. A method for effecting a security configuration of a mobile phone comprising:

wirelessly receiving a text string at a mobile phone;

parsing the text string to obtain security configuration data of the mobile phone;

determining whether a code in the security configuration data matches a corresponding code in the mobile phone; and

locking or unlocking a predetermined feature of the mobile phone when the code in the security configuration data matches the corresponding code in the mobile phone.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining that a vendor code is present in the security configuration data before determining whether a code in the security configuration data matches a corresponding code in the mobile phone.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined feature is a calling out feature, such that the locking prevents the mobile phone from calling out.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the code is a mobile phone identification number, a vendor password, or a personal identification number (PIN).

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the text string is an short message service (SMS) message.

6. A mobile phone comprising:

a housing;

a processor disposed inside the housing for controlling the mobile phone, the processor controlling a locked condition of the mobile phone according to received security configuration data, wherein the locked condition restricts access to a predetermined feature of the mobile phone;

a transmitter electrically connected to the processor for transmitting signals to a base station;

a receiver electrically connected to the processor for receiving signals from the base station;

an input device electrically connected to the processor for receiving user input;

a display device electrically connected to the processor;

a power supply for providing electrical power to the mobile phone; and

a parser controlled by the processor for parsing a text string of security configuration data received at the receiver, and outputting the parsed security configuration data to the processor.

7. The mobile phone of claim 6 wherein the parser is an electronic device disposed inside the housing and electrically connected to the processor.

8. The mobile phone of claim 6 wherein the parser is a program stored in a memory of the processor and executable by the processor.

9. The mobile phone of claim 6 wherein the predetermined feature is a calling out feature, such that the locked condition prevents the mobile phone from calling out.

10. The mobile phone of claim 6 wherein the text string is an short message service (SMS) message.

11. A mobile phone security configuration system comprising:

a computer for setting security configuration data of a mobile phone;

a server connected to the computer for receiving the security configuration data from the computer; and

a base station connected to the server for receiving the security configuration data from the server and transmitting the security configuration data to the mobile phone as a text message;

wherein the mobile phone is responsive to the security configuration data and adjusts a locked condition of the mobile phone accordingly, the locked condition restricting access to a predetermined feature of the mobile phone.

12. The mobile phone security configuration system of claim 11 further comprising a web page stored on the server and accessible by the computer, the web page comprising a user interface allowing setting of the security configuration data.

13. The mobile phone security configuration system of claim 11 wherein the text message comprises a mobile phone vendor code, a mobile phone identification number, a vendor password, and at least a personal identification number (PIN).

14. The mobile phone security configuration system of claim 11 wherein the text message is an short message service (SMS) message.

15. The mobile phone security configuration system of claim 11 wherein the mobile phone comprises a parser for parsing the text message into the security configuration data of the mobile phone.

16. The mobile phone security configuration system of claim 11 wherein the predetermined feature is a calling out feature, such that the locked condition prevents the mobile phone from calling out.