Method for Disabling a Mobile Device

• US 20080293397A1
• Filed: 05/11/2006
• Published: 11/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kretz, Martin, Gajdos, Tom
• Application Number:
  US11/914,157
• Publication Number:
  US 20080293397A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/420
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/082 using revocation of authorisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/126 Anti-theft arrangements, e.g. protection against subscriber identity module [SIM] cloning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

Methods for disabling a mobile device (1) having communication capabilities. A message comprising disabling data for disabling at least one functionality of the mobile device (1) is transmitted from a control center (2) to the mobile device (1). The disabling data comprises data for altering program instructions for at least one functionality of the mobile device (1), thereby disabling said functionality. A mobile device (1) and a control center (20) are configured for implementing the methods.

Claims

1. A method for disabling at least one functionality of a mobile device (1) having communication capabilities and program instructions for said functionality, comprising:

receiving a message from a remote communication device (20) by means of the mobile device (1), said message including disabling data for disabling said at least one functionality;

characterized by

altering at least a portion of said program instructions for said at least one functionality based on said disabling data and thereby disabling said functionality, whereby the disabling data includes data for altering said program instructions for said at least one functionality.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising receiving the message according to a protocol for updating program instructions.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the disabling data is associated with at least a portion of the program instructions for said at least one functionality, the method comprising updating said portion with said disabling data.

4. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the disabling data comprises delete instructions for deleting at least a portion of the program instructions, the method comprising deleting said portion in response to executing said delete instructions.

5. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the disabling data includes program instructions for a functionality, and the step of altering comprises replacing at least a portion of said program instructions with the program instructions included in the disabling data.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the program instructions of the disabling data are instructions for a tracking functionality, and the method comprises generating a geographical position of the mobile device (1) and transmitting said geographical position to a remote device in response to running said program instructions for said tracking functionality.

7. The method according to any of the previous claims, wherein the disabling data comprises an identity tag, the method comprising storing the identity tag in a memory (130).

8. The method according to claim 7, comprising reading the identity tag in response to an attempt to restore a previously disabled functionality.

30. A computer program product comprising computer program code means for executing the method according to any of claims 1 to 8, when said computer program code means are run by an electronic device having computer capabilities.

9. A mobile device (1) comprising,

a memory (130) having program instructions for at least one functionality,

a receiver (100) for receiving a message from a remote communication device (20), the message comprising disabling data for disabling said at least one functionality;

characterized by

an updating unit (120) for updating at least a portion of the program instructions based on the disabling data and thereby disabling said functionality, whereby the disabling data comprises data for altering the program instructions.

10. The mobile device according to claim 9, wherein the receiver comprises means for receiving, during operation, the message according to a protocol for updating program instructions.

11. The mobile device according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the disabling data is associated with at least a portion of the program instructions for said at least one functionality.

12. The mobile device according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the disabling data includes instructions to delete at least a portion of the stored program instructions.

13. The mobile device according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the disabling data includes program instructions for a functionality, and the updating unit (120) is configured to replace at least a portion of the program instructions for said at least one functionality with the program instructions of the disabling data.

14. The mobile device according to claim 13, wherein the program instructions of the disabling data are program instructions for a tracking functionality, and the mobile device comprises a position determination unit (140) for determining the geographical position of the mobile device (1).

15. The mobile device according to any of claims 9 to 14, wherein the disabling data includes an identity tag.

16. The mobile device according to claim 15, comprising a processor (110) for reading the identity tag in response to an attempt to restore a disabled functionality.

17. The mobile device according to any of claims 9 to 16, wherein the mobile device is a portable mobile radio communication equipment, a mobile radio terminal, a mobile telephone (1), a pager, a communicator, an electronic organizer, a smartphone, a vehicle, a rail vehicle, an aircraft or a boat.

18. A method for remotely disabling at least one functionality of a mobile device (1) having communication capabilities and program instructions for said functionality, comprising

generating a message comprising disabling data for disabling at least one functionality of the mobile device (1);

characterized by

transmitting the message to the mobile device from a control center (20), whereby the disabling data comprises data for disabling at least a portion of the program instructions.

19. The method according to claim 18, comprising transmitting the message according to a protocol for updating program instructions.

20. The method according to claim 18 or 19, comprising incorporating disabling data including program instructions for deleting at least a portion of the program instructions into the message.

21. The method according to claim 18 or 19, comprising incorporating disabling data including data for replacing at least a portion of the program instructions for said at least one functionality into the message.

22. The method according to claim 18 or 19, wherein the disabling data includes program instructions to replace at least a portion of the program instructions for said at least one functionality.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the disabling data includes program instructions for a tracking functionality.

31. A computer program product comprising computer program code means for executing the method according to any of claims 18 to 23, when said computer program code means are run by an electronic device having computer capabilities.

24. A control device (20) for remotely disabling at least one functionality of a mobile device (1) having communication capabilities and program instructions for said functionality, comprising

a controller (180) for generating a message including disabling data for disabling at least one functionality of the mobile device (1);

and

characterized by

a communication unit (160) for transmitting the message to the mobile device (1), whereby the disabling data includes data for disabling at least a portion of the program instructions; and

the controller (180) comprises means for, during operation, incorporating the disabling data into the message.

25. The control device according to claim 24, wherein the communication unit (160) is configured to transmit the message according to a protocol for updating program instructions.

26. The control device according to claim 24 or 25, wherein the disabling data includes program instructions for deleting at least a portion of the program instructions for said at least one functionality.

27. The control device according to claim 24 or 25, wherein the disabling data includes data for replacing at least a portion of the program instructions for said at least one functionality.

28. The control device according to claim 24 or 25, wherein the disabling data includes program instructions to replace at least a portion of the program instructions for said at least one functionality.

29. The control device according to claim 28, wherein the disabling data includes program instructions for a tracking functionality.