Remotely modifying data in memory in a mobile device

• US 20090111491A1
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Published: 04/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NXP USA, Inc. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Original Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Inventors: Lemberg, Vyacheslav
• Granted Patent: US 8,290,473 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails

Abstract

Methods and corresponding systems in a mobile device for remotely modifying data stored in the mobile device include receiving a message in the mobile device. The message can be a short message service (SMS) message. The message is compared to a secret message, wherein the secret message is a hash value output by a hash function, wherein inputs to the hash function include a text string and a secret text string. The text string can be an e-mail address, and the secret text string can be a password of the mobile device. In response to the message matching the secret message, data stored in memory in the mobile device is modified to prevent unauthorized access. A secret message cancellation can be received in the mobile device to cancel a scheduled memory modification. Memory modification can include erasing data, replacing data, or encrypting data.

Claims

1. A method for remotely modifying data stored in a mobile device comprising:

receiving a message in the mobile device;

comparing the message to a secret message, wherein the secret message is a hash value output by a hash function, wherein inputs to the hash function include a text string and a secret text string; and

in response to the message matching the secret message, modifying data stored in memory in the mobile device.

2. The method for remotely modifying data according to claim 1 wherein the receiving a message in the mobile device comprises receiving a short message service (SMS) message in the mobile device.

3. The method for remotely modifying data according to claim 1 wherein the comparing the message to the secret message comprises comparing the message to a secret message that includes the hash value output by the hash function, wherein inputs to the hash function include an email address and the secret text string.

4. The method for remotely modifying data according to claim 1 wherein the comparing the message to the secret message comprises comparing the message to a secret message that includes the hash value output by the hash function, wherein inputs to the hash function include the text string and a password associated with the mobile device.

5. The method for remotely modifying data according to claim 1 wherein the modifying data stored in memory comprises erasing data stored in the memory.

6. The method for remotely modifying data according to claim 1 wherein the modifying data stored in memory comprises setting data stored in the memory to a predetermined state.

7. The method for remotely modifying data according to claim 1 wherein the modifying data stored in memory comprises encrypting data stored in the memory.

8. The method for remotely modifying data according to claim 1 further comprising sending a memory modification confirmation message from the mobile device.

9. The method for remotely modifying data according to claim 1 wherein the comparing the message to the secret message, wherein the secret message is a hash value output by the hash function, wherein inputs to the hash function include the text string and the secret text string, and further wherein the hash function is operable for preprocessing the text string and the secret text string to produce blocks, and generating the hash value from the blocks using word operations and working variables.

10. A method for remotely modifying data stored in a mobile device comprising:

receiving a first message in the mobile device;

comparing the first message to a secret message, wherein the secret message is a hash value output by a hash function, wherein inputs to the hash function include a text string and a secret text string;

in response to the first message matching the secret message, scheduling a memory modification operation for execution in response to scheduled conditions;

receiving a second message in the mobile device;

comparing the second message to a secret message cancellation;

in response to the second message matching the secret message cancellation, cancelling the memory modification operation; and

in response to the scheduled conditions being met, modifying data stored in memory in the mobile device.

11. The method for remotely modifying data according to claim 10 wherein the receiving the first message, and the receiving the second message, in the mobile device comprises receiving a first short message service (SMS) message, and receiving a second SMS message in the mobile device.

12. The method for remotely modifying data according to claim 10 wherein the comparing the first message to the secret message comprises comparing the first message to a secret message that includes the hash value output by the hash function, wherein inputs to the hash function include an email address and a password.

13. The method for remotely modifying data according to claim 10 wherein the modifying data stored in memory comprises erasing data stored in the memory.

14. The method for remotely modifying data according to claim 10 wherein the modifying data stored in memory comprises setting data stored in the memory to a predetermined state.

15. The method for remotely modifying data according to claim 10 wherein the modifying data stored in memory comprises encrypting data stored in the memory.

16. The method for remotely modifying data according to claim 10 further comprising sending a memory modification confirmation message from the mobile device in response to the scheduled conditions being met.

17. The method for remotely modifying data according to claim 10 further comprising sending a memory modification cancellation message from the mobile device in response to the cancelling of the memory modification operation.

18. The method for remotely modifying data according to claim 10 wherein the comparing the first message to the secret message, wherein the secret message is a hash value output by the hash function, wherein inputs to the hash function include the text string and the secret text string, and further wherein the hash function is operable for preprocessing the text string and the secret text string to produce blocks, and generating the hash value from the blocks using word operations and working variables.

19. A system for remotely modifying data in a mobile device comprising:

a memory;

a mobile transceiver for receiving messages;

a message processor coupled to the mobile transceiver for processing the messages;

a hash function having inputs coupled to a text string and a secret text string, and having a hash function output coupled to the message processor;

a message string identifier coupled to the message processor for comparing a message received by the mobile transceiver to a secret message output by the hash function output; and

a memory controller coupled to the memory and coupled to the message string identifier, wherein the memory controller is adapted to modify data in the memory in response to a match between the message received by the mobile transceiver and the secret message output by the hash function output.

20. The system for remotely modifying data according to claim 19 further comprising a confirmation message processor coupled to the text string and to the message processor for producing a memory modification confirmation message for sending to an address corresponding to the text string.

21. The system for remotely modifying data according to claim 19 wherein the message processor coupled to the mobile transceiver comprises a short message service (SMS) message processor coupled to a mobile transceiver for receiving SMS messages.

22. The system for remotely modifying data according to claim 19 wherein the memory controller comprises a memory controller adapted to erase data in the memory in response to the match between the message received by the mobile transceiver and the secret message.