Remote Disablement of a Communication Device

• US 20090241172A1
• Filed: 03/21/2008
• Published: 09/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sennett, DeWayne Allan, Daly, Brian Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 8,375,422 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• 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: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

Systems, methods and computer readable media for remotely disabling communication devices. When a communication device is identified for disablement, a disable signal may be transmitted to the emergency communication device. If the emergency communication device receives the disable signal, the emergency communication device may authenticate the source of the disable signal. If the source of the disable signal has been authenticated, the emergency communication device may disable itself. Disablement may include physical destruction or physical alteration of hardware or software necessary for the communication device to operate. Disablement may also include being locked-out from access to or use of hardware or software necessary for the communication device to operate.

Claims

1. A method to disable a communication device, the method comprising:

identifying a communication device to be disabled;

broadcasting a disable signal;

receiving an authentication request; and

broadcasting an authentication signal.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a suicide signal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying of the communication device to be disabled is determined by detecting unauthorized network activity.

4. A method to disable a communication device, the method comprising:

receiving a disable signal;

broadcasting an authentication request;

receiving an authentication signal; and

disabling a communication device associated with the disable signal.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising broadcasting a suicide signal before disabling the communication device.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the disabling of the communication device is irreversible.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the disabling of the communication device is reversible by entering a password into the communication device.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the disabling of the communication device prevents access to any data stored on the communication device.

9. A method to disable a communication device, the method comprising:

identifying a communication device to be disabled;

broadcasting a disable signal;

receiving the disable signal;

broadcasting an authentication request;

receiving the authentication request;

broadcasting an authentication signal;

receiving the authentication signal;

determining that the authentication signal is valid;

broadcasting a suicide signal;

receiving the suicide signal; and

disabling the communication device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the disabling of the communication device is irreversible.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the identifying of the communication device to be disabled is determined by detecting unauthorized network activity.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the disabling of the communication device is reversible by entering a password into the communication device.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the disabling of the communication device prevents access to any data stored on the communication device.

14. A computer-readable storage medium comprising computer-readable instructions, said computer-readable instructions comprising instructions that:

identify a communication device to be disabled;

broadcast a disable signal;

receive an authentication request; and

broadcast an authentication signal.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, further comprising instructions that receive a suicide signal.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the identifying of the communication device to be disabled is determined by detecting unauthorized network activity.

17. A computer-readable storage medium comprising computer-readable instructions, said computer-readable instructions comprising instructions that:

receive a disable signal;

broadcast an authentication request;

receive an authentication signal; and

disable a communication device associated with the disable signal.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, further comprising instructions that broadcast a suicide signal before disabling of the communication device.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the disabling of the communication device is irreversible.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the disabling of the communication device is reversible by entering a password into the communication device.

21. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the disabling of the communication device prevents access to any data stored on the communication device.

22. A computer-readable storage medium comprising computer-readable instructions, said computer-readable instructions comprising instructions that:

identify a communication device to be disabled;

broadcast a disable signal;

receive the disable signal;

broadcast an authentication request;

receive the authentication request;

broadcast an authentication signal;

receive the authentication signal;

determine that the authentication signal is valid;

broadcast a suicide signal;

receive the suicide signal; and

disable the communication device.

23. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the disabling of the communication device is irreversible.

24. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the identifying of the communication device to be disabled is determined by detecting unauthorized network activity.

25. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the disabling of the communication device is reversible by entering a password into the communication device.

26. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the disabling of the communication device prevents access to any data stored on the communication device.

27. A system for disabling a communication device, the system comprising:

a communication device comprising instructions, wherein the communication device cannot operate without the instructions, and wherein the instructions are capable of disablement, and wherein the communication device disables the instructions in response to a disable signal; and

a remote device, wherein the remote device is capable of transmitting a disable signal to the communication device.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the remote device is capable of detecting when the communication device attempts unauthorized communication, and wherein upon detecting an unauthorized communication the remote device transmits the disable signal.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the disabling of the instructions is irreversible.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein the communication device broadcasts a suicide signal before disabling the instructions.

31. The system of claim 27, wherein the disabling of the instructions is reversible by entering a password into the communication device.

32. The system of claim 27, wherein the disabling of the instructions prevents access to any data stored on the communication device before the disablement.

33. A system for disabling a communication device, the system comprising:

a remote device, wherein the remote device is capable of transmitting a disable signal;

a communication device comprising instructions, wherein the communication device cannot operate without the instructions, and wherein the instructions are capable of disablement, and wherein when the communication device receives a disable signal from the remote device the communication device communicates with the remote device to authenticate the disable signal, and wherein after authentication of the disable signal the communication device disables the instructions.