Remote Diagnosis of Unauthorized Hardware Change

• US 20100064379A1
• Filed: 09/10/2008
• Published: 03/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Cassett, Tia Manning, Fok, Kenny
• Granted Patent: US 8,245,315 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/14 for detecting or protecting against malicious traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/082 using revocation of authorisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/12 Detection or prevention of fraud

Abstract

Aspects describe remotely diagnosing unauthorized hardware changes on a mobile device. The changes can be identified based on hardware component identification and/or based on behavior characteristics of the device. If an unauthorized change is detected, information relating to that change can be reported to a service provider. Further, actions associated with the authorized change can be automatically implemented or implemented after confirmation to proceed with the recommended action.

Claims

1. A method for diagnosing an unauthorized hardware change, comprising:

detecting a hardware change on a mobile device;

determining the hardware change is an unauthorized change; and

performing an action based on the unauthorized change.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the hardware change is an unauthorized change is a function of a component identification, a behavior characteristic, or combinations thereof.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the component identification is determined by a dynamically updatable component identification listing.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a recommended action to a service provider; and

receiving approval or rejection of the recommended action.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the action is performed based on an implementation policy that associates an action with an unauthorized change.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the implementation policy is dynamically updateable over the air.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the implementation policy is manually overridden.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the performed action comprises limiting usage of the device to emergency usage.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the performed action comprises suspending a subset of applications running on the device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the performed action comprises restricting at least one device action.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the performed action comprises suspending device applications associated with the unauthorized change.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the performed action comprises logging and reporting information associated with the unauthorized change to a service provider, a user, or both the service provider and the user.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the performed action comprises prompting a user to solve a connectivity problem during a specified amount of time.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the performed action comprises prompting the user for information associated with the unauthorized change.

15. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

a memory that retains instructions related to detecting a change on a mobile device, ascertaining the change is unauthorized, and performing an action based on the unauthorized change; and

a processor, coupled to the memory, configured to execute the instructions retained in the memory.

16. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 15, wherein determining the change is unauthorized is a function of a component identification, a behavior characteristic, or combinations thereof.

17. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 16, wherein the component identification is determined by a dynamically updatable component identification listing.

18. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 16, wherein the component identification is determined by a manually updatable component identification listing.

19. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 15, the memory further retains instructions related to reporting an action to be implemented to a service provider and receiving approval or rejection of the action to be implemented.

20. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 15, wherein the action is performed based on an implementation policy that associates an action with an unauthorized change, the implementation policy is dynamically updateable over the air.

21. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 15, wherein the performed action comprises limiting usage of the device to emergency usage.

22. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 15, wherein the performed action comprises at least one of suspending a subset of applications running on the device, restricting at least one device action, or suspending device applications associated with the unauthorized change.

23. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 15, wherein the performed action comprises logging and reporting information associated with the unauthorized change to a service provider, a user, or both the service provider and the user.

24. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 15, wherein the performed action comprises prompting a user to solve a connectivity problem during a specified amount of time or for information associated with the unauthorized change.

25. A wireless communications apparatus that detects an unauthorized change to a device, comprising:

means for identifying a change to a device;

means for establishing that the change is unauthorized; and

means for implementing an action based on the unauthorized change.

26. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 25, wherein determining the hardware change is an unauthorized change is a function of a component identification, a behavior characteristic, or combinations thereof, the component identification is determined by a dynamically updatable component identification listing

27. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 25, further comprising:

means for communicating a recommended action to a service provider; and

means for receiving approval or rejection of the recommended action.

28. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 25, wherein the action is performed based on a dynamically updateable implementation policy that corresponds an action to the unauthorized change.

29. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 25, wherein the performed action comprises at least one of limiting usage of the device to emergency usage, suspending a subset of applications running on the device, restricting at least one device action, or suspending device applications associated with the unauthorized change.

30. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 25, wherein the performed action comprises logging and reporting information associated with the unauthorized change to a service provider, a user, or both the service provider and the user.

31. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 25, wherein the performed action comprises prompting a user to solve a connectivity problem during a specified amount of time or prompting the user for information associated with the unauthorized change.