METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING MOBILE DEVICE SCANNING

• US 20120272320A1
• Filed: 04/25/2011
• Published: 10/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Rados, Steven R., Haynes, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US13/093,206
• Publication Number:
  US 20120272320A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/24
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/564 by virus signature recognition

Abstract

An approach for providing mobile device scanning is described. A file stored within a mobile device is received. A scan of the received file is initiated to determine a status relating to presence of an unauthorized code or to execution of an unauthorized activity. A notification message is generated based on the scan, wherein the notification message specifies information relating to the determined status.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a file stored within a mobile device;

initiating a scan of the received file to determine a status relating to presence of an unauthorized code or to execution of an unauthorized activity; and

generating a notification message based on the scan, wherein the notification message specifies information relating to the determined status.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the file is received over a wireless link, the method further comprising:

modifying the scanned file based on the determined status; and

determining to transmit the modified file to the mobile device to update the file.

3. A method according to claim 2, further comprising:

generating a control message for transmission to the mobile device over the wireless link, the control message instructing the mobile device to reimage based on the determined status.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the unauthorized code or the unauthorized activity relates to malware.

5. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following, receive a file stored within a mobile device,

initiate a scan of the received file to determine a status relating to presence of an unauthorized code or to execution of an unauthorized activity, and

generate a notification message based on the scan, wherein the notification message specifies information relating to the determined status.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the file is received over a wireless link, and the apparatus is further caused to:

modify the scanned file based on the determined status; and

determine to transmit the modified file to the mobile device to update the file.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

generate a control message for transmission to the mobile device over the wireless link, the control message instructing the mobile device to reimage based on the determined status.

8. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the unauthorized code or the unauthorized activity relates to malware.

9. A method comprising:

initiating a scan of a file stored within a mobile device based on an event;

determining to transmit the file to be scanned at a computing node to determine a status relating to presence of an unauthorized code or to execution of an unauthorized activity; and

receiving a notification message in response to the transmitted file, wherein the notification message specifies information relating to the determined status.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the file is transmitted over a wireless link to the computing node, the method further comprising:

receiving over the wireless link one or more repaired files associated with the transmitted file, wherein the one or more repaired files are based on the determined status; and

updating the file associated with the one or more repaired files.

11. A method according to claim 9, wherein the computing node is configured to scan files from a plurality of mobile devices including the mobile device, the computing node including a computer that is accessed via either a local link that is in near proximity to the mobile device or a wireless link over a cellular network.

12. A method according to claim 9, further comprising:

receiving a control message for reimaging the mobile device based on the determined status.

13. A method according to claim 9, wherein the unauthorized code or the unauthorized activity relates to malware.

14. A method according to claim 9, wherein the event includes detection of a low resource utilization condition.

15. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,

initiate a scan of a file stored within a mobile device based on an event;

determine to transmit the file to be scanned at a computing node to determine a status relating to presence of an unauthorized code or to execution of an unauthorized activity; and

receive a notification message in response to the transmitted file, wherein the notification message specifies information relating to the determined status.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the file is transmitted over a wireless link to the computing node and the apparatus is further caused to:

receive over the wireless link one or more repaired files associated with the transmitted file, wherein the one or more repaired files are based on the determined status; and

update the file associated with the one or more repaired files.

17. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the computing node is configured to scan files from a plurality of mobile devices including the mobile device, the computing node including a computer that is accessed via either a local link that is in near proximity to the mobile device or a wireless link over a cellular network.

18. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

receive a control message for reimaging the mobile device based on the determined status.

19. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the unauthorized code or the unauthorized activity relates to malware.

20. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the event includes detection of a low resource utilization condition.