SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REMOTELY CONTROLLING MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICES

• US 20130346579A1
• Filed: 08/23/2013
• Published: 12/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Godfrey, James A., Gao, Wen, Chiu, Denny K.
• Granted Patent: US 9,307,443 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/06 Optimizing the usage of the radio link, e.g. header compression, information sizing , discarding information system modifying transmission characteristic according to link quality by modifying frame length H04L1/0007; dynamic adaptation of the packet size for flow control or congestion control H04L47/365
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities

Abstract

A system for remotely controlling mobile communication devices includes a redirection system, a remote control system and a mobile data communication device. The redirection system detects a triggering event at a host system and in response to the triggering event continuously redirects data items from the host system to a wireless network. The mobile data communication device receives data items from the wireless network and executes a plurality of device operations. The remote control system receives control information from a user interface and transmits the control information through the redirection system to the wireless network. The control information is received and executed by the mobile data communication device to remotely control one or more of the device operations. Methods of controlling the operation of mobile data communication devices are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method, performed by a server, for controlling one or more control operations on a plurality of mobile communication devices, the method comprising:

selecting a control operation from a plurality of the control operations;

selecting a group of mobile communication devices from a plurality of mobile communication devices;

generating, in response to selection of the control operation and selection of the group, a control message that is configured to inform the mobile communication devices of the group to execute the control operation; and

sending the control message over a wireless network to each mobile communication device of the group.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein, for each mobile communication device of the group, the control operation is configured to disable at least one functionality on the mobile communication device.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the control operation is configured to disable all functionality on the mobile communication device.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein, for each mobile communication device of the group, if no password was set for the mobile communication device, then the control operation requires a password to be set on the mobile communication device.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the control operation is configured to delete data stored on each mobile communication device of the group.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the server is part of a redirection system.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

adding a new control operation to the plurality of the control operations.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

recording, by the server, for each mobile communication device in the group, whether the control message has been executed by the mobile communication device.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

maintaining, by the server, for each mobile communication device of the plurality of mobile communication devices, a list of control operations that have been sent to the mobile communication device.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

sending the control message during non-peak traffic hours.

11. An electronic device for controlling one or more control operations on a plurality of mobile communication devices, said device comprising a processor configured to:

in response to selection of a control operation and selection of a group of mobile communication devices, generating a control message that is configured to inform the mobile communication devices of the group to execute the control operation; and

sending the control message over a wireless network to each mobile communication device of the group.

12. An electronic device of claim 11, wherein, for each mobile communication device of the group, the control operation is configured to disable at least one functionality on the mobile communication device.

13. An electronic device of claim 12, wherein the control operation is configured to disable all functionality on the mobile communication device.

14. An electronic device of claim 11, wherein, for each mobile communication device of the group, if no password was set for the device, then the control operation requires a password to be set on the mobile communication device

15. An electronic device of claim 11, wherein the control operation is configured to delete data stored on each mobile communication device of the group.

16. An electronic device of claim 11, wherein the electronic device is part of a redirection system.

17. An electronic device of claim 11, wherein the one or more processors being further configured to recording, for each mobile communication device in the group, whether the control message has been executed by the mobile communication device.

18. An electronic device of claim 11, wherein the one or more processors being further configured to maintaining, for each mobile communication device of the plurality of mobile communication devices, a list of control operations that have been sent to the mobile communication device.

19. An electronic device of claim 11, wherein the one or more processors being further configured to sending the control messages during non-peak traffic hours.