Network Traffic Control via SMS Text Messaging

• US 20140256366A1
• Filed: 06/03/2013
• Published: 09/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Barracuda Networks Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Barracuda Networks Incorporated
• Inventors: Gheri, Klaus M.
• Application Number:
  US13/907,817
• Publication Number:
  US 20140256366A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/04 Arrangements for maintaining operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]

Abstract

A wireless device is communicatively coupled via SMS text protocol to a network control device by a data modem. Authentication of the operator enables a limited number of fixed operations such as status reports, initializing a new network connection, and modifications to a routing table to be carried out.

Claims

1. A system comprising

a wireless mobile device coupled to a 3G/GSM/4G/LTE communications network, communicatively coupled to

a data modem;

the data modem coupled to

a processor of a network control device; and

computer-readable storage encoded with instructions which when executed by the processor cause to authenticate the operator of the wireless mobile device and execute a limited number of fixed operations.

2. A method for operation of a network control circuit communicatively coupled to a Short Message Service interface, the method comprising:

receiving and authenticating an SMS message from a wireless device requesting a token code;

generating and storing a first token code for the requesting wireless device which token code shall be valid for a range of time;

transmitting said generated token code to said requesting wireless device;

receiving an SMS message from the wireless device comprising an authenticated command;

verifying the authenticated command with the stored token code and the IMEI and MAC addresses stored for the wireless device; and

upon a condition of successful verification, initiating a sequence of processes.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the sequence of processes comprises:

opening a reverse SSL tunnel with a service center server.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the sequence of processes comprises:

modifying a routing table.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the sequence of processes comprises:

initiating a restoration of system files and configuration from a known good non-transitory recovery store.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein the authenticated command is verified by

hashing the MAC address of the wireless device with a command code selected by the user input.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein the authenticated command is verified by

concatenating the token code generated by the network control, circuit with the MAC address of the wireless device with a command code selected by the user input.

8. The method of claim 2 wherein the authenticated command is verified by

hashing the token code generated by the network control, circuit with the MAC address of the wireless device with a command code selected by the user input.

11. A method for operation of a wireless mobile device having a Short Message System Application (SMS App) and a Command Authentication Application (CA App), the method comprising:

receiving selection of an SMS destination and request for token code from user input;

transmitting the request for token code to a first SMS destination by operating the SMS App;

receiving a token code generated by a network control circuit by operating the SMS App; and

generating an authenticated command by operating the CA App; and

transmitting the authenticated command to a second SMS destination by operating the SMS App, whereby the network control circuit initiates a sequence of processes.

9. The method of claim 11 wherein the token code is a binary SMS message.

10. The method of claim 11 wherein the authenticated command is a binary SMS message.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the sequence of processes comprises:

opening a reverse SSL tunnel with a service center server.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the sequence of processes comprises:

modifying a routing table.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the sequence of processes comprises:

initiating a restoration of system files and configuration from a known good non-transitory recovery store.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the authenticated command is generated by

hashing the MAC address of the wireless device with a command code selected by the user input.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the authenticated command is generated by

concatenating the token code generated by the network control circuit with the MAC address of the wireless device with a command code selected by the user input.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the authenticated command is generated by

hashing the token code generated by the network control circuit with the MAC address of the wireless device with a command code selected by the user input.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein the token code is a binary SMS message.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein the authenticated command is a binary SMS message.

20. The method of claim 11 further comprising

receiving a user input password to request a token code;

and

receiving a user input password to generate an authenticated command.