System and method for wireless data terminal management using telecommunication signaling network

• US 7,343,408 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2001
• Issued: 03/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mformation Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Kushwaha, Rakesh, Nath, Badri
• Primary Examiner(s): Cardone; Jason
• Assistant Examiner(s): MIRZA, ADNAN M
• Application Number:
  US10/022,902
• Publication Number:
  US 20020069259A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,273 Days
• Field of Search: 710/10, 709/224, 709/223, 370/329
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/046 comprising network management agents or mobile agents therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0869 Validating the configuration within one network element
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

A method, system, and computer program product that provides the capability to manage, control, and reconfirm wireless devices remotely over a wireless network with acceptable reliability and security. A method for remotely managing a wireless device over a telecommunications network comprising a server and the wireless device, the method comprises the steps of establishing a communicative connection between the server and the wireless device over a signaling channel of the telecommunications network, transmitting a command from the server to the wireless device over the signaling network, and executing the command at the wireless device.

Claims

1. A method for remotely managing a wireless device over a telecommunications network comprising a server and the wireless device, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing from the server to the wireless device a communicative connection between the server and the wireless device over a signaling channel of the telecommunications network, wherein the communicative connection is established based on a threshold condition;

transmitting a command from the server to the wireless device over the signaling network, wherein the wireless device executes commands including;

enabling access to user-specific data used by application software on the wireless device requiring user interaction locally on the wireless device, enabling the application software, erasing at least a portion of the user-specific data, transmitting new application software and new user-specific data to the wireless device, querying a current state of the wireless device, and reconfiguring the application software,

disabling access to user-specific data used by application software on the wireless device requiring user interaction locally on the wireless device, and

disabling the application software;

executing the command at the wireless device after verifying at the wireless device that a signature sent by the server that is an origin of the command and signature of the device are in agreement; and

transmitting information relating to execution of the command at the wireless device from the wireless device to the server.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the signaling channel of the telecommunications network comprises a Common Channel Signaling System 7 channel.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the signaling channel of the telecommunications network comprises a Short Message Service.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the transmitting step comprises the step of:

transmitting the command to a management agent process executing on the wireless device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the transmitting step comprises the step of:

transmitting the command to a management agent process executing on the wireless device in a Short Message Service message.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the transmitting step comprises the step of:

transmitting the command to a management agent process executing on the wireless device.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of:

transmitting information relating to execution of the command at the wireless device from the wireless device to the server.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the information relating to execution of the command is transmitted periodically.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the information relating to execution of the command is transmitted based on a threshold condition of the wireless device.

10. The method of claim 3, wherein the transmitting step comprises the step of:

transmitting registration information relating to the wireless device from the wireless device to the server;

verifying the registration information at the server;

establishing a DCB for the wireless device at the server;

placing a command for the wireless device in the DCB; and

delivering the command from the DCB to the wireless device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the delivering step comprises the steps of:

establishing a connection between the wireless device and the server;

transmitting a request for contents of the DCB from the wireless device to the server; and

transmitting the contents of the DCB from the server to the wireless device.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the delivering step comprises the steps of:

establishing a connection between the wireless device and the server;

transmitting the contents of the DCB from the server to the wireless device without a request from the wireless device; and

accepting the contents of the DCB at the wireless device.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of:

transmitting information relating to execution of the command at the wireless device from the wireless device to the server.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the information relating to execution of the command is transmitted periodically.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the information relating to execution of the command is transmitted based on a threshold condition of the wireless device.

16. A system for remotely managing a wireless device over a wireless network, the system comprising:

a processor operable to execute computer program instructions; and

a memory operable to store computer program instructions executable by the processor, for performing the steps of;

establishing from the server to the wireless device a communicative connection between the server and the wireless device over a signaling channel of the telecommunications network, wherein the communicative connection is established based on a threshold condition;

transmitting a command from the server to the wireless device over the signaling network, wherein the wireless device executes commands including;

enabling access to user-specific data used by application software on the wireless device requiring user interaction locally on the wireless device, enabling the application software, erasing at least a portion of the user-specific data, transmitting new application software and new user-specific data to the wireless device, querying a current state of the wireless device, and reconfirming the application software,

disabling access to user-specific data used by application software on the wireless device requiring user interaction locally on the wireless device, and

disabling the application software;

executing the command at the wireless device after verifying at the wireless device that a signature sent by the server that is an origin of the command and signature of the device are in agreement; and

transmitting information relating to execution of the command at the wireless device from the wireless device to the server.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the signaling channel of the telecommunications network comprises a Common Channel Signaling System 7 channel.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the signaling channel of the telecommunications network comprises a Short Message Service.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the transmitting step comprises the step of:

transmitting the command to a management agent process executing on the wireless device.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the transmitting step comprises the step of:

transmitting the command to a management agent process executing on the wireless device in a Short Message Service message.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the transmitting step comprises the step of:

transmitting the command to a management agent process executing on the wireless device.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising the step of:

transmitting information relating to execution of the command at the wireless device from the wireless device to the server.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the information relating to execution of the command is transmitted periodically.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the information relating to execution of the command is transmitted based on a threshold condition of the wireless device.

25. The system of claim 18, wherein the transmitting step comprises the step of:

receiving registration information from the wireless device;

verifying the received registration information;

placing a command for the wireless device in a DCB; and

delivering the command to the wireless device.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the delivering step comprises the steps of:

establishing a connection with the wireless device;

receiving a request for contents of the DCB from the wireless device; and

transmitting the contents of the DCB to the wireless device.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the delivering step comprises the steps of:

establishing a connection with the wireless device; and

transmitting the contents of the DCB to the wireless device without a request from the wireless device.

28. The system of claim 25, further comprising the step of:

receiving information relating to execution of the command at the wireless device from the wireless device.

29. A computer program product for remotely managing a wireless device over a wireless network, comprising:

a computer readable medium;

computer program instructions, recorded on the computer readable medium, executable by a processor, for performing the steps of

establishing from the server to the wireless device a communicative connection between the server and the wireless device over a signaling channel of the telecommunications network, wherein the communicative connection is established based on a threshold condition;

transmitting a command from the server to the wireless device over the signaling network, wherein the wireless device executes commands including;

enabling access to user-specific data used by application software on the wireless device requiring user interaction locally on the wireless device, enabling the application software, erasing at least a portion of the user-specific data, transmitting new application software and new user-specific data to the wireless device, querying a current state of the wireless device, and reconfirming the application software,

disabling access to user-specific data used by application software on the wireless device requiring user interaction locally on the wireless device, and

disabling the application software;

executing the command at the wireless device after verifying at the wireless device that a signature sent by the server that is an origin of the command and signature of the device are in agreement; and

transmitting information relating to execution of the command at the wireless device from the wireless device to the server.

30. The computer program product of claim 29, wherein the signaling channel of the telecommunications network comprises a Common Channel Signaling System 7 channel.

31. The computer program product of claim 30, wherein the signaling channel of the telecommunications network comprises a Short Message Service.

32. The computer program product of claim 31, wherein the transmitting step comprises the step of:

transmitting the command to a management agent process executing on the wireless device.

33. The computer program product of claim 32, wherein the transmitting step comprises the step of:

transmitting the command to a management agent process executing on the wireless device in a Short Message Service message.

34. The computer program product of claim 31, wherein the transmitting step comprises the step of:

transmitting the command to a management agent process executing on the wireless device.

35. The computer program product of claim 34, further comprising the step of:

transmitting information relating to execution of the command at the wireless device from the wireless device to the server.

36. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein the information relating to execution of the command is transmitted periodically.

37. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein the information relating to execution of the command is transmitted based on a threshold condition of the wireless device.

38. The computer program product of claim 31, wherein the transmitting step comprises the step of:

receiving registration information from the wireless device;

verifying the received registration information;

placing a command for the wireless device in a DCB; and

delivering the command to the wireless device.

39. The computer program product of claim 38, wherein the delivering step comprises the steps of:

establishing a connection with the wireless device;

receiving a request for contents of the DCB from the wireless device; and

transmitting the contents of the DCB to the wireless device.

40. The computer program product of claim 38, wherein the delivering step comprises the steps of:

establishing a connection with the wireless device; and

transmitting the contents of the DCB to the wireless device without a request from the wireless device.

41. The computer program product of claim 38, further comprising the step of:

receiving information relating to execution of the command at the wireless device from the wireless device.