Methods and systems for remotely securing data in a wireless device in a communications network

• US 7,627,767 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2005
• Issued: 12/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rakuten Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Andres, Robert, Koch, Robert, Sherman, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown; Christopher J
• Application Number:
  US11/197,844
• Publication Number:
  US 20060031399A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,579 Days
• Field of Search: 713/182, 713/189, 710/263
• US Class Current: 713/189
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/082 using revocation of authorisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/126 Anti-theft arrangements, e.g. protection against subscriber identity module [SIM] cloning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/14 using intermediate storage
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for remotely securing data in a wireless device. A user sends a data message containing instructions for securing data to a remotely located wireless device. Securing data includes recovering data, purging data, locking the wireless device, and locating the wireless device within a communications network. After the data message is sent, a determination is then made as to whether the wireless device is active in the communications network. If the wireless device is active, the data message is sent to the wireless device. If the wireless device is inactive, the data message is temporarily stored in a database until the wireless device is determined to be active. An application program resident on the wireless device is executed upon receiving the data message to secure the data. The data message also includes instructions for retrieving data for identifying an owner of the wireless device.

Claims

1. A method for remotely securing data, including personal data, in a wireless device in a communications network, the method comprising:

receiving a request for securing the data in the wireless device;

generating a message including request data for communication to the wireless device;

determining a registration status of the wireless device in the communications network;

if the registration status of the wireless device is active, then sending the message to the wireless device for securing the data;

if the registration status of the wireless device is inactive, then storing the message in a pending messages database until the registration status of the wireless device is active; and

executing an application program, wherein the application program is operative for;

receiving the message;

parsing the message for the request data, the request data including identification data;

determining whether the identification data in the received message matches identification data resident in the wireless device;

if the received identification data matches the identification data resident in the wireless device, then retrieving the data in the wireless device and sending a return message by accessing a memory in the wireless device and initiating commands to make a copy of the data on the memory, the return message including the data retrieved from the wireless device;

determining whether the request data includes a request to purge the data stored in the wireless device;

if the request data includes a request to purge the data stored in the wireless device, the application program executing a delete command from a menu in the wireless device to purge the data from the wireless device based on the request data, wherein the return message further includes an acknowledgement that the data is purged from the wireless device; and

if the request data does not include a request to purge the data stored in the wireless device, the application program refraining from executing the delete command.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a registration status of the wireless device in the communications network comprises polling a registration database for an active record corresponding to the wireless device.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising periodically polling the registration database to determine when the registration status of the wireless device is active.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising retrieving an owner information file from the communications network based on the request data, the owner information file comprising identification and location information associated with an owner of the wireless device.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising executing the retrieved owner information file on the wireless device.

6. A system for remotely securing data, including personal data, in a wireless device in a communications network, the system comprising:

a node operative to receive a request for recovering the data from the wireless device, generate a message including request data for communication to the wireless device, determine a registration status of the wireless device in the communications network, and send the message to the wireless device for securing the data if the registration status of the wireless device is active;

a registration database, in communication with the node and the wireless device, operative to store data pertinent to an operating status of the wireless device; and

a pending messages database, in communication with the node, operative to store the message comprising request data for securing the data in the wireless device if the registration status of the wireless device is inactive;

wherein the wireless device is operative to execute an application program and wherein the application program is operative to receive the message from the node, parse the message for the request data, the request data including identification data, determine whether the identification data in the received message matches identification data resident in the wireless device, if the received identification data matches the identification data resident in the wireless device, then retrieve the data in the wireless device and send a return message by accessing a memory in the wireless device and initiating commands to make a copy of the data on the memory, the return message including the data retrieved from the wireless device, determine whether the request data includes a request to purge the data stored in the wireless device, if the request data includes a request to purge the data stored in the wireless device the application program executes a delete command from a menu in the wireless device to purge the data from the wireless device based on the request data, wherein the return message further includes an acknowledgement that the data is purged from the wireless device, if the request data does not include a request to purge the data stored in the wireless device the application program does not execute the delete command.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the node is operative to determine a registration status of the wireless device by periodically polling the registration database for an active registration record corresponding to the wireless device.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the registration database is a Home Location Register in a wireless communications network.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the application program is further operative to lock the wireless device based on the request data, wherein the return message further includes an acknowledgement that the wireless device is locked.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the application program is further operative to retrieve location information for the wireless device based on the request data, wherein the return message further includes the retrieved location information for the wireless device.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein the application program is further operative to retrieve an owner information file from the communications network based on the request data, the owner information file comprising identification and location information associated with an owner of the wireless device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the application program is farther operative to execute the retrieved owner information file on the wireless device.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the owner information file comprises a graphics file for displaying the identification and location information associated with the owner of the wireless device.