Mobile communication device monitoring systems and methods

• US 7,996,005 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2007
• Issued: 08/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: eAgency, Inc.
• Original Assignee: eAgency, Inc.
• Inventors: Allard, Timothy S., Lotter, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Afshar; Kamran
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, MONG-THUY THI
• Application Number:
  US11/695,500
• Publication Number:
  US 20080172746A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,590 Days
• Field of Search: 455/410, 455/411, 455/414.1, 455/414.2, 455/418, 455/419, 455/428, 455/432.3, 455/445, 455/560, 455/567, 455/405, 455/407, 455/408, 713168-170, 348 1401- 1405, 726/26
• US Class Current: 455/432.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/552 involving long-term monitoring or reporting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2151 Time stamp
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1416 Event detection, e.g. attack signature detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/66 with means for preventing unauthorised or fraudulent calling verifying user identity or authority in secret or secure digital communications H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/60 logging of communication history, e.g. outgoing or incoming calls, missed calls, messages or URLs logging of telephone numbers H04M1/56, H04M1/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

Systems and methods are directed to monitoring the communications to and from a mobile communication device in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. For example in accordance with an embodiment, each of the data services on a mobile communication device may be monitored against rules stored in a central data center repository. The data services may include all forms of communications between the mobile communication device and a third party along with changes to application or data within the mobile communication device. An alert may be provided to an administrator when unauthorized data service activity and/or a message may be sent to the mobile communication device to prevent the unauthorized data service activity.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a memory configured to store programs and database information;

a processor, coupled to the memory, configured to access the database information and run the programs;

a communication gateway, coupled to the processor and the memory, configured to receive information, including contextual information, on data service uses from a mobile, wireless, communication device, being monitored by the system, configured to;

monitor each data service use;

compile the information associated with each data service use; and

provide the information associated with each data service use to be received by the communication gateway;

wherein the data service uses, for data services associated with the mobile, wireless, communication device, comprise;

inbound and outbound communications of the mobile, wireless, communication device; and

any addition, modification, and/or deletion within the mobile, wireless, communication device to application data, wherein the information associated with the data service uses comprise message information for a message application data service use, including at least one of associated originating or destination email address, username, or telephone number along with contextual data;

wherein the database information comprises;

an activity log database configured to store an entry for each data service use based on the information, including contextual information, received from the mobile, wireless, communication device; and

a permissions database configured to store rules as to whether each data service use is allowed for the mobile, wireless, communication device; and

wherein the programs comprise;

an alert monitor program configured to compare the entry for each data service use stored in the activity log database to the associated rule stored in the permissions database and to provide an alert if the data service use of the mobile, wireless, communication device is not allowed.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory, the processor, and the communication gateway form a data center for monitoring the data service uses;

wherein the system further comprises the mobile, wireless, communication device, wherein the mobile, wireless, communication device includes a data monitor program configured to perform the monitoring of each data service use and the compiling of the information associated with each data service use;

wherein the data service uses further comprise any addition, modification, and/or deletion within the mobile, wireless, communication device of an application; and

wherein the information comprises;

telephone call information for a phone application data service use, including associated originating or destination telephone number and contextual data; and

changes to application data information for at least one of an address book or a calendar along with contextual data.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the data services associated with the mobile, wireless, communication device comprise a phone application and a short message service text application;

wherein the alert monitor program is configured to analyze the contextual information along with an associated telephone number, email address, or username to determine if the data service use for the mobile, wireless, communication device is not allowed; and

wherein the information includes identification of the mobile, wireless, communication device along with a date and time associated with the data service use.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the data services associated with the mobile, wireless, communication device further comprise an email application, an address book application, a calendar application, a tasks application, an instant messaging application, and a multimedia application, and wherein the contextual information includes any combination of text, message content, files, pictures, and audio information associated with the data service uses.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the database information further comprises:

an address book database configured to store address book information of the mobile, wireless, communication device;

a calendar database configured to store calendar information of the mobile, wireless, communication device; and

wherein the alert monitor program determines whether the data service use is allowed based at least in part on whether an identity that is in communication with the mobile, wireless, communication device and associated with the data service use is found in the address book database.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the database information further comprises a task database configured to store task information of the mobile, wireless, communication device, and wherein the information includes Internet access information, and new application installation information.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile, wireless, communication device comprises a cell phone, a personal digital assistant, or a Smartphone, and wherein the data services associated with the mobile, wireless communication device comprises a location determination application.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the programs further comprise a data gateway program tool configured to route the information on the data service use received from the mobile, wireless, communication device being monitored to the memory and to route the alert from the alert monitor program to a designated external device.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the system monitors communications to and from the mobile, wireless, communication device by monitoring the information on the data service uses to detect unauthorized activity, and wherein the system further provides web-based access to the database information for an administrator to review the information on the data service uses of the mobile, wireless, communication device and modify the corresponding rules.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the information on the data service uses comprises inbound and outbound telephone voice information, inbound and outbound short message service text information, and changes to the application data within the mobile, wireless communication device, and wherein the alert monitor program is configured to analyze the contextual information to determine if the data service use for the mobile, wireless, communication device is not allowed, with the contextual information comprising any combination of text, files, pictures, and audio information associated with the data service uses.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the information on the data service uses further comprises a change to an address book, a change to a calendar, a change to a task, inbound and outbound email information, and inbound and outbound instant messaging information, and further includes inbound and outbound multimedia information, a web browser request, and/or an application installation.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the alert is provided to the mobile, wireless, communication device to prevent the data service use that is not allowed based on the rules stored in the permissions database.

13. A mobile communications device comprising:

a memory configured to store programs and data;

a processor, coupled to the memory, configured to run the programs stored in the memory;

a communications port configured to wirelessly communicate with a data center; and

wherein the programs comprise a data monitor program configured to;

monitor data service uses of the mobile communications device;

compile information, including contextual information, of the data service uses; and

transmit the information to the data center via the communications port;

wherein the data service uses, for data services associated with the mobile communication device, comprise;

inbound and outbound communications of the mobile communication device;

any additions, modifications, and/or deletions within the mobile communication device of applications; and

any additions, modifications, and/or deletions within the mobile communication device to application data.

14. The mobile communications device of claim 13, wherein the data services comprise a phone application and/or a short message service text application, wherein the information comprises:

telephone call information for the phone application data service use, including associated originating or destination telephone number and contextual data;

messages information for the short message service text application data service use, including associated telephone number along with contextual data; and

wherein the contextual information comprises any combination of text, files, pictures, and audio information associated with the data service uses.

15. The mobile communications device of claim 14, wherein the data services further comprise an email application, an instant messaging application, an address book application, and a calendar application, and further comprise a tasks application, a web browser application, an installation application, and/or a multimedia application;

and

wherein the information comprises;

email information for the email application data service use, including email address, date/time stamp, and contextual data;

instant messaging information for the instant messaging application data service use, including username, date/time stamp, and contextual data;

address book information for the address book application data service use, including date/time stamp and contextual data associated with the address book addition, modification, and/or deletion;

calendar information for the calendar application data service use, including date/time stamp and contextual data associated with the calendar addition, modification, and/or deletion;

task information for the task application data service use, including date/time stamp and contextual data associated with the task addition, modification, and/or deletion;

web browser information for the web browser application data service use, including date/time stamp, uniform resource locator, and contextual data;

installation application information for the installation application data service use, including date/time stamp and contextual data associated with the installation application addition, modification, and/or deletion; and

multimedia application information for the multimedia application data service use, including date/time stamp and contextual data associated with the multimedia application addition, modification, and/or deletion.

16. The mobile communications device of claim 13, wherein the mobile communication device comprises a cell phone, a personal digital assistant, or a Smartphone, and wherein the data services for the mobile, wireless communication device comprise a location determination application.

17. The mobile communications device of claim 13, wherein the data monitor program is further configured to prevent an unauthorized data service use based on information received from the data center via the communications port.

18. A method of monitoring a mobile communication device configured to monitor each data service use, compile information, including corresponding contextual information associated with each data service use, and provide the information associated with each data service use to a remote data center, the method comprising:

storing rules associated with the data service uses for the mobile communication device at the remote data center, wherein the data service uses, for data services associated with the mobile communication device, comprise;

inbound and outbound communications of the mobile communication device;

any additions, modifications, and/or deletions within the mobile communication device to applications; and

any additions, modifications, and/or deletions within the mobile communication device to application data;

receiving the information, including the corresponding contextual information, for one of the data service uses from the mobile communication device;

storing the information for the data service use;

checking the data service use based on the information to the corresponding rule associated with the data service use; and

providing an alert if the data service use is unauthorized based on the corresponding rule.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising providing the alert to the mobile communication device to prevent the data service use that is unauthorized, wherein the contextual information includes any combination of text, message content, files, pictures, and audio information associated with the data service uses, and wherein the checking is based at least in part on whether an identity that is in communication with the mobile communication device and associated with the data service use is an authorized entry within an address book associated with the mobile communication device.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising providing the alert to an administrator to notify of the data service use that is unauthorized, wherein the checking analyzes the information, including the contextual information, to determine if the data service use for the mobile communication device is unauthorized.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the data service uses comprise a phone application use, a short message service text application use, and an email application use, wherein the checking is based at least in part on whether an identity that is in communication with the mobile communication device and associated with the data service use is an authorized entry within an address book associated with the mobile communication device, and wherein the information comprises:

telephone call information for a phone application data service use, including associated originating or destination telephone number and contextual data; and

messages information for a message application data service use, including at least one of associated originating or destination email address, username, or telephone number along with contextual data.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the data service uses comprise an instant messaging application use, an address book application use, a calendar application use, and a tasks application use, and further comprise an installation application use, a web browser application use, and/or a multimedia application use, and wherein the information comprises:

changes to application data information for at least one of an address book or a calendar along with contextual data;

instant messaging information for the instant messaging application data service use, including username, date/time stamp, and contextual data;

task information for the task application data service use, including date/time stamp and contextual data associated with the task addition, modification, and/or deletion;

web browser information for the web browser application data service use, including date/time stamp, uniform resource locator, and contextual data;

installation application information for the installation application data service use, including date/time stamp and contextual data associated with the installation application addition, modification, and/or deletion; and

multimedia application information for the multimedia application data service use, including date/time stamp and contextual data associated with the multimedia application addition, modification, and/or deletion.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the mobile communication device comprises a cell phone, a personal digital assistant, or a Smartphone, wherein the data service use for the mobile, wireless communication device comprises a location determination application, and wherein the information includes identification of the mobile communication device along with a date and time associated with the data service use.

24. The method of claim 18, further comprising providing for an administrator web-based access to the rules and the data service uses stored and permitting the administrator to modify the rules, and wherein the contextual information includes any combination of text, message information, files, pictures, and audio information associated with the data service uses.

25. A method of monitoring a mobile communication device, the method comprising:

monitoring data service uses of the mobile communication device, wherein the data service uses, for data services associated with the mobile communication device, comprise;

inbound and outbound communications of the mobile communication device; and

any additions, modifications, and/or deletions within the mobile communication device to application data;

detecting an initiation of one of the data services;

capturing information, including any contextual information, associated with the data service use based on the detecting, wherein the information associated with the data service uses comprise message information for a message application data service use, including at least one of associated originating or destination email address, username, or telephone number along with contextual data, wherein the data services comprise a phone application and/or a short message service text application, and wherein the contextual information comprises any combination of text, files, pictures, and audio information associated with the data service uses;

compiling the information based on the capturing; and

transmitting the information of the data service use to a data center to store the information.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the information comprises telephone call information for a phone application data service use, including associated originating or destination telephone number and contextual data.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the data service uses further comprise any addition, modification, and/or deletion within the mobile, wireless, communication device of an application, wherein the data services further comprise an email application, an instant messaging application, an address book application, and a calendar application, and further comprise a tasks application, a web browser application, an installation application, and/or a multimedia application, and wherein the information comprises:

email information for the email application data service use, including email address, date/time stamp, and contextual data;

instant messaging information for the instant messaging application data service use, including username, date/time stamp, and contextual data;

address book information for the address book application data service use, including date/time stamp and contextual data associated with the address book addition, modification, and/or deletion;

calendar information for the calendar application data service use, including date/time stamp and contextual data associated with the calendar addition, modification, and/or deletion;

task information for the task application data service use, including date/time stamp and contextual data associated with the task addition, modification, and/or deletion;

web browser information for the web browser application data service use, including date/time stamp, uniform resource locator, and contextual data;

installation application information for the installation application data service use, including date/time stamp and contextual data associated with the installation application addition, modification, and/or deletion; and

multimedia application information for the multimedia application data service use, including date/time stamp and contextual data associated with the multimedia application addition, modification, and/or deletion.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the mobile communication device comprises a cell phone, a personal digital assistant, or a Smartphone, and wherein the data service use for the mobile, wireless communication device comprises a location determination application use.

29. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

receiving from the data center authorization information regarding the data service use; and

preventing the data service use if the authorization information indicates that the data service use is unauthorized.

30. A computer-readable medium on which is stored a non-transitory computer program for performing a method of monitoring a mobile communication device configured to monitor each data service use, compile information, including corresponding contextual information associated with each data service use, and provide the information associated with each data service use to a remote data center, the method comprising:

storing rules associated with the data service uses for the mobile communication device at the remote data center, wherein the data service uses, for data services associated with the mobile communication device, comprise;

inbound and outbound communications of the mobile communication device;

any additions, modifications, and/or deletions within the mobile communication device to applications; and

any additions, modifications, and/or deletions within the mobile communication device to application data;

receiving the information, including the corresponding contextual information, for one of the data service uses from the mobile communication device, wherein the information comprises messages information for a message application data service use, including at least one of associated originating or destination email address, username, or telephone number along with contextual data;

storing the information for the data service use;

checking the data service use based on the information to the corresponding rule associated with the data service use; and

providing an alert if the data service use is unauthorized based on the corresponding rule.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising providing the alert to the mobile communication device to prevent the data service use that is unauthorized, wherein the contextual information includes any combination of text, message content, files, pictures, and audio information associated with the data service uses, and wherein the checking is based at least in part on whether an identity that is in communication with the mobile communication device and associated with the data service use is an authorized entry within an address book associated with the mobile communication device.

32. The method of claim 30, further comprising providing the alert to an administrator to notify of the data service use that is unauthorized, and wherein the checking analyzes the information, including the contextual information, to determine if the data service use for the mobile communication device is unauthorized.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein the data services comprise a phone application, a short message service text application, and an email application, and wherein the checking is based at least in part on whether an identity that is in communication with the mobile communication device and associated with the data service use is an authorized entry within an address book associated with the mobile communication device, and wherein the information comprises telephone call information for a phone application data service use, including associated originating or destination telephone number and contextual data.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the data service uses comprise an email application use, an instant messaging application use, an address book application use, a calendar application use, and a tasks application use, and further comprise an installation application use, a web browser application use, and/or a multimedia application use, and wherein the information comprises:

changes to application data information for at least one of an address book or a calendar along with contextual data;

instant messaging information for the instant messaging application data service use, including username, date/time stamp, and contextual data;

task information for the task application data service use, including date/time stamp and contextual data associated with the task addition, modification, and/or deletion;

web browser information for the web browser application data service use, including date/time stamp, uniform resource locator, and contextual data;

installation application information for the installation application data service use, including date/time stamp and contextual data associated with the installation application addition, modification, and/or deletion; and

multimedia application information for the multimedia application data service use, including date/time stamp and contextual data associated with the multimedia application addition, modification, and/or deletion.

35. A computer-readable medium on which is stored a non-transitory computer program for performing a method of monitoring a mobile communication device, the method comprising:

monitoring data service uses of the mobile communication device, wherein the data service uses, for data services associated with the mobile communication device, comprise;

inbound and outbound communications of the mobile communication device;

any additions, modifications, and/or deletions within the mobile communication device to applications; and

any additions, modifications, and/or deletions within the mobile communication device to application data;

detecting an initiation of one of the data services;

capturing information, including any contextual information, associated with the data service use based on the detecting, wherein the information associated with the data service uses comprise message information for a message application data service use, including at least one of associated originating or destination email address, username, or telephone number along with contextual data, wherein the data service uses comprise a phone application use and/or a short message service text application use, and wherein the contextual information comprises any combination of text, files, pictures, and audio information associated with the data service uses;

compiling the information based on the capturing; and

transmitting the information of the data service use to a data center to store the information.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the information comprises telephone call information for a phone application data service use, including associated originating or destination telephone number and contextual data.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the data service uses further comprise an email application use, an instant messaging application use, an address book application use, and a calendar application use, and further comprise a tasks application use, a web browser application use, an installation application use, and/or a multimedia application use, and wherein the information comprises:

email information for the email application data service use, including email address, date/time stamp, and contextual data;

instant messaging information for the instant messaging application data service use, including username, date/time stamp, and contextual data;

address book information for the address book application data service use, including date/time stamp and contextual data associated with the address book addition, modification, and/or deletion;

calendar information for the calendar application data service use, including date/time stamp and contextual data associated with the calendar addition, modification, and/or deletion;

task information for the task application data service use, including date/time stamp and contextual data associated with the task addition, modification, and/or deletion;

web browser information for the web browser application data service use, including date/time stamp, uniform resource locator, and contextual data;

installation application information for the installation application data service use, including date/time stamp and contextual data associated with the installation application addition, modification, and/or deletion; and

multimedia application information for the multimedia application data service use, including date/time stamp and contextual data associated with the multimedia application addition, modification, and/or deletion.

38. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

receiving from the data center authorization information regarding the data service use; and

preventing the data service use if the authorization information indicates that the data service use is unauthorized.