Method and technology for remote administration of wireless devices

• US 8,942,689 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2007
• Issued: 01/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Steenstra, Jack, Taylor, Kirk, Chen, Liren, Hedtke, Paul, Lobovsky, Richard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hu, Jinsong
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chang, Jean
• Application Number:
  US11/682,475
• Publication Number:
  US 20080218309A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,884 Days
• Field of Search: 455/418, 455/419, 455/420, 455/423, 709/224, 705/7.11, 713/191, 713/186, 713/182, 370/331
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

A remote administrator to allow a caregiver to configure a user'"'"'s wireless device includes a master software client in the remote administrator and a controllable software client in the wireless device. Commands transmitted to the wireless device from the remote administrator allow the caregiver to configure the user'"'"'s wireless device based on user initiated configuration requested.

Claims

1. A method for remotely configuring a wireless device of a user by a service provider, comprising:

communicating a requested configuration from the wireless device to the service provider;

accessing a remotely located administration device to initiate a configuration change based on the requested configuration;

determining on the remotely located administration device whether the wireless device is powered on;

transmitting a power-on signal to the wireless device from the remotely located administration device in response to determining on the remotely located administration device that the wireless device is not powered on, wherein the wireless device is capable of receiving the power-on signal while not powered on and the wireless device powers on in response to receiving the power-on signal; and

while the wireless device is powered on, performing operations comprising;

transmitting from the remotely located administration device to the wireless device commands to execute the configuration change;

receiving at the wireless device the commands;

confirming the received commands are from an authorized source;

executing the commands at the wireless device to cause the configuration change to the requested configuration to occur, wherein the service provider remotely causes configuration changes in the wireless device of the user;

transmitting from the wireless device to the remotely located administration device a confirmation of the configuration change;

receiving on the wireless device feedback from the user, wherein the feedback comprises information indicating whether the configuration change is satisfactory or unsatisfactory to the user; and

providing from the wireless device to the remotely located administration device the feedback received from the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the requested configuration is provided in at least one of real-time or near real-time.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising repeating the method for remotely configuring the wireless device of the user by the service provider based on the feedback.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the requested configuration comprises at least one of enabling a feature, disabling a feature, or altering a feature.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising reconfiguring a function of the wireless device based on the requested configuration, wherein the function is selected from a group of functions consisting of:

downloading applications, downloading data, downloading patches, adjusting volume adjusting brightness, adjusting display fonts, adding to a contact list, deleting from the contact list, editing the contact list, assigning a speed dial, adjusting a volume, adjusting a ring style, initiating a communication, starting an application, and backing up wireless device memory and settings.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein communicating the requested configuration comprises communicating the requested configuration using at least one of a cellular telephone call, a data link, a USB connection, a network connection, an electronic mail, a text message, a two-way radio transmission, a conventional telephone call, and a VoIP telephone call.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein confirming the received commands are from an authorized source comprising authenticating an identity of the service provider.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein authenticating the identity of the service provider comprises receiving biometric information.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein confirming the received commands are from an authorized source comprises receiving an identification code from the remotely located administration device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the remotely located administration device is another wireless device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the remotely located administration device is identical to the wireless device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the service provider is a caregiver.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the service provider is located at a call center.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the remotely located administration device is a server connected to a network.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising polling the wireless device by the remotely located administration device to determine a current configuration of the wireless device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein transmitting from the remotely located administration device to the wireless device commands to execute the configuration change;

receiving at the wireless device the commands;

confirming the received commands are from an authorized source; and

executing the commands at the wireless device to cause the requested configuration occur only if the current configuration of the wireless device is different than the requested configuration.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing current configuration settings prior to executing the commands.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising restoring the wireless device using the stored current configuration settings.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the commands in response to determining that the wireless device is powered off; and

implementing the commands on the wireless device when the wireless device is next powered.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying the commands to configure the wireless device.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein displaying the commands include displaying keystrokes on a display.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein displaying the commands comprises highlighting actual keys associated with the keystrokes.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising providing at least one of audio, visual, or textual help along with the displayed commands.

24. A method for remotely trouble shooting a wireless device by a service provider, comprising:

communicating to the service provider a need for trouble shooting the wireless device;

accessing a remotely located administration device to initiate the trouble shooting;

receiving a power-up signal on the wireless device from the remotely located administration device, wherein the remotely located administration device transmits the power-up signal to the wireless device in response to determining that the wireless device is not powered on and wherein the wireless device is capable of receiving the power-on signal while not powered on;

powering on the wireless device in response to receiving the power-up signal; and

while the wireless device is powered on, performing operations comprising;

receiving from the remotely located administration device on the wireless device identification and authorization to trouble shoot;

initiating a trouble shooting procedure;

returning results to the remotely located administration device;

based on the returned results, configuring the wireless device;

transmitting from the wireless device to the remotely located administration device a confirmation of a configuration change;

receiving on the wireless device feedback from a user, wherein the feedback comprises information indicating whether the configuration change is satisfactory or unsatisfactory to the user; and

providing from the wireless device to the remotely located administration device the feedback received from the user.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein communicating to the service provider comprises establishing a communication path selected from one of a group of communication paths consisting of:

a cellular telephone call, a data link, a USB connection, a network connection, an electronic mail, a text message, a two-way radio transmission, a conventional telephone call, and a VoIP telephone call.

26. A method for remotely checking a configuration of a wireless device by a remotely located administration device, comprising:

accessing administrative functions on the remotely located administration device;

determining whether the wireless device is powered on;

transmitting a power-on signal to the wireless device in response to determining that the wireless device is not powered on, wherein the wireless device is capable of receiving the power-on signal while not powered on and the wireless device powers on in response to receiving the power-on signal; and

while the wireless device is powered on, performing operations comprising;

entering a configuration check request to check the configuration of at least one part of the wireless device;

transmitting the request to the wireless device;

receiving an actual configuration of the wireless device;

displaying the actual configuration at the remotely located administration device;

transmitting an initiation request to the wireless device to initiate a configuration change based on the displayed actual configuration;

receiving from the wireless device a confirmation of the configuration change; and

receiving feedback from the wireless device, wherein the feedback comprises information obtained on the wireless device from a user regarding whether the configuration change is satisfactory or unsatisfactory to the user.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising storing the actual configuration of the wireless device prior to transmitting the initiation request.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising restoring the actual configuration.

29. The method of claim 26, comprising establishing a data link with the wireless device.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the data link comprises a data link selected from a group of data links consisting of:

a cellular telephone call, a USB connection, a network connection, an electronic mail, a text message, a two-way radio transmission, a conventional telephone call, and a VoIP telephone call.

31. A method of alerting a remotely located administration device that an alarm condition exists on a pre-configured wireless device, comprising:

storing minimum configuration settings in a memory associated with the pre-configured wireless device;

polling actual configuration settings of the pre-configured wireless device;

comparing the actual configuration settings to the stored minimum configuration settings;

determining based on the comparison whether an alarm condition exists;

transmitting the alarm condition to a service provider when it is determined that the alarm condition exists;

receiving a power-up signal on the pre-configured wireless device from the remotely located administration device, wherein the remotely located administration device transmits the power-up signal to the pre-configured wireless device in response to determining that the pre-configured wireless device is not powered on and wherein the pre-configured wireless device is capable of receiving the power-on signal while not powered on;

powering on the pre-configured wireless device in response to receiving the power-up signal; and

while the pre-configured wireless device is powered on, performing operations comprising;

receiving a configuration change from the remotely located administration device, wherein the configuration change is initiated at the remotely located administration device by the service provider based on the alarm condition received by the service provider;

transmitting from the pre-configured wireless device to the remotely located administration device a confirmation of the configuration change;

receiving on the pre-configured wireless device feedback from a user, wherein the feedback comprises information indicating whether the configuration change is satisfactory or unsatisfactory to the user; and

providing from the pre-configured wireless device to the remotely located administration device the feedback received from the user.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising authenticating the configuration change is from an authorized remotely located administration device.

33. A wireless system to allow a remotely located administration device to configure a wireless device, comprising:

a communication network;

a base station interconnected to the communication network;

a wireless device comprising a controllable software client and wirelessly interconnected to the base station; and

a remotely located administration device interconnected to the communication network and comprising a master software client,

wherein;

the wireless device is configured to communicate a request for a configuration change to the remotely located administration device;

the remotely located administration device is configured to;

determine whether the wireless device is powered on;

transmit a power-on signal to the wireless device in response to determining that the wireless device is not powered on, wherein the wireless device is capable of receiving the power-on signal while not powered on and the wireless device powers on in response to receiving the power-on signal; and

while the wireless device is powered on, transmit command functions from the master software client to the controllable software client, wherein the command functions are based on the request; and

the controllable software client is configured to perform operations while the wireless device is powered on, the operations comprising;

executing the command functions to configure the wireless device;

transmitting to the remotely located administration device a confirmation of the configuration change;

receiving feedback from a user, wherein the feedback comprises information indicating whether the configuration change is satisfactory or unsatisfactory to the user; and

providing to the remotely located administration device the feedback received from the user.

34. The wireless system of claim 33, wherein the command functions to configure the wireless device are executed in real-time or near real-time.

35. The wireless system of claim 33, wherein the remotely located administration device is wirelessly interconnected to another base station and the another base station is interconnected to the communication network.

36. The wireless system of claim 33, wherein the communication network comprises a plurality of networks.

37. The wireless system of claim 33, wherein the communication network is selected from a group of communication networks comprising:

cellular telephone networks, public switch telephone networks, LAN, WAN, WiFi, wireless networks, WiMax, Bluetooth, IEEE 801.11, Internet, and Ethernet.

38. The wireless system of claim 33, further comprising a call center interconnected to the wireless device and wherein the remotely located administration device is a server.

39. The wireless system of claim 33, wherein the remotely located administration device is identical to the wireless device.

40. The wireless system of claim 33, wherein the wireless device is selected from a group of wireless devices comprising:

cellular telephones, pagers, PDAs, digital music players, video players, hand held computers, and laptop computers.

41. A wireless device adapted to be configured remotely by a service provider with a remotely located administration device, the wireless device comprising:

a transmit/receive circuit configured to transmit/receive signals to/from a wireless communications network;

a user interface; and

a control processor configured with a controllable software client, wherein the controllable software client is configured to perform operations comprising;

receiving a power-up signal from the remotely located administration device, wherein the remotely located administration device transmits the power-up signal to the wireless device in response to determining that the wireless device is not powered on and wherein the wireless device is capable of receiving the power-on signal while not powered on;

powering on the wireless device in response to receiving the power-up signal; and

while the wireless device is powered on, performing operations comprising;

receiving configuration commands over the wireless communications network from a master software client;

causing the control processor to configure the wireless device based on the configuration commands;

transmitting to the remotely located administration device a confirmation of a configuration change caused by the control processor;

receiving feedback from a user, wherein the feedback comprises information indicating whether the configuration change is satisfactory or unsatisfactory to the user; and

providing to the remotely located administration device the feedback received from the user.

42. The wireless device of claim 41, comprising a memory associated with the control processor, wherein the memory is configured to store current configuration settings.

43. The wireless device of claim 42, wherein the controllable software client is responsive to queries from the remotely located administration device to retrieve the current configuration settings from the memory and transmit the current configuration settings over the wireless communications network to the remotely located administration device.

44. The wireless device of claim 41, further comprising a memory associated with the wireless device,

wherein the controllable software client is configured to perform operations further comprising:

storing minimum configuration settings in the memory;

polling the wireless device to determine whether actual configuration settings are different than the minimum configuration settings; and

transmitting to a remotely located administration device when an alarm condition exists based on the determination.

45. A remotely located administration device adapted to remotely configure a wireless device, the remotely located administration device comprising:

a transmit/receive circuit configured to transmit/receive signals to/from a wireless communications network;

a user interface; and

a control processor, wherein the control processor comprises a master software client that transmits configuration commands over the communications network to a controllable software client operating on the wireless device,

wherein the controllable software client is configured to perform operations while the wireless device is powered on, the operations comprising;

causing a processor operating on the wireless device to configure the wireless device based on the configuration commands;

transmitting to the remotely located administration device a confirmation of a configuration change;

receiving feedback from a user, wherein the feedback comprises information regarding whether the configuration change is satisfactory or unsatisfactory to the user; and

providing to the remotely located administration device the feedback received from the user, and

wherein the master software client is configured to perform operation comprising;

determining whether the wireless device is powered on;

transmitting a power-on signal to the wireless device in response to determining that the wireless device is not powered on, wherein the wireless device is capable of receiving the power-on signal while not powered on and the wireless device powers on in response to receiving the power-on signal; and

receiving the feedback from the wireless device.

46. The remotely located administration device of claim 45, wherein the remotely located administration device is a wireless device interconnected to the wireless communications network.

47. The remotely located administration device of claim 45, wherein the remotely located administration device is a server connected a network.

48. A method for a remotely located administration device to configure a wireless device, comprising:

receiving a communication from a third entity to initiate a configuration change for the wireless device;

determining whether the wireless device is powered on;

transmitting a power-on signal to the wireless device in response to determining that the wireless device is not powered on, wherein the wireless device is capable of receiving the power-on signal while not powered on and the wireless device powers on in response to receiving the power-on signal; and

while the wireless device is powered on, performing operations comprising;

sending an identification signal to a controllable software client on the wireless device;

receiving a communication from the controllable software client;

sending a command to the controllable software client to reconfigure the wireless device in accordance with the communication from the third entity in response to determining that the communication from the controllable software client provides authorization;

receiving feedback from the controllable software client regarding any configuration changes made to the wireless device in response to the command, wherein the feedback comprises information indicating whether a configuration change is satisfactory or unsatisfactory to the user; and

notifying the third entity of the feedback from the controllable software client.