System and method for limiting mobile device functionality

• US 8,995,958 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2005
• Issued: 03/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Conversant Wireless Licensing S.à.r.l. (f/k/a Core Wireless Licensing S.a.r.l.) (MOSAID Technologies Inc. (f/k/a Conversant Intellectual Property Management))
• Inventors: Kenney, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): TAYLOR, BARRY W
• Application Number:
  US10/597,862
• Publication Number:
  US 20080233919A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,702 Days
• Field of Search: 455/410, 455/411, 455/419, 455/456.2
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724631 by limiting the access to the user interface, e.g. locking a touch-screen or a keypad
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities

Abstract

The present invention relates to systems and methods that employ various mechanisms to selectively disable mobile device functionality. In general, mobile devices can be utilized to store personal and/or highly sensitive information such as bank account numbers, social security numbers, credit card numbers and the like. If the mobile device is lost or stolen, data stored within the device can be accessed by an unauthorized user; and, thus, any personal and/or highly sensitive information can be obtained. In order to mitigate unauthorized access, the subject invention provides a disabling component that communicates with the lost or stolen device to render data stored thereon inaccessible. Further, the data can be stored in local or remote locations to backup stored information, thereby creating a more robust and reliable method of storing information important to the device owner. These features provide enhancements over conventional mobile device security techniques.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory, the at least one memory storing computer program code,

wherein the at least one memory and stored computer program code are configured,

with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to;

detect a user input comprising an attempt to initiate a communication session from the apparatus;

in response to the detection of the user input comprising an attempt to initiate a communication session from the apparatus, receive a remotely originated request to disable the apparatus;

extract information from the request; and

based on the extracted information, disable at least one functionality of the apparatus.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory and stored computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to activate a pre-programmed security feature in response to the request.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the security feature erases data stored in memory of the apparatus.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the request is received via a phone call and wherein the at least one memory and stored computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to verify the request based at least in part on a caller identification associated with the phone call.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the request is received as at least one of a one-time transmission, a periodic transmission and a continuous transmission.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory and stored computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to further cause the apparatus to cause transmission of a return signal, the return signal indicating disablement of the least one functionality of the apparatus.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory and stored computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to disable at least one functionality of the apparatus by performing one or more of a keypad lock, a voice lock, a screen blank-out, limiting access to memory of the apparatus, and a deletion of memory of the apparatus.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory and stored computer program code are further configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to determine a tracking function to activate based at least in part on the extracted information and wherein the determined tracking function employs one or more of a global positioning system, a homing beacon and an audio alarm.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is further operable to, based on the extracted information, perform remote storage of data stored within the mobile device'"'"'s memory.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises one of a laptop computer, a handheld computer, a notebook computer, a personal digital assistant, a mobile phone and a desktop computer.

11. A method comprising:

detecting a user input comprising an attempt to initiate a communication session from an apparatus;

in response to the detection of the user input comprising an attempt to initiate a communication session from the apparatus, receiving a remotely originated request to disable at least one functionality of a mobile device;

extracting information from the request; and

based on the extracted information, disable at least one functionality of the apparatus.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising authenticating the request with a mobile device owner.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the extracted information comprises information configured to cause the mobile device to disable at least one functionality via at least one of the mobile device'"'"'s internal security features.

14. The method claim 13, wherein the mobile device'"'"'s internal security features comprise one or more of blanking a screen, locking a keypad, locking a microphone, disabling access to mobile device memory, or deleting mobile device memory.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining a tracking function to activate based at least in part on the extracted information and wherein the determined tracking function employs one or more of a global positioning system, a homing beacon and an audio alarm.