Secure mobile interface access system

• US 9,129,127 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2012
• Issued: 09/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zentry LLC (Synchronoss Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Hubner, Paul V., Clavenna, Robert A. II, Pate, Kristopher A., Archer, Steven T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Jung
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wilcox, James J
• Application Number:
  US13/356,040
• Publication Number:
  US 20130191885A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,324 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0748 in a remote unit communicating with a single-box computer node experiencing an error/fault remote testing G06F11/2294
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5061 characterised by the interaction between service providers and their network customers, e.g. customer relationship management

Abstract

A method performed by one or more server devices connected to a mobile device via a network, the mobile device being connected to an electronic device is provided that can include sending, by the one or more server devices and to the mobile device, data initiating a session between the one or more server devices and the mobile device; sending a request for information about the electronic device; receiving the requested information about the electronic device; identifying device credentials for the electronic device and communication protocols for communicating with the electronic device; providing the device credentials for the electronic device and the communication protocols for communicating with the electronic device; automatically gathering information about the electronic device from data stored on the electronic device using the communication protocols and the mobile device; and providing support to the electronic device via the mobile device.

Claims

1. A method performed by one or more server devices, the method comprising:

sending, by the one or more server devices and to a mobile device, data initiating a session between the one or more server devices and the mobile device;

sending, by the one or more server devices and to the mobile device, information associated with connecting the mobile device to an electronic device,

the information associated with connecting the mobile device to the electronic device being provided for display via a display of the mobile device;

receiving, by the one or more server devices from the mobile device, an indication indicating the mobile device has been connected to the electronic device,

the indication being input via a user interface of the mobile device;

obtaining, by the one or more server devices and from the mobile device, device credentials for the electronic device,

the device credentials being obtained by the mobile device, from the electronic device, based on the mobile device being connected to the electronic device;

obtaining, by the one or more server devices and based on the device credentials, device information associated with the electronic device,

the device information including information associated with communicating with the electronic device through the mobile device;

providing, by the one or more server devices and to the mobile device, the device information associated with the electronic device;

automatically gathering information, by the one or more server devices, about the electronic device from data stored on the electronic device using the device information and communication protocols to communicate with the electronic device via the mobile device; and

providing support to the electronic device via the mobile device,

the providing the support including;

providing an executable file to the electronic device through the mobile device,

the electronic device executing the executable file based on the executable file being provided to the electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a secure, encrypted connection between the one or more server devices and the mobile device via a cellular network.

3. The method of claim 1, where the providing the support to the electronic device includes:

providing instructions to the electronic device from a technician through the mobile device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating security information;

storing security information;

sending security information to the mobile device;

receiving security information from the mobile device;

comparing the received security information and the stored security information; and

authenticating the mobile device when the received security information matches the stored security information.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a request for connecting the electronic device to the mobile device via a wired serial port.

6. The method of claim 1, where the electronic device is a stand-alone electronic device,

where providing the support includes:

sending, via the mobile device, one or more of;

instructions from a technician, or

a file from the one or more server devices, and

where the stand-alone electronic device operates without network connectivity.

7. The method of claim 1, where the electronic device is an orphaned electronic device, and

where the method further comprises:

authorizing the orphaned electronic device to connect to the network,

where the orphaned electronic device executes the executable file to connect to the network.

8. A system comprising:

one or more server devices to;

send data initiating a session between the one or more server devices and a mobile device;

send information for connecting the mobile device to a stand-alone electronic device,

the information for connecting the mobile device to the stand-alone electronic device being provided for display via a display of the mobile device;

receive information indicating that the mobile device is connected to the stand-alone electronic device;

obtain, from the mobile device, device credentials for the stand-alone electronic device,

the device credentials being obtained by the mobile device, from the stand-alone electronic device, based on the mobile device being connected to the stand-alone electronic device;

obtain, based on the device credentials, device information associated with the stand-alone electronic device,

the device information including information associated with communicating with the stand-alone electronic device through the mobile device;

provide the device information to the mobile device;

gather information about the stand-alone electronic device from data stored on the stand-alone electronic device using the device information and communication protocols to communicate with the stand-alone electronic device via the mobile device; and

provide executable instructions to the stand-alone electronic device, via the mobile device, to permit the stand-alone electronic device to execute the executable instructions to provide support to the stand-alone electronic device.

9. The system of claim 8, where the one or more server devices are further to:

establish a secure, encrypted connection between the one or more server devices and the mobile device via a cellular network.

10. The system of claim 8, where, when providing the executable instructions, the one or more server devices are to:

provide, through the mobile device, instructions to the stand-alone electronic device from a technician.

11. The system of claim 10, where the mobile device is connected to the stand-alone electronic device via a wireless connection, and

where the mobile device gathers information from the stand-alone electronic device via the wireless connection.

12. The system of claim 8, where the one or more server devices are further to:

generate security information;

store security information;

send security information to the mobile device;

receive security information from the mobile device;

compare the received security information and the stored security information; and

authenticate the mobile device when the received security information matches the stored security information.

13. The system of claim 8, where the mobile device is connected to the stand-alone electronic device via a wired serial port, and

where the mobile device gathers information from the stand-alone electronic device via the wired serial port.

14. The system of claim 8, where the stand-alone electronic device comprises an appliance,

where the mobile device comprises a smart phone,

where the appliance includes a set-top box, a smart television, a dishwasher, a laundry machine, a refrigerator, a water heater, or pool hardware, and

where the one or more server devices provide the support to the appliance through the smart phone.

15. A system comprising:

one or more server devices to;

store security information associated with a mobile device;

receive, from the mobile device, a request for support associated with an electronic device;

receive security information from the mobile device;

authenticate the mobile device by comparing the stored security information to the received security information;

provide, to the mobile device, information associated with connecting the mobile device to the electronic device,

the information associated with connecting the mobile device to the electronic device being provided for display via a display of the mobile device;

receive, from the mobile device, an indication indicating that the mobile device is connected to the electronic device;

obtain, from the mobile device, device credentials for the electronic device,

the device credentials being obtained by the mobile device, from the electronic device, based on the mobile device being connected to the electronic device; and

provide, via the mobile device and based on receiving the indication, the electronic device with an executable file, to permit the electronic device to execute the executable file to enable the electronic device to access a network independent of the mobile device,

the executable file being obtained based on the device credentials.

16. The system of claim 15, where the one or more server devices are further to:

send data initiating a session between the one or more server devices and the mobile device;

send a request for first information about the electronic device;

receive the requested first information about the electronic device;

identify the device credentials for the electronic device and communication protocols for communicating with the electronic device;

provide the device credentials for the electronic device and the communication protocols for communicating with the electronic device;

gather second information about the electronic device from data stored on the electronic device using the communication protocols and the mobile device; and

provide, based on the second information about the electronic device, instructions to the electronic device via the mobile device.

17. The system of claim 16, where, when gathering the second information, the one or more server devices are to:

automatically download data from the electronic device after the mobile device is authenticated.

18. The system of claim 15, where the mobile device is connected to the electronic device via a wired serial port, and

where the mobile device gathers information from the electronic device via the wired serial port.

19. The system of claim 15, where the mobile device is connected to the electronic device via a wireless connection, and

where the mobile device gathers information from the electronic device via the wireless connection.

20. The system of claim 15, where the electronic device comprises a router or a modem, and

where the mobile device comprises a smart phone.