Mobile communication device monitoring systems and methods

• US 9,324,074 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2014
• Issued: 04/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: eAgency, Inc.
• Original Assignee: eAgency, Inc.
• Inventors: Lotter, Robert A., Allard, Timothy S.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, MONG-THUY THI
• Application Number:
  US14/228,040
• Publication Number:
  US 20140214668A1
• Time in Patent Office: 761 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.1, 455/558, 705/41, 705/16
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/552 involving long-term monitoring or reporting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/554 involving event detection and direct action
• 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: G06F 21/6272 by registering files or documents with a third party
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2151 Time stamp
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1425 Traffic logging, e.g. anomaly detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/47 Fraud detection or prevention means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/48 Secure or trusted billing, e.g. trusted elements or encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/58 based on statistics of usage or network monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/93 using near field or similar technologies
• 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 3/2218 Call detail recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2281 Call monitoring, e.g. for law enforcement purposes; Call tracing; Detection or prevention of malicious calls
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/12 Detection or prevention of fraud
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/63 : Location-dependent; Proximity-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/64 : using geofenced areas
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 : Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 : Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 : Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 : Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

Systems and methods are directed to monitoring the communications to and from a mobile communication device in accordance with one or more embodiments. For example in accordance with an embodiment, data services such as a mobile wallet on a mobile communication device may be monitored against rules stored in a central data center repository. Other 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 mobile wallet activity is detected and/or a message may be sent to the mobile communication device to prevent the unauthorized mobile wallet activity.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a service provider for a mobile communications device;

a network data monitor associated with the service provider and configured to generate monitoring information to provide to a data center, the monitoring information comprising an activity log of data usage by the mobile communication device, wherein the data usage is generated in part by a data service use performed by a user of the mobile communications device using the mobile communication device; and

wherein the network data monitor comprises an alert monitor program configured to determine whether the data service use is allowed based at least in part on whether a third party in the activity log that is in communication with the mobile communications device and associated with the data service use is found in a database comprising permission rules for allowed activities using the mobile communication device, wherein the third party comprises a recipient associated with a financial transaction, wherein the permission rules are set by an administrator of the mobile device prior to the financial transaction, wherein the activity log comprises an identity of the third party as the recipient of the financial transaction, and wherein the alert monitor programs determines whether the data service use is allowed by determining whether the identity is found in the database comprising the permission rules.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the third party comprises an application store.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the data usage comprises an originator of the financial transaction, and wherein the alert monitor program is configured to send an alert to the administrator if the financial transaction is not allowed prior to a processing of the financial transaction.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the data usage includes a purchase amount threshold, and wherein the alert monitor program is configured to block the financial transaction if the financial transaction is not allowed prior to a processing of the financial transaction.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the data service use comprises a time of day or a geographical location.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the network data monitor is configured to prevent a breach of a mobile wallet associated with the mobile communications device based on the monitoring information.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the data service use is a sent financial transaction from the mobile communications device initiated by the user using the mobile communication device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the data service use is engaged in using Near Field Communication communications with the mobile communications device.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the network data monitor comprises:

a memory configured to store programs and data, including the monitoring information;

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

a communications port configured to communicate with the data center directly or via the service provider; and

wherein the network data monitor comprises one or more of the programs stored in the memory, and wherein the network data monitor further retrieves contextual information associated with the data service use.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising the mobile communications device, wherein the mobile communications device comprises:

a memory configured to store mobile programs and mobile data;

a processor, coupled to the memory and configured to execute the mobile programs stored in the memory;

a communications port configured to wirelessly communicate with the data center via the service provider; and

wherein the mobile programs comprise a mobile wallet application configured to perform at least a portion of the data service use.

11. A system, comprising:

a data center, comprising;

a memory configured to store programs and database information;

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

a communication gateway coupled to the processor and configured via a service provider to receive information on a data service use performed by a user of the mobile communications device using the mobile communication device and being monitored by the data center, the service provider having a network data monitor configured to;

monitor the data service use for the mobile communications device; and

compile monitoring information comprising an activity log of data usage by the mobile communication device, wherein the data usage are generated in part by the data service use;

wherein the programs comprise an alert monitor program configured to determine whether the data service use is allowed based at least in part on whether a third party in the activity log that is in communication with the mobile communications device and associated with the data service use is found in a database comprising permission rules for allowed activities using the mobile communication device, wherein the third party comprises an initiator associated with a financial transaction, wherein the permission rules are set by an administrator of the mobile device prior to the financial transaction, wherein the activity log comprises an identity of the third party as the initiator of the financial transaction, and wherein the alert monitor programs determines whether the data service use is allowed by determining whether the identity is found in the database comprising the permission rules.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the database information comprises the activity log that stores an entry for the data usage.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the network data monitor further retrieves contextual information from the mobile communications device.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the database information further comprises the permission rules associated with whether the financial transaction is allowable for the mobile communications device, and wherein the identity identifies the third party as a transaction participant.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the alert monitor program is further configured to compare the entry for the data service use to an associated one of the permission rules to determine whether the financial transaction is allowable.

16. A mobile communications device, comprising:

a memory configured to store mobile programs and mobile data;

a processor, coupled to the memory and configured to execute the mobile programs stored in the memory;

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

wherein the mobile programs comprise a data monitor program configured to;

monitor data service uses of the mobile communications device;

compile information comprising an activity log of data usage by the mobile communication device, wherein the data usage are generated in part by the data service uses; and

transmit the information to the data center via the communications port and the service provider;

wherein the data monitor program comprises an alert monitor program configured to determine whether at least one of the data service uses is allowed based at least in part on whether a third party in the activity log that is in communication with the mobile communications device and associated with the at least one of the data service uses is found in a database comprising permission rules for allowed activities using the mobile communication device, wherein the third party comprises a recipient associated with a financial transaction, wherein the permission rules are set by an administrator of the mobile device prior to the financial transaction, wherein the activity log comprises an identity of the third party as the recipient of the financial transaction, and wherein the alert monitor programs determines whether the data service use is allowed by determining whether the identity is found in the database comprising the permission rules.

17. The mobile communications device of claim 16, wherein the mobile programs comprise a digital wallet application.

18. The mobile communications device of claim 16, wherein the data monitor program is configured to prevent the at least one of the data service uses if the at least one of the data service uses is not allowed based on the permission rules.

19. A method of monitoring a mobile communications device, the method comprising:

storing, at a data center, permission rules associated with a data service use performed by a user of the mobile communications device using the mobile communication device;

receiving monitoring information comprising an activity log of data usage by the mobile communication device, wherein the data usage are generated in part by the data service use of the mobile communications device;

checking the data service use based on comparing the monitoring information to a corresponding one of the permission rules associated with the data service use, wherein the checking is based at least in part on whether a third party in the activity log that is in communication with the mobile communications device and associated with the data service use is an authorized entry within a database associated with the mobile communications device, wherein the third party comprises an initiator associated with a financial transaction, wherein the permission rules are set by an administrator of the mobile device prior to the financial transaction, wherein the activity log comprises an identity of the third party as the initiator of the financial transaction, and wherein the checking the data service use comprises determining whether the identity is found in the database comprising the permission rules; and

providing an alert if the financial transaction is unauthorized based on the corresponding one of the permission rules.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising, if the data service use is unauthorized, providing the alert prior to completion of the financial transaction associated with the data service use to the mobile communications device to prevent the financial transaction that is unauthorized.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising blocking an attempt to access funds in a mobile wallet associated with the financial transaction prior to completion of the financial transaction.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising, if the data service use is unauthorized, providing the alert prior to completion of the financial transaction associated with the data service use to the administrator to notify the administrator of the financial transaction that is unauthorized.

23. A method of monitoring communications of a mobile communications device, comprising:

storing mobile programs and mobile data with a memory of the mobile communications device, wherein the mobile programs comprise a data monitor program;

wirelessly communicating with a data center via a service provider using a communications port of the mobile communications device; and

executing the data monitor program with a processor of the mobile communications device by;

monitoring data service uses of the mobile communications device,

compiling information comprising an activity log of data usage by the mobile communication device, wherein the data usage are generated in part by the data service uses,

transmitting the information to the data center via the communications port and the service provider, and

determining, by executing an alert monitor program of the data monitor program, whether at least one of the financial transactions is allowed based at least in part on whether a third party in the activity log that is in communication with the mobile communications device and associated with the at least one of the data service uses is found in a database comprising permission rules for allowed activities using the mobile communication device, wherein the third party comprises a recipient associated with a financial transaction, wherein the permission rules are set by an administrator of the mobile device prior to the financial transaction, wherein the activity log comprises an identity of the third party as the recipient of the financial transaction, and wherein determining, by the alert monitor programs, whether the at least one data service use is allowed comprises determining whether the identity is found in the database comprising the permission rules.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the mobile programs comprise a digital wallet application.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising preventing the at least one of the data service uses prior to completion of the at least one of the data service uses if the at least one of the data service uses is not allowable.