Providing a masked short message service in a wireless network

• US 9,693,230 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2015
• Issued: 06/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Modarressi, Abdi R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bhattacharya, Sam
• Application Number:
  US14/984,877
• Publication Number:
  US 20160112876A1
• Time in Patent Office: 545 Days
• Field of Search: 455411, 4554121, 4554122, 4554141
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/606 by securing the transmission between two devices or processes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/695 using masks or ranges of addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0876 based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1063 Application servers providing network services systems providing special services to telephonic subscribers H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/068 using credential vaults, e.g. password manager applications or one time password [OTP] applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/184 Messaging devices, e.g. message centre

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing a masked short message service in a wireless network are disclosed. For example, the method receives a message from a first endpoint device directed to a second endpoint device, wherein the message indicates that the message is a masked short message service message, and forwards the masked short message service message with a code towards the second endpoint device. In one example, the second endpoint device parses the message and executes instructions contained therein, e.g., for sending a regular SMS with content derived from masked SMS, making a call, playing music, finding location by invoking an API, sending a file or a picture and any other functions that the second endpoint device may be capable of doing. The masked short message service provides a method for remotely controlling a 2G/3G mobile device through a computer or another mobile device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a processor of a first endpoint device, from a second endpoint device a masked short message service message with a code, wherein the code was previously received by the second endpoint device from an application server of a network service provider, wherein the code was previously received by the second endpoint device in a response to a request sent by the second endpoint device to the network service provider, wherein the masked short message service message comprises a command to be executed by the first endpoint device; and

processing, by the processor, the command.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second endpoint device received an application for creating the masked short message service message from the application server of the network service provider.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending, by the processor, an authentication request to the second endpoint device.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving, by the processor, a response to the authentication request.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the code is provided to the first endpoint device by the application server of the network service provider.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the code is provided to the first endpoint device in a response to a request sent by the first endpoint device to the network service provider.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the masked short message service message is parsed by the first endpoint device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first endpoint device receives an application for parsing the masked short message service message from the application server of the network service provider.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first endpoint device determines the masked short message service message by searching for the code.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first endpoint device authenticates the second endpoint device when the masked short message service message is received.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

retrieving, by the processor, a command message from the masked short message service message, when the second endpoint device is successfully authenticated.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

processing, by the processor, the command message that is retrieved.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the second endpoint device is a computer.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the second endpoint device is a mobile endpoint device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the mobile endpoint device comprises a smart phone.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the first endpoint device is a mobile endpoint device.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium to store a plurality of instructions which, when executed by a processor of a first endpoint device, cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

receiving from a second endpoint device a masked short message service message with a code, wherein the code was previously received by the second endpoint device from an application server of a network service provider, wherein the code was previously received by the second endpoint device in a response to a request sent by the second endpoint device to the network service provider, wherein the masked short message service message comprises a command to be executed by the first endpoint device; and

processing the command.

18. An apparatus comprising:

a processor of a first endpoint device; and

a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising;

receiving from a second endpoint device a masked short message service message with a code, wherein the code was previously received by the second endpoint device from an application server of a network service provider, wherein the code was previously received by the second endpoint device in a response to a request sent by the second endpoint device to the network service provider, wherein the masked short message service message comprises a command to be executed by the first endpoint device; and

processing the command.