Systems and methods for managing lost devices of multiple types with multiple policies using melded profiles associated with groups

• US 9,800,617 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2016
• Issued: 10/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ConnectWise, LLC
• Original Assignee: ConnectWise, LLC
• Inventors: Buerk, Gregory Francis, Logan, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Vaughan, Michael R
• Application Number:
  US15/149,783
• Publication Number:
  US 20170085593A1
• Time in Patent Office: 533 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/60 Protecting data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6245 Protecting personal data, e.g. for financial or medical purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2143 Clearing memory, e.g. to prevent the data from being stolen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/126 Anti-theft arrangements, e.g. protection against subscriber identity module [SIM] cloning

Abstract

This disclosure facilitates managing lost devices. In some embodiments, a system receives a first device type from a first agent on a first device, and a different second device type from a second agent on a second device. The system receives a first group associated with the first device and a different second group associated with the second device. The system determines that the first device and the second device are lost and accesses a database storing first and second configuration classes associated with the first and second devices, respectively. The system creates first and second device-dependent classes based on the first and second device types and the first and second configuration classes, respectively. The system melds the first device-dependent class into a first melded profile and the second device-dependent class into a second melded profile, using the respective groups, and applies the melded profiles to the corresponding device.

Claims

1. A method for managing cellular data usage via a computer network, comprising:

receiving, by a server from a first agent executing on a first device, a first device type;

receiving, by the server from a second agent executing on a second device, a second device type, the second device type different from the first device type;

receiving, by the server via an interface, a first group associated with the first device and a second group associated with the second device, the second group different from the first group;

determining, by the server, a first cellular data usage of the first device;

determining, by the server, a second cellular data usage of the second device;

accessing, by the server responsive to determining at least one of the first cellular data usage and the second cellular data usage, a database storing, in memory, a first configuration class associated with the first device and a second configuration class associated with the second device;

creating, by the server, based on the first device type and the first configuration class, a first device-dependent class;

creating, by the server, based on the second device type and the second configuration class, a second device-dependent class;

melding, by the server based on the first group, the first device-dependent class into a first melded profile;

melding, by the server based on the second group, the second device-dependent class into a second melded profile;

applying, by the server responsive to an event, the first melded profile to the first device to control network connectivity of the first device by at least one of enabling data roaming, disabling data roaming, modifying a maximum bandwidth allowed, or modifying usage time; and

applying, by the server, the second melded profile to the second device responsive to the event.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining of the first cellular data usage of the first device comprises:

receiving, by the server from the first agent, an indication of the first cellular data usage.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first configuration class comprises:

a configuration selected from at least one of a data roaming configuration, a maximum cell data bandwidth configuration, and a cell data enable configuration.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first device-dependent class comprises:

a setting selected from at least one of a data roaming setting, a maximum cell data bandwidth setting, and a cell data enable setting.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first melded profile comprises:

a setting selected from at least one of a data roaming setting, a maximum cell data bandwidth setting, and a cell data enable setting.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

accessing, by the server from the database, a translation mapping a plurality of input strings into a plurality of output strings;

selecting, by the server from the first melded profile, a variable string;

mapping, by the server, based on the translation, the variable string to a variable value; and

replacing, by the server in the first melded profile, the variable string with the variable value.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the server from the first agent, a configuration of the first device;

selecting, by the server responsive to the receiving of the configuration, based on the configuration, a third group; and

associating, by the server responsive to the selection, the first device with the third group.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the server from the first agent, a configuration of the first device;

creating, by the server responsive to the receiving of the configuration, based on the first device type, the first configuration class, and the configuration, a third device-dependent class;

melding, by the server, responsive to the creating, based on the first group, the third device-dependent class into a third melded profile; and

applying, by the server, responsive to the third melded profile being different from the first melded profile, the third melded profile to the first device.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending, by the server to the first agent, responsive to determining at least one of the first cellular data usage and second cellular data usage, an instruction indicating an update to a setting that affects the usage of cellular data by the first device.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving, by the first agent, the instruction indicating the update; and

modifying, by the first agent responsive to the receiving, a configuration of the first device.

11. A system to manage cellular data usage via a computer network, comprising:

a server including a processor and memory configured to;

receive, from a first agent executing on a first device, a first device type;

receive, from a second agent executing on a second device, a second device type, the second device type different from the first device type;

receive, from an interface, a first group associated with the first device and a second group associated with the second device, the second group different from the first group;

determine a first cellular data usage of the first device;

determine a second cellular data usage of the second device;

access, responsive to determining at least one of the first cellular data usage and the second cellular data usage, a database storing, in memory, a first configuration class associated with the first device and a second configuration class associated with the second device;

create based on the first device type and the first configuration class, a first device-dependent class;

create based on the second device type and the second configuration class, a second device-dependent class;

meld, based on the first group, the first device-dependent class into a first melded profile;

meld, based on the second group, the second device-dependent class into a second melded profile;

apply, responsive to an event, the first melded profile to the first device to control network connectivity of the first device to at least one of enable data roaming, disable data roaming, modify a maximum bandwidth allowed, or modify usage time; and

apply the second melded profile to the second device responsive to the event.

12. The system of claim 11, comprising the server to receive, from the first agent, an indication of the first cellular data usage to determine the first cellular data usage of the first device.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the first configuration class comprises:

a configuration selected from at least one of a data roaming configuration, a maximum cell data bandwidth configuration, and a cell data enable configuration.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the first device-dependent class comprises:

a setting selected from at least one of a data roaming setting, a maximum cell data bandwidth setting, and a cell data enable setting.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the first melded profile comprises:

a setting selected from at least one of a data roaming setting, a maximum cell data bandwidth setting, and a cell data enable setting.

16. The system of claim 11, further comprising the server to:

access, from the database, a translation mapping a plurality of input strings into a plurality of output strings;

select, from the first melded profile, a variable string;

map, based on the translation, the variable string to a variable value; and

replace, in the first melded profile, the variable string with the variable value.

17. The system of claim 11, further comprising the server to:

receive, from the first agent, a configuration of the first device;

select, responsive to the receiving of the configuration, based on the configuration, a third group; and

associate, responsive to the selection, the first device with the third group.

18. The system of claim 11, further comprising the server to:

receive, from the first agent, a configuration of the first device;

create, responsive to the receiving of the configuration, based on the first device type, the first configuration class, and the configuration, a third device-dependent class;

meld, responsive to the creating, based on the first group, the third device-dependent class into a third melded profile; and

apply, responsive to the third melded profile being different from the first melded profile, the third melded profile to the first device.

19. The system of claim 11, further comprising the server to:

send, to the first agent, responsive to a determination of at least one of the first cellular data usage and second cellular data usage, an instruction indicating an update to a setting that affects the usage of cellular data by the first device.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising the server to:

receive, by the first agent, the instruction indicating the update; and

modify, by the first agent responsive to the reception, a configuration of the first device.