System and Method for Limiting Mobile Device Functionality.

• US 20080233919A1
• Filed: 02/09/2005
• Published: 09/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Kenney, Thomas J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,995,958 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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. A system that limits mobile device functionality via a wireless network, comprising:

an input component that receives a remotely originated request to disable the mobile device; and

a disabling component that limits access to memory within the mobile device based on the request.

2. The system of claim 1, the request activates a pre-programmed security feature stored within the mobile device.

3. The system of claim 2, the security feature erases data stored in the mobile device'"'"'s memory.

4. The system of claim 1, the request is transmitted via a phone call and verified based on a caller identification.

5. The system of claim 1, the request to disable the mobile device is made by placing a wireless phone call that invokes the request.

6. The system of claim 1, the wireless network protocol is one of an IS2000, a CDMA, a TCDMA, a WCDMA, a TDMA, a FDMA, a GSM, a PCS, a Bluetooth, a Wi-Fi, a Cellular and a GPS protocol.

7. The system of claim 1, the request is broadcast to the mobile device via one of a one-time transmission, a periodic transmission and a continuous transmission.

8. The system of claim 1, the disabling component transmits a return signal to verify access to the mobile device memory has been limited.

9. The system of claim 1, the disabling component further limits mobile device access via at least one of a keypad lock, a voice lock, a screen blank-out and a deletion of the device memory.

10. The system of claim 1 further comprises a tracking component that utilizes the request to facilitate locating the mobile device.

11. The system of claim 10, the tracking component employs one or more of a global positioning system, a homing beacon and an audio alarm.

12. The system of claim 1, the request further invokes remote storage of the data stored within the mobile device'"'"'s memory.

13. The system of claim 1, a signal outside of the wireless network is utilized to send the request to disable the device.

14. The system of claim 1 is employed in one of a laptop computer, a handheld computer, a notebook computer, a personal digital assistant, a mobile phone and a desktop computer.

15. A method that limits access to a mobile device utilizing a wireless network, comprising:

receiving a request to disable the mobile device;

broadcasting a disable signal to the mobile device; and

disabling access to at least the mobile device memory.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprises authenticating the request with a mobile device owner.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprises locating the mobile device after the disable signal has been sent.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprises broadcasting the signal via at least one of an IS2000, a CDMA, a TCDMA, a WCDMA, a TDMA, a FDMA, a GSM, a PCS, a Bluetooth, a Wi-Fi, a Cellular, and a GPS protocol.

19. The method of claim 15, access is disabled via at least one of the mobile device'"'"'s internal security features.

20. The method of claim 15, disabling access to the device comprises one or more of blanking a screen, locking a keypad, locking a microphone and deleting mobile device memory.

21. The method of claim 15, the request to disable access to the device is transmitted upon an unauthorized use.

22. The method of claim 15 is employed in connection with at least one of a laptop computer, a handheld computer, a notebook computer, a personal digital assistant, a mobile phone and a desktop computer.

23. The method of claim 15, the disable signal is sent via a third-party network.

24. A method that disables functionality of a mobile device via a wireless network, comprising:

receiving a disable signal from a remote location;

extracting information from the disable signal; and

disabling memory access of mobile device based on the extracted information.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprises broadcasting a return signal that indicates the functionality of the device has been disabled.

26. The method of claim 24, the signal is embedded in the wireless network'"'"'s signaling protocol.

27. A system that facilitates limiting device functionality, comprising:

means for receiving a signal to disable device functionality;

means for limiting device functionality based on the signal; and

means for transmitting a return signal indicating successful disabling of device functionality.