SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RESTRICTING SERVICE IN MOBILE DEVICES

• US 20090017790A1
• Filed: 02/12/2008
• Published: 01/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Remoba, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Remoba, Inc.
• Inventors: Thalapaneni, Guru, Doddapaneni, Srinivas Naidu
• Application Number:
  US12/029,793
• Publication Number:
  US 20090017790A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/410
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/45 Network directories; Name-to-address mapping
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4594 Address books, i.e. directories containing contact information about correspondents telephone directories in user terminals H04M1/27453
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2757 by data transmission, e.g. downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/677 Preventing the dialling or sending of predetermined telephone numbers or selected types of telephone numbers, e.g. long distance numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management

Abstract

Systems and methods are described that enable remote restriction of workforce mobile phones, media players, computers and other devices. In particular, systems, apparatus and methods are described that deny or allow connections involving the mobile device based on the content of a preauthorized contact list provided by a business administrator. The connection may be any combination of incoming connection, outgoing connection, voice connection, data connection. The list of preauthorized contacts maybe updated upon receipt of a synchronization command from a business administrator. Access to the list of contacts can be blocked upon receiving a lockdown command from the business administrator. The list of contacts can be destroyed upon receiving a poison pill command from the business administrator. A client is described for controlling use of the mobile device.

Claims

1. A method for restricting a mobile device, comprising:

receiving a request for connection of the mobile device;

determining if the request is for connection with a preauthorized contact;

establishing the connection if the request relates to a preauthorized contact; and

denying the connection if the request does not relate to a preauthorized contact, wherein the determining is performed using a list of contacts provided by a business administrator.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the request is for an incoming connection.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the request for connection includes a request to initiate the connection.

4. The method of claim 1, and further comprising the step of updating the list of contacts upon receiving a synchronization command from the business administrator.

5. The method of claim 1, and further comprising the step of preventing access to the list of contacts upon receiving a lockdown command from the business administrator.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the preventing step includes denying all connection requests.

7. The method of claim 1, and further comprising the step of destroying the list of contacts upon receiving a poison pill command from the business administrator.

8. The method of claim 7, the destroying step includes denying all connection requests subsequent to receiving the poison pill command.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the request is received from a user of the mobile device and establishing the connection includes initiating a call to the preauthorized contact.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the request is received from the preauthorized contact and establishing the connection includes accepting a call from the preauthorized contact.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device comprises a mobile telephone.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device comprises a wireless computing device.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the connection is a voice connection.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the connection is a data connection.

15. A restriction facility for a mobile device, comprising a client for processing commands received from a system controller wherein the commands include a lockdown command and, responsive to receiving the lockdown command, the client prevents access to a list of authorized contacts identifying a plurality of network nodes.

16. The restriction facility of claim 15, wherein the client permits call initiation by the mobile device when the call is directed to a contact in the list of authorized contacts.

17. The restriction facility of claim 15, wherein the client permits call reception by the mobile device when the call is directed to a contact in the list of authorized contacts.

18. A computer-readable medium that stores instructions executable by one or more processing devices to perform a method for restricting a mobile device, the method comprising:

receiving a request for connection of the mobile device;

determining if the request is for connection with a preauthorized contact;

establishing the connection if the request relates to a preauthorized contact; and

denying the connection if the request does not relate to a preauthorized contact, wherein the determining is performed using a list of contacts provided by a business administrator.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, and further comprising the step of preventing access to the list of contacts upon receiving a lockdown command from the business administrator.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the preventing step includes denying all connection requests.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 20, and further comprising the step of destroying the list of contacts upon receiving a poison pill command from the business administrator.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, the destroying step includes denying all connection requests subsequent to receiving the poison pill command.