REMOTE ADMINISTRATION OF MOBILE WIRELESS DEVICES

• US 20090292799A1
• Filed: 07/11/2008
• Published: 11/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Eisener, Thane, Doucet, Heloise Rose
• Granted Patent: US 8,516,095 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/186 Processing of subscriber group data

Abstract

Apparatus and methods to manage operational features of a mobile wireless device using parameters for the mobile wireless device set in another mobile wireless device provide a mechanism to enhance the communication capabilities of wireless users. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method comprising managing one or more operational features of a first mobile wireless device using a parameter for the first mobile wireless device set in a second mobile wireless device such that the management of the one or more operational features is correlated with a wireless server in which the first and second mobile wireless device are registered to a common identity.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method includes managing a set of operational features of the first mobile wireless device based on activity in a third mobile wireless device such that the management of the set of operational features is correlated with a second wireless server in which the first and third mobile wireless device are registered to a common identity in the second wireless server such that registrations of the first wireless device is unique to the respective wireless servers.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the method includes managing a set of operational features of a mobile wireless device in a plurality of mobile wireless devices that includes the second mobile wireless device based on activity in a designated administrator mobile wireless device of the plurality of mobile wireless devices such that the management of the set of operational features is correlated with a second wireless server in which the plurality of mobile wireless device are registered to a common identity in the second wireless server such that registrations of the second wireless device is unique to the respective wireless servers.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the method includes:

activating a graphic user display in the second mobile wireless device to manage the one or more operational features of the first mobile wireless device, the second mobile wireless device designated as an administrator with respect to the first and second mobile wireless devices;

modifying a selected parameter for an operational feature of the first mobile wireless device, the selected parameter derived from the graphic user display; and

transmitting the selected parameter such that the first mobile wireless device is identified as the recipient of the selected parameter.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the method includes the second mobile wireless device automatically establishing a secure communication channel with the wireless server prior to transmitting the selected parameter.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the method includes:

receiving, in the wireless server, the parameter from the second wireless device to manage the one or more operational features of the first mobile wireless device, the second wireless device designated as an administrator of the first mobile wireless device;

transmitting, from the wireless server to the first mobile wireless device, the parameter or a parameter derived from the received parameter; and

updating a database, managed the wireless server, to reflect a status of the first mobile wireless device based on the parameter or the derived parameter.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein transmitting the parameter or derived parameter includes transmitting the parameter from the wireless server to first the mobile wireless device when the mobile wireless device becomes available to enter into a communications session with the wireless server.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the method includes

receiving, in the first mobile wireless device, a message that includes the parameter, or a derived parameter, to modify the one or more operational features of the first mobile wireless device;

and

modifying the one or more operational features of the first mobile wireless device in response to receiving the parameter.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein managing the one or more operational features of a mobile wireless device includes generating settings to block performance of functions in the first mobile wireless device.

10. A mobile wireless device comprising:

a controller;

a display to provide a graphic user interface operable with the controller; and

a memory communicatively coupled to the controller, the memory including instructions which, when performed by the mobile wireless device, cause the mobile wireless device to perform operations including selecting a parameter to manage one or more operational features of another mobile wireless device based on an identity common to the mobile wireless device and the other mobile wireless device, the common identity correlated with a wireless server in which the mobile wireless device and the other mobile wireless device are registered.

11. The mobile wireless device of claim 10, wherein the mobile wireless device is configurable for registration on another wireless server such the registrations are unique to the respective wireless servers and status of the mobile wireless device as a administrator device or as a non-administer device is managed independently with respect to the wireless server and the other wireless server.

12. The mobile wireless device of claim 10, wherein the instructions include one or more instructions to change the mobile wireless device from operation as an administrator of the operational features of the other mobile wireless device to operation as a target mobile wireless under feature administration by the other mobile wireless device.

13. The mobile wireless device of claim 10, wherein operational features include changing a password of the other mobile wireless device.

14. The mobile wireless device of claim 10, wherein operational features include page generation in the other mobile wireless device to provide an audible sound to locate the other wireless device.

15. The mobile wireless device of claim 10, wherein operational features include regulating access of the other mobile wireless device to an internet.

16. The mobile wireless device of claim 10, wherein operational features include regulating voice and data sessions of the other mobile wireless device.

17. A wireless server comprising:

a processor;

a communications servlet operably coupled to the processor, the communications servlet including instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the wireless server to perform operations including;

receiving a message from a first mobile wireless device, the message having a parameter to set one or more operational features in a second mobile wireless device;

determining that the first mobile wireless device and the second wireless device are correlated to a common identity relative to the wireless server such that the first mobile wireless device is an administrator device for the second mobile wireless device; and

transmitting the parameter, or a derived parameter generated from the received parameter, to the second mobile wireless device.

18. The wireless server of claim 17, wherein the parameter includes a command for execution by the second mobile wireless device.

19. The wireless server of claim 17, wherein the parameter includes a password for the second mobile wireless device.

20. The wireless server of claim 17, wherein the message includes a destination servlet of the wireless server and message data.

21. The wireless server of claim 17, wherein the instructions include instructions to update a database at the wireless server with the operational feature for setting in the second mobile wireless device.

22. The wireless server of claim 17, wherein the wireless server is configured to receive the message through internet communications.

23. The wireless server of claim 17, wherein the wireless server is configured in a personal computer.