Remotely Locating and Commanding a Mobile Device

• US 20100279673A1
• Filed: 05/01/2009
• Published: 11/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Lin, Jeff, Butler, Rob, Sharp, Christopher Brooke, McCarthy, Brendan A., Guenther, Carsten, Slack, Stuart
• Granted Patent: US 8,660,530 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/419
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances

Abstract

Methods and systems are presented for remotely commanding a mobile device. In one aspect, a method includes receiving input identifying a mobile device, presenting to a user one or more remote commands corresponding to the mobile device, receiving user input selecting a remote command from the one or more presented remote commands, generating a remote command message instructing the mobile device to execute the selected remote command, and transmitting the remote command message to a server for publication in a message topic. Further, a selectable list of mobile devices associated with a remote management account can be presented to the user, the selectable list including information uniquely identifying each mobile device. Additionally, the selectable list of mobile devices can include an indication of whether an included mobile device is online.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of remotely commanding a mobile device, the method comprising:

receiving input identifying a mobile device;

presenting to a user one or more remote commands corresponding to the mobile device;

receiving user input selecting a remote command from the one or more presented remote commands;

generating a remote command message instructing the mobile device to execute the selected remote command; and

transmitting the remote command message to a server for publication in a message topic.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the message topic uniquely corresponds to the mobile device.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein presenting to a user one or more remote commands further comprises:

identifying at least one of the one or more remote commands as enabled for execution by the mobile device.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting to the user a selectable list of mobile devices associated with a remote management account, the selectable list including information uniquely identifying each mobile device.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, further comprising:

indicating, for a mobile device included in the selectable list of mobile devices, whether the mobile device is online.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a result message confirming execution of the selected remote command by the mobile device.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the remote command comprises a locate command.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving a result message including geographic coordinates corresponding to a location of the mobile device.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the remote command comprises a wipe command.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving a result message confirming initiation of a wipe process by the mobile device; and

identifying the mobile device as an inactive device.

11. A computer program product, encoded on a computer-readable medium, operable to cause data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

presenting to a user a list of one or more mobile devices associated with a remote management account;

receiving user input selecting a mobile device included in the list of one or more mobile devices;

presenting to the user a list of one or more remote commands corresponding to the selected mobile device;

receiving user input selecting a remote command from the list of one or more remote commands;

generating a remote command message identifying the selected remote command; and

transmitting the remote command message to a server for publication in a message topic corresponding to the selected mobile device.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, further operable to cause data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

displaying, for one or more mobile devices included in the presented list, an indication that the mobile device is online.

13. The computer program product of claim 11, further operable to cause data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

identifying at least one remote command included in the list of one or more remote commands that is not enabled for execution on the selected mobile device.

14. The computer program product of claim 11, further operable to cause data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

prompting the user to provide an item of information in response to the selected remote command.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the item of information comprises a message to be displayed on the mobile device.

16. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the item of information comprises confirmation of a wipe command.

17. The computer program product of claim 11, further operable to cause data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

retrieving a result message generated by the mobile device in response to the remote command from a result topic identified in the remote command message.

18. A system comprising:

a server hosting a message topic; and

a computing system including an input interface, a display, and processor electronics configured to perform operations comprising;

presenting, on the display, a user interface listing one or more mobile devices associated with a remote management account;

receiving, through the input interface, a user selection corresponding to one of the one or more mobile devices;

presenting, in the user interface, one or more remote commands enabled for execution by the selected mobile device;

receiving, through the input interface, a user selection corresponding to one of the one or more remote commands; and

transmitting a remote command message corresponding to the selected remote command to a server for publication in a message topic.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the server is further configured to host a result topic.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the processor electronics are further configured to perform operations comprising:

retrieving from the result topic a result message generated by the selected mobile device in response to the remote command message.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the result message includes an execution time associated with the selected remote command.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the processor electronics are further configured to perform operations comprising:

presenting, in the user interface, one or more disabled remote commands corresponding to the selected mobile device;

receiving, through the input interface, a user selection corresponding to one of the one or more disabled remote commands; and

transmitting a message to the selected mobile device enabling the disabled remote command for execution by the selected mobile device.

23. The system of claim 18, wherein the selected remote command comprises a locate command.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the processor electronics are further configured to perform operations comprising:

receiving a result message corresponding to the locate command, the result message including geographic coordinates associated with the selected mobile device; and

presenting, on the display, a map depicting a location of the selected mobile device in accordance with the associated geographic coordinates.