Remote administration of mobile wireless devices

• US 8,516,095 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2008
• Issued: 08/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Eisener, Thane, Doucet, Heloise Rose
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Philip B
• Application Number:
  US12/172,026
• Publication Number:
  US 20090292799A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,866 Days
• Field of Search: 709/220, 709/223, 709/224, 709/203
• 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 provide a mechanism to enhance the communication capabilities of wireless users. Various embodiments include apparatus and methods to manage operational features of a mobile wireless device using a parameter for the mobile wireless device set in another mobile wireless device. This mechanism allows for remote administration of the mobile wireless device. In various embodiments, such a parameter can be correlated to directed action to be conducted by a wireless server, where the wireless server identifies the directed action, corresponding to the parameter, during transferal of the parameter from the mobile wireless device in which the parameter is set to the mobile wireless device that is managed using the parameter or a derived parameter. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of remotely controlling one or more operational features of a first mobile wireless device from a second mobile wireless device over a communications network, the method comprising:

the receiving a controlling parameter at a wireless server in communication with the second mobile wireless device, the wireless server identifying the parameter such that the wireless server undertakes an activity based on identifying the parameter, the activity being other than transferring the parameter to the first mobile wireless device;

transferring, from the wireless server, the parameter to the first mobile wireless device with the wireless service undertaking the activity during transferring the parameter from the second mobile wireless device to the first mobile wireless device; and

directing the first mobile wireless device to operate in correspondence to the parameter, such that one or more operational features of the first mobile wireless device are managed using the parameter in response to receipt of the parameter, a common identity registering the first and second mobile wireless devices.

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, wherein the management of the set of operational features is correlated with a second wireless server, the first and third mobile wireless devices being registered to a common identity in the second wireless server such that registrations of the first wireless device are 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, the management of the set of operational features being correlated with a second wireless server in which the plurality of mobile wireless devices are registered to a common identity, wherein registrations of the second wireless device are 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 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.

7. 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.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more operational features include one or more of changing a password for a specific activity for the first mobile wireless device, regulating internet access by the first mobile wireless device, generating a page in the first mobile wireless device to provide an audible sound to locate the first mobile wireless device, regulating voice and data sessions of the first mobile wireless device, or blocking access to functions normally available to a user of the first mobile wireless device.

9. A method comprising:

receiving, in a wireless server, a message from a first mobile wireless device, the message having a control parameter from the first wireless device to set one or more operational features in a second 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 designated as an administrator device for the second mobile wireless device;

transmitting, from the wireless server to the second mobile wireless device, the parameter or another parameter derived from the parameter in response to the determination; and

identifying directed action in and to be conducted by the wireless server, the directed action identified, corresponding to identifying the parameter in the wireless server, during transferal of the parameter or the derived parameter to the second mobile wireless device by the wireless server, the directed action being other than transferring the parameter or the derived parameter to the second mobile wireless device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein transmitting the parameter or derived parameter includes transmitting the parameter from the wireless server to the second mobile wireless device when the second mobile wireless device becomes available to enter into a communications session with the wireless server over one of a plurality of communication networks selected in the wireless server or autonomously at a scheduled time in the wireless server.

11. 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 being a machine readable storage medium, the memory including instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the controller, cause the mobile wireless device to perform operations, wherein the controller, the display, and the memory are configured to select 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 and the controller, the display, and the memory are configured to select the parameter subject to correlation of different policy rules of the mobile wireless device, the other mobile wireless device, and the wireless server.

12. The mobile wireless device of claim 11, wherein the mobile wireless device is configurable for registration on another wireless server such that 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.

13. The mobile wireless device of claim 11, wherein the controller, the display, and the memory are configured 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 device under feature administration by the other mobile wireless device.

14. The mobile wireless device of claim 11, wherein operational features include changing a password of the other mobile wireless device.

15. The mobile wireless device of claim 11, wherein operational features include page generation in the other mobile wireless device to provide an audible sound to locate the other wireless device.

16. The mobile wireless device of claim 11, wherein operational features include regulating access of the other mobile wireless device to an internet.

17. The mobile wireless device of claim 11, wherein operational features include regulating voice and data sessions of the other mobile wireless device.

18. A wireless server comprising:

a processor; and

a communications servlet operably coupled to the processor, the communications servlet including a machine readable storage medium, the machine readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the processor, cause the wireless server to perform operations, the processor and the communications servlet configured to;

receive 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;

determine 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;

transmit the parameter, or a derived parameter generated from the parameter, to the second mobile wireless device; and

identify directed action in and to be conducted by the wireless server, the directed action identified, corresponding to identifying the parameter, during transferal of the parameter or the derived parameter to the second mobile wireless device by the wireless server, the directed action being other than transferring the parameter or the derived parameter to the second mobile wireless device.

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

20. The wireless server of claim 18, wherein the parameter includes a password for the second mobile wireless device.

21. The wireless server of claim 18, wherein the message includes a destination servlet of the wireless server and message data.

22. The wireless server of claim 18, wherein the wireless server is configured to update a database at the wireless server with the operational feature for setting in the second mobile wireless device.

23. The wireless server of claim 18, wherein the wireless server is configured to receive the message through internet communications.

24. The wireless server of claim 18, wherein the wireless server is configured in a personal computer.