Providing a masked short message service in a wireless network

• US 9,565,564 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2014
• Issued: 02/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Modarressi, Abdi R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bhattacharya, Sam
• Application Number:
  US14/531,672
• Publication Number:
  US 20150056958A1
• Time in Patent Office: 827 Days
• Field of Search: 455/411, 455/412.1, 455/412.2, 455/414.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/606 by securing the transmission between two devices or processes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/695 using masks or ranges of addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0876 based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1063 Application servers providing network services systems providing special services to telephonic subscribers H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/068 using credential vaults, e.g. password manager applications or one time password [OTP] applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/184 Messaging devices, e.g. message centre

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing a masked short message service in a wireless network are disclosed. For example, the method receives a message from a first endpoint device directed to a second endpoint device, wherein the message indicates that the message is a masked short message service message, and forwards the masked short message service message with a code towards the second endpoint device. In one example, the second endpoint device parses the message and executes instructions contained therein, e.g., for sending a regular SMS with content derived from masked SMS, making a call, playing music, finding location by invoking an API, sending a file or a picture and any other functions that the second endpoint device may be capable of doing. The masked short message service provides a method for remotely controlling a 2G/3G mobile device through a computer or another mobile device.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

creating, by a processor of a first endpoint device, a message directed to a second endpoint device, wherein the message indicates that the message is a masked short message service message, wherein the masked short message service message comprises a command to be executed by the second endpoint device, wherein the first endpoint device comprises a user endpoint device;

receiving, by the processor, a code from an application server of a network service provider;

sending, by the processor, the masked short message service message with the code towards the second endpoint device;

receiving, by the processor, an authentication request from the second endpoint device; and

providing, by the processor, a response to the authentication request.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the code is received by the first endpoint device in a response to a request sent by the first endpoint device to the network service provider.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first endpoint device receives an application for creating the masked short message service message from the application server of the network service provider.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the code is provided to the second endpoint device by the application server of the network service provider.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the code is provided to the second endpoint device in a response to a request sent by the second user endpoint device to the network service provider.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the masked short message service message is parsed by the second endpoint device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second endpoint device receives an application for parsing the masked short message service message from the application server of the network service provider.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second endpoint device determines the message is the masked short message service message by searching for the code.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the second endpoint device authenticates the first endpoint device by sending the authentication request when the message is the masked short message service message.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the second endpoint device retrieves a command message from the masked short message service message, when the first endpoint device is successfully authenticated, wherein the first endpoint device is successfully authenticated when the response to the authentication request is received.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the second endpoint device processes the command message that is retrieved.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first endpoint device is a computer.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the first endpoint device is a mobile endpoint device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the mobile endpoint device comprises a smart phone.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the second endpoint device is a mobile endpoint device.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium to store a plurality of instructions which, when executed by a processor of a first endpoint device, wherein the first endpoint device comprises a user endpoint device, cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

creating a message directed to a second endpoint device, wherein the message indicates that the message is a masked short message service message, wherein the masked short message service message comprises a command to be executed by the second endpoint device;

receiving a code from an application server of a network service provider;

sending the masked short message service message with the code towards the second endpoint device;

receiving an authentication request from the second endpoint device; and

providing a response to the authentication request.

17. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor of a first endpoint device, wherein the first endpoint device comprises a user endpoint device; and

a computer-readable medium storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising;

creating a message directed to a second endpoint device, wherein the message indicates that the message is a masked short message service message, wherein the masked short message service message comprises a command to be executed by the second endpoint device;

receiving a code from an application server of a network service provider;

sending the masked short message service message with the code towards the second endpoint device;

receiving an authentication request from the second endpoint device; and

providing a response to the authentication request.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the code is received by the first endpoint device in a response to a request sent by the first endpoint device to the network service provider.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the endpoint device receives an application for creating the masked short message service message from the application server of the network service provider.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the code is provided to the second endpoint device by the application server of the network service provider.