System and method for remote control and management of wireless devices
View Patent ↗A method, system, and computer program product that provides the capability to manage, control, and reconfigure wireless devices remotely over a wireless network with acceptable reliability and security. In one embodiment, the method for remotely managing a wireless device over a wireless network comprising a server and the wireless device, the wireless network operable to communicatively connect the server and the wireless device, comprises the steps of: transmitting registration information relating to the wireless device from the wireless device to the server, verifying the registration information at the server, establishing a mailbox for the wireless device at the server, placing a command for the wireless device in the mailbox, delivering the command from the mailbox to the wireless device, and executing the command at the wireless device.
1. A method for remotely managing a wireless device over a wireless network comprising a server and the wireless device, the wireless network operable to communicatively connect the server and the wireless device, the method comprising the steps of:
transmitting registration information relating to the wireless device from the wireless device to the server;
verifying the registration information at the server; and
without a request from the wireless device, performing the steps of:
establishing a mailbox for the wireless device at the server,
placing a command for the wireless device in the mailbox at the server,
delivering the command from the mailbox at the server to the wireless device by establishing a connection between the wireless device and the server, transmitting the contents of the mailbox from the server to the wireless device, and accepting the contents of the mailbox at the wireless device, and
executing the command at the wireless device;
wherein the connection is established based on a threshold condition.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the delivering step comprises the steps of:
establishing a connection between the wireless device and the server;
transmitting a request for contents of the mailbox from the wireless device to the server; and
transmitting the contents of the mailbox from the server to the wireless device.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the connection is established periodically.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the connection is established periodically.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the command comprises one of:
enabling/disabling access of the wireless device to the server;
enabling/disabling applications that may run on the wireless device;
erasing all or part of contents of the wireless device;
transmitting new programs and data to the wireless device;
querying a current state of the wireless device;
monitoring a level of a battery in the wireless device; and
monitoring the location of the wireless device in the wireless network.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
transmitting information relating to execution of the command at the wireless device from the wireless device to the server.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the information relating to execution of the command is transmitted periodically.
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the information relating to execution of the command is transmitted based on a threshold condition of the wireless device.
9. A method for remotely managing a wireless device from a server over a wireless network comprising the steps of:
receiving registration information from the wireless device at the server;
verifying the received registration information at the server; and
without a request from the wireless device, performing the steps of:
placing a command for the wireless device in a mailbox at the server, and
delivering the command to the wireless device from the server by establishing a connection with the wireless device, receiving a request for contents of the mailbox from the wireless device, and transmitting the contents of the mailbox to the wireless device; and
wherein the connection is established based on a threshold condition.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the connection is established periodically.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the command comprises one of:
enabling/disabling access of the wireless device to the server;
enabling/disabling applications that may run on the wireless device;
erasing all or part of contents of the wireless device;
transmitting new programs and data to the wireless device;
querying a current state of the wireless device;
monitoring a level of a battery in the wireless device; and
monitoring the location of the wireless device in the wireless network.
12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising the step of:
receiving information relating to execution of the command at the wireless device from the wireless device.
13. A system for remotely managing a wireless device over a wireless network, the system comprising:
a processor operable to execute computer program instructions; and
a memory operable to store computer program instructions executable by the processor, for performing the steps of:
receiving registration information from the wireless device;
verifying the received registration information; and
without a request from the wireless device, performing the steps of:
placing a command for the wireless device in a mailbox, and
delivering the command to the wireless device by establishing a connection with the wireless device, receiving a request for contents of the mailbox from the wireless device, and transmitting the contents of the mailbox to the wireless device; and
wherein the connection is established based on a threshold condition.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the connection is established periodically.
15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the command comprises one of:
enabling/disabling access of the wireless device to the server;
enabling/disabling applications that may run on the wireless device;
erasing all or part of contents of the wireless device;
transmitting new programs and data to the wireless device;
querying a current state of the wireless device;
monitoring a level of a battery in the wireless device; and
monitoring the location of the wireless device in the wireless network.
16. The system of claim 13 , further comprising the step of:
receiving information relating to execution of the command at the wireless device from the wireless device.
17. A computer program product for remotely managing a wireless device over a wireless network, comprising:
a computer readable medium;
computer program instructions, recorded on the computer readable medium, executable by a processor, for performing the steps of
receiving registration information from the wireless device;
verifying the received registration information; and
without a request from the wireless device, performing the steps of:
placing a command for the wireless device in a mailbox, and
delivering the command to the wireless device by establishing a connection with the wireless device, receiving a request for contents of the mailbox from the wireless device, and transmitting the contents of the mailbox to the wireless device; and
wherein the connection is established based on a threshold condition.
18. The computer program product of claim 17 , wherein the connection is established periodically.
19. The computer program product of claim 17 , wherein the command comprises one of:
enabling/disabling access of the wireless device to the server;
enabling/disabling applications that may run on the wireless device;
erasing all or part of contents of the wireless device;
transmitting new programs and data to the wireless device;
querying a current state of the wireless device;
monitoring a level of a battery in the wireless device; and
monitoring the location of the wireless device in the wireless network.
20. The computer program product of claim 17 , further comprising the step of:
receiving information relating to execution of the command at the wireless device from the wireless device.
21. The method of claim 1 , wherein the command comprises enabling/disabling access of the wireless device to the server.
22. The method of claim 1 , wherein the command comprises enabling/disabling applications that may run on the wireless device.
23. The method of claim 1 , wherein the command comprises erasing all or part of contents of the wireless device.
24. The method of claim 1 , wherein the command comprises transmitting new programs and data to the wireless device.
25. The method of claim 1 , wherein the command comprises querying a current state of the wireless device.
26. The method of claim 1 , wherein the command comprises monitoring a level of a battery in the wireless device.
27. The method of claim 1 , wherein the command comprises monitoring a location of the wireless device in the wireless network.
28. The method of claim 9 , wherein the command comprises enabling/disabling access of the wireless device to the server.
29. The method of claim 9 , wherein the command comprises enabling/disabling applications that may run on the wireless device.
30. The method of claim 9 , wherein the command comprises erasing all or part of contents of the wireless device.
31. The method of claim 9 , wherein the command comprises transmitting new programs and data to the wireless device.
32. The method of claim 9 , wherein the command comprises querying a current state of the wireless device.
33. The method of claim 9 , wherein the command comprises monitoring a level of a battery in the wireless device.
34. The method of claim 9 , wherein the command comprises monitoring a location of the wireless device in the wireless network.
35. The system of claim 13 , wherein the command comprises enabling/disabling access of the wireless device to the server.
36. The system of claim 13 , wherein the command comprises enabling/disabling applications that may run on the wireless device.
37. The system of claim 13 , wherein the command comprises erasing all or part of contents of the wireless device.
38. The system of claim 13 , wherein the command comprises transmitting new programs and data to the wireless device.
39. The system of claim 13 , wherein the command comprises querying a current state of the wireless device.
40. The system of claim 13 , wherein the command comprises monitoring a level of a battery in the wireless device.
41. The system of claim 13 , wherein the command comprises monitoring a location of the wireless device in the wireless network.
42. The computer program product of claim 17 , wherein the command comprises enabling/disabling access of the wireless device to the server.
43. The computer program product of claim 17 , wherein the command comprises enabling/disabling applications that may run on the wireless device.
44. The computer program product of claim 17 , wherein the command comprises erasing all or part of contents of the wireless device.
45. The computer program product of claim 17 , wherein the command comprises transmitting new programs and data to the wireless device.
46. The computer program product of claim 17 , wherein the command comprises querying a current state of the wireless device.
47. The computer program product of claim 17 , wherein the command comprises monitoring a level of a battery in the wireless device.
48. The computer program product of claim 17 , wherein the command comprises monitoring a location of the wireless device in the wireless network.