System and method for wireless data terminal management using telecommunication signaling network

1. A method for remotely managing a wireless device over a telecommunications network comprising a server and the wireless device, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing from the server to the wireless device a communicative connection between the server and the wireless device over a signaling channel of the telecommunications network, wherein the communicative connection is established based on a threshold condition;

transmitting a command from the server to the wireless device over the signaling network, wherein the wireless device executes commands including:

enabling access to user-specific data used by application software on the wireless device requiring user interaction locally on the wireless device, enabling the application software, erasing at least a portion of the user-specific data, transmitting new application software and new user-specific data to the wireless device, querying a current state of the wireless device, and reconfiguring the application software,

disabling access to user-specific data used by application software on the wireless device requiring user interaction locally on the wireless device, and

disabling the application software;

executing the command at the wireless device after verifying at the wireless device that a signature sent by the server that is an origin of the command and signature of the device are in agreement; and

transmitting information relating to execution of the command at the wireless device from the wireless device to the server.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the signaling channel of the telecommunications network comprises a Common Channel Signaling System 7 channel.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the signaling channel of the telecommunications network comprises a Short Message Service.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the transmitting step comprises the step of:

transmitting the command to a management agent process executing on the wireless device.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the transmitting step comprises the step of:

transmitting the command to a management agent process executing on the wireless device in a Short Message Service message.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein the transmitting step comprises the step of:

transmitting the command to a management agent process executing on the wireless device.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising the step of:

transmitting information relating to execution of the command at the wireless device from the wireless device to the server.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the information relating to execution of the command is transmitted periodically.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the information relating to execution of the command is transmitted based on a threshold condition of the wireless device.

10. The method of claim 3 , wherein the transmitting step comprises the step 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 DCB for the wireless device at the server;

placing a command for the wireless device in the DCB; and

delivering the command from the DCB to the wireless device.

11. The method of claim 10 , 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 DCB from the wireless device to the server; and

transmitting the contents of the DCB from the server to the wireless device.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the delivering step comprises the steps of:

establishing a connection between the wireless device and the server;

transmitting the contents of the DCB from the server to the wireless device without a request from the wireless device; and

accepting the contents of the DCB at the wireless device.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising the step of:

transmitting information relating to execution of the command at the wireless device from the wireless device to the server.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the information relating to execution of the command is transmitted periodically.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the information relating to execution of the command is transmitted based on a threshold condition of the wireless device.

16. 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:

establishing from the server to the wireless device a communicative connection between the server and the wireless device over a signaling channel of the telecommunications network, wherein the communicative connection is established based on a threshold condition;

transmitting a command from the server to the wireless device over the signaling network, wherein the wireless device executes commands including:

enabling access to user-specific data used by application software on the wireless device requiring user interaction locally on the wireless device, enabling the application software, erasing at least a portion of the user-specific data, transmitting new application software and new user-specific data to the wireless device, querying a current state of the wireless device, and reconfirming the application software,

disabling access to user-specific data used by application software on the wireless device requiring user interaction locally on the wireless device, and

disabling the application software;

executing the command at the wireless device after verifying at the wireless device that a signature sent by the server that is an origin of the command and signature of the device are in agreement; and

transmitting information relating to execution of the command at the wireless device from the wireless device to the server.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the signaling channel of the telecommunications network comprises a Common Channel Signaling System 7 channel.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the signaling channel of the telecommunications network comprises a Short Message Service.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the transmitting step comprises the step of:

transmitting the command to a management agent process executing on the wireless device.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the transmitting step comprises the step of:

transmitting the command to a management agent process executing on the wireless device in a Short Message Service message.

21. The system of claim 18 , wherein the transmitting step comprises the step of:

transmitting the command to a management agent process executing on the wireless device.

22. The system of claim 21 , further comprising the step of:

transmitting information relating to execution of the command at the wireless device from the wireless device to the server.

23. The system of claim 22 , wherein the information relating to execution of the command is transmitted periodically.

24. The system of claim 22 , wherein the information relating to execution of the command is transmitted based on a threshold condition of the wireless device.

25. The system of claim 18 , wherein the transmitting step comprises the step of:

receiving registration information from the wireless device;

verifying the received registration information;

placing a command for the wireless device in a DCB; and

delivering the command to the wireless device.

26. The system of claim 25 , wherein the delivering step comprises the steps of:

establishing a connection with the wireless device;

receiving a request for contents of the DCB from the wireless device; and

transmitting the contents of the DCB to the wireless device.

27. The system of claim 25 , wherein the delivering step comprises the steps of:

establishing a connection with the wireless device; and

transmitting the contents of the DCB to the wireless device without a request from the wireless device.

28. The system of claim 25 , further comprising the step of:

receiving information relating to execution of the command at the wireless device from the wireless device.

29. 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

establishing from the server to the wireless device a communicative connection between the server and the wireless device over a signaling channel of the telecommunications network, wherein the communicative connection is established based on a threshold condition;

transmitting a command from the server to the wireless device over the signaling network, wherein the wireless device executes commands including:

enabling access to user-specific data used by application software on the wireless device requiring user interaction locally on the wireless device, enabling the application software, erasing at least a portion of the user-specific data, transmitting new application software and new user-specific data to the wireless device, querying a current state of the wireless device, and reconfirming the application software,

disabling access to user-specific data used by application software on the wireless device requiring user interaction locally on the wireless device, and

disabling the application software;

executing the command at the wireless device after verifying at the wireless device that a signature sent by the server that is an origin of the command and signature of the device are in agreement; and

transmitting information relating to execution of the command at the wireless device from the wireless device to the server.

30. The computer program product of claim 29 , wherein the signaling channel of the telecommunications network comprises a Common Channel Signaling System 7 channel.

31. The computer program product of claim 30 , wherein the signaling channel of the telecommunications network comprises a Short Message Service.

32. The computer program product of claim 31 , wherein the transmitting step comprises the step of:

transmitting the command to a management agent process executing on the wireless device.

33. The computer program product of claim 32 , wherein the transmitting step comprises the step of:

transmitting the command to a management agent process executing on the wireless device in a Short Message Service message.

34. The computer program product of claim 31 , wherein the transmitting step comprises the step of:

transmitting the command to a management agent process executing on the wireless device.

35. The computer program product of claim 34 , further comprising the step of:

transmitting information relating to execution of the command at the wireless device from the wireless device to the server.

36. The computer program product of claim 35 , wherein the information relating to execution of the command is transmitted periodically.

37. The computer program product of claim 35 , wherein the information relating to execution of the command is transmitted based on a threshold condition of the wireless device.

38. The computer program product of claim 31 , wherein the transmitting step comprises the step of:

receiving registration information from the wireless device;

verifying the received registration information;

placing a command for the wireless device in a DCB; and

delivering the command to the wireless device.

39. The computer program product of claim 38 , wherein the delivering step comprises the steps of:

establishing a connection with the wireless device;

receiving a request for contents of the DCB from the wireless device; and

transmitting the contents of the DCB to the wireless device.

40. The computer program product of claim 38 , wherein the delivering step comprises the steps of:

establishing a connection with the wireless device; and

transmitting the contents of the DCB to the wireless device without a request from the wireless device.

41. The computer program product of claim 38 , further comprising the step of:

receiving information relating to execution of the command at the wireless device from the wireless device.