System and method for automatic data security back-up and control for mobile devices
View Patent ↗Systems and methods for providing security and control of mobile communications device activity including at least one mobile communication device with software operable thereon for receiving rules provided by an authorized user of the device(s) and in accordance with those rules administering actions to provide for controlling and security data stored or generated on the device(s), including logging data and activities related to the mobile communications device, blocking and filtering calls, messages, websites, emails, and combinations thereof, via wireless communication with a remote server computer having a corresponding software module operable thereon for managing and implementing the rules.
1. A mobile communication device having automated security and control of device functionality comprising:
a mobile device including processors, input/output devices, memory and displays with graphical user interface operability for providing user inputs and for reviewing status indication of rules and status of implementation on device(s) via remote access or direct access to a server through a network;
the mobile communication device with a software program module operable thereon,
wherein the module administers rules that govern and control device functionality, including:
filtering and blocking communication, data back-up and/or storage, and logging SMS messages, IM messages, MMS messages, emails, phone calls and voicemail, network browsing and/or downloading history, and text-based communication storing select data only when the device is offline, archiving data, including content data, and tagging it for retrieval and searchability, and combinations thereof; wherein the communication including all data and voice conversations in real-time and voicemail left on the network to and/or from the device, logging device activity, including third-party applications installed on the device which may be transmitting both data and voice, storing data associated with device activity, including activity frequency, duration and content, and combinations thereof; and archiving data, including content data, and tagging it for retrieval and searchability; wherein the device software is operating substantially continuously for polling the server for updates;
and wherein the device is operable for automatically communicating with the server having corresponding server software program for controlling device functionality based upon rules established by the authorized user(s), and automatically activating device functionality based upon rules downloaded from the server, including initial rules and updated rules as available.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the rules provide for predetermined numbers and/or websites to be blocked.
3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the rules provide for only cleared numbers to not be blocked to/from device communication.
4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device software provides for the device to be in regular communication with a remote server computer (RSC), which provides for initial rules and for rules updates.
5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the device software provides for uploading data from the device to the RSC, including logging device activity and storing data associated with device activity, including activity frequency, duration and content, attached content and combinations thereof, and forwarding the data in a customizable format, making it readable and searchable to a third-party vendor or to the customer's server on premises.
6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the blocking includes blocking of advertising, location information, commercial transactions, solicitations and combinations thereof.
7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device software provides for remote erase of the device, remote lock of the device, clearing and resetting the password, and locking use of camera, all via the server.
8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device software provides for mobile applications to be installed, uninstalled and managed from the GUI over the network directly to the mobile device.
9. The device of claim 4 , wherein the device software provides for remote control via the RSC for management, locking, and permitting of users to access specific web-based applications and SaaS services and Internet sites, and wherein the device software provides for remote control via the RSC for the device to be permitted or prohibited to connect to an internal network.
10. The device of claim 4 , wherein the device software provides for a “push” notification via the RSC, prompting the device to check in for tasks, policies and queries.
11. The device of claim 4 , wherein the device software provides a certificate enrollment process via the RSC which is used to identify the user's device to authenticate the device on the network.
12. The device of claim 4 , wherein the device software provides for management via the RSC of the devices which have the device software installed and are connected to the RSC; the management actions selected from the group consisting of user authentication, certificate enrollment, device configuration and combinations thereof.
13. The device of claim 4 , wherein the device software provides via the RSC for the voice conversation and voicemail left on the network to be captured, logged, archived and made searchable by the customer via the graphical user interface or sent to a third-party provider or to customer's premise.
14. A system for providing mobile communication security and control comprising:
a remote server computer (RSC) and at least one mobile device in communication with the RSC;
a web service to connect the mobile device to RSC, data stored in memory on the device(s) and having back-up data stored in memory at the RSC; the RSC and mobile device including processors, input/output devices, memory and displays with graphical user interface operability for providing user inputs and for reviewing status indication of the rules and status of implementation on device(s) via remote access or direct access to the server through a network;
the mobile communication device and server running a software program, the software program operable on the mobile communication device for performing the following functions:
associating an authorized user(s) with the device, communicating with the remote server computer (RSC) having corresponding server software program operable thereon for communicating rules to the device software program for controlling device functionality;
wherein the rules are established by the authorized user(s); activating device functionality based upon rules downloaded from the RSC, including initial rules and updated rules as available;
operating substantially continuously for polling and/or communication with the RSC, administering the rules for controlling the device operation, including blocking, filtering, data back-up and/or storage, and logging SMS messages, 1 M messages, MMS messages, emails, social media applications and phone calls including voice conversations in real-time and voicemail left on the network to and/or from the device, network browsing and/or downloading history, and text-based communication; uploading data to the server, wherein the data includes activity log, activity data, activity duration, activity frequency, activity-associated content including third-party applications installed on the device which may be transmitting both data and voice, storing select data on the device, storing select data only when the device is offline, and combinations thereof; and archiving data, including content data, and tagging it for retrieval and searchability, auditing and reporting.
15. A method for providing mobile communication control comprising the steps of:
providing a remote server computer (RSC) and at least one mobile communication device in communication with the RSC; a web service to connect the mobile device to RSC, data stored in memory on the device(s) and having back-up data stored in memory at the RSC; the RSC and mobile device including processors, input/output devices, memory and displays with graphical user interface operability for providing user inputs and for reviewing status indication of the rules and status of implementation on device(s) via remote access or direct access to the server through a network; the mobile communication device and server running a software program, wherein the software program includes a module operable on the mobile communication device, the module further performing the steps comprising:
associating an authorized user(s) with the device;
automatically communicating with the remote server computer (RSC) having corresponding server software program for controlling device functionality based upon rules established by the authorized user(s);
automatically activating device functionality based upon rules downloaded from the RSC, including initial rules and updated rules as available;
operating substantially continuously for polling and/or communication with the RSC, administering the rules for controlling the device operation, including blocking, filtering, data back-up and/or storage, and logging SMS messages, IM messages, MMS messages, emails, phone calls and voicemail, network browsing and/or downloading history, and text-based communication;
uploading data to the server, wherein the data includes activity log, activity data, activity duration, activity frequency, activity-associated content, storing select data on the device, storing select data only when the device is offline, and combinations thereof; and
archiving data, including content data, and tagging it for retrieval and searchability.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the device software provides for remote erase of the device, remote lock of the device, clearing and resetting the password, and locking use of camera.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the device software and RSC provides mobile applications to be installed, uninstalled and managed from the GUI over the network directly to the mobile device.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the device software and RSC manages, locks, and permits users to access specific web-based applications and SaaS services and Internet sites.
19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the device software and RSC provides for remote control of which devices are permitted or prohibited to connect to an internal network.
20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the device software and the RSC provides for a “push” notification prompting the device to check in for tasks, policies and queries.
21. The method of claim 15 , wherein the device software and the RSC provides a certificate enrollment process which is used to identify the user's device to authenticate the device on the network.
22. The method of claim 15 , wherein the device software and the RSC provides for management of the devices which have the device software installed and are connected to the RSC; the management actions selected from the group consisting of user authentication, certificate enrollment, device configuration and combinations thereof.
23. The method of claim 15 , wherein the device software and the RSC provide for the voice conversation and voicemail left on the network to be captured, logged, archived and made searchable by the customer via the graphical user interface or sent to a third-party provider or to customer's premise.