System and method of connection control for wireless mobile communication devices
View Patent ↗Systems and methods of connection control for wireless mobile communication devices enabled for communication via a plurality of communication connections are provided. Connection control information associates software applications with communication connections. When a connection request specifying a requested connection is received from a software application, it is determined whether the requested connection is permitted by the connection control information. Where the requested connection is permitted by the connection control information, the requested connection is opened. If the requested connection is a first connection opened by the software application, then the software application is associated with the requested connection in the connection control information.
1. A method of controlling a connection comprising:
receiving a connection request from a software application;
in response to the connection request satisfying connection control information associated with the software application, authorizing opening a communication connection for use by the software application; and,
in response to the connection request failing to satisfy the connection control information, providing an interface for receiving authorization for the opening of the communication connection and updating the connection control information associated when a received authorization indicates authorization for both current and future opening of the communication connection.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the authorizing the opening of the communication connection comprises opening the communication connection for use by the software application.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising retrieving the connection control information.
4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising comparing one or more control criteria based on the connection control information with one or more request parameters based upon the connection request.
5. The method of claim 3 , further comprising determining a desired communication connection from the connection request and, in response to identifying that the connection control information comprises a record of the desired communication connection as an allowable communication connection, then determining that the connection request satisfies the connection control information associated with the software application.
6. The method of claim 3 , further comprising determining a desired communication connection from the connection request and, in response to identifying that the connection control information comprises a record of the desired communication connection as a prohibited communication connection, then determining that the connection request does not satisfy connection control information associated with the software application.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving the connection control information; and
storing the connection control information.
8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
authenticating the connection control information.
9. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
receiving a connection control information update associated with the software application; and
updating the connection control information based upon the connection control information update.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the connection control information is based upon one or more of: the software application at installation; a connection type associated with the software application; one or more allowable connection types associated with the software application; a source associated therewith or a connection type associated therewith; one or more prohibited connection types associated with the software application; a source associated therewith or a connection type associated therewith; configuration information provided at installation; or manual association of connection control information associated with the software application; wherein the connection request comprises a request for use of a physical transport layer.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the physical transport layer comprises one or more of: a wireless interface, a USB interface, an Infrared Data Association interface, a serial interface, a parallel interface, a PCMCIA interface, or a PCI interface.
12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
updating the connection control information when the received connection request comprises a first connection request received from the software application.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the received connection request satisfies connection control information, the method further comprising receiving data via the communication connection for use by the software application.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the communication connection allows access to data from a computer within a secured corporate computer network.
15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
receiving a second connection request from the software application, wherein the second connection request does not satisfy connection control information; and, in response,
denying authorization for opening a second communication connection.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the connection control information includes one or more connection types associated with the software application.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the one or more connection types comprise at least one of: an external connection, or an internal connection.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the connection request comprises a request for use of a physical transport layer.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the physical transport layer comprises one or more of: a wireless interface, a USB interface, an Infrared Data Association interface, a serial interface, a parallel interface, a PCMCIA interface, or a PCI interface.
20. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that upon execution by a computer cause the computer to control a connection on a remote communicating device by:
receiving a connection request from a software application;
in response to the connection request satisfying connection control information associated with the software application, authorizing opening a communication connection for use by the software application; and,
in response to the connection request failing to satisfy the connection control information, providing an interface for receiving authorization for the opening of the communication connection and updating the connection control information associated when a received authorization indicates authorization for both current and future opening of the communication connection.
21. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 20 , wherein the authorizing the opening of the communication connection comprises opening the communication connection for use by the software application.
22. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 20 , wherein the instructions, upon execution, further cause the computer to control the connection on a remote communicating device by retrieving the connection control information.
23. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 22 , wherein the instructions, upon execution, further cause the computer to control the connection on a remote communicating device by comparing one or more control criteria based on the connection control information with one or more request parameters based upon the connection request.
24. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 22 , wherein the instructions, upon execution, further cause the computer to control the connection on a remote communicating device by determining a desired communication connection from the connection request and, in response to identifying that the connection control information comprises a record of the desired communication connection as an allowable communication connection, then determining that the connection request satisfies the connection control information associated with the software application.
25. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 22 , wherein the instructions, upon execution, further cause the computer to control the connection on a remote communicating device by determining a desired communication connection from the connection request and, in response to identifying that the connection control information comprises a record of the desired communication connection as a prohibited communication connection, then determining that the connection request does not satisfy connection control information associated with the software application.
26. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 20 , wherein the instructions, upon execution, further cause the computer to control the connection on a remote communicating device by:
receiving the connection control information; and
storing the connection control information.
27. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 26 , wherein the instructions, upon execution, further cause the computer to control the connection on a remote communicating device by:
authenticating the connection control information.
28. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 26 , wherein the instructions, upon execution, further cause the computer to control the connection on a remote communicating device by:
receiving a connection control information update associated with the software application; and
updating the connection control information based upon the connection control information update.
29. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 20 , wherein the connection control information is based upon one or more of: the software application at installation; a connection type associated with the software application; one or more allowable connection types associated with the software application; a source associated therewith or a connection type associated therewith; one or more prohibited connection types associated with the software application; a source associated therewith or a connection type associated therewith; configuration information provided at installation; or manual association of connection control information associated with the software application; wherein the connection request comprises a request for use of a physical transport layer.
30. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 29 , wherein the physical transport layer comprises one or more of: a wireless interface, a USB interface, an Infrared Data Association interface, a serial interface, a parallel interface, a PCMCIA interface, or a PCI interface.
31. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 20 , wherein the instructions, upon execution, further cause the computer to control the connection on a remote communicating device by:
updating the connection control information when the received connection request comprises a first connection request received from the software application.
32. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 20 , wherein the received connection request satisfies connection control information, and the instructions, upon execution, further cause the computer to control the connection on a remote communicating device by receiving data via the communication connection for use by the software application.
33. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 32 , wherein the communication connection allows access to data from a computer within a secured corporate computer network.
34. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 33 , wherein the instructions, upon execution, further cause the computer to control the connection on a remote communicating device by:
receiving a second connection request from the software application, wherein the second connection request does not satisfy connection control information; and, in response,
denying authorization for opening a second communication connection.
35. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 20 , wherein the connection control information includes one or more connection types associated with the software application.
36. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 35 , wherein the one or more connection types comprise at least one of: an external connection, or an internal connection.
37. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 20 , wherein the connection request comprises a request for use of a physical transport layer.
38. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 37 , wherein the physical transport layer comprises one or more of: a wireless interface, a USB interface, an Infrared Data Association interface, a serial interface, a parallel interface, a PCMCIA interface, or a PCI interface.