Communication method and infrastructure supporting device security and tracking of mobile and portable multimedia devices
From a laptop and a client server interface, a subscriber securely initiates tracking and/or disabling of a communication device by a server. The subscriber receives location and/or usage reports for the communication device. The subscriber is provided with the capability to modify a profile, device status and/or transfer ownership of the device via a client server interface. Based on the profile, detection of a particular event triggers tracking and/or disabling of the device by the server. The communication device registers with the server utilizing its unique device ID and/or the subscriber identity information when accessing the internet. The server is enabled to communicate a status and/or a request for tracking information, to the communication device. The server is also enabled to receive tracking and/or location information and communicates it to the subscriber's laptop.
1. A method for communication, the method comprising:
in a first communication devic comprising a client server interface:
accessing a server, via said client server interface, to initiate managing and/or controlling of one or more communication devices comprising a second communication device, wherein:
said first communication device and said second communication device are owned or used by a single subscriber;
said server receives information from and manages and/or controls authorized and unauthorized use of, said one or more communication devices; and
said one or more communication devices comprises a wireless communication device; and
in response to said initiated managing and/or controlling, receiving reported usage and/or location information for said managed and/or controlled one or more communication devices comprising said second communication device.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said second communication device is managed and/or controlled based on its corresponding unique identifier which is communicated to said server.
3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein said unique identifier is securely stored within said second communication device in independent and/or static memory.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said wireless communication device comprises a wireless phone and/or a personal computer.
5. The method according to claim 1 , comprising configuring said server by said first communication device, to log one or more of phone call information, message information, data transmission information, image information, SIM card information and/or geographic location information of said second communication device, during said authorized use of said second communication device and/or during unauthorized use of said second communication device, for review at said first communication device.
6. The method according to claim 1 , comprising configuring said server via said first communication device, to constrain, enable and/or disable one or more of communication device usage, phone calls, data transmission and location tracking for authorized use of said second communication device and/or for unauthorized use of said second communication device.
7. The method according to claim 1 , comprising changing a status of said second communication device via said client server interface.
8. The method according to claim 1 , comprising transferring secure access permission for access to said second communication device to a second person via a client server interface.
9. A method for communication, the method comprising:
detecting communication initiated by a first communication device based on a profile associated with said first communication device;
in response to said detected communication initiated by said first communication device, one or both of:
initiating capturing one or more of phone call information, message information, data transmission information, image information, SIM card information and/or geographic location information corresponding to said first communication device during authorized use of said first communication device and/or during unauthorized use of said first communication device; and
enabling, disabling and/or managing constraints on one or both of phone calls and data transmission for an authorized user of said first communication device and/or for an unauthorized user of said first communication device; and
communicating information resulting from said capturing to a second device based on said profile.
10. The method according to claim 9 , comprising receiving said captured information from said first communication device.
11. The method according to claim 9 , wherein said profile specifies how said capturing is to be done and/or which functions of said first communication device to enable, disable and/or manage.
12. The method according to claim 9 , comprising uploading images captured by said first communication device and recording time and location corresponding to said captured images for post capture review of said images.
13. The method according to claim 9 , wherein said profile is modifiable by an authorized user via a client interface.
14. The method according to claim 9 , wherein said detected communication occurs when said first communication device accesses a network.
15. The method according to claim 9 , comprising receiving unique device identity and/or user identity information from said first communication device when said first communication device initiates access to a network.
16. The method according to claim 9 , comprising communicating to said first communication device, status of said first communication device and/or a request for capturing information.
17. A system for communication, the system comprising:
one or more circuits for use in a first communication device wherein said first communication device comprises a client server interface, said one or more circuits are operable to:
access a server, via said client server interface, to initiate managing and/or controlling of one or more communication devices comprising a second communication device, wherein:
said first communication device and said second communication device are owned or used by a single subscriber;
said server receives information from and manages and/or controls authorized and unauthorized use of, said one or more communication devices; and
said one or more communication devices comprises a wireless communication device; and
in response to said initiated managing and/or controlling, receive reported usage and/or location information for said managed and/or controlled one or more communication devices comprising said second communication device.
18. The system according to claim 17 , wherein said wireless communication device comprises a wireless phone and/or a personal computer.
19. The system according to claim 17 , wherein said second communication device is managed and/or controlled based on its corresponding unique identifier which is communicated to said server.
20. The system according to claim 17 , wherein said unique identifier is securely stored within said second communication device in independent and/or static memory.
21. The system according to claim 17 , wherein said one or more circuits are operable to configure said server to log one or more of phone call information, message information, data transmission information, image information, SIM card information and/or geographic location information of said second communication device, during said authorized use of said second communication device and/or during unauthorized use of said second communication device, for review at said first communication device.
22. The system according to claim 17 , wherein said one or more circuits are operable to configure said server to constrain, enable and/or disable one or more of communication device usage, phone calls, data transmission and location tracking for authorized use of said second communication device and/or for unauthorized use of said second communication device.
23. The system according to claim 17 , wherein said one or more circuits are operable to change a status of said second communication device via a client server interface.
24. The system according to claim 17 , wherein said one or more circuits are operable to transfer secure access permission for access to said second communication device to a second person via a client server interface.
25. A system for communication, the system comprising:
one or more circuits operable to:
detect communication initiated by a first communication device based on a profile associated with said first communication device;
in response to said detected communication initiated by said first communication device, one or both of:
initiate capture of one or more of phone call information, message information, data transmission information, image information, SIM card information and/or geographic location information corresponding to said first communication device during authorized use of said first communication device and/or during unauthorized use of said first communication device; and
enable disabling and/or managing of constraints on one or both of phone calls and data transmission for an authorized user of said first communication device and/or for an unauthorized user of said first communication device; and
communicate information resulting from said capture to a second device based on said profile.
26. The system according to claim 25 , wherein said one or more circuits are operable to receive said captured information from said first communication device.
27. The system according to claim 25 , wherein said profile specifies how said capturing is to be done and/or which functions of said first communication device to enable, disable and/or manage.
28. The system according to claim 25 , wherein said one or more circuits are operable to upload images captured by said first communication device and recording time and location corresponding to said captured images for post capture review of said images.
29. The system according to claim 25 , wherein said profile is modifiable by an authorized user via a client interface.
30. The system according to claim 25 , wherein said detected communication occurs when said first communication device accesses a network.
31. The system according to claim 25 , wherein said one or more circuits are operable to receive unique device identity and/or user identity information from said first communication device when said first communication device initiates access to a network.
32. The system according to claim 25 , wherein said one or more circuits are operable to communicate to said first communication device, status of said first communication device and/or a request for capturing information.