System and method for controlling devices using short message service
An administrator can use an administrative-wireless-device to control a target wireless device using an SMS message to convey a command. The data of the command message can be encrypted to prevent malicious attacks. The encrypted data may include a universal device identifier unique to the target device, the phone number of the administrative-wireless-device, and a time stamp memorializing command or message creation. Before executing the command, however, the target device compares the phone number of the administrative-wireless-device with the number identified with the incoming SMS message to authenticate the administrative-wireless-device.
1. A method of communicating with a target wireless device having a target-wireless-device phone number using an administrative wireless device having an administrative-wireless-device phone number, the method comprising:
encrypting at least a portion of a payload that includes the administrative-wireless-device phone number, thereby creating an encrypted payload portion;
breaking the encrypted payload portion into a plurality of parts, for sending in a plurality of messages, wherein at least one of the messages includes an encrypted part of the administrative-wireless-device phone number; and
sending the messages to the target-wireless-device phone number.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving the encrypted payload portion at the administrative-wireless-device.
3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising requesting the encrypted payload portion responsive to a report identifying the target-wireless-device.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the encrypted payload portion comprises a lost-mode command.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the encrypted payload portion includes the target-wireless-device phone number.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the encrypted payload portion includes an identifier unique to the target-wireless-device.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one message includes a time stamp indicative of a time the at least one message was created, and comparing, at the target-wireless-device, the time stamp with an earlier-received time stamp associated with another message.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, at the target-wireless-device:
receiving the at least one message accompanied by a sender phone number;
comparing the sender phone number to the administrative-wireless-device phone number; and
executing a command responsive to the comparing.
9. A method of communicating with a target wireless device having a target-wireless-device phone number using an administrative wireless device having an administrative-wireless-device phone number, the method comprising:
encrypting at least a portion of a payload that includes the administrative-wireless-device phone number, including encrypting a plurality of digits of the administrative-wireless-device phone number, thereby creating an encrypted payload portion; and
directing a command message to the target-wireless-device phone number, the command message including the encrypted payload portion.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising receiving the encrypted payload portion at the administrative-wireless-device.
11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising requesting the encrypted payload portion responsive to a report identifying the target-wireless-device.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the encrypted payload portion includes the target-wireless-device phone number.
13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the encrypted payload portion includes an identifier unique to the target-wireless-device.
14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the command message includes a time stamp indicative of a time the command message was created.
15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising, at the target wireless device:
comparing the time stamp with an earlier-received time stamp associated with another command.
16. The method of claim 9 , further comprising, at the target wireless device:
receiving the command message accompanied by a sender phone number;
comparing the sender phone number to the administrative-wireless-device phone number; and
executing a lost-mode command responsive to the comparing.
17. A system for communicating with a target wireless device having a target-wireless-device phone number, the system comprising:
an administrative wireless device having an administrative-wireless-device phone number, the administrative wireless device adapted to convey a command message to the target-wireless-device phone number, the command message including a payload portion containing an encrypted plurality of digits of the administrative-wireless-device phone number.
18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the administrative wireless device is adapted to encrypt the payload portion.
19. The system of claim 17 , wherein the command message specifies the target-wireless-device phone number and a device identifier of the target wireless device.
20. The system of claim 17 , further comprising a server remote from the administrative wireless device, the server to encrypt the payload portion.
21. The system of claim 17 , further comprising a server to prepare the command message and convey the command message to the administrative wireless device.