Systems and methods that provide user and/or network personal data disabling commands for mobile devices

Abstract

The present invention relates to systems and methods that employ various mechanisms to selectively disable mobile device functionality. In general, mobile devices can be utilized to store personal and/or highly sensitive information such as bank account numbers, social security numbers, credit card numbers and the like. If the mobile device is lost or stolen, data stored within the device can be accessed by an unauthorized user; and, thus, any personal and/or highly sensitive information can be obtained. In order to mitigate unauthorized access, the subject invention provides a disabling component that communicates with the lost or stolen device to render data stored thereon inaccessible. Further, the data can be stored in local or remote locations to backup stored information, thereby creating a more robust and reliable method of storing information important to the device owner. These features provide enhancements over conventional mobile device security techniques.

1 . A system that limits mobile device functionality via a wireless network, comprising: 
 an input component that receives a remotely originated request to disable the mobile device; and    a disabling component that limits access to memory within the mobile device based on the request.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , the request activates a pre-programmed security feature stored within the mobile device.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , the security feature erases data stored in the mobile device's memory.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , the request is transmitted via a phone call and verified based on a caller identification.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , the request to disable the mobile device is made by placing a wireless phone call that invokes the request.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , the wireless network protocol is one of an IS2000, a CDMA, a TCDMA, a WCDMA, a TDMA, a FDMA, a GSM, a PCS, a Bluetooth, a Wi-Fi, a Cellular and a GPS protocol.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , the request is broadcast to the mobile device via one of a one-time transmission, a periodic transmission and a continuous transmission.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , the disabling component transmits a return signal to verify access to the mobile device memory has been limited.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1 , the disabling component further limits mobile device access via at least one of a keypad lock, a voice lock, a screen blank-out and a deletion of the device memory.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1  further comprises a tracking component that utilizes the request to facilitate locating the mobile device.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10 , the tracking component employs one or more of a global positioning system, a homing beacon and an audio alarm.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 1 , the request further invokes remote storage of the data stored within the mobile device's memory.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 1 , a signal outside of the wireless network is utilized to send the request to disable the device.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 1  is employed in one of a laptop computer, a handheld computer, a notebook computer, a personal digital assistant, a mobile phone and a desktop computer.  
   
   
       15 . A method that limits access to a mobile device utilizing a wireless network, comprising: 
 receiving a request to disable the mobile device;    broadcasting a disable signal to the mobile device; and    disabling access to at least the mobile device memory.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprises authenticating the request with a mobile device owner.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15  further comprises locating the mobile device after the disable signal has been sent.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15  further comprises broadcasting the signal via at least one of an IS2000, a CDMA, a TCDMA, a WCDMA, a TDMA, a FDMA, a GSM, a PCS, a Bluetooth, a Wi-Fi, a Cellular, and a GPS protocol.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15 , access is disabled via at least one of the mobile device's internal security features.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 15 , disabling access to the device comprises one or more of blanking a screen, locking a keypad, locking a microphone and deleting mobile device memory.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 15 , the request to disable access to the device is transmitted upon an unauthorized use.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 15  is employed in connection with at least one of a laptop computer, a handheld computer, a notebook computer, a personal digital assistant, a mobile phone and a desktop computer.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 15 , the disable signal is sent via a third-party network.  
   
   
       24 . A method that disables functionality of a mobile device via a wireless network, comprising: 
 receiving a disable signal from a remote location;    extracting information from the disable signal; and    disabling memory access of mobile device based on the extracted information.    
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24  further comprises broadcasting a return signal that indicates the functionality of the device has been disabled.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 24 , the signal is embedded in the wireless network's signaling protocol.  
   
   
       27 . A system that facilitates limiting device functionality, comprising: 
 means for receiving a signal to disable device functionality;    means for limiting device functionality based on the signal; and    means for transmitting a return signal indicating successful disabling of device functionality.