Management of mobile-device data

Abstract

Information is maintained on a mobile client device. A delete command is received at the mobile client device over a wireless mobile network from a mobile-device data management server configured to provide mobile-device service to multiple mobile client devices over the wireless mobile network. The information is deleted from the mobile client device automatically and without user interaction in accordance with the delete command.

1 . A method comprising:
 maintaining information on a mobile client device;   receiving a delete command at the mobile client device over a wireless mobile network from a mobile-device data management server configured to provide mobile-device service to a plurality of mobile client devices over the wireless mobile network; and   deleting the information from the mobile client device automatically and without user interaction in accordance with the delete command.   
   
   
       2 . The method recited in  claim 1  wherein the deleting the information comprises deleting the information in a priority sequence defined by the delete command. 
   
   
       3 . The method recited in  claim 2  wherein:
 the information comprises data and applications; and   the priority sequence requires deletion of data before applications.   
   
   
       4 . The method recited in  claim 1  wherein deleting the information comprises executing a secure delete by overwriting the information. 
   
   
       5 . The method recited in  claim 1  further comprising:
 receiving a backup command at the mobile client device over the wireless mobile network; and   transmitting a copy of the information from the mobile client device to the mobile-device data management server over the wireless mobile network automatically and without user interaction in accordance with the backup command for backup storage of the copy.   
   
   
       6 . A computer-readable storage medium having a computer-readable program embodied therein for directing operation of a mobile client device having a storage device, the computer-readable program comprising:
 a plurality of application data controllers, each such application data controller comprising instructions to maintain a portion of the information on the storage device in a corresponding database;   a media data controller comprising instructions to interact with each of the application data controllers to manage the information; and   a deletion module configured to interact with the media data controller and comprising:
 instructions to receive a delete command transmitted to the mobile client device over a wireless mobile network from a mobile-device data management server configured to provide mobile-device service to a plurality of mobile client devices over the wireless mobile network; and 
 instructions to delete the information from the storage device automatically and without user interaction in accordance with the delete command. 
   
   
   
       7 . The computer-readable storage medium recited in  claim 6  wherein the instructions to delete the information comprise instructions to delete the information in a priority sequence defined by the delete command. 
   
   
       8 . The computer-readable storage medium recited in  claim 7  wherein:
 the information comprises data and applications; and   the priority sequence requires deletion of data before applications.   
   
   
       9 . The computer-readable storage medium recited in  claim 6  wherein the instructions to delete the information comprise instructions to execute a secure delete by overwriting the information. 
   
   
       10 . The computer-readable storage medium recited in  claim 6  wherein the computer-readable program further comprises a backup controller configured to interact with the media data controller and comprising:
 instructions to receive a backup command transmitted to the mobile client device over the wireless mobile network from the mobile-device data management server; and   instructions to transmit a copy of the information from the storage device to the mobile-device data management server over the wireless mobile network automatically and without user interaction in accordance with the backup command for backup storage of the copy.   
   
   
       11 . A method comprising:
 detecting activation of a mobile client device over a wireless mobile network at a mobile-device data management server configured to provide mobile-device service to a plurality of mobile client devices over the wireless mobile network;   identifying the mobile client device as inaccessible by a subscriber to the mobile-device service for the mobile client device; and   transmitting a delete command from the mobile-device data management server to the mobile client device over the wireless mobile network to cause the mobile client device to delete information maintained on the mobile client device automatically and without user interaction.   
   
   
       12 . The method recited in  claim 11  further comprising transmitting a backup command from the mobile-device data management server to the mobile client over the wireless mobile network to cause the mobile client to transmit a copy of information maintained on the mobile client device to the mobile-device data management server automatically and without user interaction for backup storage of the copy. 
   
   
       13 . The method recited in  claim 11  further comprising identifying a location of the mobile client device at the mobile-device data management server using a global-positioning-system (“GPS”) signal generated at the mobile client device. 
   
   
       14 . The method recited in  claim 13  further comprising:
 determining, from the GPS signal, that the mobile client device is not in motion; and   notifying the subscriber of the location of the mobile client device.   
   
   
       15 . The method recited in  claim 13  wherein transmitting the delete command is performed in response to determining, from the GPS signal, that the mobile client device is in motion. 
   
   
       16 . The method recited in  claim 11  wherein the delete command includes a priority sequence for deletion of the information. 
   
   
       17 . The method recited in  claim 16  wherein:
 the information comprises data and applications; and   the priority sequence requires deletion of data before applications.   
   
   
       18 . The method recited in  claim 11  wherein the delete command requires execution of a secure delete by overwriting the information.