Remotely Locating and Commanding a Mobile Device

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatus are presented for processing a remote lock command message. In one aspect, a method includes receiving, by a mobile device, a remote lock command message comprising a lock command and specifying a passcode to be set by the mobile device, locking the mobile device in response to the received remote lock command message, setting an unlock passcode associated with the mobile device to the specified passcode, and generating an acknowledgement message in response to the remote lock command message. Further, receiving the remote lock command message can include accessing a subscribed topic hosted on a notification service, the subscribed topic being associated with a lock command, and retrieving the remote lock command message from the subscribed topic. Additionally, locking the mobile device can include locking a display such that access to information stored on the mobile device and device functionality are blocked.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 at a mobile device that includes a network interface, a display, and a storage medium:
 locking the mobile device, wherein locking the mobile device comprises locking the display such that access is blocked to at least one of information stored on the storage medium and functionality of the mobile device, wherein the mobile device is configured to be unlocked in response to entry of an unlock passcode stored on the mobile device; 
 receiving, via the network interface, while the mobile device is locked, a wireless transmission comprising a lock command message, the lock command message comprising a new passcode; and 
 changing the unlock passcode to the new passcode in response to receiving the wireless transmission. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining that the new passcode complies with an implemented security constraint of the mobile device, wherein the changing the unlock passcode is in response to the determining.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 transmitting, via the network interface, an acknowledgement message in response to the lock command message.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the acknowledgement message comprises a time stamp indicating a time at which the lock command message was received by the mobile device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 by the mobile device:
 accessing, via the network interface, a notification service on a server separate from the mobile device, the notification service hosting a plurality of command collection topics, where each of the plurality of command collection topics is subscribed to by a respective mobile device; 
 accessing one of the plurality of command collection topics that is subscribed to by the mobile device, the accessed command collection topic including a plurality of command nodes, each corresponding to a remote command type; and 
 polling each of the plurality of command nodes of the accessed command collection topic to determine whether one or more new remote command messages have been received by the accessed command collection topic, wherein the receiving the wireless transmission is in response to the polling. 
   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the mobile device, a notification message indicating that a new remote command message has been received by the one of the plurality of command collection topics that is subscribed to by the mobile device, wherein the accessing the notification service, the accessing the command collection topic, and the polling are in response to receiving the notification message.   
     
     
         7 . A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions executable by a processor comprised in a mobile device, the instructions configured to cause the mobile device to:
 lock the mobile device, wherein locking the mobile device comprises locking a display of the mobile device such that access is blocked to at least one of information stored on the mobile device and functionality of the mobile device;   unlock the mobile device in response to entry of an unlock passcode stored on the mobile device;   receive, while the mobile device is locked, a wireless transmission comprising a lock command message, the lock command message comprising a new passcode; and   change the unlock passcode, while the mobile device is locked, to the new passcode in response to receiving the wireless transmission.   
     
     
         8 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 7 , the instructions further configured to cause the mobile device to:
 determine that the new passcode complies with an implemented security constraint of the mobile device, wherein the changing the unlock passcode is in response to the determining.   
     
     
         9 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 7 , the instructions further configured to cause the mobile device to:
 transmit an acknowledgement message in response to the lock command message.   
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein the acknowledgement message comprises a time stamp indicating a time at which the lock command message was received by the mobile device. 
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 7 , the instructions further configured to cause the mobile device to:
 access a notification service on a server separate from the mobile device, the notification service hosting a plurality of command collection topics, where each of the plurality of command collection topics is subscribed to by a respective mobile device;   access one of the plurality of command collection topics that is subscribed to by the mobile device, the accessed command collection topic including a plurality of command nodes, each corresponding to a remote command type; and   poll each of the plurality of command nodes of the accessed command collection topic to determine whether one or more new remote command messages have been received by the accessed command collection topic, wherein the receiving the wireless transmission is in response to the polling.   
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 11 , the instructions further configured to cause the mobile device to:
 receive a notification message indicating that a new remote command message has been received by the one of the plurality of command collection topics that is subscribed to by the mobile device, wherein the accessing the notification service, the accessing the command collection topic, and the polling are in response to receiving the notification message.   
     
     
         13 . A mobile device, comprising:
 a network interface configured to receive a lock command message;   a user input interface;   a display;   a processor,   a storage medium storing instructions executable by the processor to cause the processor to:
 lock the mobile device, wherein locking the mobile device comprises locking the display, such that access is blocked to at least one of information stored on the mobile device and functionality of the mobile device; 
 unlock the mobile device in response to entry, via the user input interface, of an unlock passcode stored on the mobile device; 
 receive, while the mobile device is locked, the lock command message via the network interface, the lock command message comprising a new passcode; and 
 change the unlock passcode, while the mobile device is locked, to the new passcode in response to receiving the lock command message. 
   
     
     
         14 . The mobile device of  claim 13 , wherein the instructions are further executable to cause the processor to:
 determine that the new passcode complies with an implemented security constraint of the mobile device, wherein the changing the unlock passcode is in response to the determining.   
     
     
         15 . The mobile device of  claim 13 , wherein the instructions are further executable to cause the processor to:
 transmit, via the network interface, an acknowledgement message in response to the lock command message.   
     
     
         16 . The mobile device of  claim 15 , wherein the acknowledgement message comprises a time stamp indicating a time at which the lock command message was received by the mobile device. 
     
     
         17 . The mobile device of  claim 13 , wherein the instructions are further executable to cause the processor to:
 access, via the network interface, a notification service on a server separate from the mobile device, the notification service hosting a plurality of command collection topics, where each of the plurality of command collection topics is subscribed to by a respective mobile device;   access, by the mobile device, one of the plurality of command collection topics that is subscribed to by the mobile device, the accessed command collection topic including a plurality of command nodes, each corresponding to a remote command type; and   poll, by the mobile device, each of the plurality of command nodes of the accessed command collection topic to determine whether one or more new remote command messages have been received by the accessed command collection topic, wherein the receiving the wireless transmission is in response to the polling.   
     
     
         18 . The mobile device of  claim 17 , wherein the instructions are further executable to cause the processor to:
 receive, via the network interface, a notification message indicating that a new remote command message has been received by the one of the plurality of command collection topics that is subscribed to by the mobile device, wherein the accessing the notification service, the accessing the command collection topic, and the polling are in response to receiving the notification message.