Zoho Corporation Private Limited

Rajesh Ranganathan

Mathivanan Venkatachalam

Vishal Santharam

Murugesan Duraipandi

Sudheer A Grandhi

Arthur Behiel

Murugean Duraipandi

An administrative or relay device can communicate with a target device, for example to disable lost or stolen devices using an SMS command. The SMS command is encrypted to prevent malicious attacks. The SMS command includes a universal device identifier unique to the target device, the phone number of the relaying device, and a time stamp memorializing command creation. The relaying device relays the encrypted command to the target device. Successful decryption authenticates the administrative or relay device. Before executing the command, however, the target device reviews the unique identifier to verify the target and compares the phone number of the relaying device with the number identified with the incoming SMS message to authenticate the relaying device. The target device also considers an embedded time stamp to determine whether the command is superseded by a subsequently issued though later received command.

Controlling devices using short message service via a relay device

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.

System and method for controlling devices using short message service

A first device communicates with a remote second device by sending an SMS message that includes an encrypted first device phone number portion and a command, which may also be encrypted. The second device receives the SMS message and decrypts the encrypted first device phone number portion to verify the authenticity of the message by comparing it with a first device phone number included with the message by a cellular carrier. Successful decryption authenticates the first device, and the command is then executed, after being decrypted if it had been encrypted. Further authentication can optionally include decrypting an encrypted unique device identifier and/or phone number of the second device. The second device may also consider an embedded time stamp to determine whether the command is superseded by a subsequently issued command.

Remotely controlling devices using short message service

An administrator charged with responsibility for one or more administered wireless devices can use a wireless device to disable lost or stolen devices using an SMS lost-mode message. The data of the lost-mode 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 administrator's device, and a time stamp memorializing command or message creation. Successful decryption authenticates the administrator. Before executing the lost-mode command, however, the target device reviews the unique identifier to verify the target and compares the phone number of the administrator's device with the number identified with the incoming SMS message to authenticate the relaying device. The target device can also consider an embedded time stamp to determine whether the lost-device command has been superseded.

Controlling devices remotely using short message service

Described are systems and methods for responding to a lost-mode command directed to a target wireless device from a server to alter the functionality of the device, such as to restrict access to sensitive data. A relay device is selected at the server to act as intermediary between the server and the target wireless device. An encrypted message with both the lost-mode command and the relay-device phone number is relayed to the target wireless device. The target wireless device decrypts and parses the message to extract the lost-mode command and the relay-device phone number. To authenticate the relay device as the intended sender of the lost-mode command, the target wireless device compares the phone number of the message sender to the relay-device phone number specified in the message. The target wireless device disregards the lost-mode command if the sender's phone number does not match the relay-device phone number, and otherwise enters a 'lost mode.'

System and method for controlling devices using short message service via a relay device

An administrator charged with responsibility for one or more administered wireless devices can use a wireless device to disable lost or stolen devices using an SMS lost-mode message. The payload of the lost-mode message can be encrypted to prevent malicious attacks. The payload may include a universal device identifier unique to the target device, the phone number of the administrator's device, and a time stamp memorializing command or message creation. Successful decryption authenticates the administrator. Before executing the lost-mode command, however, the target device reviews the unique identifier to verify the target and compares the phone number of the administrator's device with the number identified with the incoming SMS message to authenticate the relaying device. The target device can also consider an embedded time stamp to determine whether the lost-device command has been superseded.

Controlling devices using short message service from administrative devices

A server can disable lost or stolen devices using an SMS lost-mode command relayed via a relay mobile device. The SMS command is encrypted to prevent malicious attacks. The SMS command includes a universal device identifier unique to the target device, the phone number of the relaying device, and a time stamp memorializing command creation. The relaying device relays the encrypted lost-mode command to the target device. Successful decryption authenticates the server. Before executing the lost-mode command, however, the target device reviews the unique identifier to verify the target and compares the phone number of the relaying device with the number identified with the incoming SMS message to authenticate the relaying device. The target device also considers an embedded time stamp to determine whether the lost-device command is superseded by a subsequently issued though later received command from the server.

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Chengalpet, India

Rajesh Ranganathan