Cellular Network Disablement for Lost Mobile Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing solutions for preventing theft of mobile devices are inadequate as they can be circumvented by removing physical authentication modules or software restrictions, allowing unauthorized users to prevent remote disablement.

Innovation Solution

The use of a cellular network to facilitate the disablement of a suspected lost or stolen device, even under restricted conditions, by allowing disablement communications to be sent and acknowledged over the network, thereby thwarting attempts to prevent disablement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If physical authentication modules or software restrictions are used to control cellular network access, then device security is improved, but remote disablement capability is compromised when modules are removed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveremote disablement capabilityVSAvoidtheft vulnerability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a cellular network intermediary that facilitates disablement communication independently of physical authentication modules. The network acts as a mediator between the remote system and the device, allowing disablement commands to be transmitted even when SIM cards are removed or software restrictions are applied, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining security and ensuring remote disablement capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the authentication and communication functions by separating cellular network access capability from physical authentication module dependency. The device can maintain restricted cellular network access for disablement purposes while being independent of SIM card presence, dividing the security architecture into modular components that can function independently

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If cellular network access is restricted to prevent theft, then device security is improved, but disablement communication reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisablement communication reliabilityVSAvoidcellular network access restriction

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating different access levels for different communication purposes. Restricted cellular network access is applied specifically to disablement communication channels while maintaining the ability to receive and process disablement commands, rather than uniformly restricting all network access. This localized approach ensures disablement reliability without completely blocking network functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS10129381B2Disablement of lost or stolen device

Publication Date: 2018.11.13 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

The restricted use of a cellular network to facilitate disablement of a device that is suspected lost or stolen. Accordingly, even if the device is not capable of general use of the cellular network, disablement communications are still permitted across the cellular network. Accordingly, the device may receive a disable command from the disablement service over the cellular network, and acknowledge processing of the disable command to the disablement service also over the cellular network. Thus, efforts by an unauthorized possessor of the device to prevent disablement by removing the physical authentication module are thwarted. Likewise, turning the cellular service off using software settings at the device also does not prevent the device from being disabled via cellular network communication.