Mobile Device Policy Enforcement via Integrated Communication Channel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mobile device management systems lack the ability to remotely enforce policies, leading to security issues such as unauthorized access to confidential information and non-compliance with corporate policies, and require dedicated hardware, resulting in inefficiencies and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a policy delivery and enforcement logic integrated within the communication channel between mobile devices and servers, which proactively pushes down and enforces policies, verifies compliance, and denies service to non-compliant devices, allowing for flexible and extensible policy management without re-engineering the server.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dedicated hardware and separate communication channels are used for device management, then policy enforcement capability is improved, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges device management functionality with existing communication channels between mobile devices and servers. The policy enforcement logic is integrated into the synchronization process, eliminating the need for separate dedicated hardware and communication channels. This combining approach maintains reliable policy enforcement while reducing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The existing communication infrastructure is made multi-functional by enabling it to handle both data synchronization and policy enforcement tasks. The server's communication channel serves dual purposes: transferring user data and delivering policy commands, thereby eliminating the need for dedicated management hardware.
2Reliability
If formal device management solutions with dedicated hardware are implemented, then policy enforcement is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By combining policy enforcement with existing communication infrastructure, the patent eliminates the need for additional dedicated hardware purchases and maintenance, thereby reducing overall system cost while maintaining effective policy enforcement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile device's existing synchronization mechanism is leveraged to automatically receive and enforce policies without requiring separate management hardware or additional service channels, making the system cost-effective by utilizing already-deployed resources.
3Productivity
If policies are pushed proactively from server to mobile device, then compliance speed is improved, but communication overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The server proactively pushes policy updates to mobile devices before compliance issues arise, enabling immediate enforcement. Policies are delivered in advance during synchronization events, ensuring rapid compliance without waiting for device-initiated requests.
Solution Approach 2:
Policy enforcement is continuously integrated into the ongoing synchronization process between devices and servers. Rather than separate communication events, policy delivery occurs as part of the continuous data synchronization workflow, minimizing additional communication overhead.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methodologies that proactively push down and enforce policies of a server(s) on mobile devices, when such devices connect to the server(s) for data synchronization. The subject invention employs a policy delivery and enforcement logic that is integrated as part of a communication channel (e.g. a single communication channel) with the mobile device(s). A hand shake can take place between the mobile devices and the server every time that a new policy occurs. Accordingly, non-compliant devices are denied service from the server.