Controlling devices using short message service via a relay device

Abstract

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 The target device also considers an embedded time stamp to determine whether the command is superseded by a subsequently issued though later received command.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.