System and method for controlling configuration settings for mobile communication devices and services

A method for controlling a configuration setting in a group of mobile data communication devices in a communication system, wherein the communication system includes a redirection system that detects a triggering event in a host system and in response to the triggering event continuously redirects data items from the host system over a wireless network to one or more of the mobile data communication devices, comprising the steps of:

• defining the group of mobile data communication devices;
• providing a device configuration for each of the mobile data communication devices that controls one or more functions of the mobile data communication device;
• receiving a policy setting for the group of mobile data communication devices at a policy generation system;
• generating an update message that corresponds to the policy setting;
• transmitting the update message through the redirection system to the wireless network;
• receiving the update message at each mobile data communication device in the group of mobile data communication devices;
• and
• in response to the update message, each mobile data communication device in the group of mobile data communication devices automatically modifying the device configuration to include the policy setting;
• wherein the policy setting includes a setting selected from the group consisting of:
• a setting that specifies whether particular software applications or services can be installed and executed on the group of mobile data communication devices a setting that specifies whether a security password is required to access the group of mobile data communication devices a setting that specifies whether users of the group of mobile data communication devices can change the device configuration, a setting that enables a long term mobile data communication device timeout, a setting that enables the group of mobile data communication devices security password pattern checking, a setting that specifies a maximum mobile data communication device security password age, a setting that specifies a maximum security timeout period for the group of mobile data communication devices, a setting that specifies a minimum length of a mobile data communication device security password, and a setting that specifies mobile data communication device owner information.

A system for controlling a configuration setting in a mobile communication device, comprising:

• a redirection server that detects a triggering event in a host system and in response to the triggering event continuously redirects data items from the host system to a wireless network;
• a mobile data communication device that receives data items from the wireless network and that includes a device configuration stored in a memory location on the mobile data communication device, wherein the device configuration controls one or more functions of the mobile data communication device;
• and
• a policy generation system that receives a policy setting from a user interface and stores the policy setting in a user information record;
• wherein the redirection server detects the policy setting in the user information record and in response to detecting the policy setting transmits the policy setting over the wireless network to the mobile data communication device, and wherein the mobile data communication device automatically modifies the device configuration to include the policy setting;
• wherein the policy setting includes a setting selected from the group consisting of:
• a setting that specifies whether particular software applications or services can be installed and executed on the mobile data communication device, a setting that specifies whether a security password is required to access the mobile data communication device, a setting that specifies whether a user of the mobile data communication device can change the device configuration, a setting that enables a long term mobile data communication device timeout, a setting that enables mobile data communication device security password pattern checking, a setting that specifies a maximum mobile data communication device security password age, a setting that specifies a maximum security timeout period for the mobile data communication device a setting that specifies a minimum length of a mobile data communication device security password, and a setting that specifics mobile data communication device owner information.