Use of intermediary devices for control of portable computers and mobile devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11132472-B2
Application number	US-201816203787-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 29, 2018
Priority date	Nov 29, 2018
Publication date	Sep 28, 2021
Grant date	Sep 28, 2021

Abstract

An approach is disclosed that transmits a command from an initiating device, the command being directed to a target device and the initiating device is disconnected from the target device. The command is sent through any number of receiving devices to eventually be received by the target device with the other receiving devices being intermediate devices. The approach identifies a set of connectivity conduits between the receiving devices where at least one of the connectivity conduits is between one of the intermediate devices and the target device. The initiating device receives a confirmation from one of the intermediate device that the command was transmitted to the target device by the intermediate device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
transmitting a command from an initiating device, wherein the command is directed to a target device, and wherein the target device is not accessible over a first network or a second network by the initiating device;
sending the command through a plurality of receiving devices, wherein one of the receiving devices is the target device and wherein at least one of the receiving devices is an intermediate device, and wherein the sending comprises sending the command from the initiating device to the intermediate device using a first communications protocol over the first network, and wherein the target device receives the command using a second communications protocol over the second network;
gathering, by the intermediate device, target device activity after reception of the command by the target device, wherein the gathering of the target device activity further comprises:
identifying a first elapsed time when connectivity between the intermediate device and the target device is interrupted; and
identifying, after the connectivity interruption, one or more communication activities detected at the target device and a time data corresponding to each of the communication activities; and

transmitting the gathered target device activity back to the initiating device via the intermediate device.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
searching a first set of the receiving devices that are intermediate devices that each communicate directly with the initiating device; and
searching, from the first set of receiving devices, one or more second sets of intermediate devices wherein at least one of the second set of intermediate devices is disconnected from the target device.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:
determining that a selected one of the second set of intermediate devices is able to connect to the target device;
transmitting one or more instructions to the selected intermediate device to send the command to the target device; and
detecting, at the selected intermediate device, that the target device received the command.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the command is a wipe command to erase a plurality of memory areas at the target device.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
detecting, at the intermediate device, that the command was executed by the target device; and
notifying the initiating device, by the intermediate device, that the command was executed by the target device.

6. An information handling system comprising:
one or more processors;
a memory coupled to at least one of the processors; and
a set of computer program instructions stored in the memory and executed by at least one of the processors in order to perform actions comprising:
transmitting a command from an initiating device, wherein the command is directed to a target device, and wherein the target device is not accessible over a first network or a second network by the initiating device;
sending the command through a plurality of receiving devices, wherein one of the receiving devices is the target device and wherein at least one of the receiving devices is an intermediate device, and wherein the sending comprises sending the command from the initiating device to the intermediate device using a first communications protocol over the first network, and wherein the target device receives the command using a second communications protocol over the second network;
gathering, by the intermediate device, target device activity after reception of the command by the target device, wherein the gathering of the target device activity further comprises:
identifying a first elapsed time when connectivity between the intermediate device and the target device is interrupted; and
identifying, after the connectivity interruption, one or more communication activities detected at the target device and a time data corresponding to each of the communication activities; and

transmitting the gathered target device activity back to the initiating device via the intermediate device.

7. The information handling system of claim 6 further comprising:
searching a first set of the receiving devices that are intermediate devices that each communicate directly with the initiating device; and
searching, from the first set of receiving devices, one or more second sets of intermediate devices wherein at least one of the second set of intermediate devices is disconnected from the target device.

8. The information handling system of claim 7 further comprising:
determining that a selected one of the second set of intermediate devices is able to connect to the target device;
transmitting one or more instructions to the selected intermediate device to send the command to the target device; and
detecting, at the selected intermediate device, that the target device received the command.

9. The information handling system of claim 8 wherein the command is a wipe command to erase a plurality of memory areas at the target device.

10. The information handling system of claim 6 further comprising:
detecting, at the intermediate device, that the command was executed by the target device; and
notifying the initiating device, by the intermediate device, that the command was executed by the target device.

11. A computer program product comprising:
a non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising a set of computer instructions, the computer instructions effective to perform actions comprising:
transmitting a command from an initiating device, wherein the command is directed to a target device, and wherein the target device is not accessible over a first network or a second network by the initiating device;
sending the command through a plurality of receiving devices, wherein one of the receiving devices is the target device and wherein at least one of the receiving devices is an intermediate device, and wherein the sending comprises sending the command from the initiating device to the intermediate device using a first communications protocol over the first network, and wherein the target device receives the command using a second communications protocol over the second network;
gathering, by the intermediate device, target device activity after reception of the command by the target device, wherein the gathering of the target device activity further comprises:
identifying a first elapsed time when connectivity between the intermediate device and the target device is interrupted; and
identifying, after the connectivity interruption, one or more communication activities detected at the target device and a time data corresponding to each of the communication activities; and

transmitting the gathered target device activity back to the initiating device via the intermediate device.

12. The computer program product of claim 11 further comprising:
searching a first set of the receiving devices that are intermediate devices that each communicate directly with the initiating device; and
searching, from the first set of receiving devices, one or more second sets of intermediate devices wherein at least one of the second set of intermediate devices is disconnected from the target device.

13. The computer program product of claim 12 further comprising:
determining that a selected one of the second set of intermediate devices is able to connect to the target device;
transmitting one or more instructions to the selected intermediate device to send the command to the target device; and
detecting, at the selected intermediate device, that the target device received the command.

1

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Tkaczyk Gregory M J H

Classifications

• G06F21/88 Primary

  Detecting or preventing theft or loss · CPC title

• H04L63/08

  for authentication of entities (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32) · CPC title

• H04W88/04

  adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user · CPC title

• H04L63/20

  for managing network security; network security policies in general (filtering policies H04L63/0227) · CPC title

• G06F21/62

  Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules · CPC title