Abstract: According to an aspect, there is provided a method for guiding a user in diagnostic test selection. Initially, one or more diagnostic reports on each of a plurality of computing devices are maintained in a diagnostic report database. In response to receiving a first set of one or more device parameters characterizing a second computing device from a first computing device, a remote computing system compares the first set to a plurality of sets of device parameters maintained in the diagnostic report database to find one or more relevant diagnostic reports. The remote computing system predicts results of one or more diagnostic tests when performed on the second computing device based on results of one or more diagnostic tests in the one or more relevant diagnostic reports by using statistical analysis. The remote computing system sends results of the predicting to the first computing device.

Abstract: A method for use in determining a status of a mobile electronic device, comprises repeatedly reading information from a debug log stored in a ringbuffer of the mobile electronic device, repeatedly using the information read from the debug log to construct and maintain an event history for the mobile electronic device, and repeatedly determining the status of the mobile electronic device based on the event history. The method may be used for determining a status of a mobile electronic device and, in particular though not exclusively, for use in determining a status of one or more hardware elements of a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet and/or a laptop. A system and a computer program for use in determining a status of a mobile electronic device are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for erasing data stored from memory of a network device comprises erasing stored data from the memory of the network device and requesting data from the memory of the network device after completion of the data erasure procedure or accessing the memory of the network device after completion of the data erasure procedure. The method further comprises determining the outcome of the data erasure procedure based at least in part on: the results of a comparison between a response received from the network device and an expected response which indicates a successful erasure of the memory of the network device; or a comparison between any contents of the memory of the network device after completion of the data erasure procedure and expected contents of the memory after the data erasure procedure which are indicative of a successful erasure of the memory of the network device.

Abstract: A method for performing an operation in relation to a USB device, comprises configuring a USB interface in a USB controller so as to open one or more pipes between the USB controller and one or more corresponding USB endpoints of a USB device according to a required USB endpoint configuration of the USB device that is required for performing an operation in relation to the USB device, performing the operation in relation to the USB device, and unconfiguring the configured USB interface in the USB controller so as to close the one or more pipes between the USB controller and the one or more corresponding USB endpoints of the USB device. Such a method may allow operations to be performed concurrently in relation to a greater number of USB devices than the prior art methods and/or may allow operations to be performed concurrently in relation to the same number of USB devices using fewer USB endpoint resources of the USB controller and/or fewer USB controllers than the prior art methods.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for determining whether a camera component of a camera is damaged is described. The method comprises obtaining information relating to one or more damage indicators; obtaining, from the camera, at least one image which has been taken when light from a light source has been incident on the camera component; dividing the image into one or more areas; analysing each area to determine whether it comprises at least one of the one or more damage indicators; and based on said analysing, providing an indication of whether the camera component is classified as damaged or undamaged.

Abstract: There is presented a system and method for detecting mobile device fault conditions, particularly detecting defects in a display or housing of a mobile device. One or more cameras included within the mobile device are used with a reflecting surface in a test fixture to obtain properly aligned and formatted images of the external housing and display of the mobile device, and interactive guidance assists with placement and execution of diagnostics. A remote server conducts further analysis of the captured images, and then defect status may be returned to and displayed upon the mobile device screen.

Abstract: There is presented a system and method for detecting mobile device fault conditions, including detecting fault conditions by software operating on the mobile device. In one embodiment, the present invention provides for systems and methods for using a neural network to detect, from an image of the device, that the mobile device has a defect, for instance a cracked or scratched screen. Systems and methods also provide for, reporting the defect status of the device, working or not, so that appropriate action may be taken by a third party.

Abstract: According to an aspect, there is provided a method for self-diagnosing a mobile device comprising at least one or more actuators, one or more sensors and a display. The method comprises, first, feeding a pre-defined control signal to a first actuator of the mobile device and measuring, in response to the feeding, a first electric signal using a first sensor of the one or more sensors. Then, the first electric signal is compared to one or more reference signals associated with the first actuator and the pre-defined control signal. If the first electric signal fails to match the one or more reference signals according to one or more pre-defined criteria, a negative diagnosis is indicated to a user of the mobile device using one or more of a display of the mobile device and one or more actuators of the mobile device.

Abstract: Certain embodiments are directed to systems and methods for monitoring and/or managing a device with respect to a rule or set of rules and/or altering the functionality of the device in response. In one embodiment, a method includes monitoring a mobile user's equipment with respect to a rule. The method also includes applying at least one consequence to the mobile user equipment when the rule is at least one of followed or violated. The at least one consequence comprises at least one of a reward or a punishment. The at least one consequence pertains to use of the mobile user equipment.

Abstract: There is presented a system and method for detecting mobile device fault conditions, including detecting fault conditions by software operating on the mobile device. In one embodiment, the present invention provides for systems and methods for detecting that a mobile device has a cracked screen, and reporting the status of the screen, working or not, so that appropriate action may be taken by a third party. In one embodiment, the data obtained by testing of the mobile device is encrypted to prevent tampering or spoofing by the user of the mobile device, and is suitably decrypted by the recipient or software running within a server.

Abstract: There are provided systems and methods for mobile device diagnostics and provisioning, whereby connections are effectuated to communicate directly with hardware of mobile devices to perform diagnostics and other functions such as device erasure without the need to first install an app on the mobile device. In this manner, information such as detailed product identification, vendor identification, and diagnostic information may be quickly obtained from the mobile device, and diagnostics and erasure undertaken to return a previously owned device into the stream of commerce in an efficient manner.

Abstract: A method for erasing stored data from the memory of the network device and requesting data from the memory after completion of the data erasure procedure or accessing the memory of the network device after completion of the data erasure procedure. The method further comprises determining the outcome of the data erasure procedure based on: the results of a comparison between a response received from the network device in reply to the request for data and an expected response which is indicative of a successful erasure of the memory of the network device; or the results of a comparison between any contents of the memory of the network device after completion of the data erasure procedure and expected contents of the memory of the network device after completion of the data erasure procedure which are indicative of a successful erasure of the memory of the network device.

Abstract: A method for use in sanitizing a network of non-volatile memory express devices, comprises identifying the configuration of the network of non-volatile memory express devices including identifying one or more controllers of the non-volatile memory express devices; and identifying which portions of non-volatile memory of the non-volatile memory express devices are accessible to which of the identified controllers. The method further comprises performing a data erasure process in relation to at least one portion of the non-volatile memory of at least one of the non-volatile memory express devices based at least in part on the identified configuration of the network.

Abstract: A method for determining a wear value of a battery of a mobile electronic device comprises using historical battery status data to estimate an actual capacity Qact of the battery and using a design capacity Qdes of the battery and the estimated actual capacity Qact of the battery to determine the wear value of the battery. A computer program is configured so that, when executed by a processor, the processor implements the method for determining a wear value of a battery of a mobile electronic device.

Abstract: There is provided a method and system for securely coupling and transferring data between devices. In a preferred embodiment, the devices may comprise two devices, a transferring device and a receiving device, and both devices are mobile devices. Embodiments of the present invention allow the wireless transfer of data such as contacts, photo images, video files, or other data from one device to another device, without need for special hardware or cabling.

Abstract: According to an aspect, there is provided a method for guiding a user of a first computing device in selecting a suitable erasure process for a second computing device. Initially, information on a plurality of erasure reports describing erasure processes carried out for computing devices is maintained in an erasure report database. A remote computing device receives one or more device parameters characterizing the second computing device from the first computing device. The remote computing system compares the one or more device parameters to device parameters maintained in the erasure report database in response to the receiving and based thereon determines one or more expected erasure process properties for at least one erasure process for erasing a memory or part thereof of the second computing device. The remote computing system sends the one or more expected erasure process properties for said at least one erasure process to the first computing device.

Abstract: A method of erasing data from a data storage apparatus comprising a memory, the method comprises writing a known data pattern to a plurality of known memory locations of the data storage apparatus, causing the data storage apparatus to perform a data erasure procedure, reading data stored at the known memory locations after completion of the data erasure procedure, comparing the read data and the data of the known data pattern, and determining a verification result based at least in part on the result of the comparison between the read data and the data of the known data pattern.

Abstract: A method for erasing stored data from the memory of the network device and requesting data from the memory after completion of the data erasure procedure or accessing the memory of the network device after completion of the data erasure procedure. The method further comprises determining the outcome of the data erasure procedure based on: the results of a comparison between a response received from the network device in reply to the request for data and an expected response which is indicative of a successful erasure of the memory of the network device; or the results of a comparison between any contents of the memory of the network device after completion of the data erasure procedure and expected contents of the memory of the network device after completion of the data erasure procedure which are indicative of a successful erasure of the memory of the network device.

Abstract: According to an aspect, there is provided a method for self-diagnosing a mobile device comprising at least one or more actuators, one or more sensors and a display. The method comprises, first, feeding a pre-defined control signal to a first actuator of the mobile device and measuring, in response to the feeding, a first electric signal using a first sensor of the one or more sensors. Then, the first electric signal is compared to one or more reference signals associated with the first actuator and the pre-defined control signal. If the first electric signal fails to match the one or more reference signals according to one or more pre-defined criteria, a negative diagnosis is indicated to a user of the mobile device using one or more of a display of the mobile device and one or more actuators of the mobile device.

Abstract: There is presented a system and method for detecting mobile device fault conditions, including detecting fault conditions by software operating on the mobile device. In one embodiment, the present invention provides for systems and methods for using a neural network to detect, from an image of the device, that the mobile device has a defect, for instance a cracked or scratched screen. Systems and methods also provide for, reporting the defect status of the device, working or not, so that appropriate action may be taken by a third party.