Method and system for tracking and controlling a remote device

摘要

A method and apparatus for controlling remote computing devices such as portable computers (14) containing associated client components (10). The method includes a given client component (10) contacting a status server (22) containing client component status information; receiving client component status information from the status server (22) relayed in response to the client component (10) contacting the status server; evaluating the received status information to determine a status of the given client component (10), such as whether or not the component is stolen; in response to determining a particular status, contacting a command server (24) configured to send executable commands to the client component (10) in response to being contacted; receiving a command from the command server (24) instructing the client component (10) to perform a desired task, and in response to receiving said command, performing the desired task, such as transmitting location information or encrypting or deleting data.