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Method and apparatus for location-based recovery of stolen mobile devices

  • US 10,061,945 B2
  • Filed: 10/19/2016
  • Issued: 08/28/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2004
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A mobile computing device at least partially built at a factory, the mobile computing device to communicate with a central monitor, comprising:

  • a firmware;

    a hard drive for storing an operating system;

    a networking hardware to facilitate network communication with the central monitor;

    a location aware technology pre-installed in the firmware during the build of the mobile computing device and operable to provide a location information, the location aware technology able to communicate with at least one of a geolocation positioning system, a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) receiver, or a cellular receiver; and

    a location reporting module to at least send the location information over the Internet, by way of the networking hardware, to the central monitor;

    wherein the location aware technology, being embedded in the firmware, remains able to communicate with the central monitor after a selected one or more of;

    a reformatting of an operating system of the mobile computing device,an installation of a new operating system on the mobile computing device, ora removal of the hard drive from the mobile computing device.

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