System and method of remotely locating a lost mobile communication device

• US 20060161628A1
• Filed: 01/14/2005
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Nagy, Tom, Owen, Russell N.
• Granted Patent: US 8,392,554 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

A system and method of locating a lost wireless communication device is provided. A remote server is contacted to indicate that the wireless communication device is lost. A lost device policy setting is then activated in a database coupled to the remote server, the lost device policy setting indicating that the wireless communication device is lost. In response to activation of the lost device policy setting, a remote location command is then transmitted from the remote server to the wireless communication device via a wireless network. The remote location command is subsequently received at the lost wireless communication device, which processes the remote location command such that a user of the wireless communication device can locate the device.

Claims

1. A method of locating a lost wireless communication device, comprising the steps of:

contacting a remote server and indicating that the wireless communication device is lost;

activating a lost device policy setting in a database coupled to the remote server, the lost device policy setting indicating that the wireless communication device is lost;

in response to activation of the lost device policy setting, transmitting a remote location command from the remote server to the wireless communication device via a wireless network; and

receiving the remote location command at the lost wireless communication device and processing the remote location command such that a user of the wireless communication device can locate the device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the contacting step comprises the step of:

placing a telephone call to a central site administrator of the remote server;

or sending an electronic message to the central site administrator of the remote server;

or sending an electronic message directly to the remote server.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote location command is transmitted by the remote server over a wide area network which couples the remote server to the wireless network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing step comprises setting one or more user preferences of the wireless mobile device to enable notifications.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the notifications include an audible alert, a visible alert and/or a tactile alert responsive to receipt of a wireless communication.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing step comprises executing a notification.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the processing step further comprises re-executing the notification until the wireless mobile device is found by its user.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of prompting the user of the wireless mobile device to disable the re-executing step.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing step comprises obtaining wireless network information pertaining to the location of the wireless mobile device and transmitting the wireless network information to the remote server.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of the remote server processing the wireless network information transmitted from the wireless mobile device in order to determine the location of the lost device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing step comprises transmitting GPS data to the remote server, the GPS data indicating the present location of the wireless mobile device.

12. A method of locating a wireless communication device, comprising the steps of:

contacting a remote server and indicating that the wireless communication device is lost;

transmitting a remote location command from the remote server to the wireless communication device via a wireless network; and

receiving the remote location command at the wireless communication device and reconfiguring one or more user preferences to enable notifications upon receiving a communication at the wireless communication device.