Method and system for tracking mobile communication device using instant messaging

• US 20080070631A1
• Filed: 09/15/2007
• Published: 03/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kumar, Ashish
• Granted Patent: US 8,036,707 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/558
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/66 with means for preventing unauthorised or fraudulent calling verifying user identity or authority in secret or secure digital communications H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/126 Anti-theft arrangements, e.g. protection against subscriber identity module [SIM] cloning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/08 Mobility data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/16 selectively restricting mobility data tracking

Abstract

Provided is a method for tracking any mobile electronic device which accesses wireless or wired network using Instant Messaging (IM). The mobile device, capable of instant messenger (IM) functionality, allows storage of one or more IM IDs in a separate non-volatile memory. When the mobile device is lost/stolen, and another person changes the SIM card, the phone verifies if the SIM card is the same as that of the owner by matching the IMSI numbers of the two. If there is a mismatch, the mobile device triggers the tracking feature. The tracking feature automatically and stealthily transmits instant messages to the stored messenger IDs. Furthermore, with video/voice capability in the IM client, there is a provision for transmitting live video/voice of the person using the mobile phone after the tracking feature is enabled as video calls or voice calls respectively.

Claims

1. A method for tracking a mobile communication device having an IM function, comprising the steps of:

activating selectively a tracking control mode if there is a request for configuring the tracking control mode to perform a function enabling tracking of the mobile communication device;

checking under the activated tracking control mode whether a SIM (Subscriber Identity Module)/USIM (User Services Identity Module) card has been changed; and

automatically sending a pre-stored IM (instant message) to a predefined destination mobile communication device in the background when a non-authenticated SIM/USIM card has been detected.

2. The method for tracking a mobile communication device having an IM function as claimed in claim 1, wherein the IM includes at least one of a Subscriber'"'"'s number (IMSI), a current location of the mobile communication device, a Subscriber'"'"'s Location, Subscriber'"'"'s Live voice data, and Subscriber'"'"'s Live video data corresponding to the current non-authenticated SIM/USIM card.

3. The method for tracking a mobile communication device having an IM function as claimed in claim 1, further comprising providing a menu option with a predefined password after the tracking control mode is activated.

4. The method for tracking a mobile communication device having an IM function as claimed in claim 3, further comprising:

requesting input of a password according to a request for editing at least one of turn on/off information of the tracking control mode, a user-defined part of the message and destination information; and

performing an operation enabling the edit if an input password is the same as a pre-stored password.

5. The method for tracking a mobile communication device having an IM function as claimed in claim 3, further comprising:

requesting the input of a password according to a request for editing the user-defined part of the message; and

performing an operation enabling the edit if a password is input and the input password is the same as a pre-stored password.

6. The method for tracking a mobile communication device having an IM function as claimed in claim 3, further comprising:

requesting input of a password according to a request for configuration for voice and video calls and configuration for location information; and

performing an operation enabling the edit if an input password is the same as a pre-stored password.

7. The method for tracking a mobile communication device having an IM function as claimed in claim 1, further comprising requesting the input of a password when there is a request for configuration for the tracking control mode.

8. The method for tracking a mobile communication device having an IM function as claimed in claim 7, further comprising displaying IM destinations and customizable contents of the IM if an input password is the same as a pre-stored password.

9. The method for tracking a mobile communication device having an IM function as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:

requesting the input of a password if a request for accessing or changing the IM destination and the customizable contents of the IM is generated; and

performing an operation enabling the change if an input password is the same as the pre-stored password.

10. The method for tracking a mobile communication device having an IM function as claimed in claim 1, wherein the IM comprises all of user defined text, current location information of the mobile communication device, a subscriber'"'"'s number of a current user, and at least one of a picture and video data obtained from photographing the current user and voice data of the current user.

11. The method for tracking a mobile communication device having an IM function as claimed in claim 1, further comprising making a voice call and video call to predefined destination mobile communication device at a predefined periodic interval.

12. The method for tracking a mobile communication device having an IM function as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:

checking whether a SIM/USIM card is being inserted;

storing, when a SIM/USIM card is being inserted, a subscriber'"'"'s number of the inserted SIM/USIM card, and requesting, when the SIM/USIM card is not inserted, to insert the SIM/USIM card; and

storing, after the SIM/USIM card is inserted, a subscriber'"'"'s number of the inserted SIM/USIM card.

13. The method for tracking a mobile communication device having an IM function as claimed in claim 1, further comprising continuing to send, if the sending of the IM fails, the IM in a predefined period until successful.

14. A system for tracking a mobile communication device having an IM function, comprising:

a source mobile communication device activating selectively a tracking control mode if there is a request for configuring the tracking control mode to perform a function enabling tracking the mobile communication device, checking under the current activated tracking control mode whether a SIM (Subscriber Identity Module)/USIM (User Services Identity Module) card has been changed, and automatically sending pre-stored IM (instant messages) to a predefined destination mobile communication device in the background when a non-authenticated SIM/USIM card has been detected; and

a destination mobile communication device receiving the IM.

15. The system for tracking a mobile communication device having an IM function as claimed in claim 14, wherein the source mobile communication device comprises a tracking control key authentication module handling activation/deactivation of the tracking control mode and accessing customized information to be sent in the IM.

16. The system for tracking a mobile communication device having an IM function as claimed in claim 14, wherein the source mobile communication device comprises a customization module operable to maintain the IM format and content information.

17. The system for tracking a mobile communication device having an IM function as claimed in claim 14, wherein the source mobile communication device comprises a SIM/USIM information access module operable to detect the change of the SIM/USIM card.

18. The system for tracking a mobile communication device having an IM function as claimed in claim 14, wherein the IM comprises all of user defined text, current location information of the mobile communication device, a subscriber'"'"'s number of a current user, and at least one of a picture and video data obtained from photographing the current user and voice data of the current user.

19. The system for tracking a mobile communication device having an IM function as claimed in claim 18, wherein the source mobile communication device comprises a location information access module operable to get information about the current location of the source mobile communication device if the IM is configured to include location information.

20. The system for tracking a mobile communication device having an IM function as claimed in claim 14, wherein the source mobile communication device comprises a call barring status check module operable to check in a predefined period whether the call barring status is changed, for sending a pre-stored IM if an outgoing call is barred.

21. The system for tracking a mobile communication device having an IM function as claimed in claim 14, wherein the source mobile communication device comprises a network-access check module operable to trigger a predefined alert message when the mobile communication device is connected to a network.

22. The system for tracking a mobile communication device having an IM function as claimed in claim 18, wherein the source mobile communication device comprises a camera module for photographing pictures or video clips if the IM is configured to include picture or video,data of the current user.

23. The system for tracking a mobile communication device having an IM function as claimed in claim 14, wherein the source mobile communication device comprises an instant messaging module which has an instant Messaging application which can connect with IM server using SMS (Short Message Service) and Data Bearers.