METHODS AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR TRACKING AND LOCATING LAPTOPS

• US 20090003292A1
• Filed: 06/30/2007
• Published: 01/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Waltermann, Rod D., Weksler, Arnold S., Peterson, Nathan J., Kelso, Scott E., Mese, John C.
• Granted Patent: US 10,368,233 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1418 Removal detected by failure in electrical connection between the appliance and a control centre, home control panel or a power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 using location based information parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/24 Transfer of terminal data

Abstract

An arrangement for employing a host of receivers that may already be present in a laptop, to enable the laptop to collect a significant amount of data about its location. Once the system then finds a readily available connection, it can then transmit information about its location as well as other information to help pinpoint the location of the laptop.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing a computer system;

obtaining information relating to computer system location;

finding an open access point; and

transmitting information regarding computer system location;

said obtaining step comprising obtaining information relating to the open access point and to at least one other wireless transmitting device; and

said transmitting step comprising transmitting information relating to the open access point and to at least one other wireless transmitting device.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said obtaining step comprises scanning for wireless transmitting devices in a vicinity of a computer system location.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said obtaining step further comprises ascertaining, from scanned wireless transmitting devices, at least one open access point.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising the step of establishing a connection with at least one open access point.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein said scanning step comprises employing at least one computer system item from the group consisting essentially of:

a 802.11 receiver, a WWAN (Wireless Wide Area Network) receiver, an FM receiver, and a “

BLUETOOTH”

receiver.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said obtaining step comprises obtaining, with regard to the open access point and the at least one other wireless transmitting device, location information and signal strength information.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said obtaining step comprises storing information relating to the at least one other wireless transmitting device for subsequent use in said transmitting step.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of ascertaining a computer system location based on information transmitted in said transmitting step.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said obtaining step comprises obtaining at least one item from the group consisting essentially of:

a MAC address;

a SSID;

PTY/RDS data; and

a WWAN cell phone tower ID.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of providing a computer system comprises providing a laptop computer system.

11. A system comprising:

a CPU;

a system memory in communication with said CPU;

a wireless module which acts to;

obtain information relating to an open access point and to at least one other wireless transmitting device;

finding an open access point; and

transmit information regarding system location via transmitting information relating to the open access point and to at least one other wireless transmitting device.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said wireless module acts to scan for wireless transmitting devices in a vicinity of a system location.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein said wireless module further acts to ascertain, from scanned wireless transmitting devices, at least one open access point.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein said wireless module further acts to establish a connection with at least one open access point.

15. The system according to claim 12, wherein said wireless module comprises at least one item from the group consisting essentially of:

a 802.11 receiver, a WWAN (Wireless Wide Area Network) receiver, an FM receiver, and a “

BLUETOOTH”

receiver.

16. The system according to claim 11, wherein said wireless module acts to obtain, with regard to the open access point and the at least one other wireless transmitting device, location information and signal strength information.

17. The system according to claim 11, wherein wireless module acts to store in said system memory information relating to the at least one other wireless transmitting device for subsequent transmission.

18. The system according to claim 11, wherein said wireless module acts to obtain, from at least one wireless transmitting device, at least one item from the group consisting essentially of:

a MAC address;

a SSID;

PTY/RDS data; and

a WWAN cell phone tower ID.

19. The system according to claim 11, wherein said system comprises a laptop computer system.

20. A program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps comprising:

providing a computer system;

obtaining information relating to computer system location;

finding an open access point; and

transmitting information regarding computer system location;

said obtaining step comprising obtaining information relating to the open access point and to at least one other wireless transmitting device; and

said transmitting step comprising transmitting information relating to the open access point and to at least one other wireless transmitting device.