Apparatus and Methods For Locating Tracking and/or Recovering a Wireless Communication Device

• US 20100273452A1
• Filed: 03/18/2010
• Published: 10/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Rajann, Rajeev Durai, Doyle, Thomas Francis
• Application Number:
  US12/726,562
• Publication Number:
  US 20100273452A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2111 Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2115 Third party
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2143 Clearing memory, e.g. to prevent the data from being stolen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/082 using revocation of authorisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/12 Detection or prevention of fraud
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/30 Security of mobile devices; Security of mobile applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/64 using geofenced areas
• 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 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities

Abstract

A method and apparatus for facilitating location of a targeted wireless communications device (WCD) is provided. The method may comprise, enabling a location module in response to receiving a location state code, wherein the location module includes one or more location state routines, wherein at least one of the one or more location state routines is identified in the location state code, and wherein each location state routine includes at least one location functionality, and executing the at least one location functionality associated with the one or more location state routines identified by the received location state code.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating location of a targeted wireless communications device (WCD), comprising:

enabling a location module in response to receiving a location state code, wherein the location module includes one or more location state routines, wherein at least one of the one or more location state routines is identified in the location state code, and wherein each location state routine includes at least one location functionality; and

executing the at least one location functionality associated with the one or more location state routines identified by the received location state code.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one location functionality includes an audio announcement functionality, and wherein the audio announcement functionality is operable for:

determining that the targeted WCD is operating in a vibration or silent mode;

modifying the operation mode of the targeted WCD to enable at least one of an audio component and a display component of the targeted WCD; and

presenting a location message using at least one of the audio component or display component.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one location functionality includes an auto-dialing functionality, and wherein the auto-dialing functionality is operable for enabling a preset contact to be at least displayed or contacted, wherein the preset contact is at least one of:

a user defined home number, or a call center number.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one location functionality includes a display modification functionality, and wherein the display modification functionality is operable for modifying at least a portion of the operations of a display on the target WCD by performing at least one of:

displaying a blank screen, displaying a radio frequency (RF) signal strength indicator to falsely display a reduced value, displaying a battery indictor to falsely display a reduced value, displaying a predetermined color or combination of colors, changing an intensive value for the display, changing a refresh rate for the display.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one location functionality includes an operation modification functionality, and wherein the operation modification functionality is operable for modifying at least one of the targeted WCD power status or RF transceiver status.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one location functionality includes an operation modification functionality, and wherein the operation modification functionality is operable for locking the targeted WCD in response to a received message from a recovery service, wherein the recovery service performed an authentication process before generating the message.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the authentication process includes receiving a user identification which is associated with the targeted WCD.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the user identification includes a payment instruction.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving an unlock message, wherein the unlock message is transmitted by the recovery service upon a determination that a user has provided a payment to the recovery service.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the unlock message is received from at least one of:

a user input on the target WCD, or from the recovery service.

11. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

unlocking the targeted WCD after receiving an input on a user interface of the target WCD, wherein the received input indicates completion of the authentication process.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one location functionality includes a content modification functionality, and wherein the content modification functionality is operable for modifying content stored on the targeted WCD, wherein such content modification includes at least one of:

encrypting at least a portion of the stored content, shielding at least a portion of the stored content, deleting at least a portion of the stored content, or transmitting at least a portion of the stored content to another entity.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one location functionality includes a physical position modification functionality, and wherein the physical position modification functionality is operable for modifying the physical positioning of at least a portion of the targeted WCD.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the modifying the physical positioning of at least a portion of the targeted WCD comprises at least one of moving, rotating, or manipulating a camera associated with the targeted WCD to provide an image of the surroundings in which the targeted WCD is located, wherein the provided image is either a still or moving image.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

determining that the provided image is indicates the targeted WCD camera view is blocked, and

wherein the modifying the physical positioning of at least a portion of the targeted WCD comprises initiating a sequence of vibrations to rotate or flip the targeted WCD.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the modifying the physical positioning of at least a portion of the targeted WCD comprises initiating a sequence of vibrations to rotate or flip the targeted WCD.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one location functionality includes an uncertainty zone functionality, and wherein the uncertainty zone functionality is operable for defining a geographic boundary around the targeted WCD within which a first communication protocol used for locating the targeted WCD lacks location clarity above a defined threshold.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

transmitting the defined geographic boundary to a searching device.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

detecting a searching device is within the defined geographic boundary; and

activating at least one of;

an audio announcement, a visual display, or a communication link with the searching device.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the location state code is received from an unauthorized searching device; and

transmitting location information which is either scrambled or incorrect to the unauthorized searching device.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one location functionality includes an object recognition functionality, and wherein the object recognition functionality is operable for:

obtaining an image or video by the targeted WCD;

analyzing the obtained image to determine a recognized object is present; and

activating at least one of an audio announcement or a visual display is response to determined recognized object.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one location functionality includes an environmental detection functionality, and wherein the environmental detection functionality is operable for detecting at least one of light, temperature, smell, vibration, noise, or pressure, or a change in detecting at least one of light, temperature, smell, vibration, noise, or pressure.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the environmental detection functionality is further operable for:

detecting the targeted WCD is within a geographic area of interest; and

displaying a message identifying the geographic area of interest.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one location functionality includes a persistence functionality, and wherein the persistence functionality is operable for enabling the targeted WCD to store at least the location state code in a persistent memory, wherein the persistent memory is operable to retain the stored location state code through a change to at least one of the targeted WCD battery, hardware, firmware, or software.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one location functionality includes a device specific identification functionality, and wherein the device specific identification functionality is operable for enabling the targeted WCD to store at least a portion of uniquely identifying information the targeted WCD.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the uniquely identifying information for the targeted WCD is obtained from at least one of:

an R-UIM card, a SIM card, a virtual SIM card, or any combination thereof.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

determining a new uniquely identifying information item is coupled to the targeted WCD;

determining the new uniquely identifying information item is different than the stored uniquely identifying information for the targeted WCD; and

disabling at least one functionality associated with the targeted WCD.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one location functionality includes an electronic leash functionality, and wherein the electronic leash functionality is operable for:

determining that the targeted WCD is no longer within a defined proximity of at least one second device; and

disabling at least one functionality associated with the targeted WCD in response to the determination.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one location functionality includes an electronic leash functionality, and wherein the electronic leash functionality is operable for:

determining that the targeted WCD is no longer within a defined proximity of at least one second device; and

alerting the targeted WCD that the determined second device is no longer within the defined proximity.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one location functionality includes a secondary user control functionality, and wherein the secondary user control functionality is operable for enabling a secondary user to select at least one location in which at least one functionality associated with the targeted WCD is disabled.

31. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting location data to a search entity to enable to the search entity to plot the location of the targeted WCD on a map.

45. The target WCD of claim 6, wherein the operation modification functionality is further operable to:

unlock the targeted WCD after receiving an input on a user interface of the target WCD, wherein the received input indicates completion of the authentication process.

32. At least one processor configured to facilitate location of a targeted WCD, comprising:

a first module for enabling a location module in response to receiving a location state code, wherein the location module includes one or more location state routines, wherein at least one of the one or more location state routines is identified in the location state code, and wherein each location state routine includes at least one location functionality; and

a second module for executing the at least one location functionality associated with the one or more location state routines identified by the received location state code.

33. An apparatus, comprising:

means for enabling a location module in response to receiving a location state code, wherein the location module includes one or more location state routines, wherein at least one of the one or more location state routines is identified in the location state code, and wherein each location state routine includes at least one location functionality; and

means for executing the at least one location functionality associated with the one or more location state routines identified by the received location state code.

34. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

a first set of codes for causing a computer to enable a location module in response to receiving a location state code, wherein the location module includes one or more location state routines, wherein at least one of the one or more location state routines is identified in the location state code, and wherein each location state routine includes at least one location functionality; and

a second set of codes for causing the computer to execute the at least one location functionality associated with the one or more location state routines identified by the received location state code.

35. A targeted wireless communications device (WCD), comprising:

a location recovery module operable to;

enable the location recovery module in response to receiving a location state code, wherein the location module includes one or more location state routines, wherein at least one of the one or more location state routines is identified in the location state code, and wherein each location state routine includes at least one location functionality; and

execute the at least one location functionality associated with the one or more location state routines identified by the received location state code.

36. The targeted WCD of claim 35, wherein the at least one location functionality includes an audio announcement functionality, and wherein the audio announcement functionality is operable to:

determine that the targeted WCD is operating in a vibration or silent mode;

modify the operation mode of the targeted WCD to enable at least one of an audio component and a display component of the targeted WCD; and

present a location message using at least one of the audio component or display component.

37. The targeted WCD of claim 35, wherein the at least one location functionality includes an auto-dialing functionality, and wherein the auto-dialing functionality is operable to enable a preset contact to be at least displayed or contacted, wherein the preset contact is at least one of:

a user defined home number, or a call center number.

38. The targeted WCD of claim 35, wherein the at least one location functionality includes a display modification functionality, and wherein the display modification functionality is operable to modify at least a portion of the operations of a display on the target WCD by performing at least one of:

displaying a blank screen, displaying a radio frequency (RF) signal strength indicator to falsely display a reduced value, displaying a battery indictor to falsely display a reduced value, displaying a predetermined color or combination of colors, changing an intensive value for the display, or changing a refresh rate for the display.

39. The targeted WCD of claim 35, wherein the at least one location functionality includes an operation modification functionality, and wherein the operation modification functionality is operable to modify at least one of the targeted WCD power status or RF transceiver status.

40. The targeted WCD of claim 35, wherein the at least one location functionality includes an operation modification functionality, and wherein the operation modification functionality is operable to lock the targeted WCD in response to a received message from a recovery service, wherein the recovery service performed an authentication process before generating the message.

41. The targeted WCD of claim 40, wherein the authentication process includes receiving a user identification which is associated with the targeted WCD.

42. The targeted WCD of claim 41, wherein the user identification includes a payment instruction.

43. The targeted WCD of claim 40, further comprising:

receiving an unlock message, wherein the unlock message is transmitted by the recovery service upon a determination that a user has provided a payment to the recovery service.

44. The targeted WCD of claim 43, wherein the unlock message is received from at least one of:

a user input on the target WCD, or from the recovery service.

46. The targeted WCD of claim 35, wherein the at least one location functionality includes a content modification functionality, and wherein the content modification functionality is operable to modify content stored on the targeted WCD, wherein such content modification includes at least one of:

encrypting at least a portion of the stored content, shielding at least a portion of the stored content, deleting at least a portion of the stored content, or transmitting at least a portion of the stored content to another entity.

47. The targeted WCD of claim 35, wherein the at least one location functionality includes a physical position modification functionality, and wherein the physical position modification functionality is operable to modify the physical positioning of at least a portion of the targeted WCD.

48. The targeted WCD of claim 47, wherein the modifying the physical positioning of at least a portion of the targeted WCD comprises at least one of moving, rotating, or manipulating a camera associated with the targeted WCD to provide an image of the surroundings in which the targeted WCD is located, wherein the provided image is either a still or moving image.

49. The target WCD of claim 48, wherein the physical position modification functionality is operable to determine that the provided image is indicates the targeted WCD camera view is blocked wherein the modifying the physical positioning of at least a portion of the targeted WCD comprises initiating a sequence of vibrations to rotate or flip the targeted WCD.

50. The targeted WCD of claim 47, wherein the modifying the physical positioning of at least a portion of the targeted WCD comprises initiate a sequence of vibrations to rotate or flip the targeted WCD.

51. The targeted WCD of claim 35, wherein the at least one location functionality includes an uncertainty zone functionality, and wherein the uncertainty zone functionality is operable to define a geographic boundary around the targeted WCD within which a first communication protocol used for locating the targeted WCD lacks location clarity above a defined threshold.

52. The targeted WCD of claim 51, further comprising a transmitter operable to transmit the defined geographic boundary to a searching device.

53. The targeted WCD of claims 51, wherein the location recovery module is further operable to:

detect a searching device is within the defined geographic boundary; and

activate at least one of;

an audio announcement, a visual display, or a communication link with the searching device.

54. The targeted WCD of claim 35, wherein the location recovery module is further operable to determine the location state code is received from an unauthorized searching device;

and

further comprising a transmitter operable to transmit location information which is either scrambled or incorrect to the unauthorized searching device.

55. The target WCD of claim 35, wherein the at least one location functionality includes an object recognition functionality, and wherein the object recognition functionality is operable to:

obtain an image or video by the targeted WCD;

analyze the obtained image to determine a recognized object is present; and

activate at least one of an audio announcement or a visual display is response to determined recognized object.

56. The target WCD of claim 35, wherein the at least one location functionality includes an environmental detection functionality, and wherein the environmental detection functionality is operable to detect at least one of light, temperature, smell, vibration, noise, or pressure, or a change in detecting at least one of light, temperature, smell, vibration, noise, or pressure.

57. The target WCD of claim 56, wherein the environmental detection functionality is further operable to:

detect the targeted WCD is within a geographic area of interest; and

display a message identifying the geographic area of interest.

58. The target WCD of claim 35, wherein the at least one location functionality includes a persistence functionality, and wherein the persistence functionality is operable to enable the targeted WCD to store at least the location state code in a persistent memory, wherein the persistent memory is operable to retain the stored location state code through a change to at least one of the targeted WCD battery, hardware, firmware, or software.

59. The target WCD of claim 35, wherein the at least one location functionality includes a device specific identification functionality, and wherein the device specific identification functionality is operable to enable the targeted WCD to store at least a portion of uniquely identifying information the targeted WCD.

60. The target WCD of claim 59, wherein the uniquely identifying information for the targeted WCD is obtained from at least one of:

an R-UIM card, a SIM card, a virtual SIM card, or any combination thereof.

61. The target WCD of claim 59, wherein the location recovery module is further operable to:

determine a new uniquely identifying information item is coupled to the targeted WCD;

determine the new uniquely identifying information item is different than the stored uniquely identifying information for the targeted WCD; and

disable at least one functionality associated with the targeted WCD.

62. The target WCD of claim 35, wherein the at least one location functionality includes an electronic leash functionality, and wherein the electronic leash functionality is operable to:

determine that the targeted WCD is no longer within a defined proximity of at least one second device; and

disable at least one functionality associated with the targeted WCD in response to the determination.

63. The target WCD of claim 35, wherein the at least one location functionality includes a secondary user control functionality, and wherein the secondary user control functionality is operable to enable a secondary user to select at least one location in which at least one functionality associated with the targeted WCD is disabled.

64. The target WCD of claim 35, further comprising a transmitter operable to transmit location data to a search entity to enable to the search entity to plot the location of the targeted WCD on a map.