LOCATION MECHANISM FOR MOBILE DEVICE

• US 20120276888A1
• Filed: 07/09/2012
• Published: 11/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: eIngot LLC
• Inventors: Raduchel, William J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,446,272 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/419
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/14 between corresponding nodes

Abstract

A location mechanism for a mobile device, in which an electronic communication including a code is received at the mobile device and the code is parsed from within the received electronic communication. The code parsed from within the electronic communication is used to determine whether to classify the received electronic communication as a coded electronic communication, and the received electronic communication is classified as a coded electronic communication based on results of the determination. In response to classification of the electronic communication as a coded electronic communication, a process is initiated that facilitates location of the mobile device. For instance, volume control settings at the mobile device may be overridden and an audible alert at the device may be invoked, and/or a response electronic communication that includes location information indicative of a current location of the communication device may be generated and sent.

Claims

1. An apparatus for remotely overriding an operation of a mobile communication device using an override device, comprising:

a user interface that includes;

an override device identifier configured to enable designation of a certain override device, and

a coded message identifier configured to enable designation of a code corresponding to overriding the operation of the mobile communication device; and

a processor that is configured to;

identify origination of a message sent to the mobile communication device,

determine whether the identified originator of the message is the designated override device,

identify a code included in the message sent to the mobile communication device, upon determining that the identified originator of the message is the designated override device,

determine whether the identified code included in the message is the designated code, and

provide an instruction to override the corresponding operation of the mobile communication device, upon determining that the identified code included in the message is the designated code.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to identify a code included in a message sent to the mobile communication device that is in the form of one of a text message, a short message service message, a phone call, and an Internet Protocol (IP) communication.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to identify origination of a message sent to the mobile communication device from the override device over a network as facilitated by a service provider.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the service provider facilitates direct communication between the mobile communication device and the override device, such that the override device sends the message directly to the mobile communication device, and the mobile device includes the user interface and the processor.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the service provider facilitates indirect communication between the mobile communication device and the override device, such that the override device sends the message to the service provider, the service provider sends the received message to the mobile communication device, and the service provider includes the processor.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the coded message identifier is configured to enable designation of multiple codes corresponding to overriding multiple different operations of the mobile communication device;

and the processor determines whether the identified code included in the message is one of the designated codes, and provides an instruction to override one of the corresponding different operations of the mobile communication device, upon determining that the identified code included in the message is one of the designated codes.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the override device identifier is configured to enable designation of multiple override devices;

the coded message identifier is configured to enable designation of different of the multiple codes to each of multiple override devices; and

the processor provides an instruction to override one of the corresponding different operations of the mobile communication device, upon determining that the identified code included in the message is one of the designated codes for the designated override device.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the coded message identifier is configured to enable designation of a code corresponding to overriding at least one of:

1) volume control settings of the mobile communication device,

     2) activation/deactivation of a call waiting feature of the mobile communication device,

     3) a display operation of the mobile communication device to cause the mobile communication device to display a message,

     4) an audible alert operation of the mobile communication device to cause the mobile communication device to invoke an audible alert,

     5) a vibration operation of the mobile communication device to cause the mobile communication device to vibrate, and

     6) an illumination operation of the mobile communication device to cause the mobile communication device to illuminate.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the coded message identifier is configured to enable designation of a code corresponding to overriding a display operation of the mobile communication device to cause the mobile communication device to display a message offering a service to a mobile device user or suggesting that the mobile device user take a particular action.

10. A non-transitory recording medium that stores a program for remotely overriding an operation of a mobile communication device using an override device via a user interface, the user interface including an override device identifier configured to enable designation of a certain override device, and a coded message identifier configured to enable designation of a code corresponding to overriding the operation of the mobile communication device, the program causing a computer to perform the following:

identifying origination of a message sent to the mobile communication device;

determining whether the identified originator of the message is the designated override device;

identifying a code included in the message sent to the mobile communication device, upon determining that the identified originator of the message is the designated override device;

determining whether the identified code included in the message is the designated code; and

providing an instruction to override the corresponding operation of the mobile communication device, upon determining that the identified code included in the message is the designated code.

11. The non-transitory recording medium according to claim 10, wherein the program causes the computer to identify a code included in a message sent to the mobile communication device that is in the form of one of a text message, a short message service message, a phone call, and an Internet Protocol (IP) communication.

12. The non-transitory recording medium according to claim 10, wherein the program causes the computer to identify origination of a message sent to the mobile communication device from the override device over a network as facilitated by a service provider.

13. The non-transitory recording medium according to claim 12, wherein the service provider facilitates direct communication between the mobile communication device and the override device, such that the override device sends the message directly to the mobile communication device, and the mobile device includes the user interface and the program.

14. The non-transitory recording medium according to claim 12, wherein the service provider facilitates indirect communication between the mobile communication device and the override device, such that the override device sends the message to the service provider, the service provider sends the received message to the mobile communication device, and the service provider includes the program.

15. The non-transitory recording medium according to claim 10, wherein the coded message identifier is configured to enable designation of multiple codes corresponding to overriding multiple different operations of the mobile communication device;

and the program causes the computer to determine whether the identified code included in the message is one of the designated codes, and provide an instruction to override one of the corresponding different operations of the mobile communication device, upon determining that the identified code included in the message is one of the designated codes.

16. The non-transitory recording medium according to claim 15, wherein the override device identifier is configured to enable designation of multiple override devices;

the coded message identifier is configured to enable designation of different of the multiple codes to each of multiple override devices; and

the program causes the computer to provide an instruction to override one of the corresponding different operations of the mobile communication device, upon determining that the identified code included in the message is one of the designated codes for the designated override device.

17. The non-transitory recording medium according to claim 10, wherein the coded message identifier is configured to enable designation of a code corresponding to overriding at least one of:

1) volume control settings of the mobile communication device,

     2) activation/deactivation of a call waiting feature of the mobile communication device,

     3) a display operation of the mobile communication device to cause the mobile communication device to display a message,

     4) an audible alert operation of the mobile communication device to cause the mobile communication device to invoke an audible alert,

     5) a vibration operation of the mobile communication device to cause the mobile communication device to vibrate, and

     6) an illumination operation of the mobile communication device to cause the mobile communication device to illuminate.

18. The non-transitory recording medium according to claim 17, wherein the coded message identifier is configured to enable designation of a code corresponding to overriding a display operation of the mobile communication device to cause the mobile communication device to display a message offering a service to a mobile device user or suggesting that the mobile device user take a particular action.

19. An apparatus for remotely overriding an operation of a mobile communication device using an override device, comprising:

a user interface that includes an override device identifier configured to enable designation of a certain override device, and a coded message identifier configured to enable designation of a code corresponding to overriding the operation of the mobile communication device;

means for identifying origination of a message sent to the mobile communication device;

means for determining whether the identified originator of the message is the designated override device;

means for identifying a code included in the message sent to the mobile communication device, upon determining that the identified originator of the message is the designated override device;

means for determining whether the identified code included in the message is the designated code; and

means for providing an instruction to override the corresponding operation of the mobile communication device, upon determining that the identified code included in the message is the designated code.

20. A method for remotely overriding an operation of a mobile communication device using an override device via a user interface, the user interface including an override device identifier configured to enable designation of a certain override device, and a coded message identifier configured to enable designation of a code corresponding to overriding the operation of the mobile communication device, the method comprising:

identifying origination of a message sent to the mobile communication device;

determining whether the identified originator of the message is the designated override device;

identifying a code included in the message sent to the mobile communication device, upon determining that the identified originator of the message is the designated override device;

determining whether the identified code included in the message is the designated code; and

providing an instruction to override the corresponding operation of the mobile communication device, upon determining that the identified code included in the message is the designated code.