MANAGING BATTERY POWER USAGE OF A LOST MOBILE DEVICE TO EXTEND SEARCH TIME FOR THE LOST MOBILE DEVICE

• US 20130090110A1
• Filed: 10/11/2011
• Published: 04/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cloonan, Thomas, Thorpe, Charlena
• Application Number:
  US13/270,398
• Publication Number:
  US 20130090110A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/420
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0209 in terminal devices terminal devices per se H04W88/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses are provided to use energy reduction techniques in an effort to extend the battery life of a mobile device when the mobile device is lost to increase the time an owner of a lost mobile device has to search for the lost device using any lost mobile device locating technique before the mobile device'"'"'s battery fully discharges. A lost mobile device receives a power preservation command and operates in a power preservation mode while executing a locating technique to aid in the locating the lost mobile device.

Claims

1. A method for extending the battery life of a lost mobile device to increase the time available to search for the lost mobile device using a lost mobile device locating technique, the method comprising:

receiving at a lost mobile device a power preservation mode command;

operating the lost mobile device in a power preservation mode; and

executing a lost mobile device locating technique to aid in locating the lost mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the lost mobile device is a mobile phone.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the lost mobile device is a mobile computer.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the lost mobile device is a wireless meter.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving at a lost mobile device a power preservation mode command comprises receiving wirelessly at a lost mobile device a power preservation mode command.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein the power preservation mode command is received via SMS.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein the power preservation mode command is received via a phone call.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the power preservation mode command is generated and received when the battery power level of the lost mobile device reaches a predetermined level.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the power preservation mode command includes a security code.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the power preservation mode command includes information on the lost mobile device locating technique.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein operating the lost mobile device in a power preservation mode comprises disabling one or more functionalities of the mobile device.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein operating the lost mobile device in a power preservation mode comprises operating the lost mobile device in a power preservation mode based on the lost mobile device locating technique.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein executing a lost mobile device locating technique to aid in locating the lost mobile device comprises emitting an audible sound from the lost mobile device.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein executing a lost mobile device locating technique to aid in locating the lost mobile device comprises transmitting a location for the lost mobile device.

15. A mobile device comprising:

computer readable medium having instructions for causing a computer to execute a method for extending the battery life of a lost mobile device to increase the time available to search for the lost mobile device using a lost mobile device locating technique, the method comprising;

operating the lost mobile device in a power preservation mode upon receiving a power preservation mode command; and

executing a lost mobile device locating technique to aid in locating the lost mobile device.

16. A mobile device comprising:

means for receiving at a lost mobile device a power preservation mode command;

means for operating the lost mobile device in a power preservation mode; and

means for executing a lost mobile device locating technique to aid in locating the lost mobile device.