Apparatus and Method for Determining a Wireless Device's Location after Shutdown

• US 20130281113A1
• Filed: 04/23/2012
• Published: 10/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Schlaupitz, Alexander D., Wurzel, Joshua G., Al-Dahle, Ahmad
• Granted Patent: US 8,849,303 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/082 using revocation of authorisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/084 using delegated authorisation, e.g. open authorisation [OAuth] protocol
• 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 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0251 using monitoring of local events, e.g. events related to user activity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0254 detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A wireless data processing device is described which periodically exits an unpowered state and transmits location data. For example, one embodiment of a wireless data processing device comprises: power circuitry for maintaining the wireless data processing device in a powered or unpowered state, the power circuitry causing the wireless data processing device to enter into an unpowered state responsive to user input; a timer to periodically power up the wireless device or portion thereof in response to reaching a predetermined time; a location services module determining a current location of the wireless data processing device using one or more specified location determination techniques; a transmit thread transmitting the current location of the wireless device over one or more specified communication channels; and the power circuitry powering down the wireless data processing device a second time after the current location has been transmitted.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for automatically transmitting a location of a wireless device comprising:

powering down a wireless data processing device;

temporarily powering up the wireless data processing device or portion thereof in response to reaching a predetermined time;

determining a current location of the wireless data processing device using one or more specified location determination techniques;

transmitting the current location of the wireless device over one or more specified communication channels; and

powering down the wireless data processing device a second time after the current location has been transmitted.

2. The method as in claim 1 wherein the wireless device is powered up in a limited capacity solely to transmit a current location of the wireless data processing device.

3. The method as in claim 2 wherein the limited capacity comprises powering a wireless radio and one or more software modules for determining and transmitting the current location of the wireless device.

4. The method as in claim 1 wherein determining a current location comprises receiving and processing a global positioning system (GPS) signal with GPS logic to determine the current location of the wireless device.

5. The method as in claim 1 wherein one of the specific communication channels comprises a server address to which the wireless device transmits its current location.

6. The method as in claim 1 wherein one of the specific communication channels comprises an email address to which the wireless device transmits its current location in an email message.

7. The method as in claim 1 wherein one of the specific communication channels comprises a short message service (SMS) communication channel to which the wireless device transmits its current location.

8. The method as in claim 1 wherein one of the specific communication channels comprises an instant message in which the wireless device transmits its current location.

9. The method as in claim 1 further comprising:

upon initially powering down the wireless data processing device, providing a user an option to enter a security code; and

performing the remaining operations of the method only if the security code is not entered.

10. A wireless data processing device comprising:

power circuitry for maintaining the wireless data processing device in a powered or unpowered state, the power circuitry causing the wireless data processing device to enter into an unpowered state responsive to user input;

a timer to periodically power up the wireless device or portion thereof in response to reaching a predetermined time;

a location services module determining a current location of the wireless data processing device using one or more specified location determination techniques;

a transmit thread transmitting the current location of the wireless device over one or more specified communication channels; and

the power circuitry powering down the wireless data processing device a second time after the current location has been transmitted.

11. The wireless data processing device as in claim 10 wherein the wireless device is powered up in a limited capacity solely to transmit a current location of the wireless data processing device.

12. The wireless data processing device as in claim 11 wherein the limited capacity comprises powering a wireless radio and one or more software modules for determining and transmitting the current location of the wireless device.

13. The wireless data processing device as in claim 10 wherein determining a current location comprises receiving and processing a global positioning system (GPS) signal with GPS logic to determine the current location of the wireless device.

14. The wireless data processing device as in claim 10 wherein one of the specific communication channels comprises a server address to which the wireless device transmits its current location.

15. The wireless data processing device as in claim 10 wherein one of the specific communication channels comprises an email address to which the wireless device transmits its current location in an email message.

16. The wireless data processing device as in claim 10 wherein one of the specific communication channels comprises a short message service (SMS) communication channel to which the wireless device transmits its current location.

17. The wireless data processing device as in claim 10 wherein one of the specific communication channels comprises an instant message in which the wireless device transmits its current location.

18. The wireless data processing device as in claim 10 further comprising:

security logic which, upon initially powering down the wireless data processing device, provides a user an option to enter a security code; and

wherein the transmit thread transmits the wireless data processing device'"'"'s location only if the security code is not entered.