LOCATION-BASED RECOVERY DEVICE AND RISK MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR PORTABLE COMPUTING DEVICES AND DATA

• US 20130314270A1
• Filed: 07/31/2013
• Published: 11/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apogee Technology Consultants, LLC
• Original Assignee: Apogee Technology Consultants, LLC
• Inventors: Madsen, John J., Coker, Michael J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,674,651 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/61
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/16 Anti-theft; Abduction
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/34 Power consumption
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/35 Constructional details or hardware or software details of the signal processing chain
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/42 Determining position
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0294 Trajectory determination or predictive filtering, e.g. target tracking or Kalman filtering
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/13 File access structures, e.g. distributed indices arrangements of input from, or output to, record carriers G06F3/06
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/554 involving event detection and direct action
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/60 Protecting data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/602 Providing cryptographic facilities or services
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 2220/10 Usage protection of distributed data files
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724631 by limiting the access to the user interface, e.g. locking a touch-screen or a keypad
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/033 of the user plane, e.g. user's traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• 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 12/126 : Anti-theft arrangements, e.g. protection against subscriber identity module [SIM] cloning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/30 : Security of mobile devices; Security of mobile applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/63 : Location-dependent; Proximity-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 : Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 : Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 : adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A device and software utilizing Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) technologies for monitoring and recovering portable computing devices and, a method and system for acquiring such devices, protecting data on such devices, and for compensating owners of devices. A GPS mechanism of the invention provides real time tracking of missing devices that may be coordinated with security agencies to intercept and recover missing computing devices. When a stolen device is unrecoverable, the invention may receive a signal to initiate data recovery where a wireless network is available to recover data for the owner. Alternatively, the GPS mechanism instructs the device to encrypt or destroy stored data files to prevent commercial espionage or privacy violations. The invention discloses a software system and method for computing a purchase price of the GPS mechanism, computing compensation for loss of the device and lost data.

Claims

1-16. -16. (canceled)

17. A method for protecting a portable computing device having electronically stored records comprising the steps of:

providing a global positioning satellite device within the portable computing device, the global positioning device having a circuit element, the circuit element being in communication with a signal reception and transmission assembly and the electronically stored records;

receiving at the global positioning satellite device, a signal indicative of the portable computing device being lost or stolen; and

the global positioning satellite device outputting a second signal, in response to the signal, and causing an insurance carrier to provide at least one of a replacement portable computing device and the economic value of the recordable computing device.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of the global positioning satellite device, in response to the signal, determining a current location of the portable computing device, and transmitting the current location utilizing the signal reception and transmission assembly.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the global position satellite device determines the location of the portable computing device at predetermined intervals and transmits a corresponding location signal.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of the global positioning satellite device preventing the use of the electronically stored records in response to receipt of the signal.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the global positioning satellite assembly prevents the use of the electronically stored records by eradicating the electronically stored records.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the global positioning satellite device prevents the use of electronically stored records by encrypting the electronically stored records.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the global positioning satellite device determines a predetermined time interval from receipt of the lost signal and eradicates the data after the predetermined time interval.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of receiving a decryption signal and the global positioning satellite device decrypting the electronically stored records.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the electronically stored records include at least one of data, software programs, and operating systems.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the electronically stored records include at least one of data, software programs, and operating systems.