Method of tracking stolen mobile device connected to wireless or wired network

• US 7,890,083 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2005
• Issued: 02/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Chandran, Sujith
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid; Lester
• Assistant Examiner(s): Khan; Mehmood B
• Application Number:
  US11/293,223
• Publication Number:
  US 20060276175A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,898 Days
• Field of Search: 455/410, 455/411, 455/457
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/66 with means for preventing unauthorised or fraudulent calling verifying user identity or authority in secret or secure digital communications H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72421 with automatic activation of emergency service functions, e.g. upon sensing an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/126 Anti-theft arrangements, e.g. protection against subscriber identity module [SIM] cloning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/24 Transfer of terminal data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/08 between user and terminal device

Abstract

A method of tracking a lost mobile electronic device connected to a wireless or wired network is provided. The method includes: storing user identity information included in a user identity card inserted into the mobile device, a warning message, and information regarding a destination of the warning message; and when a new user identity card is inserted into the mobile device, comparing user identity information stored in the new user identity card with the stored user identity information and automatically transmitting the warning message to the destination of the warning message if the user identity information stored in the new user identity card is not identical to the stored user identity information. Accordingly, it is possible to easily track a lost mobile electronic device connected to a wireless or wired network.

Claims

1. A method of tracking a lost mobile device connected to a wireless or wired network comprising:

storing user identity information included in a user identity card inserted into the mobile device, a warning message, and information regarding a destination of the warning message; and

when a new user identity card is inserted into the mobile device, comparing user identity information stored in the new user identity card with the stored user identity information and automatically transmitting the warning message to the destination of the warning message if the user identity information stored in the new user identity card is not identical to the stored user identity information,

wherein if an outgoing call/SMS barring option is set in the mobile device,

checking changes in a status of the outgoing call/SMS barring option at regular intervals, and

transmitting the warning message to the destination of the warning message when detecting the status of the outgoing call/SMS barring option as canceled,

wherein after inputting a password, the warning message, and the destination of the warning message, a tracking module which performs tracking of the lost mobile device, is activated, and

wherein the password is required when accessing or editing the password, when accessing or editing contents of the warning message, and when accessing or editing the destination of the warning message,

wherein the contents of the warning message includes current location of the user, Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number (MSISDN)/International Mobile Subscriber Identities (IMSI), and text input by said user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the automatic transmission of the warning message is secretly performed so that the new user of the mobile device can not perceive the transmission.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the user identity card is a subscriber identity module (SIM) card.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the user identity information included in the user identity card, the warning message, and the information regarding the destination of the warning message are stored and modified by inputting the password.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the warning message is transmitted via a short message service (SMS) or email.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the warning message comprises user identity information included in the new user'"'"'s identity card and information specifying a current location of the mobile device as well as text information.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the user identity information included in the new user'"'"'s identity card comprises one of MSISDN or IMSI.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the user identity information included in the user identity card inserted into the mobile device, the warning message, and the information regarding the destination of the warning message are stored in a non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM).

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the information regarding the destination of the warning message comprises one of an email address and a phone number of the destination of the warning message.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising, if the mobile device is a mobile device equipped with an SIM/USIM card, storing IMSI information of the SIM/USIM card in the memory (203).

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising, if the transmission of the warning message fails, retransmitting the warning message at regular intervals until the warning message is successfully transmitted to the destination of the warning message.

12. The method of claim 1, even when an outgoing call/SMS barring option is set, the warning message is transmitted by using the emergency call/SMS.

13. A mobile device connected to a wireless or wired network comprising:

a tracking control module which controls a lost mobile device for tracking the lost mobile device;

a memory which stores a warning message, information regarding a destination of the warning message, and user identity information;

a display module which displays the state of the mobile device;

a SIM/USIM interface module into which a user identity card is inserted;

a network access module which connects the mobile device to a network in a wireless or wired manner;

when a new user identity card is inserted into the mobile device, comparing user identity information stored in the new user identity card with the stored user identity information and automatically transmitting the warning message to the destination of the warning message if the user identity information stored in the new user identity card is not identical to the stored user identity information; and

a processor which controls the mobile device, wherein the tracking control module is activated, after a user inputs a user password, and the user inputs content of the warning message and the destination of the warning message that are stored in the memory,

wherein the user password is required when accessing or editing the password, when accessing or editing the content of the warning message, and when accessing or editing the destination of the warning message,

wherein if an outgoing call/SMS barring option is set in the mobile device,

checking changes in a status of the outgoing call/SMS barring option at regular intervals, and

transmitting the warning message to the destination of the warning message when detecting the status of the outgoing call/SMS barring option as canceled,

wherein the content of the warning message includes current location of the user, Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number/International Mobile Subscriber Identities (MSISDN/IMSI), and text input by said user.

14. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein the tracking control module comprises:

a tracking control key authentication module which sets the tracking control module to be in an active/inactive state;

a customization module which maintains the format and content of the warning message;

a SIM/USIM information access module which obtains user identity information and information regarding whether the mobile device is prevented from making calls from the user identity card, detects the change of the user identity card, and transmits the warning message to the destination of the warning message if the change detected;

a location information access module which obtains information specifying a current location of the mobile device;

a call barring status check module which checks whether the call barring status is changed; and

an information display module which displays a current state of the mobile device.

15. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein the tracking control module comprises:

a tracking control key authentication module which sets the tracking control module to be in an active/inactive state;

a customization module which maintains the format and content of the warning message;

a network access check module which checks whether the mobile device is connected to the network and transmits the warning message to the destination of the warning message when the mobile device is connected to the network;

a location information access module which obtains information specifying a current location of the mobile device;

a call barring status check module which checks whether the call barring status is changed; and

an information display module which displays a current state of the mobile device.