Apparatus and methods for locating, tracking and/or recovering a wireless communication device
First Claim
1. A method for locating a targeted wireless communication device, the method comprising:
- receiving, at the targeted wireless communication device, a communication data packet having a format comprising a locating state code associated with one of a plurality of locating states in which the targeted wireless device is operable, wherein each locating state is stored in a memory on the targeted wireless communication device and comprises one or more location routines carried out by the targeted wireless device; and
executing at least one of the one or more location routines on the targeted wireless communication device in response to detecting the locating state code in the communication data packet, wherein executing further comprises operating the wireless device in a stealth mode that disables output by the wireless device of user-perceptible indicators generated during execution of the one or more location routines in a non-stealth mode.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, systems, devices and computer program products are provided for locating, tracking and/or recovering a wireless communication device that has been misplaced, lost or stolen. In addition, the aspects provide for tracking or surveillance of the location or user in instances in which the wireless device has been loaned or is being used for covert surveillance. The aspects include communicating a locating state code to the targeted device, which detects the code and executes one or more routines that are associated with the respective code. In this regard, the targeted device is capable of carrying out different routines or sequences of actions depending on the state of the device, such as a misplaced state, a lost state, a stolen state or the like, which is based on the respective code.
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Citations
112 Claims
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1. A method for locating a targeted wireless communication device, the method comprising:
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receiving, at the targeted wireless communication device, a communication data packet having a format comprising a locating state code associated with one of a plurality of locating states in which the targeted wireless device is operable, wherein each locating state is stored in a memory on the targeted wireless communication device and comprises one or more location routines carried out by the targeted wireless device; and executing at least one of the one or more location routines on the targeted wireless communication device in response to detecting the locating state code in the communication data packet, wherein executing further comprises operating the wireless device in a stealth mode that disables output by the wireless device of user-perceptible indicators generated during execution of the one or more location routines in a non-stealth mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. At least one processor, associated with a targeted wireless communication device, configured for locating the targeted wireless communication device, comprising:
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a first module for receiving, at the targeted wireless communication device, a communication data packet having a format comprising a locating state code associated with one of a plurality of locating states in which the targeted wireless device is operable, wherein each locating state is stored in a memory on the targeted wireless device and comprises one or more location routines carried out by the targeted wireless device; and a second module for executing at least one of the one or more location routines on the targeted wireless communication device in response to detecting the locating state code in the communication data packet, wherein the second module for executing further comprises a module for operating the wireless device in a stealth mode that disables output by the wireless device of user-perceptible indicators generated during execution of the one or more location routines in a non-stealth mode.
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23. A computer program product, associated with a targeted wireless communication device, for locating the targeted wireless communication device, comprising:
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a computer-readable medium comprising; a first set of codes for causing a computer to receive a communication data packet having a format comprising a locating state code associated with one of a plurality of locating states in which the targeted wireless device is operable, wherein each locating state is stored in a memory on the targeted wireless device and comprises one or more location routines carried out by the targeted wireless device; and a second set of codes for causing the computer to execute at least one of the one or more location routines on the targeted wireless communication device in response to detecting the locating state code in the communication data packet, wherein the codes for causing the computer to execute further comprises code for causing the computer to operate the wireless device in a stealth mode that disables output by the wireless device of user-perceptible indicators generated during execution of the one or more location routines in a non-stealth mode.
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24. An apparatus, comprising:
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means for receiving, at a targeted wireless communication device, a communication data packet having a format comprising a locating state code associated with one of a plurality of locating states in which the targeted wireless device is operable, wherein each locating state is stored in a memory on the targeted wireless device and comprises one or more location routines carried out by the targeted wireless device; and means for executing at least one of the one or more location routines on the targeted wireless communication device in response to detecting the locating state code in the communication data packet, wherein means for executing further comprises means for operating the wireless device in a stealth mode that disables output by the wireless device of user-perceptible indicators generated during execution of the one or more location routines in a non-stealth mode.
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25. A wireless communication device, comprising:
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a computer platform including a processor and a memory; a communication module stored in the memory and executable by the processor, wherein the communication module is operable to receive a communication data packet having a format comprising a locating state code, wherein the locating state code is associated with one of a plurality of locating states in which the wireless communication device is operable; and a location/recovery module for assisting in determining a location or recovering of the wireless communication device, the location/recovery module stored in the memory and executable by the processor to operate the wireless communication device in at least one of a plurality of locating states, wherein the location/recovery module further comprises a plurality of location routines each corresponding to at least one of the plurality of locating states, and wherein the location/recovery module is operable to initiate execution of one or more of the plurality of location routines based on recognition of the locating state code in the communication data packet, and wherein the location/recovery module is further operable to operate the wireless device in a stealth mode that disables output by the wireless device of user-perceptible indicators generated during execution of the one or more location routines in a non-stealth mode. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A method for locating a targeted wireless communication device, the method comprising:
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generating a communication data packet having a format comprising a locating state code associated with one of a plurality of locating states in which a targeted wireless communication device is operable and wherein each locating state is associated with one or more location routines operable on the targeted wireless communication device, wherein generating a communication data packet further comprises generating a Short Message Service (SMS) communication data packet that includes a payload having a location/recovery identifier operable to invoke a location/recovery mode on the targeted wireless communication device, a personal identifier operable to identify a generating party as an authorized party, a code associated with one of the plurality of locating states and a variable length field operable to set parameters associated with the one or more location routines; and communicating the communication data packet to the targeted wireless communication device. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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58. At least one processor associated with a device configured for locating a targeted wireless communication device, comprising:
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a first module for generating a communication data packet having a format comprising a locating state code associated with one of a plurality of locating states in which the targeted wireless communication device is operable and wherein each locating state is associated with one or more location routines operable on the targeted wireless communication device, wherein generating a communication data packet further comprises generating a Short Message Service (SMS) communication data packet that includes a payload having a location/recovery identifier operable to invoke a location/recovery mode on the targeted wireless communication device, a personal identifier operable to identify a generating party as an authorized party, a code associated with one of the plurality of locating states and a variable length field operable to set parameters associated with the one or more location routines; and a second module for communicating the communication data packet to the targeted wireless communication device.
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59. A computer program product, comprising:
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a computer-readable medium comprising; a first set of codes for causing a computer to generate a communication data packet having a format comprising a locating state code associated with one of a plurality of locating states in which a targeted wireless communication device is operable and wherein each locating state is associated with one or more location routines operable on the targeted wireless communication device, wherein generating a communication data packet further comprises generating a Short Message Service (SMS) communication data packet that includes a payload having a location/recovery identifier operable to invoke a location/recovery mode on the targeted wireless communication device, a personal identifier operable to identify a generating party as an authorized party, a code associated with one of the plurality of locating states and a variable length field operable to set parameters associated with the one or more location routines; and a second set of codes for causing the computer to communicate the communication data packet to the targeted wireless communication device.
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60. An apparatus, comprising:
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means for generating a communication data packet having a format comprising a locating state code associated with one of a plurality of locating states in which a targeted wireless communication device is operable and wherein each locating state is associated with one or more location routines operable on the targeted wireless communication device, wherein generating a communication data packet further comprises generating a Short Message Service (SMS) communication data packet that includes a payload having a location/recovery identifier operable to invoke a location/recovery mode on the targeted wireless communication device, a personal identifier operable to identify a generating party as an authorized party, a code associated with one of the plurality of locating states and a variable length field operable to set parameters associated with the one or more location routines; and means for communicating the communication data packet to the targeted wireless communication device.
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61. A. communication device, comprising:
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a computer platform including a processor and a memory; and a communication module stored in the memory and executable by the processor, wherein the communication module is operable to generate a communication data packet having a format comprising a locating state code associated with one of a plurality of locating states in which a targeted wireless communication device is operable and wherein each locating state is associated with one or more location routines operable on the targeted wireless communication device and the communication module is further operable to wirelessly communicate the communication data packet to the targeted wireless communication device, wherein the communication module is further defined as a Short Message Service (SMS) communication module operable to generate a SMS communication data packet that includes a payload having a location/recovery identifier operable to invoke a location/recovery mode on the targeted wireless communication device, a personal identifier operable to identify a generating party as an authorized party, a locating state code associated with one of the plurality of locating states and a variable length field for setting parameters associated with the one or more location routines. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69)
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70. A method for locating a targeted wireless communication device, the method comprising:
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receiving, at the targeted wireless communication device, a communication data packet having a format comprising a locating state code associated with one of a plurality of locating states in which the targeted wireless device is operable, wherein each locating state is stored in a memory on the targeted wireless communication device and comprises one or more location routines carried out by the targeted wireless device; and executing at least one of the one or more location routines on the targeted wireless communication device in response to detecting the locating state code in the communication data packet, wherein executing further comprises corrupting communication, by the targeted wireless communication device, by scrambling at least one of voice communication and data communication. - View Dependent Claims (71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89)
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90. At least one processor, associated with a targeted wireless communication device, configured for locating the targeted wireless communication device, comprising:
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a first module for receiving, at the targeted wireless communication device, a communication data packet having a format comprising a locating state code associated with one of a plurality of locating states in which the targeted wireless device is operable, wherein each locating state is stored in a memory on the targeted wireless device and comprises one or more location routines carried out by the targeted wireless device; and a second module for executing at least one of the one or more location routines on the targeted wireless communication device in response to detecting the locating state code in the communication data packet, wherein executing further comprises corrupting communication, by the targeted wireless communication device, by scrambling at least one of voice communication and data communication.
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91. A computer program product, associated with a targeted wireless communication device, for locating the targeted wireless communication device, comprising:
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a computer-readable medium comprising; a first set of codes for causing a computer to receive a communication data packet having a format comprising a locating state code associated with one of a plurality of locating states in which the targeted wireless device is operable, wherein each locating state is stored in a memory on the targeted wireless device and comprises one or more location routines carried out by the targeted wireless device; and a second set of codes for causing the computer to execute at least one of the one or more location routines on the targeted wireless communication device in response to detecting the locating state code in the communication data packet, wherein executing further comprises corrupting communication, by the targeted wireless communication device, by scrambling at least one of voice communication and data communication.
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92. An apparatus, comprising:
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means for receiving, at a targeted wireless communication device, a communication data packet having a format comprising a locating state code associated with one of a plurality of locating states in which the targeted wireless device is operable, wherein each locating state is stored in a memory on the targeted wireless device and comprises one or more location routines carried out by the targeted wireless device; and means for executing at least one of the one or more location routines on the targeted wireless communication device in response to detecting the locating state code in the communication data packet, wherein executing further comprises corrupting communication, by the targeted wireless communication device, by scrambling at least one of voice communication and data communication.
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93. A wireless communication device, comprising:
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a computer platform including a processor and a memory; a communication module stored in the memory and executable by the processor, wherein the communication module is operable to receive a communication data packet having a format comprising a locating state code, wherein the locating state code is associated with one of a plurality of locating states in which the wireless communication device is operable; and a location/recovery module for assisting in determining a location or recovering of the wireless communication device, the location/recovery module stored in the memory and executable by the processor to operate the wireless communication device in at least one of a plurality of locating states, wherein the location/recovery module further comprises a plurality of location routines each corresponding to at least one of the plurality of locating states, and wherein the location/recovery module is operable to initiate execution of one or more of the plurality of location routines based on recognition of the locating state code in the communication data packet, wherein the location/recovery module includes the plurality of routines including a communication corruption routine operable to corrupt the wireless device communication by scrambling at least one of voice communication and data communication. - View Dependent Claims (94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112)
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Specification