Location-based recovery device and risk management system for portable computing devices and data

• US 8,600,405 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2012
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beamer, Temica M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ajayi, Joel
• Application Number:
  US13/644,537
• Publication Number:
  US 20130295953A1
• Time in Patent Office: 425 Days
• Field of Search: 455/411, 455/456.1
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• 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. A data protection and recovery system for a portable computing device comprising:

one or more communication devices configured to;

send one or more transmissions to the portable computing device indicating the theft or loss of the portable computing device, wherein the portable computing device is configured to communicate with one or more global positioning satellites, upon receipt of one or more particular transmissions, modify data stored thereon to prevent access to the data, and determine a geographic location; and

receive a response from the portable computing device indicating the geographic location of the portable computing device;

a user interface configured to query a user whether to activate data file management on the portable computing device, wherein upon receiving user input activating data file management, the one or more communication devices transmit the one or more particular transmissions causing the portable computing device to modify the data stored thereon preventing access to the data.

2. The portable computing device of claim 1, wherein the portable computing device is selected from the group consisting of a laptop, tablet, and smartphone.

3. The portable computing device of claim 1, wherein the one or more particular transmissions are received wirelessly by the portable computing device.

4. The data protection and recovery system of claim 1, wherein the portable computing device modifies data stored thereon by at least one of utilizing a random binary fill and encryption, the encryption capable of decryption upon receipt of an encryption key.

5. The portable electronic device of claim 4, wherein the one or more communication devices are further configured to transmit one or more instructions to the portable computing device to decrypt encrypted data store thereon.

6. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the user must be an authorized user of the data protection and recovery system.

11. The portable electronic device of claim 4, wherein the user interface is further configured to query the use whether to activate file management comprising the random binary fill or encryption that is capable of decryption if the portable computing device is recovered.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more communication devices transmit one or more particular transmissions causing the portable communication device to modify the data stored thereon by at least one of a random binary fill and encryption, the encryption being decrypted upon receipt of the encryption key at the portable computing device.

7. A method for data protection and recovery for a portable device comprising:

providing a data storage device configured to store data on the portable device and to modify the stored data to prevent access to the data;

wirelessly receiving an input at the portable device indicating the theft or loss of the portable computing device via a signal reception and transmission assembly of the portable computing device;

upon receiving the input at the portable device, determining a geographic location of the portable computing device by utilizing a global positioning satellite and reporting the geographic location to a user via the signal reception and transmission assembly; and

modification of the stored data to prevent access to the stored data upon receipt of one or more particular wireless transmissions by the signal reception and transmission assembly.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising installing a cellular data transceiver in the portable device as part of the signal reception and transmission assembly.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising installing a Wi-Fi data transceiver in the portable device as part of the signal reception and transmission assembly.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the one or more particular wireless transmissions are received from an authorized user of the portable device.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the data storage device prevents access to the data by at least one of utilizing a random binary fill and encryption of the data;

the encryption capable of being decrypted upon receipt of an encryption key at the portable device.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein modification of the stored data utilizes at least one of a random binary fill and encryption, the encryption being capable of decryption and data recovery upon receipt of an encryption key at the portable device.