Remotely initiating lost mode on a computing device

• US 8,881,310 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2012
• Issued: 11/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Hajj, Usama Mikael, Frost, Megan M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Shin-Hon
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAKHIA, VIRAL S
• Application Number:
  US13/607,756
• Publication Number:
  US 20130326642A1
• Time in Patent Office: 786 Days
• Field of Search: 726/1, 726 34- 35, 713/300, 455/420
• US Class Current: 726/34
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0174 holographic
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2105 Dual mode as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2111 Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2143 Clearing memory, e.g. to prevent the data from being stolen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/014 Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/006 Mixed reality object pose determination, tracking or camera calibration for mixed reality G06T7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/11 Region-based segmentation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/136 involving thresholding
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/20 in augmented reality scenes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/026 using e-messaging for transporting management information, e.g. email, instant messaging or chat
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• 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 4/029 : Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media are provided for remotely initiating lost mode on a computing device. A request that lost mode be initiated can include a message and contact information provided by the requesting user. Once authenticated, a command to initiate lost mode is sent to the lost device. Initiating lost mode includes locking the lost device and suppressing select functionality. The message and contact information are displayed and the lost device is enabled to contact the requesting user using the contact information. The lost device can also collect and transmit location data to the requesting user. The location data can be presented on a map indicating the lost devices location and the time the lost device was at the location. The location data can be scheduled to be resent to the user based on numerous factors such as a set schedule, rules or heuristic.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

authenticating a requesting user operating a requesting computing device to initiate a lost mode on a computing device, where the authenticating is performed over a communications network coupled to the requesting computing device and the computing device;

sending a first command over the communications network to the computing device to initiate the lost mode on the computing device, where the lost mode includes locking the computing device or suppressing select functionality of the computing device;

receiving, over the communications network, status data from the computing device, wherein the status data indicates at least a remaining battery life associated with the computing device;

presenting the status data of the computing device on the requesting computing device, wherein the status data includes an estimated amount of remaining time until the computing device runs out of battery life; and

sending a second command to the computing device to send status data less frequently based on the status data indicating the remaining battery life of the computing device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the status data includes location data identifying the location of the computing device and is associated with a time indicating when the status data was gathered from the computing device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the status data is transmitted upon the remaining battery life associated with the computing device reaching a predetermined milestone.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the milestone is the remaining battery life reaching a predetermined percentage of total battery life.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the milestone is the remaining battery life reaching a predetermined amount of remaining time left until the computing device runs out of battery life.

6. A system, comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory containing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform operations comprising;

authenticating a requesting user operating a requesting computing device to initiate a lost mode on a computing device, where the authenticating is performed over a communications network coupled to the requesting computing device and the computing device;

sending a first command over the communications network to the computing device to initiate the lost mode on the computing device, where the lost mode includes locking the computing device or suppressing select functionality of the computing device;

receiving, over the communications network, status data from the computing device, wherein the status data indicates at least a remaining battery life associated with the computing device;

presenting the status data of the computing device on the requesting computing device, wherein the status data includes an estimated amount of remaining time until the computing device runs out of battery life; and

sending a second command to the computing device to send status data less frequently based on the status data indicating the remaining battery life of the computing device.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the status data includes location data identifying the location of the computing device and is associated with a time indicating when the status data was gathered from the computing device.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the status data is transmitted upon the remaining battery life associated with the computing device reaching a predetermined milestone.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the milestone is the remaining battery life reaching a predetermined percentage of total battery life.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the milestone is the remaining battery life reaching a predetermined amount of remaining time left until the computing device runs out of battery life.

11. A method comprising:

receiving, by a computing device, a first command over a communications network to initiate a lost mode on the computing device;

locking the computing device or suppressing select functionality of the computing device;

determining a remaining battery life of the computing device; and

sending, over the communications network, status data indicating at least a remaining battery life of the computing device, wherein the status data includes an estimated amount of remaining time until the computing device runs out of battery life; and

receiving, by the computing device, a second command over the communications network to send status data less frequently based on the status data indicating the remaining battery life of the computing device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the status data includes location data identifying the location of the computing device and is associated with a time indicating when the status data was gathered from the computing device.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the status data is transmitted upon the remaining battery life associated with the computing device reaching a predetermined milestone.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the milestone is the remaining battery life reaching a predetermined percentage of total battery life.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the milestone is the remaining battery life reaching a predetermined amount of remaining time left until the computing device runs out of battery life.

16. A computing device comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory containing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising;

receiving, by the computing device, a first command over a communications network to initiate a lost mode on the computing device;

locking the computing device or suppressing select functionality of the computing device;

determining a remaining battery life of the computing device;

sending, over the communications network, status data indicating at least a remaining battery life of the computing device, wherein the status data indicating a remaining battery life associated with the computing device includes an estimated amount of remaining time until the computing device runs out of battery life;

receiving, by the computing device, a second command to send status data less frequently based on the status data indicating the remaining battery life of the computing device.

17. The computing device of claim 16, wherein the status data includes location data identifying the location of the computing device and is associated with a time indicating when the status data was gathered from the computing device.

18. The computing device of claim 16, wherein the status data is transmitted upon the remaining battery life associated with the computing device reaching a predetermined milestone.

19. The computing device of claim 18, wherein the milestone is the remaining battery life reaching a predetermined percentage of total battery life.

20. The computing device of claim 18, wherein the milestone is the remaining battery life reaching a predetermined amount of remaining time left until the computing device runs out of battery life.