Computational systems and methods for locating a mobile device

• US 9,161,310 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2011
• Issued: 10/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Gates, William, Myhrvold, Nathan P., Chandra, Ranveer, Malamud, Mark A., Zhong, Lin, Hyde, Roderick A., Paek, Tim, Dyor, Matthew G., Mundie, Craig J., Holman, Pablos, Rinaldo, Jr., John D., Ishikawa, Muriel Y., Tan, Desney S., Kare, Jordin T., Tegreene, Clarence T., Wood, JR., Lowell L., Levien, Royce A., Whitmer, Charles, Bahl, Paramvir, Lord, Richard T., Wood, Victoria Y. H., Burger, Douglas C., Lord, Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): AJIBADE AKONAI, OLUMIDE
• Application Number:
  US13/340,540
• Publication Number:
  US 20130165139A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,384 Days
• Field of Search: 455/127.1, 455/343.1, 455/343.5, 455/572, 455/573, 455/574, 4554561-457, 455/566, 455/41.2, 340/10.1, 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.13, 340/539.2, 340/539.23, 340/539.32, 340/572.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0205 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2111 Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0254 detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0258 controlling an operation mode according to history or models of usage information, e.g. activity schedule or time of day
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/006 with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Systems and methods are described relating to accepting a query from a radio-frequency identification object associated with at least one mobile device; and presenting an indication of location of the at least one mobile device at least partially based on the query response from the radio-frequency identification object associated with the at least one mobile device. Additionally, systems and methods are described relating to means for accepting a query from a radio-frequency identification object associated with at least one mobile device; and means for presenting an indication of location of the at least one mobile device at least partially based on the query response from the radio-frequency identification object associated with the at least one mobile device.

Claims

1. A machine, comprising:

means for accepting a query from a radio-frequency identification object associated with at least one mobile device, including at least;

means for determining whether the at least one mobile device has been misplaced, including at least a means for detecting an absence of movement of the at least one mobile device;

means for directing the at least one mobile device to enter a power saving mode at least partially based on the means for determining whether the at least one mobile device has been misplaced; and

means for altering the power saving mode at least partially based on a query accepted from the radio-frequency identification object associated with the at least one mobile device; and

means for presenting an indication of location of the at least one mobile device at least partially based on the query accepted from the radio-frequency identification object associated with the at least one mobile device,

wherein at least one of the means for accepting or the means for presenting is at least partially implemented using at least one processing device.

2. The machine of claim 1, wherein means for accepting a query from a radio-frequency identification object associated with at least one mobile device comprises:

means for accepting a location query from a radio-frequency identification object associated with at least one mobile device.

3. The machine of claim 1, wherein means for accepting a query from a radio-frequency identification object associated with at least one mobile device comprises:

means for accepting a battery level query from a radio-frequency identification object associated with at least one mobile device.

4. The machine of claim 1, wherein means for accepting a query from a radio-frequency identification object associated with at least one mobile device comprises:

means for accepting a silent mode signal from a radio-frequency identification object associated with at least one mobile device.

5. The machine of claim 1, wherein means for accepting a query from a radio-frequency identification object associated with at least one mobile device comprises:

means for accepting at least one of a silent mode query, an airplane mode query theatre mode query, or a meeting mode query from a radio-frequency identification object associated with at least one mobile device.

6. The machine of claim 1, wherein means for accepting a query from a radio-frequency identification object associated with at least one mobile device comprises:

means for accepting a query from a radio-frequency identification reader associated with at least one mobile device.

7. The machine of claim 6, wherein means for accepting a query from a radio-frequency identification reader associated with at least one mobile device comprises:

means for accepting a query from a mobile radio-frequency identification reader.

8. The machine of claim 1, wherein means for accepting a query from a radio-frequency identification object associated with at least one mobile device comprises:

means for accepting a query from a radio-frequency identification object to override a silent mode status.

9. The machine of claim 1, wherein means for accepting a query from a radio-frequency identification object associated with at least one mobile device comprises:

means for utilizing a radio-frequency identification tag.

10. The machine of claim 9, wherein means for utilizing a radio-frequency identification tag comprises:

means for utilizing at least one of an active radio-frequency identification tag or a passive radio-frequency identification tag.

11. The machine of claim 9, wherein means for utilizing a radio-frequency identification tag comprises:

means for utilizing at least one near-field communication device of the at least one mobile device as the radio-frequency identification tag.

12. The machine of claim 9, wherein means for utilizing a radio-frequency identification tag comprises:

means for utilizing at least one of a radio-frequency identification tag that includes a radio-frequency transmitter and a receiver or a battery-assisted passive radio-frequency identification tag.

13. The machine of claim 9, wherein means for utilizing a radio-frequency identification tag comprises:

means for utilizing a radio-frequency identification tag that receives a radio signal.

14. The machine of claim 9, wherein means for utilizing a radio-frequency identification tag comprises:

means for utilizing a radio-frequency identification tag that functions as a radio mirror.

15. The machine of claim 1, wherein means for accepting a query from a radio-frequency identification object associated with at least one mobile device comprises:

means for utilizing a radio-frequency identification tag that sends location information to a discriminating receiver.

16. The machine of claim 1, wherein means for presenting an indication of location of the at least one mobile device at least partially based on the query accepted from the radio-frequency identification object associated with the at least one mobile device comprises:

means for presenting an indication of location of the mobile device to a second device.

17. The machine of claim 16, wherein means for presenting an indication of location of the mobile device to a second device comprises:

means for presenting an indication of location of the mobile device to a second mobile device.

18. The machine of claim 16, wherein means for presenting an indication of location of the mobile device to a second device comprises:

means for presenting an indication of location of the mobile device to a dedicated device.

19. The machine of claim 1, wherein means for presenting an indication of location of the at least one mobile device at least partially based on the query accepted from the radio-frequency identification object associated with the at least one mobile device comprises:

means for transmitting location information associated with the mobile device.

20. The machine of claim 1, wherein means for presenting an indication of location of the at least one mobile device at least partially based on the query accepted from the radio-frequency identification object associated with the at least one mobile device comprises:

means for presenting a sound that indicates location of the mobile device.

21. The machine of claim 20, wherein means for presenting a sound that indicates location of the mobile device comprises:

means for presenting a computer-created sound that indicates location of the mobile device.

22. The machine of claim 21, wherein means for presenting a computer-created sound that indicates location of the mobile device comprises:

means for presenting a computer-created voice that indicates location of the mobile device.

23. The machine of claim 1, wherein means for presenting an indication of location of the at least one mobile device at least partially based on the query accepted from the radio-frequency identification object associated with the at least one mobile device comprises:

means for presenting an indication for the mobile device to vibrate.

24. The machine of claim 1, wherein means for presenting an indication of location of the at least one mobile device at least partially based on the query accepted from the radio-frequency identification object associated with the at least one mobile device comprises:

means for presenting a visible indication of the mobile device location.

25. The machine of claim 24, wherein means for presenting a visible indication of the mobile device location comprises:

means for presenting at least one of a constant light, a blinking light, or a strobe light that indicates the mobile device location.

26. The machine of claim 1, wherein means for presenting an indication of location of the at least one mobile device at least partially based on the query accepted from the radio-frequency identification object associated with the at least one mobile device comprises:

means for presenting an indication of location of the mobile device to a remote location.

27. The machine of claim 1, wherein means for presenting an indication of location of the at least one mobile device at least partially based on the query accepted from the radio-frequency identification object associated with the at least one mobile device comprises:

means for presenting an indication of location of the mobile device including global positioning system coordinates.

28. The machine of claim 1, wherein means for accepting a query from a radio-frequency identification object associated with at least one mobile device and means for presenting an indication of location of the at least one mobile device at least partially based on the query accepted from the radio-frequency identification object associated with the at least one mobile device comprise:

means for accepting a location information query associated with a smartphone from a radio-frequency transmitter, presenting an audible beep, and transmitting a set of global positioning coordinates to a website based on the location information query associated with the smartphone from the radio-frequency transmitter.

29. The machine of claim 1, wherein means for accepting a query from a radio-frequency identification object associated with at least one mobile device comprises:

means for determining a silent mode status of the at least one mobile device, including at least means for determining whether the at least one mobile device is prevented from making audible sounds; and

means for enabling the at least one mobile device to make audible sounds at least partially based on the means for determining a silent mode status.

30. The machine of claim 1, wherein means for accepting a query from a radio-frequency identification object associated with at least one mobile device comprises:

means for determining an airplane mode status of the at least one mobile device, including at least means for determining whether the at least one mobile device is prevented from transmitting radio signals; and

means for enabling the at least one mobile device to transmit radio signals at least partially based on the means for determining an airplane mode status.

31. The machine of claim 1, wherein means for directing the at least one mobile device to enter a power saving mode at least partially based on the means for determining whether the at least one mobile device has been misplaced comprises:

means for directing the at least one mobile device to enter a power saving mode at least partially based on the means for determining whether the at least one mobile device has been misplaced, the power saving mode including at least conserving power associated with at least one portion of the at least one mobile device not related to accepting a query from a radio-frequency identification object associated with at least one mobile device.

32. The machine of claim 1, wherein means for determining whether the at least one mobile device has been misplaced, including at least a means for detecting an absence of movement of the at least one mobile device comprises:

means for determining whether the at least one mobile device has been misplaced, including at least a means for detecting an absence of movement of the at least one mobile device via one or more of at least one accelerometer, at least one position sensor, at least one GPS receiver, at least one gravity sensor, at least one gyroscope, at least one wireless connection, at least one magnetometer, at least one proximity sensor, or at least one motion sensor of the at least one mobile device.

33. The machine of claim 1, wherein means for accepting a query from a radio-frequency identification object associated with at least one mobile device comprises:

means for accepting, at the at least one mobile device, at least one indication of a query wirelessly transmitted by a radio-frequency identification interrogator external to the at least one mobile device, the means for accepting including at least one radio-frequency identification tag of the at least one mobile device.

34. The machine of claim 1, wherein means for presenting an indication of location of the at least one mobile device at least partially based on the query accepted from the radio-frequency identification object associated with the at least one mobile device comprises:

means for presenting, by the at least one mobile device, an indication of location of the at least one mobile device at least partially based on a response by a radio-frequency identification tag of the at least one mobile device to a radio-frequency identification interrogator external to the at least one mobile device and associated with transmitting the accepted query.

35. A method, comprising:

accepting a query from a radio-frequency identification object associated with at least one mobile device, including at least;

determining whether the at least one mobile device has been misplaced, including at least circuitry for detecting an absence of movement of the at least one mobile device;

directing the at least one mobile device to enter a power saving mode at least partially based on the circuitry for determining whether the at least one mobile device has been misplaced;

altering the power saving mode at least partially based on a query accepted from the radio-frequency identification object associated with the at least one mobile device; and

presenting an indication of location of the at least one mobile device at least partially based on the query accepted from the radio-frequency identification object associated with the at least one mobile device,

wherein at least one of the accepting or presenting is at least partially implemented using one or more processing devices.

36. A machine, comprising:

circuitry for accepting a query from a radio-frequency identification object associated with at least one mobile device, including at least;

circuitry for determining whether the at least one mobile device has been misplaced, including at least circuitry for detecting an absence of movement of the at least one mobile device;

circuitry for directing the at least one mobile device to enter a power saving mode at least partially based on the circuitry for determining whether the at least one mobile device has been misplaced; and

circuitry for altering the power saving mode at least partially based on the query accepted from the radio-frequency identification object associated with the at least one mobile device; and

circuitry for presenting an indication of location of the at least one mobile device at least partially based on the query accepted from the radio-frequency identification object associated with the at least one mobile device.

37. A machine, comprising:

circuitry for accepting a query from a radio-frequency identification object associated with at least one mobile device; and

circuitry presenting an indication of location of the at least one mobile device at least partially based on the query accepted from the radio-frequency identification object associated with the at least one mobile device, including at least;

circuitry for accepting an indication of a traveled path of the at least one mobile device at least partially based on circuitry for detecting movement of the at least one mobile device; and

circuitry for presenting an indication of a predicted location of the at least one mobile device at least partially based on the query accepted from the radio-frequency identification object associated with the at least one mobile device and the indication of a traveled path of the at least one mobile device.

38. A machine, comprising:

means for accepting a query from a radio-frequency identification object associated with at least one mobile device; and

means for presenting an indication of location of the at least one mobile device at least partially based on the accepted query from the radio-frequency identification object associated with the at least one mobile device, including at least

means for accepting an indication of a traveled path of the at least one mobile device at least partially based on at least one means for detecting movement of the at least one mobile device; and

means for presenting an indication of a predicted location of the at least one mobile device at least partially based on the query accepted from the radio-frequency identification object associated with the at least one mobile device and the indication of a traveled path of the at least one mobile device,

wherein at least one of the means for accepting or the means for presenting is at least partially implemented using at least one processing device.

39. The machine of claim 38, wherein means for accepting an indication of a traveled path of the at least one mobile device at least partially based on at least one means for detecting movement of the at least one mobile device comprises:

means for accepting an indication of a traveled path of the at least one mobile device at least partially based on one or more of at least one accelerometer, at least one position sensor, at least one GPS receiver, at least one gravity sensor, at least one gyroscope, at least one wireless connection, at least one magnetometer, at least one proximity sensor, or at least one motion sensor of the at least one mobile device.