Electronically binding to a lost mobile device

• US 9,191,775 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2013
• Issued: 11/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: French, Paul B., Healy, Jack J., Lucey, Niall J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ajit
• Application Number:
  US14/133,770
• Publication Number:
  US 20150181370A1
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• 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 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals

Abstract

A first mobile device detects a second mobile device in the vicinity of the first mobile device and determines that the second mobile device is lost. The first mobile device electronically binds to the second mobile device and obtains information relating to the second mobile device. The first mobile device sends the information relating to the second mobile device to a designated party. The first mobile device receives an indication that the second device is no longer lost. The first mobile device, in response to receiving the indication that the second device is no longer lost, unbinds from the second mobile device.

Claims

1. A method comprising the steps of:

a first mobile device detecting a second mobile device in the vicinity of the first mobile device;

the first mobile device determining that the second mobile device is lost;

the first mobile device electronically binding to the second mobile device;

the first mobile device obtaining information relating to the second mobile device;

the first mobile device sending the information relating to the second mobile device to a designated party;

the first mobile device receiving an indication that the second device is no longer lost; and

the first mobile device, in response to receiving the indication that the second device is no longer lost, unbinding from the second mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of the first mobile device detecting the second mobile device in the vicinity of the first mobile device comprises:

the first mobile device joining an available personal area network; and

the first mobile device scanning the available personal area network for any mobile devices also joined to the available personal area network.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of the first mobile device electronically binding to the second mobile device comprises the first mobile device sending a request to the second mobile device to create a peer-to-peer connection between the first mobile device and the second mobile device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of the first mobile device determining that the second mobile device is lost comprises:

the first mobile device sending a request to the second mobile device to inquire if the second mobile device is lost; and

the first mobile device receiving an indication that the second mobile device is lost from the second mobile device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of the first mobile device determining that the second mobile device is lost comprises:

the first mobile device sending a request to a mobile operator to inquire if the second mobile device is lost; and

the first mobile device receiving an indication that the second mobile device is lost from the mobile operator.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of the first mobile device sending the information relating to the second mobile device to a designated party comprises the first mobile device sending the information relating to the second mobile device to the designated party and a mobile operator.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the information relating to the second mobile device includes a designated party to contact and contact information for the designated party.

8. A computer program product comprising:

one or more computer-readable storage devices and program instructions stored on the one or more computer-readable storage devices, the program instructions comprising;

program instructions to detect, by a first mobile device, a second mobile device in the vicinity of the first mobile device;

program instructions to determine, by the first mobile device, that the second mobile device is lost;

program instructions to electronically bind, by the first mobile device, to the second mobile device;

program instructions to obtain, by the first mobile device, information relating to the second mobile device;

program instructions to send, by the first mobile device, the information relating to the second mobile device to a designated party;

program instructions to receive, by the first mobile device, an indication that the second device is no longer lost; and

program instructions to, by a first mobile device, in response to receiving the indication that the second device is no longer lost, unbind from the second mobile device.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the program instructions to detect, by a first mobile device, a second mobile device in the vicinity of the first mobile device comprise:

program instructions to join, by the first mobile device, an available personal area network; and

program instructions to scan, by the first mobile device, the available personal area network for any mobile devices also joined to the available personal area network.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the program instructions to electronically bind, by the first mobile device, to the second mobile device comprise program instructions to send, by the first mobile device, a request to the second mobile device to create a peer-to-peer connection between the first mobile device and the second mobile device.

11. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the program instructions to determine, by the first mobile device, that the second mobile device is lost comprise:

program instructions to send, by the first mobile device, a request to the second mobile device to inquire if the second mobile device is lost; and

program instructions to receive, by the first mobile device, an indication that the second mobile device is lost from the second mobile device.

12. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the program instructions to determine, by the first mobile device, that the second mobile device is lost comprise:

program instructions to send, by the first mobile device, a request to a mobile operator to inquire if the second mobile device is lost; and

program instructions to receive, by the first mobile device, an indication that the second mobile device is lost from the mobile operator.

13. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the program instructions to send, by the first mobile device, the information relating to the second mobile device to a designated party comprise program instructions to send, by the first mobile device, the information relating to the second mobile device to the designated party and a mobile operator.

14. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the information relating to the second mobile device includes a designated party to contact and contact information for the designated party.

15. A computer system comprising:

one or more computer processors, one or more computer-readable storage devices, and program instructions stored on the computer-readable storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors, the program instructions comprising;

program instructions to detect, by a first mobile device, a second mobile device in the vicinity of the first mobile device;

program instructions to determine, by the first mobile device, that the second mobile device is lost;

program instructions to electronically bind, by the first mobile device, to the second mobile device;

program instructions to obtain, by the first mobile device, information relating to the second mobile device;

program instructions to send, by the first mobile device, the information relating to the second mobile device to a designated party;

program instructions to receive, by the first mobile device, an indication that the second device is no longer lost; and

program instructions to, by a first mobile device, in response to receiving the indication that the second device is no longer lost, unbind from the second mobile device.

16. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the program instructions to detect, by a first mobile device, a second mobile device in the vicinity of the first mobile device comprise:

program instructions to join, by the first mobile device, an available personal area network; and

program instructions to scan, by the first mobile device, the available personal area network for any mobile devices also joined to the available personal area network.

17. The computer system of claim 16, wherein the program instructions to electronically bind, by the first mobile device, to the second mobile device comprise program instructions to send, by the first mobile device, a request to the second mobile device to create a peer-to-peer connection between the first mobile device and the second mobile device.

18. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the program instructions to determine, by the first mobile device, that the second mobile device is lost comprise:

program instructions to send, by the first mobile device, a request to the second mobile device to inquire if the second mobile device is lost; and

program instructions to receive, by the first mobile device, an indication that the second mobile device is lost from the second mobile device.

19. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the program instructions to determine, by the first mobile device, that the second mobile device is lost comprise:

program instructions to send, by the first mobile device, a request to a mobile operator to inquire if the second mobile device is lost; and

program instructions to receive, by the first mobile device, an indication that the second mobile device is lost from the mobile operator.

20. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the program instructions to send, by the first mobile device, the information relating to the second mobile device to a designated party comprise program instructions to send, by the first mobile device, the information relating to the second mobile device to the designated party and a mobile operator.