Systems and methods for tracking paired computing devices

• US 9,297,882 B1
• Filed: 12/30/2010
• Issued: 03/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gen Digital Inc.
• Original Assignee: Symantec Corporation (NortonLifeLock Inc.)
• Inventors: Bhatia, Yadvinder
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim, Steven
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHERWIN, RYAN W
• Application Number:
  US12/982,552
• Time in Patent Office: 1,916 Days
• Field of Search: 340/686.1, 340/686.6, 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.13, 340/539.14, 340/539.15, 455/404.2, 455/414.2, 4554561-457
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/51 Relative positioning
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0284 Relative positioning
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0289 of multiple transceivers, e.g. in ad hoc networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications

Abstract

A computer-implemented method may include determining that a plurality of computing devices comprising first and second computing devices are paired via a wireless communication technology that facilitates communication between the computing devices. The computer-implemented method may also include establishing a maximum distance that the first and second computing devices are allowed to move away from one another. The computer-implemented method may further include calculating a current distance between the first and second computing devices and then determining that the current distance exceeds the maximum distance. In addition, the computer-implemented method may include providing a notification to at least one of the first and second computing devices to alert a user of the first computing device that the current distance between the first and second computing devices exceeds the maximum distance and to indicate a location of the second computing device. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for tracking paired computing devices, at least a portion of the method being performed by at least one computing system comprising at least one processor, the method comprising:

determining that a plurality of computing devices comprising first and second computing devices of a user are paired via a wireless communication technology that facilitates communication between the plurality of computing devices;

providing a plurality of modes for notifying the user when the first computing device or the second computing device is no longer in the user'"'"'s possession, wherein the plurality of modes comprise;

a first mode that causes notifications to be sent only to a device that is stationary;

a second mode that causes notifications to be sent only to a device that is moving; and

a third mode that causes notifications to be sent to both the first and second computing devices;

establishing a maximum distance that the first and second computing devices are allowed to move away from one another;

calculating a current distance between the first and second computing devices;

determining that the current distance between the first and second computing devices exceeds the maximum distance that the first and second computing devices are allowed to move away from one another;

determining, due at least in part to the current distance between the first and second computing devices exceeding the maximum distance, that at least one of the first and second computing devices is no longer in the user'"'"'s possession; and

in response to determining that at least one of the first and second computing devices is no longer in the user'"'"'s possession;

determining that the second computing device is no longer in the user'"'"'s possession by determining that the first computing device is moving and the second computing device is substantially stationary; and

providing, based at least in part on a selection by the user of the second mode that causes notifications to be sent only to a device that is moving, one or more notifications only to the first computing device and not to the second computing device due at least in part to the first computing device moving and the second computing device being substantially stationary, wherein the one or more notifications;

alert the user that the second computing device is no longer in the user'"'"'s possession due at least in part to the first computing device moving and the second computing device being substantially stationary, and

include information that identifies a location of the second computing device.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining that the plurality of computing devices are paired via the wireless communication technology comprises at least one of:

determining that the plurality of computing devices are paired via a Wi-Fi network; and

determining that the plurality of computing devices are paired via a cellular network.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein establishing the maximum distance that the first and second computing devices are allowed to move away from one another comprises receiving the maximum distance from the user.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein calculating the current distance between the first and second computing devices comprises:

sending a communication between the first and second computing devices;

determining an amount of time required to send the communication between the first and second computing devices; and

using the amount of time required to send the communication between the first and second computing devices to calculate the current distance between the first and second computing devices.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein calculating the current distance between the first and second computing devices comprises:

obtaining coordinates that identify a geographic location of the first and second computing devices; and

using the coordinates to calculate the current distance between the first and second computing devices.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein obtaining the coordinates that identify the geographic location comprises obtaining the coordinates from a Global Positioning System device.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of computing devices comprise at least one of:

a plurality of cellular phones;

a cellular phone and a Bluetooth headset;

or

a cellular phone and a server.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein providing the one or more notifications only to the first computing device comprises at least one of:

initiating a phone call to the first computing device;

sending a text message to the first computing device; and

causing the first computing device to emit at least one noise.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein providing the one or more notifications only to the first computing device comprises:

obtaining coordinates that identify a geographic location of the second computing device; and

providing the coordinates that identify the geographic location of the second computing device in a message to the first computing device to enable the first computing device to present the geographic location to the user in a geographic map.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein providing the one or more notifications only to the first computing device comprises at least one of:

causing the Bluetooth headset to emit at least one noise; and

causing the Bluetooth headset to flash at least one light.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein:

the second computing device comprises a cellular phone;

providing the one or more notifications from the first computing device to the cellular phone comprises;

determining that the current distance is preventing the first computing device from being able to directly communicate with the cellular phone via the wireless communication technology; and

sending the notification from the first computing device to another cellular phone to relay the notification to the cellular phone with which the first computing device is unable to directly communicate.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the one or more notifications only to the first computing device comprises prompting the user to immediately find the second computing device based at least in part on the identified location of the second computing device to prevent the second computing device from being lost or stolen.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising locking the second computing device to protect against unauthorized access of confidential information.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising presenting, to the user of the first computing device, a geographic map that identifies the location of the second computing device relative to a location of the first computing device.

15. A system for tracking paired computing devices, the system comprising:

at least one processor;

a determination module programmed to direct the at least one processor to determine that a plurality of computing devices comprising first and second computing devices of a user are paired via a wireless communication technology that facilitates communication between the plurality of computing devices;

a distance module programmed to direct the at least one processor to;

establish a maximum distance that the first and second computing devices are allowed to move away from one another;

calculate a current distance between the first and second computing devices;

determine that the current distance between the first and second computing devices exceeds the maximum distance that the first and second computing devices are allowed to move away from one another;

determine, due at least in part to the current distance between the first and second computing devices exceeding the maximum distance, that at least one of the first and second computing devices is no longer in the user'"'"'s possession;

determine that the second computing device is no longer in the user'"'"'s possession by determining that the first computing device is moving and the second computing device is substantially stationary; and

a notification module programmed to direct the at least one processor to;

provide a plurality of modes for notifying the user when the first computing device or the second computing device is no longer in the user'"'"'s possession, wherein the plurality of modes comprise;

a first mode that causes notifications to be sent only to a device that is stationary;

a second mode that causes notifications to be sent only to a device that is moving; and

a third mode that causes notifications to be sent to both the first and second computing devices; and

provide, based at least in part on a selection by the user of the second mode that causes notifications to be sent only to a device that is moving the second computing device to the first computing device, one or more notifications only to the first computing device and not to the second computing device due at least in part to the first computing device moving and the second computing device being substantially stationary, wherein the one or more notifications;

alert the user that the second computing device is no longer in the user'"'"'s possession due at least in part to the first computing device moving and the second computing device being substantially stationary the current distance between the first and second computing devices exceeding the maximum distance; and

include information that identifies a location of the second computing device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the wireless communication technology comprises at least one of:

a Wi-Fi network; and

a cellular network.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the distance module is programmed to direct the at least one processor to receive the maximum distance from the user.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the distance module is programmed to direct the at least one processor to:

send a communication between the first and second computing devices;

determine an amount of time required to send the communication between the first and second computing devices; and

use the amount of time required to send the communication between the first and second computing devices to calculate the current distance between the first and second computing devices.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the distance module is programmed to direct the at least one processor to:

obtain coordinates that identify a geographic location of the first and second computing devices; and

use the coordinates to calculate the current distance between the first and second computing devices.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable-storage medium comprising one or more computer-executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a computing system, cause the computing system to:

determine that a plurality of computing devices comprising first and second computing devices of a user are paired via a wireless communication technology that facilitates communication between the plurality of computing devices;

provide a plurality of modes for notifying the user when the first computing device or the second computing device is no longer in the user'"'"'s possession, wherein the plurality of modes comprise;

a first mode that causes notifications to be sent only to a device that is stationary;

a second mode that causes notifications to be sent only to a device that is moving; and

a third mode that causes notifications to be sent to both the first and second computing devices;

establish a maximum distance that the first and second computing devices are allowed to move away from one another;

calculate a current distance between the first and second computing devices;

determine that the current distance between the first and second computing devices exceeds the maximum distance that the first and second computing devices are allowed to move away from one another;

determine, due at least in part to the current distance between the first and second computing devices exceeding the maximum distance, that at least one of the first and second computing devices is no longer in the user'"'"'s possession; and

in response to determining that at least one of the first and second computing devices is no longer in the user'"'"'s possession;

determine that the second computing device is no longer in the user'"'"'s possession by determining that the first computing device is moving and the second computing device is substantially stationary; and

provide, based at least in part on a selection by the user of the second mode that causes notifications to be sent only to a device that is moving the second computing device to the first computing device, one or more notifications only to the first computing device and not to the second computing device due at least in part to the first computing device moving and the second computing device being substantially stationary, wherein the one or more notifications;

alert the user that the second computing device is no longer in the user'"'"'s possession due at least in part to the first computing device moving and the second computing device being substantially stationary the current distance between the first and second computing devices exceeding the maximum distance, and

include information that identifies a location of the second computing device.