Computational systems and methods for locating a mobile device

• US 9,357,496 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2011
• Issued: 05/31/2016
• 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: Ishikawa, Muriel Y., Tan, Desney S., Gates, William, Myhrvold, Nathan P., Kare, Jordin T., Tegreene, Clarence T., Hyde, Roderick A., Paek, Tim, Levien, Royce A., Whitmer, Charles, Holman, Pablos, Rinaldo, Jr., John D., Bahl, Paramvir, Lord, Richard T., Wood, JR., Lowell L., Burger, Douglas C., Lord, Robert W., Wood, Victoria Y. H., Chandra, Ranveer, Malamud, Mark A., Zhong, Lin, Dyor, Matthew G., Mundie, Craig J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Karikari, Kwasi
• Application Number:
  US13/336,979
• Publication Number:
  US 20130165148A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,621 Days
• Field of Search: 455/418, 455/419, 455/456.2, 455/556.1, 340/825.49, 340/540, 340/539.32, 340/686.1
• 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 5/01 Determining conditions which influence positioning, e.g. radio environment, state of motion or energy consumption
• 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 52/0264 by selectively disabling software applications
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Systems and methods are described relating to accepting a mobile device location query using digital signal processing and presenting an indication of location of the mobile device at least partially based on receiving the location query. Additionally, systems and methods are described relating to means for accepting a mobile device location query using digital signal processing and means for presenting an indication of location of the mobile device at least partially based on receiving the location query.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

prolonging at least one duration for a mobile device to be capable of accepting a mobile device location query, including at least;

reducing power to one or more portions of the mobile device associated with accepting mobile device location queries, the reducing power including at least reducing power during any period outside of one or more predetermined time periods for accepting mobile device location queries; and

restoring power to one or more portions of the mobile device associated with accepting mobile device location queries, the restoring power including at least restoring power during the one or more predetermined time periods for accepting mobile device location queries; and

presenting an indication of location of the mobile device at least partially based on accepting a mobile device location query during at least one predetermined time period for accepting mobile device location queries.

2. A system, comprising:

means for prolonging at least one duration for a mobile device to be capable of accepting a mobile device location query, including at least;

means for reducing power to one or more portions of the mobile device associated with accepting mobile device location queries, wherein the means for reducing power is configured to reduce power during any period outside of one or more predetermined time periods for accepting mobile device location queries; and

means for restoring power to one or more portions of the mobile device associated with accepting mobile device location queries, wherein the means for restoring power is configured to restore power during the one or more predetermined time periods for accepting mobile device location queries; and

means for presenting an indication of location of the mobile device at least partially based on accepting a mobile device location query during at least one predetermined time period for accepting mobile device location queries.

3. A system, comprising:

circuitry for prolonging at least one duration for a mobile device to be capable of accepting a mobile device location query, including at least;

circuitry for reducing power to one or more portions of the mobile device associated with accepting mobile device location queries, wherein the circuitry for reducing power is configured to reduce power during any period outside of one or more predetermined time periods associated with accepting mobile device location queries; and

circuitry for restoring power to one or more portions of the mobile device associated with accepting mobile device location queries, wherein the circuitry for restoring power is configured to restore power during the one or more predetermined time periods associated with accepting mobile device location queries; and

circuitry for presenting an indication of location of the mobile device at least partially based on accepting a mobile device location query during at least one predetermined time period associated with accepting mobile device location queries.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein circuitry for presenting an indication of location of the mobile device at least partially based on accepting a mobile device location query during at least one predetermined time period associated with accepting mobile device location queries comprises:

circuitry for presenting an indication of location of the mobile device at least partially based on accepting a sound query.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein circuitry for presenting an indication of location of the mobile device at least partially based on accepting a sound query comprises:

circuitry for presenting an indication of location of the mobile device at least partially based on accepting at least one of a voice query, an artificially-created sound query, or another type of sound query.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein circuitry for presenting an indication of location of the mobile device at least partially based on accepting a mobile device location query during at least one predetermined time period associated with accepting mobile device location queries comprises:

circuitry for presenting an indication of location of the mobile device at least partially based on accepting at least one of (a) a text message including at least a specified word or phrase or (b) a device-generated signal that causes the mobile device to indicate a location.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein circuitry for presenting an indication of location of the mobile device at least partially based on accepting a mobile device location query during at least one predetermined time period associated with accepting mobile device location queries comprises:

circuitry for presenting an indication of location of the mobile device at least partially based on accepting a device-generated signal that causes the mobile device to override at least one silent mode of the mobile device and indicate a location.

8. The system of claim 3, wherein circuitry for reducing power to one or more portions of the mobile device associated with accepting mobile device location queries, wherein the circuitry for reducing power is configured to reduce power during any period outside of one or more predetermined time periods associated with accepting mobile device location queries comprises:

circuitry for accepting an indication of a predetermined elapsed time that causes the mobile device to initiate at least one reduced power mode.

9. The system of claim 3, wherein circuitry for reducing power to one or more portions of the mobile device associated with accepting mobile device location queries, wherein the circuitry for reducing power is configured to reduce power during any period outside of one or more predetermined time periods associated with accepting mobile device location queries comprises:

circuitry for terminating at least one application.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein circuitry for terminating at least one application comprises:

circuitry for terminating at least one of a texting program, an email program, an internet browser, or a wireless link.

11. The system of claim 3, further comprising:

circuitry for receiving one or more mobile device location queries, the one or more mobile device location queries receivable only during the one or more predetermined time periods associated with mobile device location queries.

12. The system of claim 3, wherein circuitry for presenting an indication of location of the mobile device at least partially based on accepting a mobile device location query during at least one predetermined time period associated with accepting mobile device location queries comprises:

circuitry for presenting an indication of location of the mobile device at least partially based on accepting a location query for at least one of a cell phone, a smartphone, a portable media player, or a tablet computer.

13. The system of claim 3, wherein circuitry for reducing power to one or more portions of the mobile device associated with accepting mobile device location queries, wherein the circuitry for reducing power is configured to reduce power during any period outside of one or more predetermined time periods associated with accepting mobile device location queries comprises:

circuitry for utilizing low power digital signal processing.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein circuitry for utilizing low power digital signal processing comprises:

circuitry for at least one of detecting a low-power status of a battery of the mobile device or accepting an indication to enter at least one of a hibernation mode, a partial hibernation mode, or another power-saving mode.

15. The system of claim 3, wherein circuitry for presenting an indication of location of the mobile device at least partially based on accepting a mobile device location query during at least one predetermined time period associated with accepting mobile device location queries comprises:

circuitry for presenting an indication of location of the mobile device at least partially based on accepting a mobile device location query at a predetermined time interval.

16. The system of claim 3, wherein circuitry for presenting an indication of location of the mobile device at least partially based on accepting a mobile device location query during at least one predetermined time period associated with accepting mobile device location queries comprises:

circuitry for presenting an indication of location of the mobile device at least partially based on accepting a mobile device location query using speech signal processing.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein circuitry for presenting an indication of location of the mobile device at least partially based on accepting a mobile device location query using speech signal processing comprises:

circuitry for presenting an indication of location of the mobile device at least partially based on accepting a mobile device location query using at least one of speech recognition, voice recognition, or using a voice user interface.

18. The system of claim 3, wherein circuitry for presenting an indication of location of the mobile device at least partially based on accepting a mobile device location query during at least one predetermined time period associated with accepting mobile device location queries comprises:

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

19. The system of claim 3, wherein circuitry for prolonging at least one duration for a mobile device to be capable of accepting a mobile device location query comprises:

circuitry for prolonging the at least one duration at least partially based on determining at least one period of inactivity of the mobile device.

20. The system of claim 3, wherein circuitry for prolonging at least one duration for a mobile device to be capable of accepting a mobile device location query comprises:

circuitry for prolonging the at least one duration at least partially based on determining at least one period that has passed without any activity of the mobile device, the at least one period without any activity including one or more of at least one period without any phone calls, at least one period without any data messages, or at least one period without any SMS messages.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein circuitry for prolonging the at least one duration at least partially based on determining at least one period of inactivity of the mobile device comprises:

circuitry for prolonging the at least one duration at least partially based on determining at least one period of inactivity of the mobile device via one or more of at least one accelerometer of the mobile device or at least one timer of the mobile device.

24. The system of claim 3, wherein circuitry for prolonging at least one duration for a mobile device to be capable of accepting a mobile device location query comprises:

circuitry for determining one or more of at least one period in which a mobile device has not been moved, at least one period of low processor usage of the mobile device, at least one low-power status of the battery of the mobile device, at least one period in which the mobile device has not initiated or received a phone call, at least one period in which the mobile device has not sent or received a text message, at least one period in which the mobile device has not sent or received an SMS message, at least one period in which the mobile device has not transmitted or received any network data, or at least one period in which the mobile device has not transmitted or received any wireless data.

25. The system of claim 3, wherein circuitry for presenting an indication of location of the mobile device at least partially based on accepting a mobile device location query during at least one predetermined time period associated with accepting mobile device location queries comprises:

circuitry for presenting an indication of location of the mobile device at least partially based on accepting a mobile device location query, the mobile device location query including at least one indication of at least one signal sent by an infrared transmitter associated with at least one of a Wii remote, a videogame system, a television remote control, a STB remote control, a DVD player remote control, a remote control associated with a consumer electronics device, or another mobile device.

26. The system of claim 3, wherein circuitry for presenting an indication of location of the mobile device at least partially based on accepting a mobile device location query during at least one predetermined time period associated with accepting mobile device location queries comprises:

circuitry for presenting an indication of location of the mobile device at least partially based on accepting a mobile device location query, the mobile device location query including at least one indication of at least one of a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi signal.

27. The system of claim 3, wherein circuitry for presenting an indication of location of the mobile device at least partially based on accepting a mobile device location query during at least one predetermined time period associated with accepting mobile device location queries comprises:

circuitry for presenting an indication of location of the mobile device via at least one of the mobile device emitting an audible sound, the mobile device altering a display element of the mobile device, the mobile device at least one of activating or deactivating at least one light of the mobile device, the mobile device activating vibration circuitry of the mobile device, the mobile device sending at least one signal via at least one network connection, or the mobile device sending at least one signal wirelessly.

28. The system of claim 3, wherein circuitry for prolonging at least one duration for a mobile device to be capable of accepting a mobile device location query comprises:

circuitry for prolonging at least one duration for a mobile device to be capable of accepting a mobile device location query at least partially based on one or more predetermined time periods, the one or more predetermined time periods configured at least partially via at least one network connection of the mobile device.

29. The system of claim 3, wherein circuitry for prolonging at least one duration for a mobile device to be capable of accepting a mobile device location query comprises:

circuitry for prolonging at least one duration for a mobile device to be capable of accepting a mobile device location query at least partially based on one or more predetermined time periods, the one or more predetermined time periods configured at least partially at least one user interface of the mobile device.

30. The system of claim 3, wherein circuitry for prolonging at least one duration for a mobile device to be capable of accepting a mobile device location query comprises:

circuitry for accepting a query regarding location at a specific time.

31. The system of claim 3, wherein circuitry for prolonging at least one duration for a mobile device to be capable of accepting a mobile device location query comprises:

circuitry for prolonging at least one duration for a mobile device to be capable of accepting a mobile device location query at least partially via accepting the mobile device location query at a specific time period as the one or more predetermined time periods.

32. The system of claim 3, wherein circuitry for restoring power to one or more portions of the mobile device associated with accepting mobile device location queries, wherein the circuitry for restoring power is configured to restore power during the one or more predetermined time periods associated with accepting mobile device location queries comprises:

circuitry for returning the system from a hibernation mode and readying the system to receive a query at a specified time.

33. The system of claim 32, further comprising:

circuitry for, if a query is not received within at least one predetermined time period, reducing power at least partially via returning the system to a hibernation mode.

34. The system of claim 3, wherein circuitry for restoring power to one or more portions of the mobile device associated with accepting mobile device location queries, wherein the circuitry for restoring power is configured to restore power during the one or more predetermined time periods associated with accepting mobile device location queries comprises:

circuitry for returning the system from a hibernation mode and readying the system to receive a query at a specified time at which at least one predetermined time period may begin.

35. The system of claim 3, wherein the circuitry for prolonging at least one duration for a mobile device to be capable of accepting a mobile device location query, including at least the circuitry for reducing power to one or more portions of the mobile device associated with accepting mobile device location queries, wherein the circuitry for reducing power is configured to reduce power during any period outside of one or more predetermined time periods associated with accepting mobile device location queries and the circuitry for restoring power to one or more portions of the mobile device associated with accepting mobile device location queries, wherein the circuitry for restoring power is configured to restore power during the one or more predetermined time periods associated with accepting mobile device location queries, and the circuitry for presenting an indication of location of the mobile device at least partially based on accepting a mobile device location query during at least one predetermined time period associated with accepting mobile device location queries are effected in the mobile device.

36. The system of claim 3, wherein at least a portion of the circuitry for prolonging at least one duration for a mobile device to be capable of accepting a mobile device location query, including at least the circuitry for reducing power to one or more portions of the mobile device associated with accepting mobile device location queries, wherein the circuitry for reducing power is configured to reduce power during any period outside of one or more predetermined time periods associated with accepting mobile device location queries and the circuitry for restoring power to one or more portions of the mobile device associated with accepting mobile device location queries, wherein the circuitry for restoring power is configured to restore power during the one or more predetermined time periods associated with accepting mobile device location queries, or the circuitry for presenting an indication of location of the mobile device at least partially based on accepting a mobile device location query during at least one predetermined time period associated with accepting mobile device location queries is effected using digital signal processing.

37. The system of claim 3, wherein circuitry for reducing power to one or more portions of the mobile device associated with accepting mobile device location queries, wherein the circuitry for reducing power is configured to reduce power during any period outside of one or more predetermined time periods associated with accepting mobile device location queries comprises:

circuitry for causing at least one network interface of the mobile device to enter at least one low-power state during any period outside of one or more predetermined time periods associated with accepting mobile device location queries.

38. The system of claim 3, wherein circuitry for prolonging at least one duration for a mobile device to be capable of accepting a mobile device location query comprises:

circuitry for detecting at least one low-power status of at least one battery of the mobile device; and

circuitry for signaling to reduce power to one or more portions of the mobile device associated with accepting mobile device location queries.

39. The system of claim 3, wherein circuitry for prolonging at least one duration for a mobile device to be capable of accepting a mobile device location query comprises:

circuitry for prolonging at least one time until at least one battery of the mobile device is at least one of completely discharged, needs to be replaced, or needs to be recharged.

22. A system, comprising:

circuitry for determining one or more periods of inactivity of a mobile device;

circuitry for initiating at least one reduced power mode of the mobile device and accepting a mobile device location query using digital signal processing at least partially based on at least one determined period of inactivity; and

circuitry for presenting at least two indications of location of the mobile device via at least two means for communication at least partially based on receiving the location query, wherein at least one of the at least two indications includes a backup means for presenting an indication of location of the mobile device.

23. A system, comprising:

circuitry for determining one or more periods of inactivity of a mobile device;

circuitry for initiating at least one reduced power mode of the mobile device and accepting a mobile device location query using digital signal processing at least partially based on at least one determined period of inactivity; and

circuitry for presenting an indication of location of the mobile device at least partially based on receiving the location query including at least circuitry for presenting at least one indication of at least one WiFi router with which the mobile device is associated via at least one WiFi connection of the mobile device.