Portable computing device with data encryption and destruction

• US 9,369,836 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2013
• Issued: 06/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apogee Technology Consultants, LLC
• Original Assignee: Apogee Technology Consultants, LLC
• Inventors: Madsen, John J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ajayi, Joel
• Application Number:
  US14/068,849
• Publication Number:
  US 20140128096A1
• Time in Patent Office: 957 Days
• Field of Search: 455/411, 455/456.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/16 Anti-theft; Abduction
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/34 Power consumption
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/35 Constructional details or hardware or software details of the signal processing chain
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/42 Determining position
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0294 Trajectory determination or predictive filtering, e.g. target tracking or Kalman filtering
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/13 File access structures, e.g. distributed indices arrangements of input from, or output to, record carriers G06F3/06
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/554 involving event detection and direct action
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/60 Protecting data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/602 Providing cryptographic facilities or services
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 2220/10 Usage protection of distributed data files
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724631 by limiting the access to the user interface, e.g. locking a touch-screen or a keypad
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/033 of the user plane, e.g. user's traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• 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 4/024 : Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 : Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 : adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A device and software utilizing Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) technologies for monitoring and recovering portable computing devices and, a method and system for acquiring such devices, protecting data on such devices, and for compensating owners of devices. A GPS mechanism of the invention provides real time tracking of missing devices that may be coordinated with security agencies to intercept and recover missing computing devices. When a stolen device is unrecoverable, the invention may receive a signal to initiate data recovery where a wireless network is available to recover data for the owner. Alternatively, the GPS mechanism instructs the device to encrypt or destroy stored data files to prevent commercial espionage or privacy violations. The invention discloses a software system and method for computing a purchase price of the GPS mechanism, computing compensation for loss of the device and lost data.

Claims

1. A system for protecting a portable computing device, the system comprising:

a global positioning locator that communicates wirelessly with one or more global positioning system (GPS) satellites and determines one or more location datasets, each location dataset of the one or more location datasets identifying a latitude and longitude at which the portable computing device is located based on the communications, the global positioning locator disposed on a circuit board coupled to a portable computing device;

a wireless communicator that receives a loss input from an authorized user device, the loss input indicating that the portable computing device has been lost, wherein the wireless communicator transmits at least one location dataset of the one or more location datasets to the authorized user device, the wireless communicator disposed on the circuit board;

a data storage interface that interfaces with a memory of the portable computing device, the memory storing one or more data files, wherein the data storage interface triggers encryption of the one or more data files upon receipt of the loss input, the encrypted one or more data files thereby remaining encrypted at least until the wireless communicator receives a recovery input from the authorized user device indicating that the portable computing device has been recovered; and

a first battery disposed on the circuit board, the first battery to supply power to at least the global positioning locator and the wireless communicator, the first battery distinct from a second battery that is not disposed on the circuit board and that supplies power to at least a subset of the portable computing device other than the global positioning locator and the wireless communicator, the first battery to supply power even when the second battery is not supplying power.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communicator includes a cellular data transceiver.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communicator includes a Wi-Fi data transceiver.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the portable computing device is a laptop.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the portable computing device is a tablet computing device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the portable computing device is a smartphone.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the data storage interface further transmits the encrypted one or more data files to a secure location that is accessible to the authorized user device following receipt of the loss input.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the authorized user device is a device used by one of an owner of the portable computing device or an authorized user of the portable computing device.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communicator receives the loss input using a Short Message Service (SMS) receiver.

8. A system for protecting a portable computing device, the system comprising:

a global positioning locator that communicates wirelessly with one or more global positioning system (GPS) satellites and determines one or more location datasets, each location dataset of the one or more location datasets identifying a latitude and longitude at which the portable computing device is located based on the communications, the global positioning locator disposed on a circuit board coupled to a portable computing device;

a wireless communicator that receives a theft input from an authorized user device, the theft input indicating that the portable computing device has been stolen, wherein the wireless communicator transmits at least one location dataset of the one or more location datasets to the authorized user device, the wireless communicator disposed on the circuit board;

a data storage interface that interfaces with a memory of the portable computing device, the memory storing one or more data files, wherein the data storage interface triggers encryption of the one or more data files upon receipt of the theft input, the encrypted one or more data files thereby remaining encrypted at least until the wireless communicator receives a recovery input from the authorized user device indicating that the portable computing device has been recovered; and

a first battery disposed on the circuit board, the first battery to supply power to at least the global positioning locator and the wireless communicator, the first battery distinct from a second battery that is not disposed on the circuit board and that supplies power to at least a subset of the portable computing device other than the global positioning locator and the wireless communicator, the first battery to supply power even when the second battery is not supplying power.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the wireless communicator includes a cellular data transceiver.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the wireless communicator includes a Wi-Fi data transceiver.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the portable computing device is a laptop.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the portable computing device is a tablet computing device.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the portable computing device is a smartphone.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein storage interface further transmits the encrypted one or more data files to a secure location that is accessible to the authorized user device following receipt of the theft input.

17. The system of claim 8, wherein the authorized user device is a device used by one of an owner of the portable computing device or an authorized user of the portable computing device.

18. The system of claim 8, wherein the wireless communicator receives the theft input using a Short Message Service (SMS) receiver.