Electronically binding to a lost mobile device

• US 9,451,465 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2015
• Issued: 09/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• 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:
  US14/862,624
• Publication Number:
  US 20160014606A1
• Time in Patent Office: 363 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

The first mobile device determining that the first mobile device is lost and the first mobile device, in response to determining that the first mobile device is lost, activating a secure mode on the first mobile device. The first mobile device making the first mobile device discoverable to other mobile devices. The first mobile device electronically binding to a second mobile device. The first mobile device sending information relating to the first mobile device to the second mobile device. The first mobile device receiving an indication that the first mobile device is no longer lost. The first mobile device, in response to receiving the indication that the first mobile device is no longer lost, unbinding from the second mobile device.

Claims

1. A method comprising the steps of:

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

the first mobile device, in response to determining that the first mobile device is lost, activating a secure mode on the first mobile device;

the first mobile device making the first mobile device discoverable;

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

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

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

the first mobile device, in response to receiving the indication that the first mobile 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 electronically binding to a second mobile device comprises the first mobile device receiving a request from the second mobile device to create a peer-to-peer connection between the first mobile device and the second mobile device.

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

the first mobile device determining whether the first mobile device is in a geographic location not previously stored on the first mobile device; and

the first mobile device, if the first mobile device determines that the first mobile device is in a geographic location not previously stored on the first mobile device, determining that the first mobile device is lost.

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

the first mobile device receiving a message from another mobile device indicating that the first mobile device is lost.

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

the first mobile device determining whether there has been any outgoing network activity from the first mobile device within a particular timeframe; and

the first mobile device, if there has not been any outgoing network activity from the first mobile device within the particular timeframe, determining that the first mobile device is lost.

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

7. 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 determine, by a first mobile device, that the first mobile device is lost;

program instructions to activate, by the first mobile device, in response to determining that the first mobile device is lost, a secure mode on the first mobile device;

program instructions to make, by the first mobile device, the first mobile device discoverable;

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

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

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

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

8. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the program instructions to electronically bind, by the first mobile device, to the second mobile device comprise program instructions to receive, by the first mobile device, a request from the second mobile device to create a peer-to-peer connection between the first mobile device and the second mobile device.

9. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the program instructions to determine, by the first mobile device, that the first mobile device is lost comprise:

program instruction to determine, by the first mobile device, whether the first mobile device is in a geographic location not previously stored on the first mobile device; and

program instructions to determine, by the first mobile device, if the first mobile device determines that the first mobile device is in a geographic location not previously stored on the first mobile device, that the first mobile device is lost.

10. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the program instructions to determine, by the first mobile device, that the first mobile device is lost comprise:

program instructions to receive, by the first mobile device, a message from another mobile device indicating that the first mobile device is lost.

11. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the program instructions to determine, by the first mobile device, that the first mobile device is lost comprise:

program instructions to determine, by the first mobile device, whether there has been any outgoing network activity from the first mobile device within a particular timeframe; and

program instructions to determine, by the first mobile device, if there has not been any outgoing network activity from the first mobile device within the particular timeframe, that the first mobile device is lost.

12. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the information relating to the first mobile device includes a designated party to contact and contact information for the designated party.

13. 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 determine, by a first mobile device, that the first mobile device is lost;

program instructions to activate, by the first mobile device, in response to determining that the first mobile device is lost, a secure mode on the first mobile device;

program instructions to make, by the first mobile device, the first mobile device discoverable;

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

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

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

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

14. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the program instructions to electronically bind, by the first mobile device, to the second mobile device comprise program instructions to receive, by the first mobile device, a request from the second mobile device to create a peer-to-peer connection between the first mobile device and the second mobile device.

15. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the program instructions to determine, by the first mobile device, that the first mobile device is lost comprise:

program instruction to determine, by the first mobile device, whether the first mobile device is in a geographic location not previously stored on the first mobile device; and

program instructions to determine, by the first mobile device, if the first mobile device determines that the first mobile device is in a geographic location not previously stored on the first mobile device, that the first mobile device is lost.

16. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the program instructions to determine, by the first mobile device, that the first mobile device is lost comprise:

program instructions to receive, by the first mobile device, a message from another mobile device indicating that the first mobile device is lost.

17. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the program instructions to determine, by the first mobile device, that the first mobile device is lost comprise:

program instructions to determine, by the first mobile device, whether there has been any outgoing network activity from the first mobile device within a particular timeframe; and

program instructions to determine, by the first mobile device, if there has not been any outgoing network activity from the first mobile device within the particular timeframe, that the first mobile device is lost.

18. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the information relating to the first mobile device includes a designated party to contact and contact information for the designated party.