Predicting lost devices using normal usage patterns

• US 9,521,523 B1
• Filed: 06/08/2015
• Issued: 12/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Bostick, James E., Ganci, John M. Jr., Keen, Martin G., Rakshit, Sarbajit K.
• Primary Examiner(s): HAMMONDS, MARCUS C
• Application Number:
  US14/732,869
• Publication Number:
  US 20160360376A1
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 455410-411, 4554561-457
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 locating network equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/005 Transmission of information for alerting of incoming communication

Abstract

A method for predicting lost mobile devices. The method includes, identifying, by one or more processors, one or more pre-designated locations, where each of the one or more pre-designated locations contains devices and a main device to be tracked. The one or more processors receive information from the devices. The one or more processors derive a common usage pattern of the main device based on, the information from the devices. The pattern is associated with a location of the main device. The one or more processors determine whether the main device follows substantially all of the common usage pattern. Finally, in response to determining the main device does not follow substantially all of the common usage pattern, the one or more processors sends at least one different types of alerts to at least one predetermined device of the devices.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

identifying, by one or more processors, a main device associated with a user, at least a first known environment device at a first checkpoint location, and a second known environment device at a second checkpoint location, wherein the at least first known environment device and the second known environment device are capable of communicating with the main device;

receiving, by the one or more processors, location and time information from the at least first known environment device after recognizing that the main device is located within the first checkpoint location and the second known environment device after recognizing that the main device is located within the second checkpoint location;

deriving, by the one or more processors, a common usage pattern of the main device, based on the location and time information, wherein the common usage pattern projects an expected location of the main device at a known time;

determining, by the one or more processors, whether the main device deviates from the derived common usage pattern by determining whether the main device is located at the expected location at the known time; and

in response to determining the main device deviates from the common usage pattern, sending, by the one or more processors, an alert for the user, wherein the alert is sent to the at least first known environment device when the common usage pattern projects the expected location of the main device should correspond with the first checkpoint location and the second known environment device when the common usage pattern projects the expected location of the main device should correspond with the second checkpoint location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first known environment device at the first checkpoint location is placed within at least two of the following locations:

a home, a vehicle, or a place of work.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving location and time information, comprises:

creating, by the one or more processors, a first personal area network within the first checkpoint location; and

creating, by the one or more processors, a second personal area network within the second checkpoint location.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein deriving the common usage pattern of the main device comprises:

analyzing, by the one or more processors, a set of parameters associated with the common usage pattern, wherein the set of parameters are based, at least in part, on a day, a date, a time, the first checkpoint location, the second checkpoint location, and the at least first known environment device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to determining the main device deviates from the common usage pattern, configuring, by the one or more processors, the main device to implement at least one of the following;

remotely lock the main device, and

remotely wipe memory of the main device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the one or more processors, a first set of information from the at least first known environment device at predetermined time intervals, wherein the set of information comprises a notification of whether the main device is located within the first checkpoint location, and a second set of information from the at least second known environment device at predetermined time intervals, wherein the set of information comprises a notification of whether the main device is located within the second checkpoint location.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

modifying, by the one or more processors, the derived common usage pattern of the main device, based in part on at least one of the following;

identifying, by the one or more processors, a new usage pattern of the main device based on the location and time information of the main device; and

receiving, by the one or more processors, an override from the user, wherein the override suspends the derived common usage pattern, for a predetermined period of time, and implements the new usage pattern.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein, a deviation of the common usage pattern occurs when the main device is not located at a corresponding checkpoint location as derived by the common usage pattern.

9. A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium and program instructions stored on the computer readable storage medium, the program instructions comprising:

program instructions to identify a main device associated with a user, at least a first known environment device at a first checkpoint location, and a second known environment device at a second checkpoint location, wherein the at least first known environment device and the second known environment device are capable of communicating with the main device;

program instructions to receive location and time information from the at least first known environment device after recognizing that the main device is located within the first checkpoint location and the second known environment device after recognizing that the main device is located within the second checkpoint location;

program instructions to derive a common usage pattern of the main device, based on the location and time information, wherein the common usage pattern projects an expected location of the main device at a known time;

program instructions to determine whether the main device deviates from the derived common usage pattern by determining whether the main device is located at the expected location at the known time; and

in response to determining the main device deviates from the common usage pattern, program instructions to send an alert for the user, wherein the alert is sent to the at least first known environment device when the common usage pattern projects the expected location of the main device should correspond with the first checkpoint location and the second known environment device when the common usage pattern projects the expected location of the main device should correspond with the second checkpoint location.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the first known environment device at the first checkpoint location is placed within at least two of the following locations:

a home, a vehicle, or a place of work.

11. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein receiving location and time information, comprises:

program instructions to create a first personal area network within the first checkpoint location; and

program instructions to create, by the one or more processors, a second personal area network within the second checkpoint location.

12. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein deriving the common usage pattern of the main device comprises:

program instructions to analyze a set of parameters associated with the common usage pattern, wherein the set of parameters are based, at least in part, on a day, a date, a time, the first checkpoint location, the second checkpoint location, and the at least first known environment device.

13. The computer program product of claim 9, further comprising:

in response to determining the main device deviates from the common usage pattern, program instructions to configure the main device to implement at least one of the following;

remotely lock the main device, and

remotely wipe memory of the main device.

14. The computer program product of claim 9, further comprising:

program instructions to modify the derived common usage pattern of the main device, based in part on at least one of the following;

program instructions to identify a new usage pattern of the main device based on the location and time information of the main device; and

program instructions to receive an override from the user, wherein the override suspends the derived common usage pattern, for a predetermined period of time, and implements the new usage pattern.

15. A computer system comprising:

one or more computer processors;

one or more computer readable storage media;

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

program instructions to identify a main device associated with a user, at least a first known environment device at a first checkpoint location, and a second known environment device at a second checkpoint location, wherein the at least first known environment device and the second known environment device are capable of communicating with the main device;

program instructions to receive location and time information from the at least first known environment device after recognizing that the main device is located within the first checkpoint location and the second known environment device after recognizing that the main device is located within the second checkpoint location;

program instructions to derive a common usage pattern of the main device, based on the location and time information, wherein the common usage pattern projects an expected location of the main device at a known time;

program instructions to determine whether the main device deviates from the derived common usage pattern by determining whether the main device is located at the expected location at the known time; and

in response to determining the main device deviates from the common usage pattern, program instructions to send an alert for the user, wherein the alert is sent to the at least first known environment device when the common usage pattern projects the expected location of the main device should correspond with the first checkpoint location and the second known environment device when the common usage pattern projects the expected location of the main device should correspond with the second checkpoint location.

16. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the first known environment device at the first checkpoint location is placed within at least two of the following locations:

a home, a vehicle, or a place of work.

17. The computer system of claim 15, wherein receiving location and time information, comprises:

program instructions to create a first personal area network within the first checkpoint location; and

program instructions to create, by the one or more processors, a second personal area network within the second checkpoint location.

18. The computer system of claim 15, wherein deriving the common usage pattern of the main device comprises:

program instructions to analyze a set of parameters associated with the common usage pattern, wherein the set of parameters are based, at least in part, on a day, a date, a time, the first checkpoint location, the second checkpoint location, and the at least first known environment device.

19. The computer system of claim 15, further comprising:

in response to determining the main device deviates from the common usage pattern, program instructions to configure the main device to implement at least one of the following;

remotely lock the main device, and

remotely wipe memory of the main device.

20. The computer system of claim 15, further comprising:

program instructions to modify the derived common usage pattern of the main device, based in part on at least one of the following;

program instructions to identify a new usage pattern of the main device based on the location and time information of the main device; and

program instructions to receive an override from the user, wherein the override suspends the derived common usage pattern, for a predetermined period of time, and implements the new usage pattern.