Computational systems and methods for locating a mobile device

• US 9,591,437 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2011
• Issued: 03/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Holman, Pablos, Paek, Tim, Chandra, Ranveer, Malamud, Mark A., Zhong, Lin, Hyde, Roderick A., Rinaldo, Jr., John D., Dyor, Matthew G., Mundie, Craig J., Ishikawa, Muriel Y., Tan, Desney S., Gates, William, Myhrvold, Nathan P., Kare, Jordin T., Tegreene, Clarence T., Levien, Royce A., Whitmer, Charles, Bahl, Paramvir, Lord, Richard T., Wood, JR., Lowell L., Burger, Douglas C., Lord, Robert W., Wood, Victoria Y. H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Karikari, Kwasi
• Application Number:
  US13/341,699
• Publication Number:
  US 20130165160A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,894 Days
• Field of Search: 455/457, 455/418, 455/419, 455/421, 455/458, 455/502
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

Systems and methods are described relating to determining a specified time period of non-movement in a mobile device and presenting an indication of location of the mobile device at least partially based on the specified time period of non-movement. Additionally, systems and methods are described relating to means for determining a specified time period of non-movement in a mobile device and means for presenting an indication of location of the mobile device at least partially based on the specified time period of non-movement.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a determiner module configured to determine a specified time period of non-movement in a mobile device, including at least a motion sensor determiner module configured to determine a specified time period of non-movement in a mobile device using at least one motion sensor; and

a presenter module configured to present an indication of a location of the mobile device at least partially based on the specified time period of non-movement, the indication of a location of the mobile device including an indication related to at least one IP address associated with a wireless router, the mobile device at least one of connected or previously connected to the wireless router,

wherein at least one of the determiner module or the presenter module is at least partially implemented using hardware.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the determiner module configured to determine a specified time period of non-movement in a mobile device, including at least a motion sensor determiner module configured to determine a specified time period of non-movement in a mobile device using at least one motion sensor comprises:

the determiner module configured to track at least one length of time associated with non-movement of the mobile device using the at least one motion sensor and configured to signal the presenter module to present at least one indication of non-movement of the mobile device if a tracked length of time associated with non-movement of the mobile device exceeds a threshold, the threshold including at least one or more of a factory-set threshold, a user-configured threshold, a user-configurable threshold, a threshold received via a user interface of the mobile device, or a threshold received wirelessly by the mobile device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the determiner module configured to determine a specified time period of non-movement in a mobile device, including at least a motion sensor determiner module configured to determine a specified time period of non-movement in a mobile device using at least one motion sensor comprises:

the determiner module configured to determine a specified time period of non-movement in the mobile device using the at least one motion sensor, the at least one motion sensor including one or more of at least one seismic displacement transducer, at least one passive infrared sensor configured to measure infrared light radiating from one or more objects in a field of view of the passive infrared sensor, at least one seismometer, at least one geophone, at least one accelerometer, at least one inertial seismometer, at least one pedometer, at least one tomographic sensor, at least one microwave sensor, at least one ultrasonic sensor, at least one satellite-based location sensor, or at least one inertial sensor.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the presenter module configured to present an indication of a location of the mobile device at least partially based on the specified time period of non-movement, the indication of a location of the mobile device including an indication related to at least one IP address associated with a wireless router, the mobile device at least one of connected or previously connected to the wireless router comprises:

the presenter module configured to present an indication of a location of the mobile device to one or more of at least one other mobile device, at least one cell phone, at least one dedicated device, at least one phone locating service, at least one phone service provider, at least one third party, at least one remote location, at least one cloud-based system, or at least one security service.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the presenter module configured to present an indication of a location of the mobile device at least partially based on the specified time period of non-movement, the indication of a location of the mobile device including an indication related to at least one IP address associated with a wireless router, the mobile device at least one of connected or previously connected to the wireless router comprises:

the presenter module configured to transmit GPS location information, the GPS location information including at least one set of GPS coordinates associated with at least one of the mobile device or the wireless router.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the presenter module configured to present an indication of a location of the mobile device at least partially based on the specified time period of non-movement, the indication of a location of the mobile device including an indication related to at least one IP address associated with a wireless router, the mobile device at least one of connected or previously connected to the wireless router comprises:

the presenter module configured to present one or more of at least one network hostname, at least one internet protocol address, at least one media access control address, or at least one SSID associated with at least one of the mobile device or the wireless router.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the presenter module configured to present an indication of a location of the mobile device at least partially based on the specified time period of non-movement, the indication of a location of the mobile device including an indication related to at least one IP address associated with a wireless router, the mobile device at least one of connected or previously connected to the wireless router comprises:

the presenter module configured to detect at least one location of the mobile device relative to the wireless router and present an indication of the at least one location in association with the indication related to at least one IP address associated with the wireless router.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the presenter module configured to present an indication of a location of the mobile device at least partially based on the specified time period of non-movement, the indication of a location of the mobile device including an indication related to at least one IP address associated with a wireless router, the mobile device at least one of connected or previously connected to the wireless router comprises:

the presenter module configured to present one or more of;

at least one audible indication enabling a human to locate the mobile device, including one or more of presenting at least one sound via the mobile device or causing at least one vibration of the mobile device,

at least one haptic indication enabling a human to locate the mobile device, or

at least one visible indication enabling a human to locate the mobile device, including presenting one or more of at least one constant light, at least one blinking light, or at least one strobe light of the mobile device.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the presenter module configured to present an indication of a location of the mobile device at least partially based on the specified time period of non-movement, the indication of a location of the mobile device including an indication related to at least one IP address associated with a wireless router, the mobile device at least one of connected or previously connected to the wireless router comprises:

the presenter module configured to obtain at least one street address from at least one Internet data source at least partially based on at least one network identifier associated with the wireless router and transmit an indication of the at least one obtained street address.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the determiner module and the presenter module are effected in at least one system distal to the mobile device.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the determiner module and the presenter module are effected in the mobile device.

12. A system, comprising:

a determiner module configured to determine a specified time period of non-movement in a mobile device; and

a presenter module configured to present an indication of a location of the mobile device at least partially based on the specified time period of non-movement, the indication of a location of the mobile device including an indication related to at least one IP address associated with a wireless router, the mobile device at least one of connected or previously connected to the wireless router, the presenter module configured to present an indication of a location of the mobile device to at least one of a second mobile device, a third party, or a remote location,

wherein at least one of the determiner module or the presenter module is at least partially implemented using hardware.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the determiner module configured to determine a specified time period of non-movement in a mobile device comprises:

the determiner module configured to track at least one length of time associated with non-movement of the mobile device using at least one motion sensor and configured to signal the presenter module to present at least one indication of non-movement of the mobile device if a tracked length of time associated with non-movement of the mobile device exceeds a threshold, the threshold including at least one or more of a factory-set threshold, a user-configured threshold, a user-configurable threshold, a threshold received via a user interface of the mobile device, or a threshold received wirelessly by the mobile device.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the determiner module configured to determine a specified time period of non-movement in a mobile device comprises:

the determiner module configured to determine a specified time period of non-movement in the mobile device using at least one motion sensor, the at least one motion sensor including one or more of at least one seismic displacement transducer, at least one passive infrared sensor configured to measure infrared light radiating from one or more objects in a field of view of the passive infrared sensor, at least one seismometer, at least one geophone, at least one accelerometer, at least one inertial seismometer, at least one pedometer, at least one tomographic sensor, at least one microwave sensor, at least one ultrasonic sensor, at least one satellite-based location sensor, or at least one inertial sensor.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the presenter module configured to present an indication of a location of the mobile device at least partially based on the specified time period of non-movement, the indication of a location of the mobile device including an indication related to at least one IP address associated with a wireless router, the mobile device at least one of connected or previously connected to the wireless router, the presenter module configured to present an indication of a location of the mobile device to at least one of a second mobile device, a third party, or a remote location comprises:

the presenter module configured to transmit GPS location information, the GPS location information including at least one set of GPS coordinates associated with at least one of the mobile device or the wireless router.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the presenter module configured to present an indication of a location of the mobile device at least partially based on the specified time period of non-movement, the indication of a location of the mobile device including an indication related to at least one IP address associated with a wireless router, the mobile device at least one of connected or previously connected to the wireless router, the presenter module configured to present an indication of a location of the mobile device to at least one of a second mobile device, a third party, or a remote location comprises:

the presenter module configured to present one or more of at least one network hostname, at least one internet protocol address, at least one media access control address, or at least one SSID associated with at least one of the mobile device or the wireless router.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the presenter module configured to present an indication of a location of the mobile device at least partially based on the specified time period of non-movement, the indication of a location of the mobile device including an indication related to at least one IP address associated with a wireless router, the mobile device at least one of connected or previously connected to the wireless router, the presenter module configured to present an indication of a location of the mobile device to at least one of a second mobile device, a third party, or a remote location comprises:

the presenter module configured to obtain at least one street address from at least one Internet data source at least partially based on at least one network identifier associated with the wireless router and transmit an indication of the at least one obtained street address.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the determiner module and the presenter module are effected in at least one system distal to the mobile device.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the determiner module and the presenter module are effected in the mobile device.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein the presenter module configured to present an indication of a location of the mobile device at least partially based on the specified time period of non-movement, the indication of a location of the mobile device including an indication related to at least one IP address associated with a wireless router, the mobile device at least one of connected or previously connected to the wireless router, the presenter module configured to present an indication of a location of the mobile device to at least one of a second mobile device, a third party, or a remote location comprises:

the presenter module configured to detect at least one location of the mobile device relative to the wireless router and present an indication of the at least one location in associated with the indication related to at least one IP address associated with the wireless router.

21. The system of claim 12, wherein the presenter module configured to present an indication of a location of the mobile device at least partially based on the specified time period of non-movement, the indication of a location of the mobile device including an indication related to at least one IP address associated with a wireless router, the mobile device at least one of connected or previously connected to the wireless router, the presenter module configured to present an indication of a location of the mobile device to at least one of a second mobile device, a third party, or a remote location comprises:

the presenter module configured to present one or more of;

at least one audible indication enabling a human to locate the mobile device, including one or more of presenting at least one sound via the mobile device or causing at least one vibration of the mobile device,

at least one haptic indication enabling a human to locate the mobile device, or

at least one visible indication enabling a human to locate the mobile device, including presenting one or more of at least one constant light, at least one blinking light, or at least one strobe light of the mobile device.

22. The system of claim 12, wherein the presenter module configured to present an indication of a location of the mobile device at least partially based on the specified time period of non-movement, the indication of a location of the mobile device including an indication related to at least one IP address associated with a wireless router, the mobile device at least one of connected or previously connected to the wireless router, the presenter module configured to present an indication of a location of the mobile device to at least one of a second mobile device, a third party, or a remote location comprises:

the presenter module configured to present an indication of a location of the mobile device to one or more of at least one other mobile device, at least one cell phone, at least one dedicated device, at least one phone locating service, at least one phone service provider, at least one third party, at least one remote location, at least one cloud-based system, or at least one security service.

23. A system, comprising:

a determiner module configured to determine a specified time period of non-movement in a mobile device; and

a presenter module configured to present an indication of a location of the mobile device at least partially based on the specified time period of non-movement, the indication of a location of the mobile device including an indication related to at least one IP address associated with a wireless router, the mobile device at least one of connected or previously connected to the wireless router,

wherein at least one of the determiner module or the presenter module is at least partially implemented using hardware, and

wherein the determiner module and the presenter module are effected in the mobile device.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the determiner module configured to determine a specified time period of non-movement in a mobile device comprises:

the determiner module configured to track at least one length of time associated with non-movement of the mobile device using at least one motion sensor and configured to signal the presenter module to present at least one indication of non-movement of the mobile device if a tracked length of time associated with non-movement of the mobile device exceeds a threshold, the threshold including at least one or more of a factory-set threshold, a user-configured threshold, a user-configurable threshold, a threshold received via a user interface of the mobile device, or a threshold received wirelessly by the mobile device.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the determiner module configured to determine a specified time period of non-movement in a mobile device comprises:

the determiner module configured to determine a specified time period of non-movement in the mobile device using at least one motion sensor, the at least one motion sensor including one or more of at least one seismic displacement transducer, at least one passive infrared sensor configured to measure infrared light radiating from one or more objects in a field of view of the passive infrared sensor, at least one seismometer, at least one geophone, at least one accelerometer, at least one inertial seismometer, at least one pedometer, at least one tomographic sensor, at least one microwave sensor, at least one ultrasonic sensor, at least one satellite-based location sensor, or at least one inertial sensor.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein the presenter module configured to present an indication of a location of the mobile device at least partially based on the specified time period of non-movement, the indication of a location of the mobile device including an indication related to at least one IP address associated with a wireless router, the mobile device at least one of connected or previously connected to the wireless router comprises:

the presenter module configured to present an indication of a location of the mobile device to one or more of at least one other mobile device, at least one cell phone, at least one dedicated device, at least one phone locating service, at least one phone service provider, at least one third party, at least one remote location, at least one cloud-based system, or at least one security service.

27. The system of claim 23, wherein the presenter module configured to present an indication of a location of the mobile device at least partially based on the specified time period of non-movement, the indication of a location of the mobile device including an indication related to at least one IP address associated with a wireless router, the mobile device at least one of connected or previously connected to the wireless router comprises:

the presenter module configured to present one or more of;

at least one audible indication enabling a human to locate the mobile device, including one or more of presenting at least one sound via the mobile device or causing at least one vibration of the mobile device,

at least one haptic indication enabling a human to locate the mobile device, or

at least one visible indication enabling a human to locate the mobile device, including presenting one or more of at least one constant light, at least one blinking light, or at least one strobe light of the mobile device.

28. The system of claim 23, wherein the presenter module configured to present an indication of a location of the mobile device at least partially based on the specified time period of non-movement, the indication of a location of the mobile device including an indication related to at least one IP address associated with a wireless router, the mobile device at least one of connected or previously connected to the wireless router comprises:

the presenter module configured to detect at least one location of the mobile device relative to the wireless router and present an indication of the at least one location in associated with the indication related to at least one IP address associated with the wireless router.

29. The system of claim 23, wherein the presenter module configured to present an indication of a location of the mobile device at least partially based on the specified time period of non-movement, the indication of a location of the mobile device including an indication related to at least one IP address associated with a wireless router, the mobile device at least one of connected or previously connected to the wireless router comprises:

the presenter module configured to obtain at least one street address from at least one Internet data source at least partially based on at least one network identifier associated with the wireless router and transmit an indication of the at least one obtained street address.

30. The system of claim 23, wherein the presenter module configured to present an indication of a location of the mobile device at least partially based on the specified time period of non-movement, the indication of a location of the mobile device including an indication related to at least one IP address associated with a wireless router, the mobile device at least one of connected or previously connected to the wireless router comprises:

the presenter module configured to transmit GPS location information, the GPS location information including at least one set of GPS coordinates associated with at least one of the mobile device or the wireless router.

31. The system of claim 23, wherein the presenter module configured to present an indication of a location of the mobile device at least partially based on the specified time period of non-movement, the indication of a location of the mobile device including an indication related to at least one IP address associated with a wireless router, the mobile device at least one of connected or previously connected to the wireless router comprises:

the presenter module configured to present one or more of at least one network hostname, at least one internet protocol address, at least one media access control address, or at least one SSID associated with at least one of the mobile device or the wireless router.