Telemetric tracking of a portable computing device

• US 9,686,640 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2013
• Issued: 06/20/2017
• 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:
  US13/956,025
• Publication Number:
  US 20140073348A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,420 Days
• Field of Search: 455411, 4554561
• 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 method for telemetric tracking of a portable computing device, the method comprising:

receiving, from a user computing device associated with an authorized user of the portable computing device, one or more wireless transmissions that indicate that the portable computing device is lost and that request initiation of periodic monitoring of the portable computing device based on a time period interval identified in the one or more wireless transmissions;

modifying data stored in memory of the portable computing device in response to receipt of the one or more wireless transmissions, thereby preventing access to the data;

periodically determining in accordance with the time period interval a geographic location of the portable computing device in response to receipt of the one or more wireless transmissions and based on communications received from one or more global positioning satellites by the portable computing device; and

periodically transmitting in accordance with the time period interval, from the portable computing device to the user computing device, the geographic location of the portable computing device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more wireless transmissions received at the portable computing device include a Short Message Service (SMS) text-based message.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting at least a portion of the data stored in the memory of the portable computing device to the authorized user in response to receipt of the one or more wireless transmissions.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more wireless transmissions received at the portable computing device are wireless cellular signals.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more wireless transmissions received at the portable computing device are Wi-Fi signals.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining that the one or more wireless transmissions are associated with the authorized user.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining at the portable computing device that tampering with electronic circuitry of the portable computing device has occurred; and

transmitting a message from the portable computing device to the authorized user, the message indicating that tampering with the electronic circuitry of the portable computing device has occurred.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising executing a tracking program stored in the memory of the portable computing device in response to receipt of the one or more wireless transmissions, the tracking program determining the geographic location of the portable computing device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying the data stored in the memory of the portable computing device includes overwriting the data with random binary fill.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying the data stored in the memory of the portable computing device includes encrypting the data.

11. A method for telemetric tracking of a portable computing device, the method comprising:

receiving, from a user computing device associated with an authorized user of the portable computing device, one or more wireless transmissions that indicate that the portable computing device is lost and that request initiation of periodic monitoring of the portable computing device based on a time period interval identified in the one or more wireless transmissions;

modifying data stored in memory of the portable computing device in response to receipt of the one or more wireless transmissions, thereby preventing access to the data;

periodically determining in accordance with the time period interval a geographic location of the portable computing device in response to receipt of the one or more wireless transmissions and based on communications received from one or more global positioning satellites by the portable computing device; and

transmitting, from the portable computing device to the user computing device, at least a portion of the data stored in the memory of the portable computing device; and

periodically transmitting in accordance with the time period interval, from the portable computing device to the user computing device, the geographic location of the portable computing device.

12. A portable computing device with telemetric tracking functionality, the device comprising:

one or more network interfaces that wirelessly communicate over a network;

a processor that executes one or more processes, the processor coupled to the one or more network interfaces; and

a memory that stores instructions executable by the processor, wherein execution of the instructions by the processor;

receives, from a user computing device associated with an authorized user of the portable computing device, one or more wireless transmissions that indicate that the portable computing device is lost and that request initiation of periodic monitoring of the portable computing device based on a time period interval identified in the one or more wireless transmissions,

modifies data stored in memory of the portable computing device responsive to receipt of the one or more wireless transmissions, thereby preventing access to the data,

periodically determines in accordance with the time period interval a geographic location of the portable computing device based on communications received from one or more global positioning satellites, and

periodically transmits in accordance with the time period interval, to the user computing device, the geographic location of the portable computing device.

13. The portable computing device of claim 12, further comprising a global positioning system (GPS) electronic circuitry that receives the communications from the one or more global positioning satellites.

14. The portable computing device of claim 12, wherein execution of the instructions by the processor further transmits, to the user computing device, at least a portion of the data stored in the memory of the portable computing device.

15. The portable computing device of claim 12, wherein the portable computing device is a laptop.

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

17. The portable computing device of claim 12, wherein the portable computing device is a smartphone.

18. A system for telemetric tracking of a portable computing device, the system comprising:

the portable computing device that;

receives, from a user computing device associated with an authorized user of the portable computing device, one or more wireless transmissions that indicate that the portable computing device is lost and that request initiation of periodic monitoring of the portable computing device based on a time period interval identified in the one or more wireless transmissions,

modifies data stored in memory of the portable computing device in response to receipt of the one or more wireless transmissions, thereby preventing access to the data, and

periodically determines in accordance with the time period interval a geographic location of the portable computing device based on communications received from one or more global positioning satellites; and

the user computing device associated with the authorized user and that is both physically distinct from the portable computing device and geographically distant from the portable computing device, the computing device;

generates a user interface operated by the authorized user,

initiates transmission of the one or more wireless transmissions to the portable computing device in response to operation of the user interface by the authorized user, and

periodically receives in accordance with the time period interval the geographic location of the portable computing device at the user interface.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the one or more wireless signals include a backup command that causes the portable computing device to transmit at least a portion the data stored in its memory to remote storage.