Apparatus and method for determining a wireless device's location after shutdown

• US 9,832,603 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2016
• Issued: 11/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Schlaupitz, Alexander D., Wurzel, Joshua G., Al-Dahle, Ahmad
• Primary Examiner(s): MILLER, BRANDON J
• Application Number:
  US15/148,995
• Publication Number:
  US 20160323703A1
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/082 using revocation of authorisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/084 using delegated authorisation, e.g. open authorisation [OAuth] protocol
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0251 using monitoring of local events, e.g. events related to user activity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0254 detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A wireless data processing device is described which periodically exits an unpowered state and transmits location data. For example, one embodiment of a wireless data processing device comprises: power circuitry for maintaining the wireless data processing device in a powered or unpowered state, the power circuitry causing the wireless data processing device to enter into an unpowered state responsive to user input; a timer to periodically power up the wireless device or portion thereof in response to reaching a predetermined time; a location services module determining a current location of the wireless data processing device using one or more specified location determination techniques; a transmit thread transmitting the current location of the wireless device over one or more specified communication channels; and the power circuitry powering down the wireless data processing device a second time after the current location has been transmitted.

Claims

1. A machine-implemented method for securing a wireless data processing device comprising:

receiving, by a wireless data processing device, at least one input which provides a security code;

in response to determining that the security code has been entered incorrectly a predetermined number of times, automatically powering down the wireless data processing device into a state wherein a timer is configured to generate a wakeup signal that wakes up a transmit thread after expiration of the timer;

in response to the wakeup signal, obtaining location information of the wireless data processing device;

transmitting the location information of the wireless data processing device over one or more communication channels.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more communication channels includes email.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising transmitting a picture over the one or more communication channels.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the picture is transmitted with the location information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless data processing device is configured to erase user data after a specified number of failed attempts to unlock the wireless data processing device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless data processing device is configured to generate an audio signal from the wireless data processing device in response to a hardware signal.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one input comprises image data.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one input comprises a pattern drawn on a touchpad or touchscreen.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one input comprises voice input.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one input comprises a multi-part authentication.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the power down state comprises one of:

only those components of the wireless data processing device required for location services, the transmit thread, and timer are activated;

or

only those the firmware and circuitry required to operate the timer module, and obtain and transmit the location information of the wireless data processing device are activated.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one input which provides a security code is received during a power down sequence.

13. A non-transitory computer readable medium programmed with instructions that when executed by a processing system having at least one hardware processor, perform operations for securing a wireless data processing device, the operations comprising:

receiving, by a wireless data processing device, at least one input which provides a security code;

in response to determining that the security code has been entered incorrectly a predetermined number of times, automatically powering down the wireless data processing device into a state wherein a timer is configured to generate a wakeup signal that wakes up a transmit thread after expiration of the timer;

in response to the wakeup signal, obtaining location information of the wireless data processing device;

transmitting the location information of the wireless data processing device over one or more communication channels.

14. The medium of claim 13, wherein the one or more communication channels includes email.

15. The medium of claim 14, the operations further comprising transmitting a picture over the one or more communication channels.

16. The medium of claim 15, wherein the picture is transmitted with the location information.

17. The medium of claim 13, wherein the wireless data processing device is configured to erase user data after a specified number of failed attempts to unlock the wireless data processing device.

18. The medium of claim 13, wherein the wireless data processing device is configured to generate an audio signal from the wireless data processing device in response to a hardware signal.

19. The medium of claim 13, wherein the at least one input comprises image data.

20. The medium of claim 13, wherein the at least one input comprises a pattern drawn on a touchpad or touchscreen.

21. The medium of claim 13, wherein the at least one input comprises voice input.

22. The medium of claim 13, wherein the at least one input comprises a multi-part authentication.

23. A system comprising:

a processing system comprising at least one hardware processor, programmed with executable instructions that, when executed, perform operations for securing a wireless data processing device comprising;

receiving, by the wireless data processing device, at least one input which provides a security code;

in response to determining that the security code has been entered incorrectly a predetermined number of times, automatically powering down the wireless data processing device into a state wherein a timer is configured to generate a wakeup signal that wakes up a transmit thread after expiration of the timer;

in response to the wakeup signal, obtaining location information of the wireless data processing device;

transmitting the location information of the wireless data processing device over one or more communication channels.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the one or more communication channels includes email.

25. The system of claim 24, the operations further comprising transmitting a picture over the one or more communication channels.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the picture is transmitted with the location information.

27. The system of claim 23, wherein the wireless data processing device is configured to erase user data after a specified number of failed attempts to unlock the wireless data processing device.

28. The system of claim 23, wherein the wireless data processing device is configured to generate an audio signal from the wireless data processing device in response to a hardware signal.

29. The system of claim 23, wherein the at least one input comprises image data.

30. The system of claim 23, wherein the at least one input comprises a pattern drawn on a touchpad or touchscreen.

31. The system of claim 23, wherein the at least one input comprises voice input.

32. The system of claim 23, wherein the at least one input comprises a multi-part authentication.