System and method for remotely initiating lost mode on a computing device

• US 10,528,770 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2018
• Issued: 01/07/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Pai, Raghu, Narayanan, Karthik, Frost, Megan M., Gautier, Patrice Olivier, Hajj, Usama Mikael
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Lynn D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lakhia, Viral S
• Application Number:
  US16/135,037
• Publication Number:
  US 20190018987A1
• Time in Patent Office: 475 Days
• Field of Search: 713150
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0174 holographic
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2105 Dual mode as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2111 Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2143 Clearing memory, e.g. to prevent the data from being stolen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/014 Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/006 Mixed reality object pose determination, tracking or camera calibration for mixed reality G06T7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/11 Region-based segmentation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/136 involving thresholding
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/20 in augmented reality scenes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/026 using e-messaging for transporting management information, e.g. email, instant messaging or chat
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• 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 4/029 : Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for remotely initiating lost mode on a computing device. A request that lost mode be initiated can include a message and contact information provided by the requesting user. Once authenticated, a command to initiate lost mode is sent to the lost device. Initiating lost mode includes locking the lost device and suppressing select functionality. The message and contact information are displayed and the lost device is enabled to contact the requesting user using the contact information. The lost device can also collect and transmit location data to the requesting user. The location data can be presented on a map indicating the lost devices location and the time the lost device was at the location. The location data can be scheduled to be resent to the user based on numerous factors such as a set schedule, rules or heuristic.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at a computing device, a command initiating a lost mode on the computing device, the command including instructions setting a termination password on the computing device, the termination password defined by a requesting user on a requesting device to remotely terminate the lost mode on the computing device;

in response to receiving the command, initiating the lost mode on the computing device and setting the termination password on the computing device;

responsive to the initiating the lost mode, locking the computing device and suppressing select functionality of the locked computing device;

transmitting, to a server computer, first location data identifying a first geographic location of the locked computing device and including a time at which the locked computing device was at the first geographic location;

determining that a first condition has been satisfied, the first condition being at least one condition in a set of conditions, the set of conditions including that a predetermined amount of time has passed since the time at which the locked computing device was at the first geographic location;

responsive to the determining that a first condition has been satisfied, transmitting, to the server computer, second location data identifying a second geographical location of the locked computing device and including a time at which the locked computer device was at the second geographic location;

receiving, at the locked computing device, the termination password defined by the requesting user to remotely terminate the lost mode on the computing device; and

upon authentication of the termination password, at the locked computing device, terminating the lost mode on the computing device, unlocking the locked computing device, and

restoring the select functionality of the unlocked computing device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the command includes a message, and the initiating the lost mode further comprises displaying the message on the locked computing device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the message is configured to enable the locked computing device to contact the requesting device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein suppressing select functionality includes suppressing notifications and alerts presented on the locked computing device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first location data and the second location data are transmitted to the requesting device based on a predetermined schedule.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first location data and the second location data are transmitted to the requesting device as a street address.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first location data and the second location data are transmitted to the requesting device via a push notification.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an amount of time lapsed after transmission of the second location data; and

transmitting, to the requesting device, third location data identifying a third geographical location of the locked computing device and including a time at which the locked computer device was at the third geographic location.

9. A computing device comprising:

a positioning system;

a wireless transceiver;

one or more processors coupled to the positioning system and the wireless transceiver;

memory coupled to the one or more processors and configured to store instructions, which when executed by the one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform operations comprising;

receiving, at a computing device, a command initiating a lost mode on the computing device, the command including instructions setting a termination password on the computing device, the termination password defined by a requesting user on a requesting device to remotely terminate the lost mode on the computing device;

in response to receiving the command, initiating the lost mode on the computing device and setting the termination password on the computing device;

responsive to the initiating the lost mode, locking the computing device and suppressing select functionality of the locked computing device;

transmitting, to a server computer, first location data identifying a first geographic location of the locked computing device and including a time at which the locked computing device was at the first geographic location;

determining that a first condition has been satisfied, the first condition being at least one condition in a set of conditions, the set of conditions including that a predetermined amount of time has passed since the time at which the locked computing device was at the first geographic location;

responsive to the determining that a first condition has been satisfied, transmitting, to the server computer, second location data identifying a second geographical location of the locked computing device and including a time at which the locked computer device was at the second geographic location;

receiving, at the locked computing device, the termination password defined by the requesting user to remotely terminate the lost mode on the computing device; and

upon authentication of the termination password, at the locked computer device, terminating the lost mode on the computing device, unlocking the locked computing device, and restoring the select functionality of the unlocked computing device.

10. The computing device of claim 9, wherein the command includes a message, and initiating the lost mode further comprises displaying the message on the locked computing device, wherein the message is configured to enable the locked computing device to contact the requesting device.

11. The computing device of claim 9, wherein the set of conditions additionally include that the locked computing device has traveled beyond a threshold distance from the first geographic location.

12. The computing device of claim 9, wherein suppressing select functionality includes suppressing notifications and alerts presented on the locked computing device.

13. The computing device of claim 9, wherein the first location data and the second location data are transmitted to the requesting device based on a predetermined schedule.

14. The computing device of claim 9, wherein the first location data and the second location data are transmitted to the requesting device as a street address.

15. The computing device of claim 9, wherein the first location data and the second location data are transmitted to the requesting device via a push notification.

16. The computing device of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining an amount of time lapsed after transmission of the second location data; and

transmitting, to the requesting device, a third location data identifying a third geographical location of the locked computing device and including a time at which the locked computer device was at the third geographic location.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions that, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to:

receive a command initiating a lost mode, the command including instructions setting a termination password on the computing device, the termination password defined by a requesting user of a requesting device to remotely terminate the lost mode on the computing device;

initiate, in response to the received command, the lost mode on the computing device and setting the termination password on the computing device;

lock, in response to the initiated lost mode, the computing device and suppressing select functionality of the computing device;

transmit first location data identifying a first geographic location of the locked computing device and including a time at which the locked computing device was at the first geographic location;

determine that a first condition has been satisfied, the first condition being at least one condition in a set of conditions, the set of conditions including that a predetermined amount of time has passed since the time at which the locked computing device was at the first geographic location;

transmit, in response to the first condition determination, second location data identifying a second geographical location of the locked computing device and including a time at which the locked computing device was at the second geographic location;

receive the termination password defined by the requesting user to remotely terminate the lost mode; and

terminate, upon termination password authentication, the lost mode, unlock the locked computing device, and restore the select functionality.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the command includes a message, the initiated lost mode includes a display of the message on the locked computing device, and the message is configured to enable the locked computing device to contact the requesting device.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the set of conditions additionally include that the locked computing device has traveled beyond a threshold distance from the first geographic location.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the instructions further cause the computing device to:

determine an amount of time lapsed after transmission of the second location data; and

transmit, to the requesting device, a third location data identifying a third geographical location of the locked computing device and including a time at which the locked computing device was at the third geographic location.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the first location data and the second location data are transmitted to the requesting device as a street address.