Network-based services for misplaced cellular mobile stations

• US 20040180673A1
• Filed: 03/12/2003
• Published: 09/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sbc Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
• Original Assignee: SBC Properties, L.P.
• Inventors: Schroeder, Timothy P., Adams, Thomas L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,103,367 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

A feature for a mobile station, wireless network, and method of operating a wireless network for locating a misplaced mobile station and preventing its unauthorized use. The wireless network including a base station. The network and base station transmit a misplaced mobile station signal to a mobile station, causing a misplaced mobile station to ring at high volume, display a text message, emit an audio message, and deactivate normal mobile station functions.

Claims

1. A mobile station with a network based cellular mobile station locator feature comprising:

a transceiver for receiving at least cellular communications and misplaced mobile station signals;

a speaker;

a display;

a keypad; and

a control system for operating the speaker at high volume when the transceiver receives a misplaced mobile station signal.

2. The mobile station with the network based cellular mobile station locator feature of claim 1 in which:

said control system further displays a message on the display when the transceiver receives the misplaced mobile station signal.

3. The mobile station with the network based cellular mobile station locator feature of claim 1 in which:

said control system further prevents the transceiver from at least one of receiving and transmitting cellular communications when the transceiver receives the misplaced mobile station signal.

4. The mobile station with the network based cellular mobile station locator feature of claim 3 further comprising:

a storage that stores at least an indicator that a missing mobile station signal has been previously received regardless of power loss.

5. The mobile station with the network based cellular mobile station locator feature of claim 3 in which:

said control system further allows the transceiver to receive and transmit cellular communications after a personal identification number (PIN) in entered into the keypad.

6. The mobile station with the network based cellular mobile station locator feature of claim 1 in which:

said control system further operates the speaker to emit an audio message.

7. The mobile station with the network based cellular mobile station locator feature of claim 1 in which:

said control system stops operating the speaker after a key on the keypad is pressed.

8. The mobile station with the network based cellular mobile station locator feature of claim 1 in which:

said control system further stops operating the speaker after one of a predetermined time elapses and battery level has been reached.

9. A method of operating a wireless network for locating a misplaced mobile station comprising:

transmitting a misplaced mobile station signal to a mobile station while avoiding operation of a voice mail feature of the network; and

ringing the misplaced mobile station at a high volume.

10. The method of operating the wireless network for locating the misplaced mobile station according to claim 9 further comprising:

displaying a message on a display of the mobile station.

11. The method of operating the wireless network for locating the misplaced mobile station according to claim 9 further comprising:

preventing communications from or to the mobile station.

12. The method of operating the wireless network for locating the misplaced mobile station according to claim 9 further comprising:

playing an audio message on the mobile station indicating that the mobile station is misplaced.

13. The method of operating the wireless network for locating the misplaced mobile station according to claim 9 further comprising:

wherein the misplaced mobile station signal is one of a short message service (SMS) message, a data signal, a voice call from a special calling number, an email, and a text message.

14. The method of operating wireless network for locating the misplaced mobile station according to claim 10 wherein the message on the display provides instructions for at least one of returning the mobile station and contacting customer service.

15. The method of operating the wireless network for locating the misplaced mobile station according to claim 9 further comprising:

stopping the ringing when a personal identification number (PIN) is communicated to the network.

16. The method of operating the wireless network for locating the misplaced mobile station according to claim 9 further comprising:

stopping the ringing after attaining one of a predetermined time and battery level.

17. A wireless network system comprising:

a network for initiating communication signals and initiating at least one misplaced mobile station signal; and

a base station for transmitting the communication signals and transmitting the at least one misplaced mobile station signal;

wherein transmitting the at least one misplaced mobile station signal bypasses a network voice mail feature.

18. The wireless network system of claim 17 in which:

the base station further transmits the at least one misplaced mobile station signal to display a message on a display of the mobile station.

19. The wireless network system of claim 17 in which:

at least one of the network and the base station further prevent mobile station calls from being made to or from the mobile station after transmitting the at least one misplaced mobile station signal.

20. The wireless network system of claim 17 in which:

the base station further transmits the at least one misplaced mobile station signal to play an audio message at a mobile station.

21. The wireless network system of claim 17 in which:

the base station further transmits the at least one misplaced mobile station signal as one of a text message, a data signal, a voice call from a special calling number, an email, and short message service (SMS) message.

22. The wireless network system of claim 19 in which:

the base station further transmits the at least one misplaced mobile station signal to display the message on the display to provide instructions for one of returning the mobile station and contacting customer service.

23. The wireless network system of claim 17 in which:

the base station further transmits the at least one misplaced mobile station signal to ring a misplaced mobile station at a high volume.