TRANSFER OF STATUS INFORMATION CONCERNING A MOBILE DEVICE VIA A CLOUD BASED SERVICE

• US 20130052991A1
• Filed: 08/30/2011
• Published: 02/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Naftolin, Jordan
• Granted Patent: US 9,026,098 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/24 Transfer of terminal data

Abstract

A method and system allows a mobile device user to receive status information concerning the mobile device even when the user is not in possession of the mobile device. The user can access the status information via a cloud-based service, thereby allowing the user to be made aware of the device'"'"'s status from any location at which the user has network (e.g., Internet) access. The system includes the service, which securely receives and stores the status information from the mobile device and a client, which is used to access the service in order to receive the status information to display to the user, and which can send commands to the mobile device.

Claims

1. A method of providing status information concerning a mobile device to a client via a status notification system, comprising:

identifying a state of, or an event occurring on, a mobile device;

at the mobile device, comparing the state or event to one or more pre-established states and/or events that are to be communicated to a service associated with a status notification system that makes status information concerning the mobile device available to authorized clients; and

transmitting, on a periodic basis, from the mobile device, to the status notification system, over a communication network, status information identifying the state or event when the state or event matches at least one of the pre-established conditions or events,

wherein a frequency upon which the status information is transmitted to the status notification system is determined at least in part on whether AC power is being supplied to the mobile device, a level of battery power remaining in the mobile device, a current type of network connectivity being used by the mobile device, and a recent activity level of the mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the pre-established event is an incoming phone call or text message.

3. The method of claim 1 in which the pre-established state includes a level of battery power remaining in the mobile device that has passed a threshold level.

4. The method of claim 1 in which the pre-established state includes a network connectivity signal strength that has passed a threshold level.

5. The method of claim 1 in which the pre-established event includes a change in a number of missed calls, incoming chat requests, or voicemail messages.

6. The method of claim 1 in which a state of the mobile device included in the status information is a transition from an off to an on state when the mobile device boots up.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein (a) if AC power is being supplied to the mobile device, (b) if a level of battery power remaining in the mobile device is above a threshold level, (c) if a current type of network connectivity being used by the mobile device has a signal strength that is above a threshold level, or (d) if a recent mobile device activity level is above a threshold level, then status information is transmitted to the status notification system at a higher frequency than if none of conditions (a)-(d) are met.

7. (canceled)

9. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method of providing a client with status information concerning a mobile device, comprising:

receiving from a mobile device status information concerning the mobile device, the status information identifying a state of or an event occurring on, the mobile device, wherein a comparison performed at the mobile device has confirmed that the state of or event occurring on is a pre-established state and/or event to be communicated from the mobile device;

receiving a query from a client associated with the mobile device for status information concerning the mobile device;

sending the status information to the client over a communication network; and

receiving, from the client, a command to control an action on the mobile device and forwarding the command to the mobile device.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 9 further comprising:

associating the status information received from the mobile device with its phone number, said phone number serving as an identifier of the mobile device; and

storing the status information and its associated phone number in a database.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11 further comprising authenticating the mobile device.

10. (canceled)

13. A mobile device, comprising:

a transmitter and receiver for respectively sending and receiving RF signals;

at least one memory unit storing a plurality of pre-established states of, or events occurring on, the mobile device;

a display screen;

a user interface for receiving user input;

a status notification component for;

(i) identifying a state of, or an event occurring on, a mobile device;

(ii) comparing the state or event to the plurality of pre-established states and/or events stored in the memory unit; and

(iii) causing the transmitter to transmit, from the mobile device, to a status notification system, over a communication network status information identifying the condition or event when the condition or event matches at least one of the pre-established conditions or events; and

a processor operatively associated with the transmitter, receiver, memory unit, display screen, user interface and status notification component.

wherein the status notification component is further configured to cause the transmitter to transmit to the status notification system status information identifying the condition or event on a periodic basis, wherein a frequency upon which the status information is transmitted to the status notification system is determined at least in part on whether AC power is being supplied to the mobile device, a level of battery power remaining in the mobile device, a current type of network connectivity being used by the mobile device and a recent mobile device activity level.

14. The mobile device of claim 13 in which the pre-established event is an incoming phone call or text message.

15. The mobile device of claim 13 in which the pre-established state includes a level of battery power remaining in the mobile device has passed a threshold level.

16. The mobile device of claim 13 in which the pre-established state includes a network connectivity signal strength that has passed a threshold level.

17. The mobile device of claim 13 in which the pre-established event includes a change in a number of missed calls, incoming chat requests, or voicemail messages.

18. The mobile device of claim 13 in which a state of the mobile device included in the status information is a transition from an off to an on state when the mobile device boots up.

20. The mobile device of claim 13 in which the status notification component is activatable and deactivatable upon user request.

19. (canceled)