Tracking location of portable computing device

• US 9,679,154 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2015
• Issued: 06/13/2017
• 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:
  US14/658,143
• Publication Number:
  US 20160042196A1
• Time in Patent Office: 822 Days
• Field of Search: 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 tracking a portable computing device, the method comprising:

receiving an alert signal at a wireless communication assembly of the portable computing device, the alert signal indicative of loss of the portable computing device;

identifying a location of the portable computing device by way of a positioning device of the portable computing device;

transmitting a tracking signal using the wireless communication assembly, the tracking signal including tracking data corresponding to the location of the portable computing device as identified by the positioning device; and

disabling use of a Wi-Fi data protocol by the portable computing device in response to receipt of the alert signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the positioning device identifies the location of the portable computing device based on Global Positioning System (GPS) information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the positioning device identifies the location of the portable computing device based on at least one of internet “

hotspot”

information or cellular array information.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication assembly includes a Wi-Fi data transceiver, a cellular data transceiver, or some combination thereof.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the tracking signal is transmitted using a messaging protocol.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

updating the location of the portable computing device by way of the positioning device; and

transmitting the tracking signal again using the wireless communication assembly after a predetermined duration of time has passed from the last transmission of the tracking signal, the tracking signal including data corresponding to the updated location of the portable computing device as identified by the positioning device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising protecting data stored at the portable computing device from being accessed via the portable computing device following receipt of the alert signal.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein protecting data stored at the portable computing device from being accessed via the portable computing device includes encrypting the data.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein protecting data stored at the portable computing device from being accessed via the portable computing device includes one of deleting the data, altering the data, overwriting the data, or some combination thereof.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising transmitting the data stored at the portable computing device.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising triggering an alarm.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising disabling use of a cellular data protocol by the portable computing device.

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising disabling use of a software program at the portable computing device, the software program stored in a memory of the portable computing device.

24. The method of claim 1, further comprising uninstalling a software program at the portable computing device, the software program stored in a memory of the portable computing device.

25. The method of claim 1, further comprising disabling an operating system of the portable computing device.

26. The method of claim 1, further comprising uninstalling an operating system of the portable computing device.

27. The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining the portable computing device in a dormant state prior to receipt of the alert signal.

28. The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining the portable computing device in a sleep mode prior to receipt of the alert signal, wherein the sleep mode minimizes power drained by the portable computing device while still allowing receipt of the alert signal.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein the alert signal includes a Short Message Service (SMS) message.

12. A system for tracking a portable computing device, the system comprising:

a positioning device of the portable computing device;

a wireless communication assembly of the portable computing device, wherein the wireless communication assembly receives an alert signal indicative of loss of the portable computing device;

a memory that stores instructions; and

a processor coupled to the memory, wherein execution of the instructions causes the processor to;

identify a location of the portable computing device using the positioning device,

transmit a tracking signal using the wireless communication assembly, the tracking signal including tracking data corresponding to the location of the portable computing device as identified by the positioning device, and

disable use of a Wi-Fi data protocol by the portable computing device in response to receipt of the alert signal.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the positioning device identifies the location of the portable computing device based on at least one of Global Positioning System (GPS) information, internet “

hotspot”

information, or cellular array information.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the wireless communication assembly includes a Wi-Fi data transceiver, a cellular data transceiver, or some combination thereof.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein execution of the instructions causes the processor to:

update the location of the portable computing device using the positioning device, and

transmit the tracking signal again after a predetermined duration of time has passed from a previous transmission of the tracking signal, the tracking signal including data corresponding to the location of the portable computing device as updated using the positioning device.

16. The system of claim 12, further comprising a data storage medium of the portable computing device, wherein data stored at the data storage medium is protected from access via the portable computing device following receipt of the alert signal at the wireless communication assembly.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the data stored at the data storage medium is protected from being accessed via the portable computing device via encryption of the data stored at the data storage medium.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the data stored at the data storage medium is protected from being accessed via the portable computing device via one of deletion, alteration, or overwriting of the data stored at the data storage medium.

19. The system of claim 16, further comprising an authorized user device, wherein execution of the instructions causes the processor to transmit the data stored at the data storage medium to the authorized user device via the wireless communication assembly.

20. The system of claim 12, further comprising an authorized user device, wherein the alert signal originates from the authorized user device.

30. The system of claim 12, wherein the memory stores a software program, and wherein execution of the instructions causes the processor to disable use of the software program at the portable computing device in response to receipt of the alert signal.

31. The system of claim 12, wherein the memory stores a software program, and wherein execution of the instructions causes the processor to uninstall the software program in response to receipt of the alert signal.

21. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having embodied thereon a program executable by a processor to perform a method for tracking a portable computing device, the method comprising:

receiving an alert signal at a wireless communication assembly of the portable computing device, the alert signal indicative of loss of the portable computing device;

identifying a location of the portable computing device by way of a positioning device of the portable computing device;

transmitting a tracking signal using the wireless communication assembly, the tracking signal including tracking data corresponding to the location of the portable computing device as identified by the positioning device; and

disabling use of a Wi-Fi data protocol by the portable computing device in response to receipt of the alert signal.