METHOD FOR DETERMINING MOBILE DEVICE PASSWORD SETTINGS BASED ON WIRELESS SIGNAL INFORMATION
Methods, devices, and systems are disclosed for altering a mobile electronic device's screen timeout based on a number of ambient wireless signals, geographic location, check-in to social location web sites, tagged venues, or other measures. Audio noise can be used in conjunction with the number of signals to determine if the device's user is in a crowded venue where theft of the device is more likely. A ringtone can be altered in addition to the password timeout time. A distance from an employee badge can be used to determine if the device has been left behind by a user, and the device can accelerate its password-protected timeout.
1 . A method for securing a mobile device, the method comprising:
detecting, by a mobile device, ambient wireless signals;
determining a number of wireless devices associated with the wireless signals;
calculating a risk of theft of the mobile device based at least in part on the determined number of wireless devices;
determining a timeout time for the mobile device based at least in part on the risk of theft; and
setting a timeout function of the mobile device using the determined timeout time.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the detecting includes determining a number of wireless hotspots available.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving settings from a central information technology (IT) department; and
determining the risk of theft of the mobile device based on the settings.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
identifying one or more known wireless signals; and
decreasing the risk based at least in part on the known wireless signals.
5 . A mobile device locking method, comprising:
measuring, by a mobile device, ambient wireless signals;
determining a risk of theft of the mobile device based at least in part on the measured ambient wireless signals; and
setting a timeout function of the mobile device based at least on the calculated risk.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein determining a risk of theft further includes:
locating a geographic location of the device; and
determining the risk of theft based at least in part on the geographic location of the device.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein determining a risk of theft further includes:
identifying a nearby venue based on the geographic location of the device; and
determining the risk of theft based at least in part on the nearby venue.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the nearby venue was tagged as having an associated risk by a user of the mobile device, friend of the user of the mobile device or information technology department associated with the device.
9 . The method of claim 6 , wherein determining a risk of theft further includes:
looking up crime statistics for the geographic location; and
determining the risk of theft based at least in part on the crime statistics.
10 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the locating is performed by using a global positioning system (GPS) antenna.
11 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the locating is performed using auxiliary, non-global positioning system (non-GPS) sensors.
12 . The method of claim 5 , wherein determining a risk of theft further includes:
measuring audio noise using a microphone operatively connected with the mobile device; and
determining the risk of theft based at least in part on the audio noise.
13 . The method of claim 5 , wherein determining a risk of theft further includes:
tracking a set of ambient wireless signals over time;
determining the changes to the set of ambient wireless signals over time; and
determining the risk of theft based at least in part on the changes to the ambient wireless signals over time. .
14 . The method of claim 5 , wherein determining a risk of theft further includes:
receiving an estimated time that a user of the mobile device is expected to be in a location; and
determining the risk of theft based at least in part on the estimated time.
15 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
changing a ringtone based at least in part on the determined risk.
16 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the operations are performed in the order shown.
17 . A machine-readable tangible storage medium embodying information indicative of instructions for causing one or more machines to perform the operations of claim 5 .
18 . A computer system executing instructions in a computer program, the computer program instructions comprising program code for performing the operations of claim 1 .
19 . A mobile device locking system, comprising:
an antenna configured to receive ambient wireless signals;
a signal counter in communication with the antenna, the signal counter measuring distinct ambient wireless signals; and
a lockout subsystem that determines a timeout time based at least in part on a number of distinct ambient wireless signals.
20 . The mobile device of claim 19 , wherein the antenna and signal counter are within the mobile device.
21 . The mobile device of claim 19 ,. wherein the antenna and signal counter are external to the mobile device.