Locating misplaced mobile computing devices
View Patent ↗Locating misplaced mobile computing devices through transmission of location information. Mobile computing devices periodically request information from surrounding mobile computing devices to more accurately identify the location where a mobile computing device was misplaced.
1. A method comprising:
receiving, by the first mobile computing device, a set of discovery response data from a second mobile computing device, wherein:
an identity of the second mobile computing device is unknown to the first mobile computing device; and
the set of discovery response data from the second mobile computing device includes an obfuscated identifier;
storing, by the first mobile computing device, the set of discovery response data from the second mobile computing device;
receiving, by the first mobile device, a query over a wireless network protocol from a third mobile computing device, wherein:
an identity of the third mobile computing device is unknown to the first mobile computing device; and
the query requests the set of discovery response data, wherein:
the query includes the obfuscated identifier;
determining, by the first mobile computing device, that the set of discovery response data stored by the first mobile computing device includes the obfuscated identifier; and
transmitting, by the first mobile computing device, the set of discovery response data to the third mobile computing device.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the receiving or transmitting steps is performed over a wireless network protocol.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the set of discovery response data includes an obfuscated MCD identifier.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the set of discovery response data includes a set of GPS coordinates.
5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:
generating a set of navigational instructions based, in part, on the set of GPS coordinates.
6. A computer program product comprising:
a computer readable storage medium and program instructions stored on the computer readable storage medium, the program instruction comprising instructions for a first mobile computing device to:
receive a set of discovery response data from a second mobile computing device wherein:
an identity of the second mobile computing device is unknown to the first mobile computing device; and
the set of discovery response data from the second mobile computing device includes an obfuscated identifier;
store the set of discovery response data from the second mobile computing device;
receive a query over a wireless network protocol from a third mobile computing device, wherein:
an identity of the third mobile computing device is unknown to the first mobile computing device; and
the query requests the set of discovery response data, wherein
the query includes the obfuscated identifier;
determine, by the first mobile computing device, that the set of discovery response data stored by the first mobile computing device includes the obfuscated identifier; and
transmit the set of discovery response data to the third mobile computing device.
7. The computer program product of claim 6 wherein at least one of the program instructions further includes instructions to operate over a wireless network protocol.
8. The computer program product of claim 6 wherein the set of discovery response data includes an obfuscated MCD identifier.
9. The computer program product of claim 6 wherein the set of discovery response data includes a set of GPS coordinates.
10. A computer system comprising:
a processor set;
a computer readable storage medium;
program instructions stored on the computer readable storage medium for execution by the processor set, the program instructions comprising instructions for a first mobile computing device to:
receive a set of discovery response data from a second mobile computing device, wherein:
an identity of the second mobile computing device is unknown to the first mobile computing device; and
the set of discovery response data from the second mobile computing device includes an obfuscated identifier;
store the set of discovery response data from the second mobile computing device;
receive a query over a wireless network protocol from a third mobile computing device, wherein:
an identity of the third mobile computing device is unknown to the first mobile computing device; and
the query request the set of discovery response data, wherein:
the query includes the obfuscated identifier;
determine, by the first mobile computing device, that the set of discovery response data stored by the first mobile computing device includes the obfuscated identifier; and
transmit the set of discovery response data to the third mobile computing device.
11. The computer system of claim 10 wherein at least one of the program instructions further includes instructions to operate over a wireless network protocol.
12. The computer system of claim 10 wherein the set of discovery response data includes an obfuscated MCD identifier.
13. The computer system of claim 10 wherein the set of discovery response data includes a set of GPS coordinates.
14. The computer system of claim 13 further comprising instructions to:
navigate to the set of GPS coordinates.