IP Library Granted Patent US 9,451,465
Granted Patent B2
US 9,451,465 · App. 14/862,624 · Granted Sep 20, 2016

Electronically binding to a lost mobile device

Inventors: Paul B. French (Dublin Pike, IE); Jack J. Healy (Carrigaline, IE); Niall J. Lucey (Carrigadrohid, IE)
Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
H04W12/08H04W4/02H04W12/02H04W76/023
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,451,465
App. No.
14/862,624
Granted
Sep 20, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

The first mobile device determining that the first mobile device is lost and the first mobile device, in response to determining that the first mobile device is lost, activating a secure mode on the first mobile device. The first mobile device making the first mobile device discoverable to other mobile devices. The first mobile device electronically binding to a second mobile device. The first mobile device sending information relating to the first mobile device to the second mobile device. The first mobile device receiving an indication that the first mobile device is no longer lost. The first mobile device, in response to receiving the indication that the first mobile device is no longer lost, unbinding from the second mobile device.

Claims (56)

1. A method comprising the steps of:

a first mobile device determining that the first mobile device is lost;

the first mobile device, in response to determining that the first mobile device is lost, activating a secure mode on the first mobile device;

the first mobile device making the first mobile device discoverable;

the first mobile device electronically binding to a second mobile device;

the first mobile device sending information relating to the first mobile device to the second mobile device;

the first mobile device receiving an indication that the first mobile device is no longer lost; and

the first mobile device, in response to receiving the indication that the first mobile device is no longer lost, unbinding from the second mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of the first mobile device electronically binding to a second mobile device comprises the first mobile device receiving a request from the second mobile device to create a peer-to-peer connection between the first mobile device and the second mobile device.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of the first mobile device determining that the first mobile device is lost comprises:

the first mobile device determining whether the first mobile device is in a geographic location not previously stored on the first mobile device; and

the first mobile device, if the first mobile device determines that the first mobile device is in a geographic location not previously stored on the first mobile device, determining that the first mobile device is lost.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of the first mobile device determining that the first mobile device is lost comprises:

the first mobile device receiving a message from another mobile device indicating that the first mobile device is lost.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of the first mobile device determining that the first mobile device is lost comprises:

the first mobile device determining whether there has been any outgoing network activity from the first mobile device within a particular timeframe; and

the first mobile device, if there has not been any outgoing network activity from the first mobile device within the particular timeframe, determining that the first mobile device is lost.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the information relating to the first mobile device includes a designated party to contact and contact information for the designated party.

7. A computer program product comprising:

one or more computer-readable storage devices and program instructions stored on the one or more computer-readable storage devices, the program instructions comprising:

program instructions to determine, by a first mobile device, that the first mobile device is lost;

program instructions to activate, by the first mobile device, in response to determining that the first mobile device is lost, a secure mode on the first mobile device;

program instructions to make, by the first mobile device, the first mobile device discoverable;

program instructions to electronically bind, by the first mobile device, to a second mobile device;

program instructions to send, by the first mobile device, information relating to the first mobile device to the second mobile device;

program instructions to receive, by the first mobile device, an indication that the first mobile device is no longer lost; and

program instructions to unbind, by the first mobile device, in response to receiving the indication that the first mobile device is no longer lost, from the second mobile device.

8. The computer program product of claim 7 , wherein the program instructions to electronically bind, by the first mobile device, to the second mobile device comprise program instructions to receive, by the first mobile device, a request from the second mobile device to create a peer-to-peer connection between the first mobile device and the second mobile device.

9. The computer program product of claim 7 , wherein the program instructions to determine, by the first mobile device, that the first mobile device is lost comprise:

program instruction to determine, by the first mobile device, whether the first mobile device is in a geographic location not previously stored on the first mobile device; and

program instructions to determine, by the first mobile device, if the first mobile device determines that the first mobile device is in a geographic location not previously stored on the first mobile device, that the first mobile device is lost.

10. The computer program product of claim 7 , wherein the program instructions to determine, by the first mobile device, that the first mobile device is lost comprise:

program instructions to receive, by the first mobile device, a message from another mobile device indicating that the first mobile device is lost.

11. The computer program product of claim 7 , wherein the program instructions to determine, by the first mobile device, that the first mobile device is lost comprise:

program instructions to determine, by the first mobile device, whether there has been any outgoing network activity from the first mobile device within a particular timeframe; and

program instructions to determine, by the first mobile device, if there has not been any outgoing network activity from the first mobile device within the particular timeframe, that the first mobile device is lost.

12. The computer program product of claim 7 , wherein the information relating to the first mobile device includes a designated party to contact and contact information for the designated party.

13. A computer system comprising:

one or more computer processors, one or more computer-readable storage devices, and program instructions stored on the computer-readable storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors, the program instructions comprising:

program instructions to determine, by a first mobile device, that the first mobile device is lost;

program instructions to activate, by the first mobile device, in response to determining that the first mobile device is lost, a secure mode on the first mobile device;

program instructions to make, by the first mobile device, the first mobile device discoverable;

program instructions to electronically bind, by the first mobile device, to a second mobile device;

program instructions to send, by the first mobile device, information relating to the first mobile device to the second mobile device;

program instructions to receive, by the first mobile device, an indication that the first mobile device is no longer lost; and

program instructions to unbind, by the first mobile device, in response to receiving the indication that the first mobile device is no longer lost, from the second mobile device.

14. The computer system of claim 13 , wherein the program instructions to electronically bind, by the first mobile device, to the second mobile device comprise program instructions to receive, by the first mobile device, a request from the second mobile device to create a peer-to-peer connection between the first mobile device and the second mobile device.

15. The computer system of claim 13 , wherein the program instructions to determine, by the first mobile device, that the first mobile device is lost comprise:

program instruction to determine, by the first mobile device, whether the first mobile device is in a geographic location not previously stored on the first mobile device; and

program instructions to determine, by the first mobile device, if the first mobile device determines that the first mobile device is in a geographic location not previously stored on the first mobile device, that the first mobile device is lost.

16. The computer system of claim 13 , wherein the program instructions to determine, by the first mobile device, that the first mobile device is lost comprise:

program instructions to receive, by the first mobile device, a message from another mobile device indicating that the first mobile device is lost.

17. The computer system of claim 13 , wherein the program instructions to determine, by the first mobile device, that the first mobile device is lost comprise:

program instructions to determine, by the first mobile device, whether there has been any outgoing network activity from the first mobile device within a particular timeframe; and

program instructions to determine, by the first mobile device, if there has not been any outgoing network activity from the first mobile device within the particular timeframe, that the first mobile device is lost.

18. The computer system of claim 13 , wherein the information relating to the first mobile device includes a designated party to contact and contact information for the designated party.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 23, 2015
From: FRENCH, PAUL B.; HEALY, JACK J.; LUCEY, NIALL J.
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 036666/0144 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 14133770 · Dec 19, 2013
Related Publication 20160014606A1 · Jan 14, 2016