Remote profile modification for device recovery assist
A system is provided for recovering a mobile device by enabling an authorized user to remotely change the profile of the device to assist others in returning the device to the user. Initially, a user registers the mobile device with a recovery assist server. When the user is unable to locate the device because it is, for example, lost or stolen, the user indicates with the server that the device is missing. The device and the server are configured to communicate with each other, for example, periodically or, in another example, on device start up. If the device is identified as missing on the server, the operation of the mobile device is configured based on a missing profile associated with the mobile device. Once the device is located, the user indicates with the server that the device is no longer missing. When the device is unidentified as missing on the server, the operation of the mobile device is configured based on a user profile associated with the mobile device. When the mobile device is configured based on the missing profile, the mobile device may, for example, display a background image or play a ring tone to inform persons near the device that the device is considered mislaid and to provide such persons with information for returning the device.
1. A method comprising:
registering, via a computing device, a mobile device of a user by storing a missing profile for said registered mobile device, said missing profile comprising an executable configuration that causes a media file to be rendered by the mobile device that outputs return instructions for returning the mobile device to the user upon an indication that the mobile device is mislaid;
determining, via the computing device, that the registered mobile device is mislaid;
identifying, via the computing device, a physical location of the mislaid registered mobile device; and
in response to said determination, communicating, over a network, instructions to the registered mobile device that cause the mobile device to execute the missing profile configuration such that the media file outputs the return instructions, said rendering of the return instructions enable the registered mobile device to display geographic information based on said identified location.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said geographic information comprises a map with directions from the identified mislaid location to a specific location, said specific location being a location of an intermediary for receiving the mislaid device and returning the mislaid device to the user.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein said specific location is a location specified by user in the missing profile.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein said specific location is a type of location specified by the user in the missing profile.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining a location having closest proximity to the identified location of the mislaid device, wherein said geographic information is further based on said determined proximity location.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said return instructions further enable the mislaid registered mobile device to play audio via a speaker of the mobile device, wherein said audio announces return information for returning the mobile device to the user.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said communicating said instructions comprises facilitating said mislaid mobile device to execute a program to render the return instructions until the mislaid mobile device receives an indication that the device has been returned to the user.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
in response to said determination that the mobile device is mislaid, locking the use of one or more capabilities of the mobile device until the mislaid mobile device receives an indication that the device has been returned to the user, said one or more capabilities being defined by the missing profile.
9. A non-transitory processor-readable storage medium tangibly encoded with processor-executable instructions stored therein, which when executed by one or more processors, performs a method comprising:
registering a mobile device of a user by storing a missing profile for said registered mobile device, said missing profile comprising an executable configuration that causes a media file to be rendered by the mobile device that outputs return instructions for returning the mobile device to the user upon an indication that the mobile device is mislaid;
determining that the registered mobile device is mislaid;
identifying a physical location of the mislaid registered mobile device; and
in response to said determination, communicating, over a network, instructions to the registered mobile device that cause the mobile device to execute the missing profile configuration such that the media file outputs the return instructions, said rendering of the return instructions enable the registered mobile device to display geographic information based on said identified location.
10. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein said geographic information comprises a map with directions from the identified mislaid location to a specific location, said specific location being a location of an intermediary for receiving the mislaid device and returning the mislaid device to the user.
11. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein said specific location is a location specified by user in the missing profile.
12. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein said specific location is a type of location specified by the user in the missing profile.
13. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 9 , further comprising:
determining a location having closest proximity to the identified location of the mislaid device, wherein said geographic information is further based on said determined proximity location.
14. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein said return instructions further enable the mislaid registered mobile device to play audio via a speaker of the mobile device, wherein said audio announces return information for returning the mobile device to the user.
15. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein said communicating said instructions comprises facilitating said mislaid mobile device to execute a program to render the return instructions until the mislaid mobile device receives an indication that the device has been returned to the user.
16. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 9 , further comprising:
in response to said determination that the mobile device is mislaid, locking the use of one or more capabilities of the mobile device until the mislaid mobile device receives an indication that the device has been returned to the user, said one or more capabilities being defined by the missing profile.
17. A computing device comprising:
a processor;
a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for tangibly storing thereon program logic for execution by the processor, the program logic comprising:
registration logic executed by the processor for registering a mobile device of a user by storing a missing profile for said registered mobile device, said missing profile comprising an executable configuration that causes a media file to be rendered by the mobile device that outputs return instructions for returning the mobile device to the user upon an indication that the mobile device is mislaid;
determination logic executed by the processor for determining that the registered mobile device is mislaid;
identification logic executed by the processor for identifying a physical location of the mislaid registered mobile device; and
communication logic executed by the processor for communicating, over a network, instructions to the registered mobile device that cause the mobile device to execute the missing profile configuration such that the media file outputs the return instructions, said rendering of the return instructions enable the registered mobile device to display geographic information based on said identified location.
18. The computing device of claim 17 , wherein said geographic information comprises a map with directions from the identified mislaid location to a specific location, said specific location being a location of an intermediary for receiving the mislaid device and returning the mislaid device to the user.
19. The computing device of claim 17 , further comprising:
determination logic executed by the processor for determining a location having closest proximity to the identified location of the mislaid device, wherein said geographic information is further based on said determined proximity location.
20. The computing device of claim 17 , wherein said return instructions further enable the mislaid registered mobile device to play audio via a speaker of the mobile device, wherein said audio announces return information for returning the mobile device to the user.