Patent Application
20150048943
The technology described in this patent document relates generally to mobile devices and more particularly to anti-loss equipment for mobile devices.
Mobile devices (e.g., smart phones or tablet computers) play an increasingly important role in everyday life. Mobile devices are often cordless, small and easy to be misplaced or stolen. Once a mobile device is lost, it is usually hard to locate and the owner of the mobile device may suffer economic loss and information loss.
In accordance with the teachings described herein, systems and methods are provided for loss prevention of mobile devices. An anti-loss system for a mobile device includes: a communication module, a services module, and an alarm module. The communication module is configured to establish a connection between a mobile device and an anti-loss device. The services module is configured to: detect a distance between the mobile device and the anti-loss device based at least in part on the connection; in response to the distance between the mobile device and the anti-loss device being larger than a threshold, determine whether the mobile device is lost based at least in part on a user input; and in response to the user input not satisfying one or more conditions, trigger an anti-loss mode. The alarm module is configured to provide an alarm upon the triggering of the anti-loss mode.
In one embodiment, an anti-loss method is provided for a mobile device. A connection between a mobile device and an anti-loss device is established. A distance between the mobile device and the anti-loss device is detected based at least in part on the connection. In response to the distance between the mobile device and the anti-loss device being larger than a threshold, whether the mobile device is lost is determined based at least in part on a user input. In response to the user input not satisfying one or more conditions, an anti-loss mode is triggered. An alarm is provided upon the triggering of the anti-loss mode.
In another embodiment, an anti-loss system for mobile devices includes: one or more data processors and a machine readable storage medium. The storage medium is encoded with instructions for commanding the data processors to execute certain operations. A connection between a mobile device and an anti-loss device is established. A distance between the mobile device and the anti-loss device is detected based at least in part on the connection. In response to the distance between the mobile device and the anti-loss device being larger than a threshold, whether the mobile device is lost is determined based at least in part on a user input. In response to the user input not satisfying one or more conditions, an anti-loss mode is triggered. An alarm is provided upon the triggering of the anti-loss mode.
Some anti-loss mechanisms have been adopted for mobile devices. For example, Global Positioning System (GPS) services can be used to locate a mobile device after it is lost. However, GPS positioning alone is often not sufficient.
Specifically, the communication module 202 can establish the connection between the mobile device 104 and the anti-loss device 102 via various technologies, such as Bluetooth, NFC, WiFi, a physical communication line, etc. Once the connection is established, the anti-loss device 102 communicates with the mobile device 104, e.g., intermittently. The communication module 202 detects the distance between the anti-loss device 102 and the mobile device 104 at predetermined time intervals. Once the mobile device 104 is moved far away from the anti-loss device 104, the services module 204 may prompt user inputs through application software 208. The owner of the mobile device 104 can predefine certain conditions for anti-loss purposes, such as a password, a pattern, facial recognition, etc. If the user inputs received by the services module 204 do not match with the predetermined conditions, it indicates that the current user of the mobile device 104 is not the owner of the mobile device 104, and the mobile device 104 is lost (e.g., stolen). For example, the user inputs may be received through a touch screen, a keyboard, a microphone, a camera, etc.
In some embodiments, the alarm module 206 may generate a loud sound upon the triggering of the anti-loss mode. The alarm module 206 may activate a camera of the mobile device 104 to take one or more photos of the current user or activate a recording device to record a sound of the current user, so that the photos or the sound recording may be used as evidence against the current user. In addition, the alarm module 206 may activate positioning determination services so that the owner may locate the mobile device 104 via Global Positioning System (GPS) signals. Furthermore, the alarm module 206 may cause an automatic phone call to be made to a particular number predetermined by the owner of the mobile device 104.
In some embodiments, the communication module 202, the services module 204, and/or the alarm module 206 are included in the mobile device 104. In certain embodiments, the communication module 202, the services module 204, and/or the alarm module 206 are located on a system (e.g., a server) that communicates with the mobile device 104.
In certain embodiments, the anti-loss device 102 includes batteries to provide power for communication with the mobile device 104, e.g., via Bluetooth. In some embodiments, the anti-loss device 102 does not include batteries, and communicates with the mobile device 104 via NFC. Multiple anti-loss devices may be implemented for one or more mobile devices, as shown in
At 408, it is determined whether the mobile device is lost based at least in part on a user input. If the user input satisfies one or more conditions (e.g., predetermined by an owner of the mobile device), it indicates that the user is the owner of the mobile device, and the mobile device is not lost. Thus, the mobile device may be set to a waiting mode. In some embodiments, the connection between the mobile device and the anti-loss device may be reestablished (e.g., after a time period). If the user input does not satisfy the predetermined conditions, it indicates that the user is not the owner of the mobile device, and the mobile device may be lost. At 410, an anti-loss mode is triggered. At 412, an alarm (e.g., a loud sound) is provided upon the triggering of the anti-loss mode.
On the other hand, if the user inputs do not satisfy the predetermined unlock conditions, an alarm (e.g., a loud sound) is generated and the mobile device 302 is automatically locked. In some embodiments, the detection of the user inputs may continue. If the subsequent user inputs satisfy the unlock conditions, the mobile device 302 is unlocked. Otherwise, the alarm may be again generated, and the mobile device 302 remains locked.
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, include the best mode, and also to enable a person skilled in the art to make and use the invention. The patentable scope of the invention may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Other implementations may also be used, however, such as firmware or appropriately designed hardware configured to carry out the methods and systems described herein. For example, the systems and methods described herein may be implemented in an independent processing engine, as a co-processor, or as a hardware accelerator. In yet another example, the systems and methods described herein may be provided on many different types of computer-readable media including computer storage mechanisms (e.g., CD-ROM, diskette, RAM, flash memory, computer's hard drive, etc.) that contain instructions (e.g., software) for use in execution by one or more processors to perform the methods' operations and implement the systems described herein.
This disclosure claims priority to and benefit from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/865,717, filed on Aug. 14, 2013, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61865717 | Aug 2013 | US |
