Mobile Device Proactive Location Tracking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mobile device recovery techniques are hindered by thieves powering down stolen devices before owners can locate them, as these methods rely on the device being operational and connected to a service.

Innovation Solution

Implementing proactive recovery-assisting actions in mobile devices that automatically perform specific actions when triggering conditions are detected, such as incorrect password attempts, location changes, or unauthorized access, to continuously record and communicate the device's location even after it becomes disabled.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the device requires a password to prevent power-down, then the device remains operational longer and can be located, but the thief can still disable the device by providing the correct password or by other means

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice location availabilityVSAvoiddevice accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The device performs location recording and communication actions in advance before the thief can disable it. The system continuously monitors for triggering conditions and proactively records location data, ensuring that location information is captured and transmitted before the device is completely disabled or the battery dies.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The device maintains continuous location monitoring and communication attempts even after triggering conditions are detected. The system keeps trying to communicate location data to the service until the device is completely disabled or the battery depletes, ensuring uninterrupted location tracking throughout the device's operational lifecycle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

2Reliability

If the device continuously monitors and communicates location, then location tracking remains reliable, but the device consumes more battery power and may become unreachable sooner

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation tracking reliabilityVSAvoidbattery power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The device performs location recording and communication at periodic intervals rather than continuously. The system monitors for triggering conditions and performs location actions periodically, which reduces battery consumption while still maintaining reliable location tracking. The periodic actions continue until the device is disabled or the battery depletes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Use of energy by moving object

If the device waits for owner-initiated location requests, then energy consumption is reduced, but the owner cannot locate the device if they discover it missing later

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidtime delay in location retrieval

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The device proactively performs location recording and communication actions before the owner requests them. When triggering conditions are detected, the system immediately begins recording location data and attempting to communicate it to the service, eliminating the need for the owner to initiate a location request and reducing time delay.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The device provides automatic feedback to the service about its location status without waiting for owner requests. The system continuously monitors triggering conditions and provides location information to the service proactively, creating a feedback loop that keeps the service updated on device location without requiring owner intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS10181058B2Techniques for recovering missing devices

Publication Date: 2019.01.15 DROPBOX INC

AI summary

Techniques are provided for assisting owners to recover missing devices. The missing device automatically performs certain actions proactively in response to detecting conditions that indicate that the device has been lost or stolen. Conditions that indicate the device has been lost or stolen (“triggering conditions”) may include that a password failure has occurred more than a predetermined number of times. Any number and type of recovery-assisting actions may be taken, in response to triggering conditions, to assist owners in recovering a missing device. For example, a device may generate a record that indicates the current location of the device, and synchronize the record with an online service or some other device. The generation and synchronization of such records may be repeated on a periodic basis until either (a) the device becomes disabled, or (b) a user enters an appropriate password.