CLAIMS
What is claimed is:
1. A method of providing location information for a wireless device, comprising: determining a battery level is below a predetermined threshold; determining a current location for said wireless device upon said battery level being determined to be below said predetermined threshold; and transmitting said current location.
2. The method of providing location information for a wireless device according to claim 1 , wherein: said wireless device is a cordless telephone.
3. The method of providing location information for a wireless device according to claim 1 , wherein: said transmitting transmits said current location over a cellular wireless network.
4. The method of providing location information for a wireless device according to claim 1 , further comprising: initiating a mobile station-based (MS-BASED) location fix.
5. The method of providing location information for a wireless device according to claim 1 , wherein: said transmitting said current location transmits to a handset finder server.
6. The method of providing location information for a wireless device according to claim 1 , further comprising: installing a handset finder application on said wireless device.
7. The method of providing location information for a wireless device according to claim 1 , further comprising: downloading a handset finder application to said wireless device.
8. Apparatus for providing location information for a wireless device, comprising: means for determining a battery level is below a predetermined threshold; means for determining a current location for said wireless device upon said battery level being determined to be below said predetermined threshold; and means for transmitting said current location.
9. The apparatus for providing location information for a wireless device according to claim 8, wherein: said wireless device is a cordless telephone.
10. The apparatus for providing location information for a wireless device according to claim 8, wherein: said transmitting transmits said current location over a cellular wireless network.
11. The apparatus for providing location information for a wireless device according to claim further comprising: means for initiating a mobile station-based (MS-BASED) location fix.
12. The apparatus for providing location information for a wireless device according to claim 8, wherein: said means for transmitting said current location transmits to a handset finder server.
13. The apparatus for providing location information for a wireless device according to claim 8, further comprising: means for installing a handset finder application on said wireless device.
14. The apparatus for providing location information for a wireless device according to claim 8, further comprising: means for downloading a handset finder application to said wireless device.
15. A system for providing location information, comprising: a wireless device to determine if a battery level is below a predetermined threshold; a location determiner to determine a current location for said wireless device upon said battery level being determined to be below said predetermined threshold; and a transmitter to transmit said current location.
16. The system for providing location information according to claim 15, wherein: said wireless device is a cordless telephone.
17. The system for providing location information according to claim 15, wherein: said transmitter is a cellular transmitter.
18. The system for providing location information according to claim 15, further comprising: an initiator to initiate a mobile station-based (MS-BASED) location fix.
19. The system for providing location information according to claim 15, wherein: said transmitter transmits said current location to a handset finder server.
20. The system for providing location information according to claim 15, further comprising: an installer to install a handset finder application on said wireless device.
21. The system for providing location information according to claim 15, further comprising: a downloader to download a handset finder application to said wireless device. |
WIRELESS DEVICE LOCATION ALERTS ON BATTERY NOTIFICATION EVENTS
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present application claims priority from U.S. Provisional
Application 60/960,018, entitled "GENERATING DEVICE LOCATION ALERTS IN BATTERY NOTIFICATION EVENTS" to Barcklay et al., filed September 11 , 2007, the entirety of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to location based wireless services, and more specifically, to location enabled applications for wireless mobile devices.
2. Background of Related Art
Wireless devices, such as cellular telephones, personal data assistants, laptop computers, etc., have become commonplace within our modern society. Their battery power creates autonomy. However, autonomy creates opportunity for those devices to be lost or stolen.
Services exist to allow recovery of a lost or stolen wireless device. A handset finder service allows cell phone customers to locate their wireless device when it is lost or stolen. This service relies on a network initiated location request that queries the device for its current location.
The handset finder service requires that the wireless device be turned on to operate properly. If the wireless device is not turned on, it is not able to respond to the network location request. Since a lost or stolen wireless device is likely to be on and using its battery power when initially lost, the handset finder application must locate the lost wireless device before its battery power is exhausted. However, if the handset
finder service is not activated prior to battery power being exhausted, the opportunity to locate the lost wireless device has passed.
There is a need for a system and method that can determine a wireleess devfice's current location before battery power is exhausted.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the principles of the invention, location information is provided for a wireless device by determining when a battery level is below a predetermined threshold. A current location is determined for the wireless device when the battery level is determined to be below the predetermined threshold, and then the current location is transmitted.
In accordance with the principles of the invention, a system for providing location information comprises a wireless device to determine if a battery level is below a predetermined threshold. A location determiner determines a current location for the wireless device when the battery level is determined to be below the predetermined threshold, and a transmitter transmits the current location.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description with reference to the drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 shows a system for transmitting a request for and receiving a handset finder application, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.
Fig. 2 shows a wireless device for transmitting a request for and receiving a handset finder application, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.
Fig. 3 shows an exemplary method of obtaining a handset finder application, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.
Fig. 4 shows an exemplary method of activating and executing a handset finder application, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.
Fig. 5 shows an exemplary method of executing a timer execution event, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
A handset finder service is provided In accordance with the principles of the present invention. A customer downloads and installs handset finder application onto their wireless device. Such a small application is preferably downloaded and installed on any battery powered suitable type wireless device, e.g., cellular telephone, personal data assistant, laptop computer, etc.
The first time this handset finder application runs, it preferably registers to receive battery notification events from the wireless device. These events wake-up the handset finder application, which determines whether a "low power" threshold has been reached. When this occurs, the handset finder application initiates a location query. The handset finder application will submit a determined location to a handset finder server. The handset finder server preferably distributes the determined location to any entity with the proper authority to receive location information associated with the relevant wireless device. For example, the handset finder server can disseminate the determined location to an owner of the wireless device, the police, a cellular service provider, pre-designated authorized persons, etc.
Fig. 1 shows a system for transmitting a request for a handset finder application and receiving a handset finder application, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.
In particular, as shown in Fig. 1 , a system 100 for transmitting a request for a handset finder application 210 (show in more detail in Fig. 2) and receiving a handset finder application 210 can include various wireless devices 110a, 110b, and 110c, a wireless network 120, a handset finder server 130, a handset finder application database 140, and a location server 150. Instead of using a handset finder service that relies on a network initiated location request to determine a current location of any wireless device, wireless devices 110a, 110b or 110c, in accordance with the principles of the present invention can include a handset finder application 210. In operation, the handset finder application 210 allows the wireless device itself to monitor if a battery level that falls below a "low battery" threshold. At that time, current location information for a relevant wireless device 110a, 110b or 110c is determined. The current location information may be determined locally, if the relevant wireless device 110a, 110b or 110c is able to make such a determination, or from a suitable location server 150.
In instances where a local determination of current location information cannot be made locally at any of wireless devices 110a, 110b, and 110c for whatever reason, a location server 150 can act as a backup source of current location information for a given wireless device. The "low battery" threshold level can be pre-programmed into the handset finder application 210. Alternately, the "low battery" threshold level can be set by a user of the wireless device 110a, 110b or 110c. An option can be provided in a wireless devices configuration option menu to give a user the option to set the "low battery" threshold. If a user allows their wireless device 110a, 110b, or 110c to routinely drain down to an extremely low state before charging, which could frequently
trigger the handset finder application, the user can lower the threshold to reduce the number of times the handset finder application 210 is activated.
The wireless network 120 allows the various wireless devices 110a, 110b and 110c to communicate with the handset finder server 130. Any suitable wireless network can be employed that allows data communications for transmitting a request for a handset finder application 210 and receiving a handset finder application 210, and communicating location information between the various wireless devices 110a, 110b, and 110c and the handset finder server 130.
Handset finder server 130 receives requests for a handset finder application 210 from wireless network 120. A database query is formulated by the handset finder server 130 from parameters associated with the received request for a handset finder application 210. Such parameters can include a current operating system, a hardware description for the wireless device, an indication if the device has location capabilities, etc.. The database query is submitted by the handset finder server 130 to the handset finder application database 140 to search the content of handset finder application database 140 for entries that match the received parameters, as is known within the art.
The handset finder server 130 can distribute the current location for a relevant wireless devices 110a, 110b or 110c to any entity with the proper authority to receive location information associated with the relevant wireless device 110a, 110b or 110c. For example, the handset finder server 130 can disseminate determined location information to an owner of the wireless device 110a, 110b or 110c, the police, a cellular service provider, pre-designated authorized persons, medical personnel, etc.
Handset finder application database 140 can be managed by any number of database programs, such as, Some Oracle, Sybase, mySQL, Lotus Approach, Microsoft Access, Filemaker, etc. Any database
program that allows for the retrieval of location configuration data from parameters can be used with the invention, such as a carrier network identification and at least one application identification.
Handset finder server 130 and handset finder application database 140 are described herein for simplicity as being separate components. However, handset finder application database 140 can exist within the handset finder server 130. In such an instance, the description above of handset finder server 130 submitting a database query to the location configuration database 140 would remain the same. In the event that any of any of wireless devices 110a, 110b or 110c do not contain location determination components, e.g., GPS circuitry, location server 150 can be employed by handset finder server 130 to determine a current location for any of wireless devices 110a, 110b, and 110c. Once triggered by any of wireless devices 110a, 110b, and 110c upon a "low battery" threshold condition, handset finder server 130 can transmit a request for a current location for a relevant wireless device 110a, 110b or 110c to location server 150. In response, handset finder server 130 receives a current location from location server 150 for a relevant wireless device 110a, 110b or 110c. In instances where any of wireless devices 110a, 110b, and
110c cannot determine their current location locally, such as when they cannot obtain a satellite fix to necessary GPS satellites, location server 150 can perform backup duty to location capability built into wireless devices 110a, 110b, and 110c. In such an instance, a relevant wireless device 110a, 110b or 110c would set a notification of a "low battery" threshold condition to handset finder server 130 together with an indication that a local location determination could not be performed. Handset finder server 130 would then transmit a request for a current location for a relevant wireless device 110a, 110b or 110c to location server 150. In response, handset finder server 130 receives a current
location from location server 150 for a relevant wireless device 110a, 110b or 110c.
Fig. 2 shows a wireless device including a handset finder application, in accordance with the principles of the present invention. In particular, as shown in Fig. 2, a wireless device 200 for transmitting a request for and receiving a handset finder application can include a handset finder application 210. Memory storage area 205 stores a handset finder application 210. The handset finder application 210 can include various modules for performing the various functions disclosed herein. Handset finder application 210 can include a battery level detector module 220, an optional location information detection module 230, and a notice transmitter module 240.
Memory storage area 205 can be any of a short term memory and/or long term memory. For example, memory storage area 210 can be a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), a hard drive, a solid state drive, a detachable memory card, etc. An operating system, processing unit, etc. operating on the wireless device 200 can execute the handset finder application 210 from memory storage area 205 as is known within the art. The battery level detector module 220 continuously monitors a battery level for wireless devices 110a, 110b, and 110c. Upon a detection of a "low battery" threshold, handset finder application 210 optionally activates location information detection module 230. At that time, location information detection module 230 determines current location information for a relevant wireless devices 110a, 110b, and 110c. In the event that a wireless devices 110a, 110b, and 110c lacks an ability to detect its current location itself or is unable to determine current location information for whatever reason, a handset finder server 130 can alternately obtain current location information from location server 150. Notice transmitter module 240 formulates a notice data packet 250 that includes a notice that the relevant wireless device's 110a,
110b or 110c has reached a "low battery" threshold. If the relevant wireless device 110a, 110b or 110c is able to detect current location information itself, the data packet 250 further include current location information for the relevant wireless device 110a, 110b or 110c. The notice transmitter module 240 activates transmission circuitry associated with the relevant wireless device 110a, 110b or 110c to transmit the notice data packet 250 to the handset finder server 130.
Fig. 3 shows an exemplary method of obtaining a handset finder application, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.
In particular, a method 300 of obtaining a handset finder application 210 begins with step 310, of Fig. 3, in which a user from at any of wireless devices 110a, 110b, and 110c registers with a website. The website provides a portal from which a user can initiate a request for a handset finder application 210, download a handset finder application 210, and receive notice that the handset finder application's 210 registration was successful. Registration requires a username and password that are associates with a particular user. Upon proper registration, a user is provided with a registration code that will be used during installation of the handset finder application 210.
In step 320, upon a user entering in their proper username and password in step 310, a handset finder application 210 is retrieved by handset finder server 130 from handset finder application database 140, as discussed above. The handset finder application 210 is downloaded to any of wireless devices 110a, 110b, and 110c that initiated a request for a handset finder application 210.
In step 330, the handset finder application 210 that was downloaded in step 320 is executed by the relevant wireless device 110a, 110b or 110c that downloaded the handset finder application 210. In step 340, a user of the relevant wireless devices 110a,
110b or 110c that downloaded the handset finder application in step 320
is prompted to enter the registration code provided during the website registration process in step 310.
In step 350, the registration code entered in step 340 is compared to the registration code given to the user in step 310. Upon confirmation that the entered registration code matched the registration code provided to the user in step 310, the downloaded handset finder application 210 will register to receive notification when a battery status or level has changed. This event/notification framework is currently available on BREW3.1 devices. The "low battery" condition described herein effectively wakes up the handset finder application 210, allowing it to take action based on the event information.
In step 360, the handset finer application 210 from a relevant wireless device 110a, 110b or 110c will notify the handset finder server 130 that it has successfully registered for battery notification events. The method 300 of obtaining a handset finder application 210 ends after step 360.
Fig. 4 shows an exemplary method of activating and executing a handset finder application, in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Each registered battery event will wake up the handset finder client application.
In particular, a method 400 of activating and executing a handset finder application 210 begins with step 410, of Fig. 4. A decision is made if a "low battery" threshold has been reached. If the "low battery" threshold has not been reached, step 410 repeats in a continuous loop to continually monitor for a "low batter" threshold condition. If the 'low batter" threshold has been reached or exceeded, step 410 proceeds to step 420.
In step 420, if a relevant wireless device 110a, 110b or 110c contains the necessary hardware to perform a local location determination, a mobile station-based (MS-BASED) location fix is initiated to determine a current location for the relevant wireless device 110a, 110b or 110c.
In step 430, the current location information from step 420 determine by any of wireless devices 110a, 110b, and 110c is transmitted over the wireless network 120 to handset finder server 130.
In step 440, a user can optionally register to receive timer events at an interval configured by the user during the registration process. If the user has so configured, this optional event registration ensures that the relevant wireless device 110a, 110b or 110c will continue to send out its current location information until it runs out of power.
Continuous notification of a relevant wireless device's 110a, 110b or 110c current location is particularly useful for wireless devices that are in transit.
In step 450, a decision is made if a power level for any of wireless devices 110a, 110b, and 110c executing a handset finder application 210 increases, or if a battery charge condition is activated. If the conditions are not met in step 450, step 450 proceeds to step 430. If any of the conditions are met in step 450, step 450 proceeds to step 460.
In step 460, the event timer registered in step 440 is unregistered and the state of the handset finder application 210 is reset. The method 400 of activating and executing a handset finder application 210 proceeds to step 410 to monitor if a "low batter" threshold condition has again occurred.
Fig. 5 shows an exemplary method of executing a timer execution event, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.
In particular, a method 500 of executing a timer execution event begins with step 510, of Fig. 5. A decision is made if a handset finder application 210 has detected a "low battery" state in step 510. If the handset finder application 210 has detected a "low battery" state, step 510 proceeds to step 520. If the handset finder application 210 has not detected a "low battery" state, step 510 repeats in a continuous loop to continually monitor for a "low batter" state.
In step 520, an MS-BASED location fix from a relevant wireless device 110a, 110b or 110c is initiated.
In step 530, the current location information as determined from the MS-BASED location fix from step 520 is submitted to the handset finder server 130. The method 500 of executing a timer execution event proceeds to step 510 to monitor if a handset finder application 210 is still in a "low battery" state.
The present invention described herein has particular applicability to developers of location enabled wireless applications. While the embodiments disclosed herein are for wireless devices that do not have a handset finder application already installed, the principles disclosed herein apply equally to installation of a handset finder application prior to a customer receiving their wireless device. In such an event, the determination of a current location upon a monitored a "low battery" condition would remain the same.
While the invention has been described with reference to the exemplary embodiments thereof, those skilled in the art will be able to make various modifications to the described embodiments of the invention without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.