System and methods for locating mobile devices using location and presence information

Abstract

A location based service and method configured to provide recovery assistance for a misplaced or stolen mobile device. The location based system and method is configured to locate (recover) high value mobile devices using location, presence and other IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) based telecommunications network assets. The method includes leveraging location dips performed for other services to drive a recovery process for a mobile device to thereby reduce resource overhead on a location platform; locating the mobile device using the location dips performed for other services; and sending a notification to a subscriber of the location of the mobile device for recovery of the mobile device.

1 . A method for providing location information to one or more users, comprising:
 providing a computer infrastructure being operable to:
 leverage location dips performed for other services to drive a recovery process for a mobile device; 
 locate the mobile device using the location dips performed for the other services; 
 determine a routing path requested by a subscribing user to provide a message to the subscribing user on a requested device; and 
 send a notification with the message to the subscribing user on the determined routing path to inform the subscribing user on the requested device of the location of the mobile device for recovery thereof. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the computer infrastructure is further operable to update and resuse presence information with location information received from the other services. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the computer infrastructure is further operable to at least one of continuously receive location dips and notifications from an agent residing on the mobile device which is configured to send the notifications at predetermined intervals based on battery life of the mobile device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the computer infrastructure is further operable to receive notifications from an agent residing on the mobile telephone. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the computer infrastructure is further operable to store profile information of the subscribing user in order to route the notification to the requested device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the computer infrastructure is further operable to store presence information which contains location information obtained from other services which are used in the recovery process for the mobile device. 
     
     
         7 . A method for providing location information to one or more users, comprising:
 providing a computer infrastructure being operable to:
 leverage location dips performed for other services to drive a recovery process for a mobile device to thereby reduce resource overhead on a location platform; 
 locate the mobile device using the location dips performed for other services; and 
 send a notification to a subscriber of the location of the mobile device for recovery of the mobile device. 
   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the location dips are performed by location capabilities embedded in a core telecommunications IMS and non-IMS network to continuously track the location of the mobile device on a periodic basis. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the computer infrastructure is further operable to reuse presence information to store location information, which is updated anytime the mobile device makes a location request. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the computer infrastructure is further operable to utilize a carrier location platform to perform both cell sector and precise fixes. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the computer infrastructure is further operable to use pattern matching based on usage/location of the mobile device during predetermined time periods to drive the recovery process and reduce the resource overhead on the location platform. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the computer infrastructure is further operable to use notifications received from an agent on the mobile device to determine the location of the mobile device. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the agent is configured to start a specific sequence of recovery actions on behalf of the subscriber when an incorrect unlock code is entered into the mobile device a certain number of times. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the agent is configured to provide the notifications at predetermined intervals based on battery life of the mobile device. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the computer infrastructure is further operable to charge for the notification of the location. 
     
     
         16 . A mobile device, comprising an agent configured to provide continuous notifications regarding location information of the device to an infrastructure and configured to take into account a battery life of the mobile device when providing the continuous notifications such that fewer notifications will be provided per time period for a battery with lower life expectancy than a battery with higher life expectancy.