WO2001074097A1

WO2001074097A1 - Method for facilitating retrieval of a mobile phone

Info

Publication number: WO2001074097A1
Application number: PCT/AU2001/000347
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alan Gerard Hopkins; Anthony Edward Wales
Original assignee: Cpr Technologies Pty. Ltd.
Priority date: 2000-03-28
Filing date: 2001-03-28
Publication date: 2001-10-04

Abstract

A method for facilitating retrieval of a mobile phone (24) associated with a wireless telecommunications provider (16) comprising the steps of a client (12) sending a location request with identification information to a service provider (10) via a source other than the mobile phone (24), the service provider (10) sending a predefined query to the wireless telecommunications provider (16) for the location of the mobile phone (24) the wireless telecommunications provider (16) providing the location of the mobile phone (24), the wireless telecommunications provider (16) providing the location information to the service provider (10), and the service provider (10) in turn providing the location information to the client (12). Additional facilities such as remotely adjusting the ring volume of the mobile phone, and retrieval of stored information on the mobile phone are also disclosed. A computer system for performing the method is also disclosed. In one embodiment, the wireless telecommunications provider (16) performs the role of the service provider (10).

Description

"Method For Facilitating Retrieval Of A Mobile Phone"

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a method for facilitating retrieval of a mobile phone.

BACKGROUND ART

Cellular telecommunications devices, also called mobile phones (devices that communicate with base/cell stations through wireless means), offer a level of portability and convenience that is not possible with traditional communication devices. Mobile phones are increasing in complexity and functionality and will offer widespread portable computing and Internet access capability in the near future. Accordingly, it is expected that these devices will become even more valuable to their owner due to the volume and importance of information contained in the mobile phone.

Recently, significant emphasis has been placed on the ability to more accurately pinpoint mobile phones within a network system. This focus has resulted from the difficulties experienced by emergency services in responding to emergency calls from mobile phones. Unlike mobile phones, fixed (or landline) telephones are readily traced when a call is made to an emergency service. The telephone number and the location of the caller can be quickly determined to assist the emergency service in responding to the call. However, until recently, United States emergency services have only been able to locate emergency 911 callers using mobile phones from the information that the caller provides. This can be inaccurate as well as time consuming and therefore can hinder the emergency services ability to respond to the call effectively.

Consequently, the USA has adopted a mandate (E-911) that requires carriers to be able to locate a mobile phone making an emergency 911 call to within a radius of 125 meters, with a success rate of approximately 67 percent, by October 1 , This requirement has prompted a number of wireless telecommunications providers (WTP's) to deliver the ability to accurately locate a caller from a mobile phone. This requirement has also spawned the development of a number of new companies, known as Location Service Providers (LSP's) who have developed techniques enabling the WTP's to locate a caller from a mobile phone.

The ability to locate a caller from a mobile phone has opened the opportunity for carriers to facilitate location-based services. Some of these services include Emergency Roadside Assistance, Location Sensitive Billing and Enhanced "4-1-1" (a service that can provide location based information such as nearby gas stations, restaurants, etc). All such systems utilise information obtained from traffic during an active call from the mobile phone. These systems are not suitable for providing location information if a call is not being made from the mobile phone.

The present invention aims to provide another location-based service, the ability to locate and efficiently facilitate retrieval of a lost mobile phone. However, this invention by its very nature does not rely upon a call being made from the mobile phone.

The loss of a mobile phone can be costly and can cause considerable inconvenience for the owner. The mobile phone may contain the owner's phonebook of personal and professional contacts or more importantly, commercially sensitive information that may pose a more significant concern if accessed by an unauthorised person. There are also monetary implications, both in the cost of replacing the mobile telephone and also arising from the contract between the WTP and the owner of the lost mobile phone.

WTP's currently monitor the general location of mobile phones to maintain a home location register that describes the last known cell (a communications area covered by a network base station) location of all their active mobile phones. This home location register is used to effectively monitor the mobile phone to maintain an efficient coverage for the user and to provide effective management of the WTP infrastructure. However, location resolution is limited to simply knowing the cell that the mobile phone is within, which can be several square kilometres in area.

LSP's have developed several techniques to facilitate the more accurate location of a caller from a mobile phone within a cell. These systems typically make use of the fact that signals broadcast from the mobile phone will be received at multiple network base stations. By analysing the signal strength, angle of receipt or time of arrival, a quite accurate location (within meters) can be obtained using triangulation. Examples of such systems include Time Difference Of Arrival (TDOA), Angle Of Arrival (AOA) and Power on Arrival (PA). Other location systems include the Global Positioning System (GPS) which determines the position of the mobile phone using satellites.

The present invention aims to solve the problem of an owner locating and retrieving a mobile phone if it is lost. This involves operations and procedures, which must be conducted remotely, as the mobile phone will not be in operation by the owner. This is quite different from the systems that have been developed that make use of location techniques to secure a stolen mobile phone that is actively being used by an unauthorised person.

One such example is described in US Patent 5,646,977, that provides for a system where, when a stolen mobile telephone attempts to make a call, the call number of the telephone is compared to a list of known stolen telephone numbers at the base station. If the mobile telephone number is included in the list of stolen telephones, a message is sent to the telephone which disables the power switch, keypad and display and causes the telephone to transmit an alarm signal for location purposes. Such a system, although offering a useful deterrent to thieves, does suffer from several drawbacks with current mobile telephone technology. The principle drawback of this system is that it requires the mobile unit to be activated at the handset before the system becomes operational. The present invention however requires no user interaction at the handset.

Another example is US Patent 5,600,708, which describes a system for securing a stolen mobile telephone. When the mobile telephone is activated, a unique identifier of the mobile telephone, referred to as the internal mobile equipment identity (IMEI) is checked against a list of stolen devices at the base station. If a match is found, a signal is sent to the telephone that locks the telephone to the SIM card that is currently in use. This prevents the telephone from being used with SIM cards other than the one that was in the telephone when the locking feature was activated. This system again requires user intervention at the handset before the system is activated.

US Patent 5,748,084 describes a security system for a portable electronic device such as a laptop computer. The system described includes a beacon with preferably a transmitter and a receiver, internal security logic imbedded in the mobile unit and external system elements for locating the beacon. If the device is reported stolen, a message is sent to the portable electronic device that instructs it to either transmit critical files to the owner, destroy critical files or encrypt them. A beacon signal is also activated which aids in the location of the stolen portable electronic device. A portable tracking device is used to home in on the beacon signal and find the device. This system does not require user intervention at the mobile unit however it requires additional hardware for locating and performing these operations.

The above systems have varying degrees of ability in securing or locating stolen mobile phones however none are suited to locating and/or retrieving a mobile phone that is simply lost.

The present invention interfaces with existing WTPs for the purpose of locating and efficiently retrieving a lost mobile phone. In addition it provides additional services tailored to the needs of the owner of the lost mobile phone. The methodology in which it provides these services within the current wireless infrastructure is unique.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

In accordance with a first aspect of this invention, there is provided a method in which a service provider facilitates retrieval of a mobile phone, the mobile phone being associated with a wireless telecommunications provider, comprising the steps of:

A client communicating a location request including identification information regarding the mobile phone to the service provider via means other than the mobile phone;

The service provider sending at least one predefined query to the wireless telecommunications provider for location information regarding the mobile phone;

The wireless telecommunications provider providing the location information to the service provider; and

The service provider in turn providing the location information to the client.

Preferably, said method further comprises the step of the service provider determining the subscriber number of the mobile phone from the identification information.

Preferably, said method further comprises the step of the service provider determining the relevant wireless telecommunications provider from the mobile phone subscriber number.

Preferably, said method further comprises the step of the service provider requesting the wireless telecommunications provider to send at least one command instruction to the mobile phone, for the mobile phone to use a loud ring volume. Preferably, said method further comprises the step of the service provider requesting the wireless telecommunications provider to send at least one command instruction to the mobile phone, for the mobile phone to use a predetermined ringing pattern.

Preferably, said method further comprises the step of the service provider requesting the wireless telecommunications provider to send at least one command instruction to the mobile phone, for the mobile phone to ring for a predetermined period after a predetermined delay.

Preferably, said method further comprises the step of the service provider requesting the wireless telecommunications provider to send at least one command instruction to the mobile phone, for the mobile phone to lock access to data stored therein.

Preferably, said method further comprises the step of the service provider requesting the wireless telecommunications provider to send at least one command instruction to the mobile phone, for the mobile phone to provide a status report of predetermined components, receiving the status report from the mobile phone and reporting the status report to the client.

Preferably, the predetermined components include at least one selected from the list of: remaining battery life, antenna operability, display operability, ringer operability, memory status, and SIM card status.

Preferably, said method further comprises the step of the service provider requesting the wireless telecommunications provider to send at least one command instruction to the mobile phone, for the mobile phone to transmit data from the mobile phone, receiving the data from the mobile phone and providing the data to the client.

Preferably, said data includes at least one of: contact details data, address book data, e-mail message data, and/or stored document data. Preferably, said method further comprises the step of the service provider requesting the wireless telecommunications provider to send at least one command instruction to the mobile phone, for the mobile phone to enter a minimal power mode.

Preferably, said method further comprises the step of the service provider verifying the identification information.

Preferably, said method further comprises the step of the service provider completing any missing identification information.

Preferably, said method further comprises the step of the service provider requesting the wireless telecommunications provider to block all calls made by the mobile phone, upon receiving the mobile subscriber phone number.

Preferably, said method further comprises the step of the wireless telecommunications provider unblocking the mobile phone to allow calls therefrom upon receipt of a request from the client to do so, the wireless telecommunications provider also sending a message to the service provider indicating the unblocking of the mobile phone, the service provider utilising the message to represent a successful retrieval of the mobile phone.

Preferably, said steps of the service provider requesting the wireless telecommunications provider comprise the service provider sending at least one instruction to the wireless telecommunications provider for transmission to the mobile phone.

Preferably, the service provider has a computer system arranged to facilitate the retrieval of a mobile phone, said computer system having communication means arranged to interface with said wireless telecommunications provider, said computer system performing the method steps of: sending a predefined query to the wireless telecommunications provider for location information regarding the mobile phone; receiving the location information from the wireless telecommunications provider; and providing the location information to the client. Preferably, said computer system is further arranged to perform the method step of verifying the identification information.

Preferably, said computer system is further arranged to perform the method step of completing any missing identification information.

Preferably, said computer system is connected to a public network for communication with remote terminals connected thereto, said computer system includes a web site that is browsable by said remote terminals over the public network, said web site including a location request page for allowing clients to provide location requests to the computer system via the public network, said location request page including at least one selectable service in addition to said location request, said selectable services being chosen from the list of:

setting the mobile phone's ring volume at a loud setting; setting the mobile phone's ringing pattern to a predetermined pattern; programming the mobile phone to ring for a predetermined period after a predetermined delay; locking access to data stored in the mobile phone; providing a status report of predetermined components of the mobile phone to the client; retrieving data from the mobile phone; setting the mobile phone to enter a minimal power mode; blocking all calls made by the mobile phone;

wherein said computer system is arranged to request the wireless telecommunications provider to send at least one command instruction to the mobile phone corresponding to the selectable sen/ices selected by the client, and to forward a response to the client's computer in the form of a web page via the public network.

In accordance with a second aspect of this invention, there is provided a computer system arranged to facilitate the retrieval of a mobile phone, the mobile phone being associated with a wireless telecommunications provider, said computer system having communication means arranged to interface with the wireless telecommunications provider, said computer system comprising:

location request receiving means for receiving a location request containing identification information regarding the mobile phone from a client via means other than the mobile phone;

query means for sending a predefined query to the wireless telecommunications provider for location information regarding the mobile phone and for receiving said location information from the wireless telecommunications provider in reply to said predefined query; and

means for providing the location information to the client.

Preferably, the computer system further comprises verification means for verifying the identification information.

Preferably, said verification means is arranged to complete any missing identification information.

Preferably, said verification means is arranged to determine the subscriber number of the mobile phone from the identification information.

Preferably, said verification means is further arranged to determine the relevant wireless telecommunications provider from the mobile phone subscriber number.

Preferably, said query means is arranged to request the wireless telecommunications provider to send at least one command instruction to the mobile phone, for the mobile phone to use a loud ring volume.

Preferably, said query means is arranged to request the wireless telecommunications provider to send at least one command instruction to the mobile phone, for the mobile phone to use a predetermined ringing pattern. Preferably, said query means is arranged to request the wireless telecommunications provider to send at least one command instruction to the mobile phone, for the mobile phone to ring for a predetermined period after a predetermined delay.

Preferably, said query means is arranged to request the wireless telecommunications provider to send at least one command instruction to the mobile phone, for the mobile phone to lock access to data stored therein.

Preferably, said query means is arranged to request the wireless telecommunications provider to send at least one command instruction to the mobile phone, for the mobile phone to provide a status report of predetermined components, and to receive the status report from the mobile phone and report the status report to the client.

Preferably, said query means is arranged to request the wireless telecommunications provider to send at least one command instruction to the mobile phone, for the mobile phone to transmit data from the mobile phone, and to receive the data from the mobile phone and provide the data to the client.

Preferably, said data includes at least one of: contact details data, address book data, e-mail message data, and/or stored document data.

Preferably, said query means is arranged to request the wireless telecommunications provider to send at least one command instruction to the mobile phone instructing it to enter a minimal power mode.

Preferably, said query means is arranged to request the wireless telecommunications provider to block all calls made by the mobile phone, upon receiving the mobile subscriber phone number. Preferably, the wireless telecommunications provider is arranged to unblock the mobile phone to allow calls therefrom, upon receipt of a request from the client to do so, the wireless telecommunications provider also sending a message to the computer system indicating the unblocking of the mobile phone, the computer system utilising the message to represent a successful retrieval of the mobile phone.

setting the mobile phone's ring volume at a loud setting; setting the mobile phone's ringing pattern to a predetermined pattern; programming the mobile phone to ring for a predetermined period after a predetermined delay; locking access to data stored in the mobile phone; providing a status report of predetermined components of the mobile phone to the client; retrieving data from the mobile phone; setting the mobile phone to enter a minimal power mode; blocking all calls made by the mobile phone; wherein said query means is arranged to request the wireless telecommunications provider to send at least one command instruction to the mobile phone corresponding to the selectable services selected by the client, and to forward a response to the client's computer in the form of a web page via the public network.

In accordance with a third aspect of this invention, there is provided a method for facilitating retrieval of a mobile phone, the mobile phone being associated with a wireless telecommunications provider, comprising the steps of: A client communicating a location request with identification information to the wireless telecommunications provider via a source other than the mobile phone;

The wireless telecommunications provider sending a predefined query through its infrastructure to establish the location of the mobile phone; and

The wireless telecommunications provider providing the location information to the client.

Preferably, said method further comprises the step of the wireless telecommunications provider determining the subscriber number of the mobile phone from the identification information.

Preferably, said method further comprises the step of the wireless telecommunications provider sending at least one command instruction to the mobile phone, for the mobile phone to use a loud ring volume.

Preferably, said method further comprises the step of the wireless telecommunications provider sending at least one command instruction to the mobile phone, for the mobile phone to use a predetermined ringing pattern.

Preferably, said method further comprises the step of the wireless telecommunications provider sending at least one command instruction to the mobile phone, for the mobile phone to ring for a predetermined period after a predetermined delay.

Preferably, said method further comprises the step of the wireless telecommunications provider sending at least one command instruction to the mobile phone, for the mobile phone to lock access to data stored therein.

Preferably, said method further comprises the step of the wireless telecommunications provider sending at least one command instruction to the mobile phone, for the mobile phone to provide a status report of predetermined components, receiving the status report from the mobile phone and reporting the status report to the client.

Preferably, said method further comprises the step of the wireless telecommunications provider sending at least one command instruction to the mobile phone, for the mobile phone to transmit data from the mobile phone, receiving the data from the mobile phone and providing the data to the client.

Preferably, said method further comprises the step of the wireless telecommunications provider sending at least one command instruction to the mobile phone, for the mobile phone to enter a minimal power mode.

Preferably, said method further comprises the step of the wireless telecommunications provider verifying the location request and the identification information and completing any missing identification information.

Preferably, the said method further comprises the step of the wireless telecommunications provider blocking all calls made by the mobile phone, upon receiving the location request from the client.

Preferably, said method further comprises the step of the wireless telecommunications provider unblocking the mobile phone to allow calls therefrom upon receipt of a request from the client to do so, the wireless telecommunications provider utilising the unblocking to represent a successful retrieval of the mobile phone. Preferably, the wireless telecommunications provider has a computer system arranged to facilitate the retrieval of a mobile phone, said computer system having communication means arranged to interface with said wireless telecommunications provider, said computer system performing the method steps of: sending a predefined query to the wireless telecommunications provider's infrastructure for the location of the mobile phone; and providing the location information to the client.

Preferably, said computer system is further arranged to perform the method steps of: verifying the location request and the identification information and completing any missing identification information.

setting the mobile phone's ring volume at a loud setting; setting the mobile phone's ringing pattern to a predetermined pattern; programming the mobile phone to ring for a predetermined period after a predetermined delay; locking access to data stored in the mobile phone; providing a status report of predetermined components of the mobile phone to the client; retrieving data from the mobile phone; setting the mobile phone to enter a minimal power mode; blocking all calls made by the mobile phone; wherein computer system is arranged to send at least one command instruction to the mobile phone corresponding to the selectable services selected by the client, and to forward a response to the client's computer in the form of a web page via the public network. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This invention will now be described, with reference to one embodiment thereof and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the interaction of a service provider, a client and a wireless telecommunications providers in accordance with the embodiment of the invention.

BEST MODE(S) FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The embodiment will be described with reference to a service provider that uses a method for facilitating retrieval of a mobile phone to provide a service to clients who have lost their mobile phones. The embodiment will be described with reference to the service provider being a separate entity to a wireless telecommunications provider with which the mobile phone is associated. However, it should be appreciated that the invention may be performed with the wireless telecommunications provider acting as the service provider. In such an instance, the box labelled 16 in Figure 1 wound encompass the box 10, representing the service provider.

Figure 1 is a block diagram, which shows the interaction between the mobile phone retrieval service provider 10, a client 12, and a wireless telecommunications provider 16. The client 12 owns a mobile phone 24 that communicates via the wireless telecommunications provider 16. The service provider 10 has a computer system in the form of a server system 28.

The wireless telecommunications provider 16 includes a mobile switching centre 20 and a plurality of base stations 22, although only one base station 22 is shown in Figure 1 for clarity. Each base station 22 includes location technology 14 and location management software 26.

Initially, the client 12 contacts the sen/ice provider 10 and reports that their mobile phone 24 is missing. The client may contact the service provider 10 by phone, in person or via the Internet. Since the client's 12 mobile phone 24 is missing, location systems that require the mobile phone to be making a call (E911) cannot be used to locate the mobile phone.

In an alternative embodiment, the client may contact the wireless telecommunications provider 16 to report that their mobile phone 24 is lost. The client may then be referred to the service provider 10 to assist in retrieving the mobile phone, or the wireless service provider may pass the location request to the service provider.

The service provider 10 receives as much information concerning the mobile phone from the client 12 as possible. Preferably, the information includes the client's name and address, the mobile phone subscriber number, password or authentication information, the name of the wireless telecommunications provider 16 the client 12 has a contract with, and the name or type of location technology 14 that the wireless telecommunications provider 16 uses. However, it is anticipated that in many instances, the client 12 will not recall all of this information.

The client 12 can contact the service provider 10 by using their client computer 18 to access the service provider's 10 web server 30 over the Internet. The web server 30 is in communication with the server system 28. Alternatively, the client 12 can communicate (in person or by telephone other than the mobile phone 24) with a service operator 32 who enters information into the server system 28 via a terminal 34. Whichever form of communication is used, the information is entered into the server system 28 used by the service provider 10. Information is stored by the server system 28 in a database 36.

If the client 12 cannot remember the subscriber number of the mobile phone 24 or the wireless telecommunications provider 16, the service provider 10 determines it from the other information provided by the client 12. The service provider 10, using the server system 28, passes on relevant information with a query message to each wireless telecommunications provider 16 that the service provider 10 is interfaced with. The return message from the correct wireless telecommunications provider 16 should contain the information required to initiate the retrieval process.

Next, the service provider 10 sends a general query message, using the server system 28, to the wireless telecommunications provider 16 that the client 12 uses for their mobile phone 24. A mobile switching centre 20 belonging to the wireless telecommunications provider 16 receives the query message. The mobile switching centre 20 forwards the query message to base station 22 where the misplaced mobile phone 24 was last reported according to the home location register 38 (a database that records the last base station location of mobile phones). The base station 22 transmits the query' message to the mobile phone 24, using the control channel, and requests a return reply. If no response is received, other base stations are then tried.

The mobile phone 24 sends a reply message to the base station 22 in whose area it is currently located, again using the control channel. In turn, this base station 22 replies to the mobile switching centre 20 which then forwards the reply from the mobile phone 24 and the identity of the base station 22 that received the reply to the service provider 10, via the server system 28. This information is then passed to the client 10 to provide a general location of the lost mobile phone.

The service provider 10 then forwards an informed request to the wireless telecommunications provider 16 using the server system 28. This request contains any information required by wireless telecommunications provider 16 to locate a mobile phone 24 such as the mobile subscriber number. The wireless telecommunications provider 16 then locates the co-ordinates of the mobile phone 24 using predefined location technology 14 and location management software 26. This location information is fed back to the service provider 10 via the server system 28. The service provider 10 can then provide the location information to the client 12.

The client 12 can also request additional services from the service provider 10 to assist in recovering their mobile phone 24 or to extract important information from the mobile phone 24 without physically recovering it. Each of these services will be described in further detail below. However, their manner of implementation is similar. For each service, the service provider 10 sends a message, using the server system 28, containing command instructions to the mobile phone 24 via the mobile switching centre 20, and the base station 22, using the communications channels. The mobile phone 24 then responds to the message and sends a reply to the service provider 10 via the base station 22, mobile switching centre 20 and server system 28, using the communications channels. If desired, the information can then be provided to the client 12.

Below is a description of each of the services available to the client 12, along with an indication of the response expected from the mobile phone 24.

Ringing Definition

Ringing definition is aimed at assisting the client 12 when they are trying to locate the mobile phone 24. Some location technologies used by location service providers 14 are known to have errors as large as 100 meters, depending on the technology applied, urban build up and prevailing environmental conditions. This error may make location of the mobile phone 24 within the area difficult.

To activate ringing definition, the service provider 10 sends command instructions, using the server system 28, to the mobile phone 24 to remotely command it to ring at its highest volume setting so that the client 12 looking for the mobile phone 24 can locate it easily and quickly.

The command instructions are arranged to: make the mobile phone 24 ring at its highest volume, make the mobile phone 24 ring according to a predefined pattern selected by the client 12 or the service provider 10, and make the mobile phone 24 ring at a predefined moment if requested by the client. This last command may be useful if the client 12 is remote from the location of the mobile phone 24 and other links to the communications system. Once the location of the mobile phone is known, the client 12 can request that the mobile phone 24 be commanded to ring at a certain time to allow the client 12 to arrive at the vicinity of the mobile phone 24. Data Lock

The data lock facility provides the client with the capability to remotely prevent unauthorised users from accessing the mobile phone 24. It prevents unauthorised users from accessing any data on the mobile phone 24, which may be confidential.

To activate data locking, the service provider 10 sends command instructions, using the server system28, to the mobile phone 24 to remotely command it to prevent further access to the mobile phone 24 or data stored within the mobile phone 24. This may be achieved by, for example, encrypting the data stored in the mobile phone 24.

Status Determination

Status determination allows the status of the mobile phone 24 to be determined for the purpose of providing information for efficient retrieval of a lost or stolen mobile phone 24 and for predetermining whether the mobile phone 24 is worth retrieving.

To activate status determination, the service provider 10 sends command instructions, using the server system 28, to the mobile phone 24 to command it to provide status information by a reply message.

The status information included in the mobile phone's 24 response to the base station 22 includes operational condition information on the battery, SIM card, antenna, display, phone ringer and memory of the mobile phone 24.

Data Transfer

Data transfer provides the user with a facility to obtain information from the mobile phone 24 without retrieval of the mobile phone 24. This allows any important information that is stored on the mobile phone 24 to be retrieved quickly. To activate data transfer, the service provider 10 sends command instructions, using the server system 28, to the mobile phone 24 to command it to provide specified data by reply messages. The command instructions include information specifying the data to be sent by the mobile phone 24. The data can include contact details, stored documents, or e-mails stored in the mobile phone. The data may be stored on the SIM card or in the mobile phone 24 itself.

Power Down

Power down remotely activates minimal power mode on the mobile phone 24 to conserve battery power and therefore extend the potential retrieval period. Power is simply cut or minimised on non-essential systems such as the display allowing the power that is conserved to be used for more essential systems that aid in mobile phone 24 retrieval.

To activate power down, the service provider 10 sends command instructions, using the server system 28, to the mobile phone 24 to command it to enter power down mode and provide confirmation by reply message.

It should be appreciated that the scope of this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described above.

For example, although the embodiment described shows the service provider obtaining location information from the WTP, it is anticipated that location information may be obtained by a stand alone location service provider that uses its own location technologies and infrastructure. The invention is still applicable where the location information is obtained independently of the WTP, such as handset based location that uses GPS (General Positioning System).

Also, the initial location request from the client may be made to the WTP who passes it on to the service provider.

Further, it is anticipated that future mobile phones may be provided with an off mode to enable the mobile phone 24 to be located even when the mobile phone 24 is switched off. When the mobile phone 24 is switched off, the off mode cuts power to all systems except those required to receive predefined messages. If the mobile phone 24 receives a predefined message when switched off, the mobile phone 24 activates the required systems to interpret and process the message, and thus carry out commands, such as location. It would be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that this invention may be used with such mobile phones.

Claims

1. A method in which a service provider facilitates retrieval of a mobile phone, the mobile phone being associated with a wireless telecommunications provider, comprising the steps of:

The service provider in turn providing the location information to the client.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said method further comprises the step of the service provider determining the subscriber number of the mobile phone from the identification information.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein said method further comprises the step of the sen/ice provider determining the relevant wireless telecommunications provider from the mobile phone subscriber number.

4. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said method further comprises the step of the service provider requesting the wireless telecommunications provider to send at least one command instruction to the mobile phone, for the mobile phone to use a loud ring volume.

5. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said method further comprises the step of the service provider requesting the wireless telecommunications provider to send at least one command instruction to the mobile phone, for the mobile phone to use a predetermined ringing pattern.

6. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said method further comprises the step of the service provider requesting the wireless telecommunications provider to send at least one command instruction to the mobile phone, for the mobile phone to ring for a predetermined period after a predetermined delay.

7. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said method further comprises the step of the service provider requesting the wireless telecommunications provider to send at least one command instruction to the mobile phone, for the mobile phone to lock access to data stored therein.

8. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said method further comprises the step of the service provider requesting the wireless telecommunications provider to send at least one command instruction to the mobile phone, for the mobile phone to provide a status report of predetermined components, receiving the status report from the mobile phone and reporting the status report to the client.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the predetermined components include at least one selected from the list of: remaining battery life, antenna operability, display operability, ringer operability, memory status, and SIM card status.

10. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said method further comprises the step of the service provider requesting the wireless telecommunications provider to send at least one command instruction to the mobile phone, for the mobile phone to transmit data from the mobile phone, receiving the data from the mobile phone and providing the data to the client.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said data includes at least one of: contact details data, address book data, e-mail message data, and/or stored document data.

12. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said method further comprises the step of the service provider requesting the wireless telecommunications provider to send at least one command instruction to the mobile phone, for the mobile phone to enter a minimal power mode.

13. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said method further comprises the step of the service provider verifying the identification information.

14. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said method further comprises the step of the service provider completing any missing identification information.

15. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said method further comprises the step of the service provider requesting the wireless telecommunications provider to block all calls made by the mobile phone, upon receiving the mobile subscriber phone number.

16. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said method further comprises the step of the wireless telecommunications provider unblocking the mobile phone to allow calls therefrom upon receipt of a request from the client to do so, the wireless telecommunications provider also sending a message to the service provider indicating the unblocking of the mobile phone, the service provider utilising the message to represent a successful retrieval of the mobile phone.

17. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said steps of the service provider requesting the wireless telecommunications provider comprise the service provider sending at least one instruction to the wireless telecommunications provider for transmission to the mobile phone.

18. The method of any one ofthe preceding claims, wherein the sen/ice provider has a computer system arranged to facilitate the retrieval of a mobile phone, said computer system having communication means arranged to interface with said wireless telecommunications provider, said computer system performing the method steps of: sending a predefined query to the wireless telecommunications provider for location information regarding the mobile phone; receiving the location information from the wireless telecommunications provider; and providing the location information to the client.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said computer system is further arranged to perform the method step of verifying the identification information.

20. The method of claim 18 or 19, wherein said computer system is further arranged to perform the method step of completing any missing identification information.

21. The method of any one of claims 18 to 20, wherein said computer system is connected to a public network for communication with remote terminals connected thereto, said computer system includes a web site that is browsable by said remote terminals over the public network, said web site including a location request page for allowing clients to provide location requests to the computer system via the public network, said location request page including at least one selectable service in addition to said location request, said selectable services being chosen from the list of:

wherein said computer system is arranged to request the wireless telecommunications provider to send at least one command instruction to the mobile phone corresponding to the selectable services selected by the client, and to forward a response to the client's computer in the form of a web page via the public network.

22. A computer system arranged to facilitate the retrieval of a mobile phone, the mobile phone being associated with a wireless telecommunications provider, said computer system having communication means arranged to interface with the wireless telecommunications provider, said computer system comprising:

means for providing the location information to the client.

23. The computer system of claim 22, further comprising verification means for verifying the identification information.

24. The computer system of claim 23, wherein said verification means is arranged to complete any missing identification information.

25. The computer system of claim 23 or 24, wherein said verification means is arranged to determine the subscriber number of the mobile phone from the identification information.

26. The computer system of any one of claims 23 to 25, wherein said verification means is further arranged to determine the relevant wireless telecommunications provider from the mobile phone subscriber number.

27. The computer system of any one of claims 22 to 26, wherein said query means is arranged to request the wireless telecommunications provider to send at least one command instruction to the mobile phone, for the mobile phone to use a loud ring volume.

28. The computer system of any one of claims 22 to 27, wherein said query means is arranged to request the wireless telecommunications provider to send at least one command instruction to the mobile phone, for the mobile phone to use a predetermined ringing pattern.

29. The computer system of any one of claims 22 to 28, wherein said query means is arranged to request the wireless telecommunications provider to send at least one command instruction to the mobile phone, for the mobile phone to ring for a predetermined period after a predetermined delay.

30. The computer system of any one of claims 22 to 29, wherein said query means is arranged to request the wireless telecommunications provider to send at least one command instruction to the mobile phone, for the mobile phone to lock access to data stored therein.

31. The computer system of any one of claims 22 to 30, wherein said query means is arranged to request the wireless telecommunications provider to send at least one command instruction to the mobile phone, for the mobile phone to provide a status report of predetermined components, and to receive the status report from the mobile phone and report the status report to the client.

32. The computer system of claim 31 , wherein the predetermined components include at least one selected from the list of: remaining battery life, antenna operability, display operability, ringer operability, memory status, and SIM card status.

33. The computer system of any one of claims 22 to 32, wherein said query means is arranged to request the wireless telecommunications provider to send at least one command instruction to the mobile phone, for the mobile phone to transmit data from the mobile phone, and to receive the data from the mobile phone and provide the data to the client.

34. The computer system of claim 33, wherein said data includes at least one of: contact details data, address book data, e-mail message data, and/or stored document data.

35. The computer system of any one of claims 22 to 34, wherein said query means is arranged to request the wireless telecommunications provider to send at least one command instruction to the mobile phone instructing it to enter a minimal power mode.

36. The computer system of any one of claims 22 to 35, wherein said query means is arranged to request the wireless telecommunications provider to block all calls made by the mobile phone, upon receiving the mobile subscriber phone number.

37. The computer system of any one of claims 22 to 36, wherein the wireless telecommunications provider is arranged to unblock the mobile phone to allow calls therefrom, upon receipt of a request from the client to do so, the wireless telecommunications provider also sending a message to the computer system indicating the unblocking of the mobile phone, the computer system utilising the message to represent a successful retrieval of the mobile phone.

38. The computer system of any one of claims 22 to 37, wherein said computer system is connected to a public network for communication with remote terminals connected thereto, said computer system includes a web site that is browsable by said remote terminals over the public network, said web site including a location request page for allowing clients to provide location requests to the computer system via the public network, said location request page including at least one selectable service in addition to said location request, said selectable services being chosen from the list of:

39. A method for facilitating retrieval of a mobile phone, the mobile phone being associated with a wireless telecommunications provider, comprising the steps of:

A client communicating a location request with identification information regarding the mobile phone to the wireless telecommunications provider via a source other than the mobile phone; The wireless telecommunications provider sending a predefined query through its infrastructure to establish the location of the mobile phone; and

40. The method of claim 39, wherein said method further comprises the step of the wireless telecommunications provider determining the subscriber number of the mobile phone from the identification information.

41. The method of claim 39 or 40, wherein said method further comprises the step of the wireless telecommunications provider sending at least one command instruction to the mobile phone, for the mobile phone to use a loud ring volume.

42. The method of any one of claims 39 to 41 , wherein said method further comprises the step of the wireless telecommunications provider sending at least one command instruction to the mobile phone, for the mobile phone to use a predetermined ringing pattern.

43. The method of any one of claims 39 to 42, wherein said method further comprises the step of the wireless telecommunications provider sending at least one command instruction to the mobile phone, for the mobile phone to ring for a predetermined period after a predetermined delay.

44. The method of any one of claims 39 to 43, wherein said method further comprises the step of the wireless telecommunications provider sending at least one command instruction to the mobile phone, for the mobile phone to lock access to data stored therein.

45. The method of any one of claims 39 to 44, wherein said method further comprises the step of the wireless telecommunications provider sending at least one command instruction to the mobile phone, for the mobile phone to provide a status report of predetermined components, receiving the status report from the mobile phone and reporting the status report to the client.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the predetermined components include at least one selected from the list of: remaining battery life, antenna operability, display operability, ringer operability, memory status, and SIM card status.

47. The method of any one of claims 39 to 46, wherein said method further comprises the step of the wireless telecommunications provider sending at least one command instruction to the mobile phone, for the mobile phone to transmit data from the mobile phone, receiving the data from the mobile phone and providing the data to the client.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein said data includes at least one of: contact details data, address book data, e-mail message data, and/or stored document data.

49. The method of any one of claims 39 to 48, wherein said method further comprises the step of the wireless telecommunications provider sending at least one command instruction to the mobile phone, for the mobile phone to enter a minimal power mode.

50. The method of any one of claims 39 to 49, further comprising the step of the wireless telecommunications provider verifying the location request and the identification information and completing any missing identification information.

51. The method of any one of claims 39 to 50, wherein the said method further comprises the step of the wireless telecommunications provider blocking all calls made by the mobile phone, upon receiving the location request from the client.

52. The method of any one of claims 39 to 51 , wherein said method further comprises the step of the wireless telecommunications provider unblocking the mobile phone to allow calls therefrom upon receipt of a request from the client to do so, the wireless telecommunications provider utilising the unblocking to represent a successful retrieval of the mobile phone.

53. The method of any one of claims 39 to 52, wherein the wireless telecommunications provider has a computer system arranged to facilitate the retrieval of a mobile phone, said computer system having communication means arranged to interface with said wireless telecommunications provider, said computer system performing the method steps of: sending a predefined query to the wireless telecommunications provider's infrastructure for the location of the mobile phone; and providing the location information to the client.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein said computer system is further arranged to perform the method step of verifying the identification information.

55. The method of claim 53 or 54, wherein said computer system is further arranged to perform the method step of completing any missing identification information.

56. The method of any one of claims 53 or 55, wherein said computer system is connected to a public network for communication with remote terminals connected thereto, said computer system includes a web site that is browsable by said remote terminals over the public network, said web site including a location request page for allowing clients to provide location requests to the computer system via the public network, said location request page including at least one selectable service in addition to said location request, said selectable services being chosen from the list of:

wherein computer system is arranged to send at least one command instruction to the mobile phone corresponding to the selectable services selected by the client, and to forward a response to the client's computer in the form of a web page via the public network.