Network-based services for misplaced cellular mobile stations

Abstract

A computer readable medium stores a computer program for a mobile station with a network-based wireless mobile station locator feature. The computer program includes a receiving segment. A control segment controls a mobile station speaker to ring when the receiving segment receives a misplaced mobile station signal. A storing segment stores an indicator indicating that the misplaced mobile station signal has been received. The stored indicator causes the mobile station to directly enter a lost phone mode upon powering up.

1 . A computer readable medium storing a computer program for a mobile station: with a network-based wireless mobile station locator feature, comprising: 
 a receiving segment;    a control segment that controls a mobile station speaker to ring when the receiving segment receives a misplaced mobile station signal; and    a storing segment that stores an indicator indicating that the misplaced mobile station signal has been received, the stored indicator causing the mobile station to directly enter a lost phone mode upon powering up.    
   
   
       2 . The medium of  claim 1 , 
 wherein the control segment further displays a message on a mobile station display when the receiving segment receives the misplaced mobile station signal.    
   
   
       3 . The medium of  claim 1 , 
 wherein the control segment further prevents a transceiver of the mobile station from at least one of receiving and transmitting cellular communications signals after the receiving segment receives the misplaced mobile station signal.    
   
   
       4 . The medium of  claim 3 , 
 wherein the control segment further allows the transceiver to receive and transmit cellular communications signals when a personal identification number (PIN) is entered after preventing the transceiver of the mobile station from at least one of receiving and transmitting cellular communication signals.    
   
   
       5 . The medium of  claim 1 , 
 wherein the control segment further controls the speaker to emit an audio message when the receiving segment receives the misplaced mobile station signal.    
   
   
       6 . The medium of  claim 5 , 
 wherein the control segment further controls the speaker to stop emitting the audio message when a key on a mobile station keypad is pressed.    
   
   
       7 . The medium of  claim 5 , 
 wherein the control segment further controls the speaker to stop emitting the audio message when one of a predetermined time elapses and a battery level has been reached.    
   
   
       8 . A computer readable medium storing a computer program for locating a misplaced mobile station, comprising: 
 a receiving segment at the misplaced mobile station that receives a misplaced mobile station signal comprising one of a short message service (SMS) message, an email, and a text message; and    a ringing segment that controls the misplaced mobile station to ring when the receiving segment receives the misplaced mobile station signal.    
   
   
       9 . The medium according to  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 a displaying segment that displays a message on a display of the misplaced mobile station.    
   
   
       10 . The medium according to  claim 9 , 
 wherein the message on the display provides instructions for at least one of returning the misplaced mobile station and contacting customer service.    
   
   
       11 . The medium according to  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 a blocking segment that blocks communications from and/or to the misplaced mobile station at a network level.    
   
   
       12 . The medium according to  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 a message segment that plays an audio message on the misplaced mobile station indicating that the misplaced mobile station is misplaced.    
   
   
       13 . The medium according to  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 a PIN segment that controls the misplaced mobile station to stop ringing when a personal identification number (PIN) is communicated to the network after the ringing segment controls the misplaced mobile station to ring when the receiving segment receives the misplaced mobile station signal.    
   
   
       14 . The medium according to  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 a time/battery level segment that controls the misplaced mobile station to stop ringing when one of an elapsed predetermined time and a battery level is attained.    
   
   
       15 . A computer readable medium storing a program for a wireless network system, comprising: 
 a misplaced mobile station signal segment that transmits at least one misplaced mobile station signal, comprising one of a short message service (SMS) message, an email, and a text message, to a misplaced mobile station,    wherein transmitting the at least one misplaced mobile station signal bypasses a network voice mail feature.    
   
   
       16 . The medium of  claim 15 , 
 wherein the at least one misplaced mobile station signal causes a message to be displayed on a display of the misplaced mobile station.    
   
   
       17 . The medium of  claim 16 , 
 wherein the message on the display provides instructions for returning the misplaced mobile station and/or contacting customer service.    
   
   
       18 . The medium of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 a blocking segment that prevents mobile station calls from being made to and/or from the misplaced mobile station after the at least one misplaced mobile station signal is transmitted.    
   
   
       19 . The medium of  claim 15 , 
 wherein the at least one misplaced mobile station signal causes the misplaced mobile station to play an audio message.    
   
   
       20 . The medium of  claim 15 , 
 wherein the at least one misplaced mobile station signal causes the misplaced mobile station to ring at a high volume.