System and method of remotely locating a lost mobile communication device

Abstract

A system and method of locating a lost wireless communication device is provided. A remote server is contacted to indicate that the wireless communication device is lost. A lost device policy setting is then activated in a database coupled to the remote server, the lost device policy setting indicating that the wireless communication device is lost. In response to activation of the lost device policy setting, a remote location command is then transmitted from the remote server to the wireless communication device via a wireless network. The remote location command is subsequently received at the lost wireless communication device, which processes the remote location command such that a user of the wireless communication device can locate the device.

1 . A method performed by a communication device, the method comprising:
 receiving, through a user interface of the communication device, a selection to disable an alert mechanism for future incoming phone calls;   configuring a user preference to disable the alert mechanism;   wirelessly receiving a command to enable the alert mechanism for future incoming phone calls; and   enabling the alert mechanism for future incoming phone calls.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the alert mechanism corresponds to an audible alert. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the alert mechanism corresponds to a tactile alert. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the alert mechanism corresponds to a visual alert. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the enabling includes reconfiguring the user preference to enable the alert mechanism. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the enabling includes temporarily overriding the user preference by temporarily enabling the alert mechanism without altering the user preference. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising, after the overriding:
 prompting a user of the communication device to input, on the communication device, an entry to terminate the override. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the command is wirelessly received from a server that has been requested by a user of the communication device to transmit the command to the communication device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising, after the enabling:
 receiving an incoming phone call; and 
 activating the alert mechanism. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising, in response to receiving the command:
 transmitting the communication device's global position to the server. 
 
     
     
         11 . A communication device comprising:
 a memory device;   a processor;   software stored in the memory device and configured to be executed by the processor to:
 receive, through a user interface of the communication device, a selection to disable an alert mechanism for future incoming phone calls, 
 configure a user preference to disable the alert mechanism, 
 wirelessly receive a command to enable the alert mechanism for future incoming phone calls, and 
 enable the alert mechanism for future incoming phone calls. 
   
     
     
         12 . The communication device of  claim 11  wherein the alert mechanism corresponds to an audible alert. 
     
     
         13 . The communication device of  claim 11  wherein the alert mechanism corresponds to a tactile alert. 
     
     
         14 . The communication device of  claim 11  wherein the alert mechanism corresponds to a visual alert. 
     
     
         15 . The communication device of  claim 11  wherein the enabling includes reconfiguring the user preference to enable the alert mechanism. 
     
     
         16 . The communication device of  claim 11  wherein the enabling includes temporarily overriding the user preference by temporarily enabling the alert mechanism without altering the user preference. 
     
     
         17 . The communication device of  claim 16  wherein the software is configured to be executed by the processor to, further, after the overriding:
 prompt a user of the communication device to input, on the communication device, an entry to terminate the override. 
 
     
     
         18 . The communication device of  claim 11  wherein the command is wirelessly received from a server that has been requested by a user of the communication device to transmit the command to the communication device. 
     
     
         19 . The communication device of  claim 11  wherein the software is configured to be executed by the processor to, further, after the enabling:
 receive an incoming phone call; and 
 activate the alert mechanism. 
 
     
     
         20 . The communication device of  claim 11  wherein the software is configured to be executed by the processor to, further, after the wirelessly receiving:
 transmit the communication device's global position to the server.