Location-based recovery device and risk management system for portable computing devices and data

Abstract

A device and software utilizing Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) technologies for monitoring and recovering portable computing devices and, a method and system for acquiring such devices, protecting data on such devices, and for compensating owners of devices. A GPS mechanism of the invention provides real time tracking of missing devices that may be coordinated with security agencies to intercept and recover missing computing devices. When a stolen device is unrecoverable, the invention may receive a signal to initiate data recovery where a wireless network is available to recover data for the owner. Alternatively, the GPS mechanism instructs the device to encrypt or destroy to stored data files to prevent commercial espionage or privacy violations. The invention discloses a software system and method for computing a purchase price of the GPS mechanism, computing compensation for loss of the device and lost data.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A portable computing device comprising:
 a power source configured to allow operation of the portable computing device without being connected to an electrical outlet;   a data storage assembly configured to store one or more data files on the portable computing device; and   a wireless communication assembly configured to:
 receive one or more wireless signals to determine a geographic location of the portable computing device; 
 receive input indicating the theft or loss of the portable computing device; and 
 transmit the geographic location of the portable computing device after receiving the input indicating the theft or loss of the portable computing device; 
   wherein, upon receiving one or more particular wireless transmissions, the data storage assembly modifies the one or more data files utilizing a random binary fill or encryption that is capable of decryption if the portable computing device is recovered.   
     
     
         2 . The portable computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication assembly comprises a GPS device. 
     
     
         3 . The portable computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication assembly comprises a cellular data transceiver. 
     
     
         4 . The portable computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication assembly comprises a Wi-Fi data transceiver. 
     
     
         5 . The portable computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more particular wireless transmissions are received from an authorized user of the portable computing device. 
     
     
         6 . A data protection and recovery system for a portable computing device comprising:
 one or more communication devices configured to:
 send one or more transmissions to the portable computing device indicating the theft or loss of the portable computing device, wherein the portable computing device is configured to, upon receipt of one or more particular transmissions, modify data stored thereon utilizing a random binary fill or encryption that is capable of decryption if the portable computing device is recovered; and 
 receive a response from the portable computing device indicating the geographic location of the portable computing device; 
   a user interface configured to query a user whether to activate data file management on the portable computing device, wherein upon receiving user input activating data file management, the one or more communication devices transmit the one or more particular transmissions causing the portable computing device to modify the data stored thereon utilizing a random binary fill or encryption that is capable of decryption if the portable computing device is recovered.   
     
     
         7 . The portable computing device of  claim 6 , wherein the portable computing device is selected from the group consisting of a laptop, tablet, and smartphone. 
     
     
         8 . The portable electronic device of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more particular transmissions are received wirelessly by the portable computing device. 
     
     
         9 . The portable electronic device of  claim 6 , wherein the user interface is further configured to query the user whether to activate file management comprising the random binary fill or encryption that is capable of decryption if the portable computing device is recovered. 
     
     
         10 . The portable electronic device of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more communication devices are further configured to transmit one or more instructions to the portable computing device to decrypt encrypted data store thereon. 
     
     
         11 . The portable electronic device of  claim 6 , wherein the user must be an authorized user of the data protection and recovery system. 
     
     
         12 . A method for data protection and recovery for a portable device comprising:
 providing a data storage device configured to store data on the portable device and to modify the stored data utilizing a random binary fill or encryption that is capable of decryption and data recovery if the portable device is recovered;   wirelessly receiving input indicating the theft or loss of the portable computing device via a signal reception and transmission assembly of the portable computing device;   upon receiving the one or more particular wireless transmissions, determining a geographic location of the portable computing device and reporting the geographic location to a user via the signal reception and transmission assembly;   wherein modification of the stored data utilizing a random binary fill or encryption that is capable of decryption and data recovery if the portable device is recovered is conditioned upon receipt of one or more particular wireless transmissions by the signal reception and transmission assembly.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising installing a GPS device in the portable device as part of the signal reception and transmission assembly. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising installing a cellular data transceiver in the portable device as part of the signal reception and transmission assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising installing a Wi-Fi data transceiver in the portable device as part of the signal reception and transmission assembly. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more particular wireless transmissions are received from an authorized user of the portable device.