Portable computing device with data encryption and destruction

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 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.

1 .- 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A system for data protection for a portable computing device, the system comprising:
 a user interface configured to receive a data protection user input; and   a wireless communication device to:
 send an alert signal to the portable computing device, the alert signal indicating that the portable computing device is lost, wherein the portable computing device identifies a geographic location of the portable computing device via a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver of the portable computing device in response to receipt of the alert signal, 
 send a data protection signal to the portable computing device in response to receipt of the data protection user input, wherein the portable computing device modifies one or more data files stored at the portable computing device as identified in the data protection user input in response to receipt of the data protection signal, thereby preventing access to the one or more data files, and 
 receive a response from the portable computing device indicating the geographic location of the portable computing device. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the portable computing device is selected from a group including a laptop, a tablet, and a smartphone. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the data protection signal is received wirelessly by the portable computing device. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the portable computing device modifies the one or more data files by encrypting the one or more data files. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the wireless communication device transmits a decryption instruction to the portable computing device upon retrieval of the portable computing device, wherein the portable computing device thereby decrypts the one or more data files via a cryptographic key code in response to receipt of the decryption instruction. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the decryption instruction includes the cryptographic key code. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein portable computing device modifies the one or more data files by deleting or overwriting the one or more data files. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the wireless communication device transmits a security instruction to the portable computing device, wherein the portable computing device thereby transmits the one or more data files to a secure storage device in response to receipt of the security instruction. 
     
     
         19 . A method for data protection for a portable computing device, the method comprising:
 maintaining stored data at a memory of the portable computing device;   wirelessly receiving an alert signal at a wireless communication assembly of the portable computing device, the alert signal indicating that the portable computing device is lost;   wirelessly receiving a data protection signal at the wireless communication assembly of the portable computing device, the alert signal indicating that access to the stored data should be prevented;   identifying a geographic location of the portable computing device via a Global Positioning Service (GPS) receiver of the portable computing device;   transmitting the geographic location to an authorized user device via the wireless communication assembly in response to the alert signal at the wireless communication assembly; and   modifying the stored data in response to receipt of the data protection signal at the wireless communication assembly, thereby preventing access to the stored data.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the wireless communication assembly includes a cellular data transceiver. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the wireless communication assembly includes a Wi-Fi data transceiver. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the data protection signal is received from an authorized user device previously authorized by the portable computing device. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the portable computing device modifies the stored data by encrypting the stored data. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising receiving a decryption instruction at the wireless communication assembly of the portable computing device upon retrieval of the portable computing device, wherein the portable computing device thereby decrypts the stored data via a cryptographic key code in response to receipt of the decryption instruction. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the decryption instruction includes the cryptographic key code. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein portable computing device modifies the stored data by deleting or overwriting the stored data. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising disabling use of a protocol at the wireless communication assembly in response to receipt of the alert signal at the wireless communication assembly. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising disabling use of a software program at the portable computing device in response to receipt of the alert signal at the wireless communication assembly. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 identifying that portable computing device has been tampered with; and   transmitting a tamper signal to the authorized user device via the wireless communication assembly, the tamper signal indicating that tampering with the portable computing device has been identified.   
     
     
         30 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, having embodied thereon a program executable by a processor to perform a method for data protection for a portable computing device, the method comprising:
 maintaining stored data at a memory of the portable computing device;   wirelessly receiving an alert signal at a wireless communication assembly of the portable computing device, the alert signal indicating that the portable computing device is lost;   wirelessly receiving a data protection signal at the wireless communication assembly of the portable computing device, the alert signal indicating that access to the stored data should be prevented;   identifying a geographic location of the portable computing device via a Global Positioning Service (GPS) receiver of the portable computing device;   transmitting the geographic location to an authorized user device via the wireless communication assembly in response to the alert signal at the wireless communication assembly; and   modifying the stored data in response to receipt of the data protection signal at the wireless communication assembly, thereby preventing access to the stored data.