Systems and methods for computing device protection

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure help protect computing devices by, among other things, identifying events that may pose a risk to a computing device based on data from sensors coupled to the computer device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method to protect a computing device, the method comprising:
 receiving sensor data from at least one sensor of the computing device;   identifying, based on the sensor data, an event posing a risk of damage to the computing device, wherein identifying the event includes:
 determining a plurality of computing devices having a characteristic in common with the computing device, 
 selecting a threshold based on historical data for the plurality of computing devices, and 
 determining that the received sensor data exceeds the threshold; 
   in response to identifying the event, transmitting an electronic message to the computing device regarding the event; and   modifying, based on the received sensor data, risk data for the plurality of computing devices.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising obtaining results of diagnostics run on the computing device to assess health of the computing device, wherein the electronic message includes the results of diagnostics. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising analyzing a repair history of the computing device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein identifying the event further includes obtaining results of diagnostics including data from a diagnostics program operating on the computing device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the results of diagnostics further include an image or video from a camera of the computing device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the image or video includes at least a portion of a screen of the computing device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein identifying the event further includes detecting malware on the computing device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selected threshold is associated with a force of impact, and the historical data includes data associated with screen damage for the plurality of computing devices. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the computing device is a first computing device, and the electronic message is a first message, the method further comprising:
 transmitting, to a second computing device, a second message including the received sensor data, wherein the second computing device is configured to send a reply communication;   wherein transmitting the first message is performed further in response to receiving the reply communication.   
     
     
         10 . A system comprising:
 at least one processor; and   memory storing instructions configured to instruct the at least one processor to:
 receive sensor data from at least one sensor of a computing device; 
 identify, based on the sensor data, an event posing a risk of damage to the computing device, wherein identifying the event includes:
 determining a plurality of computing devices having a characteristic in common with the computing device, 
 selecting a threshold based on historical data for the plurality of computing devices, and 
 determining that the received sensor data exceeds the threshold; 
 
 transmit an electronic message to the computing device regarding the identified event; and 
 modify, based on the received sensor data, risk data for the plurality of computing devices. 
   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one sensor includes at least one of an accelerometer or a gyroscope. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one sensor includes a gyroscope, and the received sensor data includes first data obtained from the gyroscope, the first data indicating an extent of rotation of the computing device during a period of free fall. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one sensor includes an accelerometer, the received sensor data includes first data obtained from the accelerometer, and the instructions are further configured to instruct the at least one processor to:
 determine, based on the first data, that the computing device has experienced deceleration; and   determine, based on the deceleration, that the computing device has been dropped.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the instructions are further configured to instruct the at least one processor to:
 identify a force of impact experienced by the computing device; and   identify, based on the identified force of impact, damage or potential damage to the computing device.   
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed, cause a system to:
 receive sensor data from at least one sensor of a computing device;   identify, based on the sensor data, an event posing a risk of damage to the computing device, wherein identifying the event includes:
 determining a plurality of computing devices having a characteristic in common with the computing device, 
 selecting a threshold based on historical data for the plurality of computing devices, and 
 determining that the received sensor data exceeds the threshold; 
   in response to identifying the event, transmit an electronic message to the computing device regarding the event; and   modify, based on the received sensor data, risk data for the plurality of computing devices.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one sensor includes a location detector, and determining that the received sensor data exceeds the threshold includes determining that the computing device is within a predetermined distance of another computing device. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one sensor includes a moisture sensor, and determining that the received sensor data exceeds the threshold includes determining that a level of moisture measured by the moisture detector exceeds a predetermined amount. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one sensor includes an altimeter, and determining that the received sensor data exceeds the threshold includes determining that an altitude measured by the altimeter exceeds a predetermined level. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one sensor includes a location detector, the received sensor data includes first data from the location detector, and identifying the event further includes determining, based on the first data, that the computing device is in a location associated with an elevated risk of damage to the computing device. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein identifying the event further includes analyzing the received sensor data in conjunction with previously-received sensor data for the computing device.