Mobile phone as a one-way recorded transmitter over a cellular network

#The present disclosure generally relates to the field of undercover operations and more specifically to using a mobile phone as an undercover device.

#Police officers and other agents “operators” oftentimes conduct investigations in the field during the course of their duties. In many cases, these investigations require direct support and oversight at an administrative level. For example, an operator conducting an undercover sting in a high-risk situation may have a support team monitoring the operator directly in the field and interfacing with administration at an agency. Traditionally, the operator would use a radio-based covert listening system that can be hidden (e.g., under a shirt) or otherwise embedded (e.g., in or on an electronic device or object) to conceal its nature and protect operators' cover. The listening device would then transmit audio data back to the support team, which would relay data back to the agency.

#However, with widespread publicity of listening devices in movies and the like, the physical nature of a given device can lead to its discovery or detection, which poses additional risks for the operators themselves. Additionally, traditional bugs have other inherent deficiencies when used in the field, such as requiring line-of-sight or physical proximity to a base station and the support team. Although some newer bug systems seek to provide sufficient concealability among other desirable features, they are oftentimes prohibitively expensive and yet, still fail to mitigate the above deficiencies. Furthermore, such systems are not rapidly deployable as they typically require support personnel other than immediate backup.

#The teachings of the embodiments can be readily understood by considering the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

#FIG. 1A is a block diagram illustrating an environment for implementing a system for using a mobile phone as a one-way recorded transmitter “mobile bug” according to one example embodiment.

#FIG. 1B is a block diagram illustrating an operating environment of a mobile bug according to one example embodiment.

#The Figures (FIG.) and the following description relate to preferred embodiments by way of illustration only. It should be noted that from the following discussion, alternative embodiments of the structures and methods disclosed herein will be readily recognized as viable alternatives that may be employed without departing from the principles of the embodiments.

#Reference will now be made in detail to several embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying figures. It is noted that wherever practicable, similar or like reference numbers may be used in the figures and may indicate similar or like functionality. The figures depict embodiments for purposes of illustration only.

#Many operators in the field posses a personal mobile phone or are issued a mobile phone by their agency or department. Oftentimes a traditional bug and accompanying support team are unavailable to support an operator in the field or are not appropriate for a given scenario. However, the agency may still desire to monitor and/or record the operator's activities. Accordingly, the agency may coordinate with an agency support service for configuring the operator's mobile phone to fulfill the role of a traditional bug. The configuration can take place over-the-air such that a given mobile phone is conveniently converted as needed. In some instances, the mobile phone requires nothing more than a radio connection and dialer. Additionally, if the agency desires to monitor additional operators, the agency can specify additional mobile phones for operation as bugs.