Misplaced device recovery
AssigneeT-Mobile USA, Inc.
InventorParker Ralph Kuncl
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods, articles, and systems for enabling the return of a misplaced device to a rightful user of the misplaced device are described herein. The misplaced device is configured to communicate with a misplaced device server, indicating to the misplaced device server that the misplaced device has been found. The misplaced device server is configured to provide the misplaced device and a returning user currently in possession of the misplaced device with information describing how to return the misplaced device to the rightful user. The misplaced device server is also configured to communicate with the rightful user, indicating to the rightful user that the misplaced device has been found.
Claims17
A method comprising:
- detecting, by a device, selection of a misplaced device key;
- in response to selection of the misplaced device key, sending information from the device to a server over a network, the information including an identification of the device and an indication that a user is initiating return of the device;
- presenting at least one option to the user for returning the device;
- receiving selection of the at least one option to initiate return of the device;
- in response to the selection of the at least one option, presenting a user interface for the user to enter address information to receive a return mailer for returning the device;
- and
- sending the address information entered by the user to the server to initiate mailing of the return mailer to the user.
A computing device comprising:
- one or more processors in operable communication with computer-readable media;
- a misplaced device component maintained on the computer-readable media and executed on the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
- receiving, over a network, a notification from a device, the notification signifying that a user has initiated return of the device;
- transmitting a communication to the device indicating acknowledgment of return of the device;
- and
- receiving a user selection of an option for returning the device, wherein the user selection of the option for returning the device includes address information of the user;
- and
- initiating sending a return mailer to an address indicated by the address information of the user.
One or more computer storage devices having instructions stored thereon executable by a processor to perform operations comprising:
- determining that a device is not in control of a rightful user of the device;
- presenting a user interface on a device, the user interface providing instructions for a returning user to initiate return of the device;
- detecting an action of the returning user to initiate return of the device;
- presenting a user interface for the returning user to enter address information to receive a return mailer for returning the device;
- and
- sending the address information entered by the returning user to the server to initiate mailing of the return mailer to the returning user.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.