Multi-location wireless device tracking
AssigneeTarget Brands, Inc.
InventorChristopher Michael Davidson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An identifier for a mobile device and information to include in an alert message are received. An alert rule is generated and stored in a plurality of alert filters, each alert filter is associated with a respective building, such that when a mobile device with the identifier attempts to connect to a network in any of a plurality of buildings, the alert message is issued with the information. Additionally, an address of a portable device is received in a search request. A database containing entries for a plurality of locations associated with a plurality of networks is searched to find locations where the portable device connected to a network. A list of locations and times where the portable device connected to a network is returned.
Claims6
A method comprising:
- receiving an identifier for a mobile device at an investigations server;
- receiving background information to include in an alert message at the investigations server, the background information explaining why an alert rule is generated;
- generating by a processor in the investigations server an alert rule and transmitting the alert rule to more than one but not all of a plurality of alert filters, each alert filter associated with a respective building, such that when the mobile device with the identifier attempts to connect to a network in any of a plurality of buildings, the alert message is issued and contains the background information
- wherein generating the alert rule comprises generating the alert rule so that the alert rule requires an additional mobile device listed in the alert rule to be within a same building as the mobile device that attempted to connect to the network in order for the alert rule to be triggered and that causes the alert filter to request identifiers for all mobile devices currently connected to routers in a building associated with the alert filter before issuing the alert message.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.