Patent ID: 8981901
Filing Date: 2015-03-17
Classification: G05B,G06F,G06K,H04W

Abstract:
1. A system comprising: a portable communication device (PCD) including (i) a network interface for engaging in network communication, (ii) a fingerprint scanner, (iii) a location-determining function for determining a geographic location of the PCD, (iv) a processor, and (v) data storage containing program logic, the fingerprint scanner being operable to scan a fingerprint of a user of the PCD, and the program logic defining a fingerprint scan-report function that is executable by the processor (i) to receive via the network interface a fingerprint scan-report trigger message provided in response to a report that the PCD has been lost or stolen, (ii) automatically in response to the receiving of the fingerprint scan-report trigger message, to cause the fingerprint scanner to scan the fingerprint of the user, and (iii) to transmit via the network interface to a destination the resulting fingerprint data and the geographic location of the PCD, whereby the transmitted fingerprint data is useable as a basis to try to identify the user whose fingerprint was scanned and, in turn, as a basis to potentially recover the PCD that was reported lost or stolen, wherein the PCD does not provide to the user a notification of the fingerprint scanning, and the PCD does not provide to the user a notification of the transmitting.