Abstract:
Disclosed methods and apparatus automatically cause a mobile communication device to download a file using a designated remote device. A user interface enables selection of the designated remote device and of a designated code corresponding to downloading the file to the mobile communication device from the designated remote device. A processor: receives a coded electronic communication (CEC), identifies origination of the CEC, determines whether the identified originator of the CEC is the designated remote device, identifies a code included in the CEC, upon determining that the identified originator of the CEC is the designated remote device, determines whether the identified code included in the CEC is the designated code, and provides an instruction to cause the mobile communication device to download the file, upon determining that the identified code included in the CEC is the designated code.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation (and claims the benefit of priority under 35 USC 120) of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/285,205, filed Oct. 31, 2011, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/137,920, filed Jun. 12, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,049,611, issued Nov. 1, 2011, which claims the benefit to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/943,630, filed on Jun. 13, 2007, and entitled “Audible Location Mechanism for Mobile Device.” All of these applications are incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure generally relates to facilitating location of mobile devices. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The portable nature and small size of mobile devices makes misplacing mobile devices common. Once misplaced, mobile devices may be difficult to locate. 
     SUMMARY 
     Implementations of the described techniques may include hardware, a method or process, or computer software on a computer-accessible medium. 
     The details of one or more implementations are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a contextual diagram demonstrating location mechanisms for a mobile device. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a communications system configured to exchange electronic communications. 
         FIG. 3  is a flow chart of a process for invoking an audible alert of a mobile device. 
         FIG. 4  is a flow chart of a process for initiating a mobile device to send a message that includes information related to the location of the mobile device. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an exemplary user interface for entering information related to coded messages that initiate processes that facilitate location of a mobile device. 
     
    
    
     Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Techniques are described for initiating processes that facilitate location of a mobile device. A remote user of a misplaced mobile device may send a text message with a particular code to the misplaced mobile device to initiate one or more processes that facilitate location of the misplaced mobile device. For instance, receipt of the text message with the particular code may cause the misplaced mobile device to invoke an audible alert (e.g., invoke a ringer) or cause the mobile device to send a return text message that includes information related to a current location of the mobile device (e.g., Global Positioning System (GPS) data). 
     In some examples, techniques are provided for invoking an audible alert of a mobile device. The mobile device is configured to receive electronic communications and may be configured in a mode in which the audible alert is disabled (e.g., a silent mode or a vibrate mode). The mobile device receives an electronic communication and determines whether the electronic communication is a coded electronic communication (e.g., an electronic communication that includes a particular message or an electronic communication that is encrypted with a particular key). If the electronic communication is a coded electronic communication, the mobile device invokes an audible alert of the mobile device (e.g., causes a ringer associated with the mobile device to ring). Receipt of a coded electronic communication may cause invocation of the audible alert of the mobile device even when the mobile device is configured in a mode in which the audible alert is disabled (e.g., a silent mode or a vibrate mode). For example, receipt of a coded electronic communication may override volume control settings at the mobile device if the volume control settings of the mobile device are configured for a silent setting. 
     In some implementations, a cellular telephone, set in silent mode, receives a coded text or Short Message Service (“SMS”) message and invokes a ringer of the cellular telephone in response to receiving the coded text or SMS message. By invoking the ringer in response to receiving the coded text message, a user may be able to locate the cellular telephone more easily when misplaced or be alerted to an important event. For example, if the cellular telephone is misplaced when the volume control settings of the cellular telephone are set in a silent mode, receipt the coded text message may override the silent mode setting and cause the ringer to ring. 
     Implementations may assist a user in locating a mobile device that has been misplaced when the volume control settings of the mobile device are configured for a silent setting. In one example, a user/owner of a mobile telephone may call the mobile telephone to invoke a ringer of the mobile telephone to assist the user in locating the mobile telephone. In this example, the mobile telephone may receive the call placed by the user/owner and identify that the call is from the user/owner. In response to identifying that the call is from the user/owner, the mobile telephone may override or disregard the silent setting of the mobile telephone and invoke the ringer of the mobile telephone, thereby assisting the user/owner in locating the mobile telephone. Further, in this example, if the mobile telephone receives a call from a person other than the user/owner of the mobile telephone, the mobile telephone may not override or disregard the silent setting of the mobile telephone and not invoke the ringer. In other implementations, a telephone service provider may be configured to identify that the call to the mobile telephone is from the user/owner and send a coded electronic communication (e.g., a coded text message) or other type of control signal to invoke the ringer of the mobile telephone. 
     In another example, the user/owner of a mobile device may send a text or SMS message to the mobile device that includes a specific code in the text portion of the message. In this example, the mobile device may receive the text message including the specific code and parse the text portion of the text message to identify the specific code. In response to identifying the specific code, the mobile device may override or disregard the silent setting of the mobile device and invoke the ringer of the mobile device, thereby assisting the user/owner in locating the mobile device. Further, in this example, if the mobile device receives a text message that does not include the specific code from the user/owner of the mobile device (or another sender), the mobile device may not override or disregard the silent setting of the mobile telephone and not invoke the ringer. In other examples, the sender of the text message including the specific code may be used in addition to or instead of the code to determine whether to invoke the ringer of the mobile device. 
     Implementations may enable a first user to alert a second user of important events (e.g., emergencies) when the second user is in possession of a mobile device in which the volume control settings of the mobile device are configured for a silent setting. In one example, the first user may place a call to the mobile device of the second user to alert the first user of an important event. In this example, the mobile device may receive the call and identify that the call is from the first user. In response to identifying that the call is from the first user, the mobile device may override or disregard the silent setting of the mobile device and invoke a ringer of the mobile device, thereby alerting the second user of the call from the first user. Further, in this example, if the mobile device receives a call from a third user that is not authorized to override settings of the mobile device to alert the user of important events, the mobile device may not override or disregard the silent setting of the mobile telephone and not invoke the ringer. 
     In another example, the first user may send a text or SMS message to the mobile device of the second user that includes a specific code in the text portion of the message. In this example, the mobile device may receive the text message including the specific code and parse the text portion of the text message to identify the specific code. In response to identifying the specific code, the mobile device may override or disregard the silent setting of the mobile device and invoke the ringer of the mobile device, thereby alerting the second user that the first user is attempting to contact the second user. Further, in this example, if the mobile device receives a text message that does not include the specific code from the first user (or another user), the mobile device may not override or disregard the silent setting of the mobile telephone and not invoke the ringer. In other examples, the user identity of the sender of the text message including the specific code may be used in addition to the code to determine whether to invoke the ringer of the mobile device. 
     Implementations also may include overriding other settings of a device. For example, a user of a telephone may turn off a call waiting feature when the user is on an important telephone call. In this example, receipt of a call from a particular user and/or receipt of a coded electronic communication may override this setting and provide an audible alert (or other call waiting feature) to the user while the user is on the important telephone call. 
     In some implementations, different levels of codes may exist such that associating a first code with an electronic communication may enable a user to override a first set of one or more settings and associating a second code with an electronic communication may enable the user to override a second set of one or more settings. For example, a mobile device may be configured to override a silent setting of the mobile device, but not a disabled call waiting setting of the mobile device in response to receiving an electronic communication that includes a first code. Further, the mobile device may be configured to override both a silent setting of the mobile device and a disabled call waiting setting of the mobile device in response to receiving an electronic communication that includes a second code. In this example, when the settings of the mobile device are configured to disable call waiting and the user of the mobile device is currently engaged in a telephone call, the mobile device will override the disabled call waiting setting in response to receiving an electronic communication including the second code, but will not override the disabled call waiting setting in response to receiving an electronic communication including the first code. 
       FIG. 1  is a contextual diagram  100  demonstrating location mechanisms for a mobile device. As shown, the contextual diagram  100  illustrates an example of sending a coded text message to a mobile device to initiate processes that facilitate location of the mobile device. The contextual diagram  100  shows a user  110  using a mobile device  120  to send a coded text message  140  to a mobile device  130  to cause the mobile device  130  to initiate, without human intervention, one or more processes that facilitate location of the mobile device  130 . 
     The user  110  may be a person that owns or uses the mobile device  130 . The user  110  may have misplaced the mobile device  130  and may be attempting to locate the mobile device  130 . To assist in the location process, the user  110  may use the mobile device  120  to send a coded text message  140  to the mobile device  130 . The coded text message  140  may include a particular passcode or password that represents a command that causes the mobile device  130  to initiate one or more processes that facilitate location of the mobile device  130 . The mobile device  120  may be a second mobile device owned or used by the user  110  or may be a mobile device the user  110  borrowed from another user. 
     The user  110  uses the mobile device  120  to send a coded text message  140  to the mobile device  130 . For example, the user  110  may enter the text “Locate Code” using a keypad of the mobile device  120  and send the entered text to the mobile device  130  as an SMS message. The coded text message  140  is sent from the mobile device  120  to the mobile device  130  over a network (e.g., a cellular telephone network). 
     When the mobile device  130  receives the coded text message  140 , the mobile device  130  processes the coded text message without human intervention. For instance, the mobile device  130  may parse the text from the coded text message  140  (i.e., “Locate Code”) and compare the parsed text to a list of one or more recognized codes. The list of recognized codes may have one or more functions associated with each of the recognized codes included in the list. Accordingly, when the parsed text from the coded text message  140  matches a recognized code, the mobile device  130  automatically, without human intervention, performs the one or more functions associated with the recognized code that matches the parsed text from the coded text message  140 . When the parsed text from the coded text message  140  does not match a recognized code, the mobile device  130  processes the text message as an ordinary text message (e.g., placing the text message in an inbox of text messages) without performing any additional function. 
     In the example illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the text “Locate Code” included in the coded text message  140  matches a recognized code that is associated with two functions that facilitate location of the mobile device  130 . The two functions cause the mobile device  130  to automatically, without human intervention, invoke an audible alert  150  and send a response text message  160  that includes GPS location data captured by the mobile device  130 . As such, when a text message with the text “Locate Code” is received, the mobile device  130  automatically, without human intervention, invokes an audible alert  150  and sends a response text message  160  that includes GPS location data captured by the mobile device  130 , thereby assisting the user  110  in locating the mobile device  130 . 
     In invoking the audible alert  150 , the mobile device  130  may bypass volume control settings on the mobile device  130 . For example, when the mobile device  130  was misplaced, a silent or vibrate setting of the mobile device  130  may have been set such that a speaker of the mobile device  130  is disabled and the mobile device  130  would not emit an audible alert (e.g., ring) when a typical call or text message is received by the mobile device  130 . Because the coded text message  140  matches a recognized code, the volume control settings may be bypassed to invoke the audible alert  150 . Bypassing the volume control settings may enable invocation of the audible alert to assist in locating the mobile device  130 , even when the mobile device  130  is configured in a mode that otherwise would prevent invocation of audible alerts. 
     In sending the response text message  160 , the mobile device  130  may determine a return communication address (e.g., a telephone number, email address, etc.) associated with the mobile device that sent the coded text message  140 . The return communication address may be determined using a caller identification process on the coded text message  140  received from the mobile device  120 . In some examples, the mobile device  130  may send the response text message to one or more communication addresses (which may or may not include a communication address for the mobile device  120 ) previously stored on the mobile device  130  and designated to receive a text message including location information upon receipt of a text message with the text “Locate Code.” 
     The location information included in the response text message  160  may be based on GPS data obtained by the mobile device  130  in response to receipt of the coded text message  140 . For instance, longitude and latitude coordinates obtained from GPS data for a current position of the mobile device  130  may be included in the response text message  160 . The GPS data also may be used to identify a current street address for the mobile device and the current street address may be sent in the response text message  160 . 
     The mobile device  120  receives the response text message  160  and renders a display of the location information included in the response text message. The displayed location information may include longitude and latitude coordinates obtained from GPS data or a street address. The displayed location information also may, automatically, without human intervention, include a map of an area surrounding the current location of the mobile device  130  and/or directions from a current location of the mobile device  120  to the current location of the mobile device  130 . Receipt and display of the location information may assist the user  110  in locating the mobile device  130 . 
     In some implementations, a tariff or other fee may be used to prevent abuse of sending coded electronic communications to a mobile device. For instance, a sender of a coded electronic communication may be charged one dollar each time the sender sends a coded electronic communication to a mobile device. By charging a fee to the sender of coded electronic communications, abuse of the system may be deterred and use of the described location mechanisms may be limited to situations in which the location mechanisms are necessary. The user/owner the electronic device that received the coded electronic communication may be charged in addition to the sender or instead of the sender. 
     In some examples, the mobile device  130  may be configured to analyze characteristics of an invoked audible alert and send a response electronic communication based on the analysis. For instance, the mobile device  130  may include a microphone that captures an electrical representation of an invoked audible alert. The mobile device  130  may analyze the captured electrical representation of the invoked audible alert to determine characteristics of the environment in which the mobile device is located. For example, the mobile device  130  may determine whether acoustic characteristics of the invoked audible alert are compressed (e.g., the mobile device is placed in a bag) or exhibit an echo (e.g., the mobile device is positioned an open room). Based on the acoustic characteristics of the invoked audible alert, the mobile device  130  may send a response electronic communication that identifies a characteristic of the location of the mobile device  130  that may assist the user  110  in finding the mobile device  130  (e.g., “The mobile device appears to be in a confined space, such as a purse”). 
     The location mechanisms described throughout this application also may be used in contexts other than locating a mobile device. For instance, the location mechanisms may be used for social purposes. In one example, sending a coded electronic communication to a mobile device to invoke an audible alert may be used when another user needs to inform the user/owner of the mobile device of an emergency or other important event and the user/owner of the mobile device is not responding to traditional mechanisms for contacting the mobile device (e.g., placing a call to the mobile device or sending a regular text message to the mobile device). 
     Implementations in which the mobile device is configured to send an electronic communication in response to a coded electronic communication may be used for social purposes. In this regard, the mobile device may be configured to provide location information in a response electronic communication to another user trying to reach the user/owner of the mobile device when the user/owner of the mobile device is not responding to traditional mechanisms for contacting the mobile device. For instance, when the user/owner of the mobile device is driving home from work and taking an important conference call during the drive home, the mobile device may be configured to provide location information of the user/owner of the mobile device in a response electronic communication when the spouse of the user/owner of the mobile device sends a coded electronic communication to the mobile device. The response electronic communication may include specific information regarding the location of the mobile device (e.g., longitude/latitude coordinates or a street address) or may include a more general statement of the location of the user/owner of the mobile device (e.g., the user/owner appears to be driving home from work, the user/owner appears to be at work, etc.). 
     The mobile device also may be configured to access an electronic calendar for the user/owner of the mobile device and provide calendar information in a response electronic communication. For instance, in the example discussed above in which the user/owner of the mobile device is driving home from work and taking an important conference call during the drive home, the mobile device may access electronic calendar information that indicates that the user/owner of the mobile device is scheduled to take an important call with a client when the coded electronic communication is received. The response electronic communication initiated by the coded electronic communication may include the accessed calendar information in addition to the location information. For example, the response electronic communication may be “The user/owner appears to be driving home from work and is currently scheduled to take an important call with a client.” 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a communications system  200  is configured to exchange electronic communications. The communications system  200  includes a mobile device  220 , a service provider  230 , and a communication device  240 . The service provider  230  facilitates communications between the mobile device  220  and the communication device  240  over network  210 . 
     The network  210  is configured to enable exchange of electronic communications between devices connected to the network  210 . For example, the network  210  may be configured to enable exchange of electronic communications between the mobile device  220 , the service provider  230 , and the communication device  240 . The network  210  may include, for example, one or more of the Internet, Wide Area Networks (WANs), Local Area Networks (LANs), analog or digital wired and wireless telephone networks (e.g., a PSTN, Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), a cellular network, and Digital Subscriber Line (xDSL)), radio, television, cable, satellite, and/or any other delivery or tunneling mechanism for carrying data. Network  210  may include multiple networks or subnetworks, each of which may include, for example, a wired or wireless data pathway. The network  210  may include a circuit-switched voice network, a packet-switched data network, or any other network able to carry electronic communications. For example, the network  210  may include networks based on the Internet protocol (IP) or asynchronous transfer mode (ATM), and may support voice using, for example, VoIP, Voice-over-ATM, or other comparable protocols used for voice data communications. In one implementation, the network  210  includes a cellular telephone network configured to enable exchange of text or SMS messages. 
     The mobile device  220  is configured to exchange electronic communications with the communication device  240  through service provider  230 . The mobile device  220  may be any mobile device configured to exchange electronic communications over a network. For example, the mobile device  220  may be a wireless phone, a cellular phone, a mobile personal digital assistant (PDA) with embedded cellular phone technology, or a smart phone. 
     The service provider  230  is configured to facilitate electronic communications between the mobile device  220  and the communication device  240 . For example, the mobile device  220  may establish a connection with service provider  230  through network  210  and the service provider  230  may establish a connection with the communication device  240 . The service provider  230  may arrange a connection between the mobile device  220  and the communication device  240  through the network  210  such that the mobile device  220  and the communication device  240  may exchange communications directly after the connection is arranged. Alternatively or additionally, the service provider  230  may receive electronic communications from mobile device  220  or communication device  240  and route the electronic communications to the appropriate device. For example, the service provider  230  may receive, from the communication device  240 , a text or SMS message addressed to the mobile device  220 . Upon receipt of the message, the service provider  230  routes the message to mobile device  220 . In one implementation, the service provider  230  is a cellular telephone service provider configured to facilitate exchange of voice and/or data communications. In another implementation, the service provider  230  is a electronic system configured to provide services to users, including data and/or voice services. The services may include communications services, such as, for example, one or more of e-mail services, instant messaging services, chat services, VoIP services, text or SMS messaging services, and traditional telephony services, and content provisioning services, such as, for example, Internet access (e.g., access to the World Wide Web) and/or access to online content (e.g., access to otherwise restricted or proprietary content). 
     The communication device  240  is configured to exchange electronic communications with the mobile device  220 . For example, the communication device  240  may be configured to receive communications from and/or send communications to the mobile device  220 . For example, the communication device  240  may be configured to send text or SMS messages to the mobile device  220  and/or receive text or SMS messages from the mobile device  220 . In another example, the communication device  240  may be configured to place calls to the mobile device  220  and/or receive calls from the mobile device  220 . The communication device  240  may be any device configured to exchange electronic communications over a network. For example, the communication device  240  may be a wireless phone, a cellular phone, a mobile personal digital assistant (PDA) with embedded cellular phone technology, a smart phone, or a soft phone, which is a telephone integrated into a computer system. Alternatively or additionally, the communication device  240  may be integrated into a client computer system. 
     In one implementation, the mobile device  220  may be configured to receive an electronic communication and determine whether the electronic communication is a coded electronic communication. A coded electronic communication may include a particular message identifiable by the mobile device  220  and/or may be encrypted with a particular method and/or key. The mobile device  220  may determine whether the electronic communication is a coded electronic communication by comparing a message included in the electronic communication with one or more coded electronic messages stored on the mobile device  220  or by processing the electronic communication with a particular computational process configured to detect coded electronic communications. When the mobile device  220  identifies an electronic communication received as a coded electronic communication, the mobile device  220  may perform a function associated with the coded electronic communication. For example, the mobile device  220  may invoke an audible alert when the mobile device  220  receives a particular coded text message. The communication device  240  may be configured to send coded electronic communications to the mobile device  220 . 
     In another implementation, processing of coded electronic communications is performed by the service provider  230 . For example, the service provider  230  may receive an electronic communication addressed to the mobile device  220 . The service provider  230  may access information related to coded electronic communications associated with the mobile device  220  (e.g., one or more coded messages set by the mobile device  220  and/or a computational process specific to the mobile device  220  for determining whether an electronic communication is coded) and determine whether the electronic communication is a coded electronic communication for the mobile device  220  based on the information. When the service provider  230  determines that the electronic communication is a coded electronic communication, the service provider may send a signal or other form of communication, other than or in addition to the coded electronic communication, to the mobile device  220 . The mobile device  220  may be configured to perform a function in response to receiving the signal from the service provider  230 . 
     In other implementations, identity of a sender of an electronic communication may impact performance of a function when the mobile device  220  (or service provider  230 ) determines that the electronic communication is a coded electronic communication. For example, when the mobile device  220  receives a coded electronic communication, the mobile device  220  may perform a function if a sender of the coded electronic communication is a first sender and may not perform the function if the sender of the coded electronic communication is a second, different sender. In another example, when the mobile device  220  receives a coded electronic communication the mobile device  220  may perform a first function if a sender of the coded electronic communication is a first sender and may perform a second function if the sender of the coded electronic communication is a second, different sender. In other examples, the mobile device  220  may determine whether to bypass device settings based on a sender of a coded electronic communication (e.g., the device will bypass a setting of silent mode if the coded electronic communication was sent from a first sender, but will not bypass a setting of silent mode if the coded electronic communication was sent from a second sender). 
       FIG. 3  is a flow chart of a process  300  for invoking an audible alert of a mobile device. For convenience, particular components described with respect to  FIG. 2  are referenced as performing the process  300 . However, similar methodologies may be applied in other implementations where different components are used to define the structure of the system, or where the functionality is distributed differently among the components shown by  FIG. 2 . 
     The mobile device  220  disables an audible alert of the mobile device ( 310 ). For example, the mobile device  220  may receive user input indicating a desire to disable the audible alert of the mobile device  220  and, in response to the user input, the mobile device  220  disables the audible alert. In one implementation, the mobile device  220  may be a cellular telephone and the user input may indicate a desire to place the cellular telephone in silent mode. 
     The communication device  240  sends a coded text message addressed to the mobile device  220  ( 320 ). For example, the communication device  240  may send an SMS message to a telephone number associated with the mobile device  220 . The coded text message may include a particular message (e.g., a password), may be encrypted with a particular method and/or key, or may include other information sufficient to indicate that the message is a coded message. The service provider  230  receives the text message addressed to the mobile device  220  sent from the communication device  240  ( 330 ) and transmits the text message to the mobile device  220  ( 340 ). For example, the service provider  230 , upon receipt of the text message, processes the text message to determine the recipient of the message and forwards the message to the recipient. The service provider  230  may temporarily store the text message prior to transmitting and may perform other formatting and/or transformation operations necessary to properly transmit the text message to the mobile device  220 . The service provider  230  may wait until the mobile device  220  has established a connection with the service provider  230  prior to transmitting the message or may wait until the mobile device  220  requests the message. 
     The mobile device  220  receives the text message from the service provider  230  ( 350 ). For example, the mobile device  220  receives an SMS message originated by the communication device  240 . The mobile device  220  determines that the text message is a coded text message ( 360 ). In one example, the mobile device  220  may determine that the text message is a coded text message by comparing at least a portion of the text message with one or more coded text messages previously stored on the mobile device  220 . The mobile device  220  may determine that the text message is a coded text message when the portion of the text message matches one of the one or more coded text messages. In another example, the mobile device  220  may determine that the text message is a coded text message by processing the text message with a particular computational process configured to detect coded text messages (e.g., by obtaining a particular result after decrypting the text message with a particular key). 
     The mobile device  220  may, optionally, determine that the device sending the coded text message is an authorized device ( 370 ). For example, the mobile device  220  may process the coded text message to determine information related to the identity of the device that sent the message. In one implementation, the mobile device  220  may determine a device identifier for the communication device  240  and compare the device identifier to a list of authorized device identifiers. In another implementation, the mobile device  220  may determine a telephone number for the communication device  240  and compare the telephone number to a list of authorized telephone numbers. In yet another implementation, the mobile device  220  may determine an identity of a user operating the communication device  240  and compare the identity of the user to a list of authorized users. The determination that the device (or user) sending the coded text is authorized may impact performance of the remaining steps. For example, if the device (or user) sending the coded text is not authorized, the mobile device may not override or disregard the disabled audible alert setting. In other examples, the identity of the user sending an electronic communication may be used instead of determining whether the electronic communication includes a code. 
     The mobile device  220  overrides or disregards the audible alert setting after determining that the text message is a coded text message and, optionally, after determining that the device sending the coded text message is authorized ( 380 ). For example, the mobile device  220  may override or disregard a setting that the mobile device  220  is in silent mode. Disregarding the disabled audible alert setting may allow a user to invoke the audible alert of the mobile device  220  by sending a coded text message to the mobile device  220 . Being able to invoke the audible alert when the audible alert has been disabled, may allow the user to invoke the audible alert of the mobile device  220  if the mobile device  220  becomes misplaced when the audible alert of the mobile device  220  has been disabled. In addition, disregarding the disabled audible alert setting may allow another user to notify the user of the mobile device of an emergency when the audible alert of the mobile device  220  has been disabled. In some implementations, the audible alert may remain disabled after overriding or disregarding the disabled audible alert in response to receiving the coded text message (e.g., volume control settings of a communications device as configured for a silent setting may be maintained after overriding the volume control settings at the communications device). 
     The mobile device  220  invokes the audible alert ( 390 ). For example, the mobile device  220  may invoke a ringer included in the mobile device  220 . In another example, the mobile device  220  may output a message through a speaker included in the mobile device  220 . The audible alert invoked in response to receiving a coded text message may be different than a normal audible alert. 
     In some implementations, the mobile device  220  invokes an audible alert that represents an alarm condition. The alarm condition may be an alert that is louder or at a different pitch than a typical ring of the mobile device  220 . The alarm condition may be configured to attract attention to a location of the mobile device  220 . The alarm condition also may be associated with a vibrate feature or one or more illumination sources of the mobile device  220 . In this regard, the mobile device  220  may be configured to vibrate and flash one or more illumination sources, in addition to invoking an audible alert, to facilitate location of the mobile device  220  in response to receipt of a coded electronic communication. 
     The audible alert invoked also may be an audible alert that is further configured to assist a user in locating the mobile device  220 . The audible alert may be a series of audible alerts invoked at a predetermined frequency. For instance, in response to receiving a coded electronic communication, the audible alert may be invoked every 30 seconds. Repeatedly invoking an audible alert may assist a user in locating a misplaced mobile device. In the event that the user does not find the misplaced mobile device after invocation of a single audible alert, the repeated audible alerts continue to facilitate location of the mobile device without requiring the user to send additional coded electronic communications to the mobile device. 
       FIG. 4  is a flow chart of a process  400  for initiating a mobile device to send a message that includes information related to the location of the mobile device. For convenience, particular components described with respect to  FIG. 2  are referenced as performing the process  400 . However, similar methodologies may be applied in other implementations where different components are used to define the structure of the system, or where the functionality is distributed differently among the components shown by  FIG. 2 . 
     The communication device  240  sends a coded text message addressed to the mobile device  220  ( 410 ). For example, the communication device  240  sends a coded text message addressed to the mobile device  220  using techniques described above with respect to step  320  shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     The service provider  230  receives the text message addressed to the mobile device  220  sent from the communication device  240  ( 415 ) and transmits the text message to the mobile device  220  ( 420 ). For example, the service provider  230  receives the text message addressed to the mobile device  220  sent from the communication device  240  and transmits the text message to the mobile device  220  using techniques described above with respect to steps  330  and  340  shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     The mobile device  220  receives the text message from the service provider  230  ( 425 ) and determines that the text message is a coded text message ( 430 ). For example, the mobile device  220  receives the text message from the service provider  230  and determines that the text message is a coded text message using techniques described above with respect to steps  350  and  360  shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     The mobile device  220  may, optionally, determine that the device sending the coded text message is an authorized device ( 435 ). For example, mobile device  220  determines that the device sending the coded text message is an authorized device using techniques described above with respect to step  370  shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     The mobile device  220  determines a location of the mobile device  220  ( 440 ). For example, the mobile device  220  may include a GPS receiver that is configured to receive GPS data from one or more satellites. In this example, the mobile device  220  may determine a location of the mobile device using GPS data received by the GPS receiver. The mobile device  220  also may determine a location of the mobile device  220  based on signals received from one or more network access points (e.g., cellular towers) that the mobile device  220  uses to connect to a network. The mobile device  220  may determine the location as longitude and latitude coordinates, a street address, or another type of location measurement. 
     The mobile device  220  determines a communication address (e.g., a number) of the communication device  240  ( 445 ). For instance, the mobile device  220  may perform an identification process on the text message received from the communication device  240  to determine a telephone number of the communication device  240 . The mobile device  220  also may access a telephone number of the communication device  240  from electronic storage. The telephone number of the communication device  240  may be stored in electronic storage of the mobile device  220  in advance and designated as a telephone number to which to send a text message with location information upon receipt of a coded text message. 
     The mobile device  220  sends a text message with location information addressed to the communication device  240  ( 450 ). For example, the mobile device  220  may send an SMS message to a telephone number associated with the communication device  240 . The text message may include location information indicative of the determined location of the mobile device  220 . 
     The service provider  230  receives the text message with location information addressed to the communication device  240  and sent from the mobile device  220  ( 455 ) and transmits the text message to the communication device  240  ( 460 ). For example, the service provider  230 , upon receipt of the text message, processes the text message to determine the recipient of the message and forwards the message to the recipient. The service provider  230  may temporarily store the text message prior to transmitting and may perform other formatting and/or transformation operations necessary to properly transmit the text message to the communication device  240 . The service provider  230  may wait until the communication device  240  has established a connection with the service provider  230  prior to transmitting the message or may wait until the communication device  240  requests the message. 
     The communication device  240  receives the text message from the service provider  230  and displays the location of the mobile device  220  ( 465 ). For example, the communication device  240  receives an SMS message that includes information indicative of the location of the mobile device  220 . The communication device  240  may derive the location of the mobile device  220  from the text message and automatically, without human intervention, perform operations that assist in locating the mobile device  220 . For instance, the communication device  240  may electronically generate a map of an area surrounding the location of the mobile device  220  or may determine a current location of the communication device  240  and determine directions from the current location of the communication device  240  to the location of the mobile device  220 . Display of the location of the mobile device  220  using the communication device  240  may facilitate location of the mobile device  220  by a person using the communication device  240 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an exemplary user interface  500  for entering information related to coded messages that invoke an audible alert of a mobile device. The user interface  500  may be presented to a user wishing to change settings of coded messages that invoke the audible alert of the mobile device when received. The user interface  500  may be generated by a mobile device or a service provider providing service to the mobile device. The user interface may be presented to a user on the mobile device or on another device configured to manage settings of the mobile device. 
     The user interface  500  includes a device identification portion  510  identifying a device identifier for the mobile device associated with the coded messages settings and a telephone number portion  520  identifying a telephone number for the mobile device associated with the coded messages settings. The device identification portion  510  and telephone number portion  520  may include static information that a user cannot modify or may include a text field with which a user may modify the device identifier or the telephone number. 
     The user interface  500  also includes a coded messages portion  530  that enables a user to modify coded messages settings associated with the mobile device. The coded messages portion  530  includes a first coded message portion  540 , a second coded message portion  550 , an add coded message actionable item  560 , and a delete coded message actionable item  570 . Although the coded messages portion  530 , as shown, includes a first coded message portion  540  and a second coded message portion  550 , the coded messages portion  530  may include any number of coded message portions. The add coded message actionable item  560  and the delete coded message actionable item  570  enable a user to manage the number of coded messages included in the coded messages portion  530 . For example, the add coded message actionable item  560 , when activated, adds a new coded message portion to the coded messages portion  530  and the delete coded message actionable item  570 , when activated, deletes a coded message portion included in the coded messages portion  530 . 
     The first coded message portion  540  includes a text field  541 , a bypass settings check box portion  542 , an authorize all users check box  543 , a first user text field  544 , a second user text field  545 , an add user actionable item  546 , and a delete user actionable item  547 . The text field  541  identifies text of the first coded message and enables a user to modify the text of the first coded message. The bypass settings check box portion  542  includes a “Yes” check box and a “No” checkbox that are mutually exclusive. The bypass settings check box portion  542  enables a user to indicate whether current settings of the mobile device should be bypassed when the mobile device receives the first coded message. The user may indicate that the current settings of the mobile device should be bypassed by checking the “Yes” check box or may indicate that the current settings of the mobile device should not be bypassed by checking the “No” check box. 
     The authorize all users check box  543  enables a user to authorize all users to send the first coded message. When the authorize all users check box  543  is checked, the first user text field  544 , the second user text field  545 , the add user actionable item  546 , and the delete user actionable item  547  are not necessary and may be hidden or disabled. The first user text field  544  identifies the first authorized user and enables a user to modify the first authorized user. The first authorized user may be identified by a username, a device identifier, a telephone number (as shown), and/or any other identifying information. The second user text field  545  identifies the second authorized user and is similar to the first user text field. The add user actionable item  546 , when activated, adds another user text field for the first coded message portion  540  and the delete user actionable item  547 , when activated, deletes a user text field (e.g., the first user text field  544  or the second user text field  545 ) included in the first coded message portion  540 . 
     The second coded message portion  550  includes a text field  551 , a bypass settings check box portion  552 , and an authorize all users check box  553 . The text field  551 , the bypass settings check box portion  552 , and the authorize all users check box  553  operate in a manner similar to the text field  541 , the bypass settings check box portion  542 , and the authorize all users check box  543 , respectively, except that the text field  551 , the bypass settings check box portion  552 , and the authorize all users check box  553  are associated with the second coded message. 
     The user interface  500  further includes a save actionable item  580  and a cancel actionable item  590 . The save actionable item  580 , when activated, saves the coded messages settings currently displayed by the user interface  500 . The cancel actionable item  590 , when activated, cancels the changes made in the user interface  500  and does not store any changes made to the coded messages settings. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , a user may specify a variety of coded messages settings. As shown, when a mobile device identified by device identifier CP9876 ( 510 ) and telephone number 123-123-1234 ( 520 ) receives a text message that includes the text FindLostPhone ( 541 ), the mobile device bypasses current settings of the device ( 542 ) and invokes an audible alert of the mobile device, but only if the message was sent from telephone number 123-321-4321 ( 544 ) or telephone number 123-123-4321 ( 545 ). In addition, in another example, when a mobile device identified by device identifier CP9876 ( 510 ) and telephone number 123-123-1234 ( 520 ) receives a text message that includes the text CallMe ( 551 ), the mobile device does not bypass current settings ( 552 ) and invokes an audible alert only if the audible alert is not disabled. In this example, all users sending the text message are treated in the same manner ( 553 ). 
     The described systems, methods, and techniques may be implemented in digital electronic circuitry, computer hardware, firmware, software, or in combinations of these elements. Apparatus embodying these techniques may include appropriate input and output devices, a computer processor, and a computer program product tangibly embodied in a machine-readable storage device for execution by a programmable processor. A process embodying these techniques may be performed by a programmable processor executing a program of instructions to perform desired functions by operating on input data and generating appropriate output. The techniques may be implemented in one or more computer programs that are executable on a programmable system including at least one programmable processor coupled to receive data and instructions from, and to transmit data and instructions to, a data storage system, at least one input device, and at least one output device. Each computer program may be implemented in a high-level procedural or object-oriented programming language, or in assembly or machine language if desired; and in any case, the language may be a compiled or interpreted language. Suitable processors include, by way of example, both general and special purpose microprocessors. Generally, a processor will receive instructions and data from a read-only memory and/or a random access memory. Storage devices suitable for tangibly embodying computer program instructions and data include all forms of non-volatile memory, including by way of example semiconductor memory devices, such as Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EPROM), Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM), and flash memory devices; magnetic disks such as internal hard disks and removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and Compact Disc Read-Only Memory (CD-ROM). Any of the foregoing may be supplemented by, or incorporated in, specially-designed ASICs (application-specific integrated circuits). 
     It will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope. For example, advantageous results still could be achieved if steps of the disclosed techniques were performed in a different order and/or if components in the disclosed systems were combined in a different manner and/or replaced or supplemented by other components. As another example, the techniques described are not limited to invoking an audible alert and may initiate performance of any function of the mobile device upon receipt of a coded electronic communication. In one implementation, receipt of a coded electronic communication may cause the mobile device to display a message. The message may be, for example, a message offering a service to a user of the mobile device or a message suggesting the user of the mobile device take a particular action. In another implementation, receipt of a coded electronic communication may cause the mobile device to download a file from a network. For example, a service provider may send the mobile device a coded electronic communication to indicate that a software update is available and the mobile device may automatically download and install the software update in response to the coded electronic communication. In another example, a friend may send the user of a mobile device a coded electronic communication indicating that the friend has obtained a new electronic media file (e.g., a picture, song, video, etc.) and the mobile device may automatically download the media file in response to receiving the coded electronic communication. Other implementations are within the scope of the description.