Abstract: A mobile device, e.g. portable computer, location tracking and data backup-and-wipe system and method enable a lost or stolen device to be recovered by reporting to its rightful owner and optionally to others its approximate location via triangulation and the use of location service providers. Social network members may be made aware automatically of the location of a reported lost or stolen device and can assist the rightful owner in recovering it based upon their identification of the user of the device, whether by the location coordinates or by viewing a photographic image taken by the computer. Alternatively, in governmental and/or institutional settings having privacy concerns, no photographic images are sent to a public website. Instead, they are sent to a proprietary employer server and maintained behind an institutional firewall.

Abstract: A mobile device, e.g. portable computer, location tracking and data backup-and-wipe system and method enable a lost or stolen device to be recovered by reporting to its rightful owner and optionally to others its approximate location via triangulation and the use of location service providers. Social network members may be made aware automatically of the location of a reported lost or stolen device and can assist the rightful owner in recovering it based upon their identification of the user of the device, whether by the location coordinates or by viewing a photographic image taken by the computer. Alternatively, in governmental and/or institutional settings having privacy concerns, no photographic images are sent to a public website. Instead, they are sent to a proprietary employer server and maintained behind an institutional firewall.

Abstract: A recoverable data storage apparatus includes a hand-portable housing configured with an input/output (I/O) port presented outwardly therefrom, a data storage means retained within the housing and operatively coupled with the input/output port, and a client agent embodied as device-executable code residing on the data storage device and configured. When executed on a network-linked host computing device, the client agent is configured to establish communication with a remote server and receive data indicating a possession status of the data storage apparatus. A device tracking system includes a data network means, a hardware portion, and a software portion. The hardware portion includes at least, (1) a server device operatively coupled with the network means, and (2) a data storage device with an externally presented input/output port configured to operatively couple with a host device.

Abstract: A recoverable data storage apparatus includes a hand-portable housing configured with an input/output (I/O) port presented outwardly therefrom, a data storage means retained within the housing and operatively coupled with the input/output port, and a client agent embodied as device-executable code residing on the data storage device and configured. When executed on a network-linked host computing device, the client agent is configured to establish communication with a remote server and receive data indicating a possession status of the data storage apparatus. A device tracking system includes a data network means, a hardware portion, and a software portion. The hardware portion includes at least, (1) a server device operatively coupled with the network means, and (2) a data storage device with an externally presented input/output port configured to operatively couple with a host device.

Abstract: A recoverable data storage apparatus including a hand-portable housing configured with an input/output (I/O) port presented outwardly therefrom, a data storage means retained within the housing and operatively coupled with the input/output port, and a client agent embodied as device-executable code residing on the data storage device and configured. When executed on a network-linked computing device, the client agent is configured to establish communication with a remote server and receive data indicating a possession status of the data storage apparatus. A device tracking system including a data network means, a hardware portion, and a software portion. The hardware portion includes at least, (1) a server device operatively coupled with the network means, and (2) a data storage device with an externally presented input/output port configured to operatively couple with a host device, and a software portion including.