TRACK LOST MOBILE PHONES: lost, mobile, track

by: Mikal613Posted on 2005-01-16 at 07:01:22ID: 13057032

how about calling the number. If the battery is dead you cant do anything.

the best option is if you have gps on the phone then you can get the location. Otherwise thats all you can do.

by: Mikal613Posted on 2005-01-17 at 13:51:39ID: 13067331

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=893839f4-7917-41cd-b8aa-77c0a6905f92&DisplayLang=en

by: edin_el_bosnewiPosted on 2005-01-18 at 13:10:43ID: 13076755

Hi,

I like the idea very much, but how to implement it?

My thinking out loud goes in two directions:

1. All phones have IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) which is their unique serial number, that no other phone has! This is accesable by entering *#06# in your phone (NOKIA)! I am sure that this is accessable when phone is connected to a PC, but the problem is that it obviously isn't! You would therefore need to find a wayabout , how to get an access to the phone! This thing can definetly be done ba a service operator! Base stations that communicate to phones have access to this info, and I think that in some countries, operators have this option! Your problem here is that when a phone gets stolen, SIM card is usually used only util it is terminated by the operator(Post-payed) or when the credti runs-out (pre-paid), and then it is removed, which is usually very short period! Hence you can't have any what so ever contact with your phone! Service operators, however still do, when another SIM is inserted, and can still check IMEI! Targeting an exact location is impossible! Mobile phone if in city area usually reports to few base stations at same time, using only one (the most available one)! If a service operator wants to put some effort in, the could make an alghoritm for detecting a rough loaction on the crossection of the reported distances from different base stations! But still this doesn't hel you much, does it? This has to be done by Service operators!

2. You could I guess make an application(Java or Symbian) that will on each turning On, of the phone, check the ID of inserted SIM card! The Application could have password protected entry of the SIM that you previously entered, and when a check fails, an application could send an SMS to the previously stored number, with the info of the last reported base station, or if possible of all the available base stations with the distances! Application would have to be disguised from the user! This is very complex, but I think it might be implemented with a lot of effort!

Now what do you think?

by: Patrick_TeleComPosted on 2005-02-28 at 00:38:12ID: 13417974

Let me make sure I understand you correctly. You want to identify lost phones. Correct? I will move ahead with this assumption.

When a call is active in a GSM or CDMA network, it is paged several times WHEN IT IS ON.(There is no way to track a mobile phone that is not on)

Inside the page request (an IS-41 SS7 message) to the mobile will be a set of psuedo LAT and LONG. These LAT and LONG can be translated into true LAT and LONG ( You will have the psuedo lat and long from the mobile this will give you a cooridinate from the site, the site will have true lat and long with two fixed points you can arrive at the True Lat and Long).

This is basically how the new Phase 2 E911 works. All new handsets sold have software to generate the psuedo Lat and Long whether CDMA or GSM. You could piggy back this technology, currently providers only send the psuedo Lat and Long during an E911 call, but the future is for every call and page to send the Psuedo Lat and Long. Imagine the marketing ideas available!!

Back to your question if a carrier would turn on the pseudo Lat and Long feature for more than E911 (And this is going to happen carriers just need to beef up there SS7 links). Then you would only have to capture all IS-41 messaging where the mobile was paged, and existed on some master list as "lost". Then with the psuedo Lat and Long find the area for mobile recovery. This capturing of the IS-41 messaging is not difficult, only need to setup a LOG capture (and server) at the carriers STP's.

Look at your phone now, it has an option to send GPS cooridinates on every call or just E911, you cannot turn off the E911 sending. This idea can be accomplished, but you would have to work with the carriers to integrate your solution into thier network. Sounds like it could generate revenue for them, which is the bottom line when dealing with a wireless carrier I suggest you move ahead. Good idea's do not last long.

Oh by the way this will only work with handsets sold within the last two years, where the new Phase 2 E911 chip (software) is in place.

Please let me know if I answered your question....

Patrick_TeleCom

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TRACK LOST MOBILE PHONES

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