Policy management of electronic devices

• US 10,009,480 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2015
• Issued: 06/26/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kajeet, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Kajeet, Inc.
• Inventors: Baker, Matthew Donald, Flood, Michael Merrill, Geller, Steven Ira, Kesser, Douglas Owen, Neal, Daniel John, Politi, Carol Ann, Weintraub, Ben Julian
• Primary Examiner(s): Beamer, Temica M
• Application Number:
  US14/590,862
• Publication Number:
  US 20150222759A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,267 Days
• Field of Search: 455405-408, 455410, 455411
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/103 Workflow collaboration or project management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/405 Establishing or using transaction specific rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/28 with meter at substation or with calculation of charges at terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/745 Customizing according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. friends or family
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

A system and method for the management of a device, including the establishment and enforcement of policies/rules associated with feature or functions that may be performed with the device. Modern devices are capable of many things, including making and receiving calls, exchanging data, playing games and music, sending and receiving email, accessing web sites, and paying for goods and services. Depending on who is using the device, such as a child, student, or an employee, there may be a need or desire to regulate how that device can be used and to determine who will pay for what goods or services. In addition to providing all of the features associated with a device, service providers need to be able to establish and enforce rules (policies) regulating how and when that device can be used and who will pay for a good or service requested by the user of the device.

Claims

1. A method for managing a plurality of computing devices , the plurality of computing devices communicatively coupled to a communications network that is at least partially coupled to a control platform comprising at least one server, the method comprising:

accessing, by the control platforms, a first database of content and web sites that are selected for controlled access by the plurality of computing devices, the first database being a subset of a larger database of content and web sites including a second database of content and web sites not selected for controlled access by the plurality of computer devices;

storing one or more policies for controlling time-based access to the first database of content and websites by the plurality of computing devices; and

based on the first database and the stored policies, controlling, in real-time, access to the content and web sites of the first database by the plurality of computing devices and based on the second database and the stored policies not controlling access to the content and web sites of the second database by the plurality of computing devices.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

allocating a first amount of units of value into an allowance associated with the controlled real-time access; and

decrementing units of value from the allowance during the controlled real-time access based on the one or more policies.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first amount of units of value are provided by an educational institution.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of computing devices are identified as being associated with an educational institution by tags or metadata.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising using geocodes to determine locations of the plurality of computing devices.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of computing devices comprises mobile phones.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the units of value represent credits for paying for the controlled real-time access.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more policies manage any of a type and an amount of content that can be sent, received, or used by the plurality of computing devices.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the controlling access to the content and web sites of the first database comprises sending data indicative of an action to enforce a decision to allow the access.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the action to enforce the decision comprises terminating a request, redirecting the request, or degrading the request.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the data indicative of the action includes a notification of a denied request directed to an educational institution or a user of a requesting device.

12. A system for managing a plurality of computing devices , the system comprising a processor and memory comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to:

store data indicative of content and web sites that are selected for controlled access by the plurality of computing devices, the content and web sites including a first set of content and web sites and a second set of content and web sites;

store one or more policies for controlling time-based access to the first set of content and web_sites and the second set of content and web sites by the plurality of computing devices; and

based on the data indicative of content and web sites and the stored policies, controlling, in real-time, access to the first set of content and web sites by the plurality of computing devices;

wherein access to the first set of content and web sites by the plurality of computing devices is further controlled by an enforcer function executing at another system, and wherein access to the second set of content and web sites by the plurality of computing devices is not controlled.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to:

allocate a first amount of units of value into an allowance associated with the controlled real-time access; and

decrement units of value from the allowance during the controlled real-time access based on the one or more policies.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the first amount of units of value are provided by an educational institution.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of computing devices are identified as being associated with an educational institution by tags or metadata.

16. The system of claim 12, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to us geocodes to determine locations of the plurality of computing devices.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the one or more policies manage any of a type and an amount of content that can be sent, received, or used by the plurality of computing devices.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the controlling access to the first set of content and web sites comprises sending data indicative of an action to enforce a decision to allow the access.

19. A system for managing a plurality of computing devices , the system comprising a processor and memory comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to:

in response to a request to use a function by one of the plurality of computing devices, generate a real-time decision to grant or deny the request based on a policy that is operative to restrict the use of the function;

enforce the decision by sending, to the one computing device, data indicative of an action that is consistent with the decision;

wherein the decision is based on;

data indicative of content and web sites that are selected for controlled access by the plurality of computing devices, the content and web sites including a first set of content and web sites and a second set of content and web sites; and

one or more policies for controlling time-based access to the first set of content and websites by the plurality of computing devices;

wherein access to the first set of content and web sites by the plurality of computing devices is further controlled by an enforcer function executing at another system, and wherein access to the second set of content and web sites by the plurality of computing devices is not controlled.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the one or more policies are generated based on input by an educational institution.