System and method for restricting wireless communication

• US 20020165012A1
• Filed: 05/04/2001
• Published: 11/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Inventors: Christy, Maria-Ellen, Kirbas, Bilhan
• Granted Patent: US 8,406,813 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/565
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27485 Appending a prefix to or inserting a pause into a dialling sequence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/677 Preventing the dialling or sending of predetermined telephone numbers or selected types of telephone numbers, e.g. long distance numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor

Abstract

A system and a method for restricting wireless communication are provided. A wireless communications device stores a list of geographic characteristics such as, for example, area codes representing either area codes to which calls are only allowed or area codes to which calls are not allowed. If the stored area codes are area codes to which calls are only allowed, then the wireless communications device only allows calls to one of the stored area codes. If the stored area codes are area codes to which calls are not allowed, then the wireless communications device does not allow calls to any of the stored area codes.

Claims

1. A method for restricting wireless communication, comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of geographic characteristics in a wireless communications device;

inputting a phone number into the wireless communications device;

determining a particular geographic characteristic of the inputted phone number;

comparing the determined geographic characteristic of the inputted phone number with each of the plurality of stored geographic characteristics; and

placing a phone call to the inputted phone number if the determined geographic characteristic matches any of the plurality of stored geographic characteristics.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

not placing the phone call to the inputted phone number if the determined geographic characteristic does not match any of the plurality of stored geographic characteristics.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

determining a position location; and

using the position location to authorize the placing of the phone call.

5. The method according to claim 3, further comprising the step of:

not placing the phone call to the inputted phone number if the determined geographic characteristic matches any of the plurality of stored geographic characteristics.

8. The method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of:

not placing a phone call to the inputted phone number if the determined area code does not match any of the authorized area codes.

9. The method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of:

comparing the determined area code with each of the plurality of the authorized area codes stored in the wireless communications device.

4. A method for restricting wireless communication, comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of geographic characteristics in the wireless communications device;

inputting a phone number into a wireless communications device;

determining a particular geographic characteristic of the inputted phone number;

comparing the determined geographic characteristic of the inputted phone number with each of the plurality of stored geographic characteristics; and

placing a phone call to the inputted phone number if the determined geographic characteristic does not match any of the plurality of stored geographic characteristics.

6. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the steps of:

determining a position location; and

using the position location to authorize the placing of the phone call.

7. A method for restricting wireless communication, comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of authorized area codes in a wireless communications device;

inputting a phone number into the wireless communications device;

determining the particular area code of the inputted phone number; and

placing a phone call to the inputted phone number if the determined area code matches any of the authorized area codes stored in the wireless communications device.

10. The method according to claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

determining a position location; and

using the position location to authorize the placing of the phone call.

11. A system for restricting wireless communication, comprising:

means for storing a plurality of geographic characteristics in a wireless communications device;

means for inputting a phone number into the wireless communications device;

means for determining a particular geographic characteristic of the inputted phone number;

means for comparing the determined geographic characteristic of the inputted phone number with each of the plurality of stored geographic characteristics; and

means for placing a phone call to the inputted phone number if the determined geographic characteristic matches any of the plurality of stored geographic characteristics.

12. A wireless communications device, comprising:

means for storing a plurality of authorized area codes in the wireless communications device;

means for inputting a phone number into the wireless communications device;

means for determining the particular area code of the inputted phone number; and

means for placing a phone call to the inputted phone number if the determined area code matches any of the authorized area codes.