Method for detecting access to controlled areas and related system

• US 20030083043A1
• Filed: 06/10/2002
• Published: 05/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telecom Italia Lab SpA (Telecom Italia S.p.A.)
• Original Assignee: Telecom Italia Lab SpA (Telecom Italia S.p.A.)
• Inventors: Lupano, Michele, Grego, Giorgio
• Granted Patent: US 7,046,990 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/410
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/107 wherein the security policies are location-dependent, e.g. entities privileges depend on current location or allowing specific operations only from locally connected terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/108 when the policy decisions are valid for a limited amount of time
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

Controlled area (A) is configured as a telecommunications cellular system location area, by checking connection of cellular system mobile terminals (T) to such location area (A). Connection corresponds to terminal (T) bearer access to the controlled area and can thus be used both to prevent unauthorized access and to certify and document authorized access also by interrogation through the system. The fact that terminal (T) has been kept switched on inside the controlled area despite denial can also be detected and such behavior debited to the terminal (T) involve and/or inhibited by means of temporary denial of the terminal (T)'"'"'s activation.

Claims

1. Method for detecting access of a mobile terminal (T) having an identification code to a controlled area (A), comprising the step of:

configuring said controlled area (A) as a location area of a cellular telecommunications system,

and characterised by the steps of;

detecting the connection of the mobile terminals (T) to said location area (A) by identifying the identification code of said mobile terminal,

comparing (104, 105) by means of said cellular telecommunications system the identification code with a list of identification codes authorised to access said controlled area (A).

2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that said list of authorised identification codes is locally accessible at the level of said location area (A).

3. Method according to any of the previous claims, characterised in that it includes the steps of:

issuing (101) to each mobile terminal (T) of said cellular telecommunications system accessing to said location area (A) a request to issue its identification code, and

recording the identification code received in consequence of said request.

4. Method according to claim 3, characterised in that it includes the step of recording at least one piece of auxiliary information identifying connection, together with said identification code.

5. Method according to claim 4, characterised in that the at least one piece of auxiliary information comprises the time of connection.

6. Method according to any of the claims from 3 to 5 characterised in that said identification code is recorded at the level of the cellular system manager.

7. Method according to claim 6, characterised in that it includes the step of setting up a box for collecting recorded identification codes at the cellular system manager level, said box being able to be selectively questioned throughout the cellular telecommunications system.

8. Method according to any of the previous claims characterised in that it includes the steps of:

identifying (107) said location area (A) as an area within which the use of mobile terminals (T) of said cellular system is prohibited,

issuing (111), in the presence of a detected connection, a message inviting the user to switch off the terminal.

9. Method according to claim 8, characterised in that it also includes the steps of:

detecting (112) that the terminal (T) has been kept switched on despite a message inviting the switching off of the terminal has been sent, and

imposing sanctions to that said terminal.

10. Method according to claim 9, characterised in that sanctions are imposed to that said terminal which was kept switched on, by debiting a fine to said terminal.

11. Method according to claim 9, characterised in that sanctions are imposed to said terminal which was kept switched on by inhibiting at least momentarily the faculty of said terminal to receive calls from the cellular telecommunications system and/or to forward calls to said cellular telecommunications system.

12. A system for detecting access to controlled areas, comprising means for carrying out the steps of the method as claimed in any of the claims from 1 to 11.