Method and apparatus for providing information intercept in an ad-hoc wireless network

• US 20040203582A1
• Filed: 10/21/2002
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bennett, Richard Lionel, Dorenbosch, Jheroen Pieter
• Granted Patent: US 6,963,739 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/406
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/30 for supporting lawful interception, monitoring or retaining of communications or communication related information circuit switched telephony call monitoring H04M3/2281
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/03 Protecting confidentiality, e.g. by encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/80 Arrangements enabling lawful interception [LI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor

Abstract

A reporting mobile station (800) operating in an ad-hoc wireless network (600) and method therein, receives, from the infrastructure (611), designation information (506) identifying a target mobile station, and stores (704) the designation information. The reporting mobile station then detects (706) a communication from the target mobile station, and stores (708) information (508) about the communication. The reporting mobile station then reports (710) the call information to a predetermined lawful intercept entity (612).

Claims

1. A method for providing information intercept in an ad-hoc wireless network, the method comprising:

conducting a communication between a first mobile station (MS) and a second MS, both isolated from contact with a fixed portion of the wireless network;

storing call information about said communication in a memory location of said first MS, said memory location not modifiable by a user of said first MS; and

reporting, by said first MS, said call information to said fixed portion of the wireless network, in response to regaining contact with said fixed portion.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein conducting said communication comprises relaying said communication from said second MS to another MS of the ad-hoc wireless network.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising

reporting, by said fixed portion, said call information to a predetermined billing information collection entity.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising

reporting, by said fixed portion, said call information to a predetermined lawful intercept entity.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising in said first MS

receiving designation information identifying a target MS, and

wherein storing said call information occurs only when said second MS is identified as said target MS by said designation information.

6. A method for providing information intercept in an ad-hoc wireless network, the method comprising:

receiving designation information at a reporter mobile station (MS) in the wireless network, said designation information identifying a target MS;

storing said designation information in said reporter MS;

detecting a communication from said target MS by said reporter MS;

storing call information about said communication in said reporter MS; and

reporting said call information to a predetermined lawful intercept entity by said reporter MS.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein detecting said communication comprises having said communication directly with said target MS.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein detecting said communication comprises relaying said communication from said target MS to another entity of the ad-hoc wireless network.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein detecting said communication comprises monitoring said communication but not actively participating in said communication.

10. The method of claim 6,

wherein said target MS and said reporter MS are the same MS, and

wherein reporting said call information comprises reporting by said same MS its own communications in response to said designation information.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein storing said designation information and said call information comprises storing said information in a memory of said reporter MS, said memory accessible to said predetermined lawful intercept entity and not modifiable by a user of said reporter MS.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein reporting said call information comprises relaying said call information through another MS operating in the ad-hoc wireless network.

13. The method of claim 6, wherein receiving designation information comprises receiving designation information that includes specifying a surveillance type selected from (a) intercept-related information, (b) actual call content, and (c) both intercept-related information and actual call content.

14. The method of claim 6, wherein reporting said call information comprises reporting billing information that is maintained by an operator of the ad-hoc wireless network.

15. The method of claim 6,

wherein said reporter MS comprises a location-determining element for determining a position of said target MS during said communication, and

wherein storing said call information includes storing said position, and

wherein reporting said call information is performed in accordance with said position as compared with location parameters provided in said designation information.

16. A wireless communication device performing as a reporter mobile station (MS) for providing information intercept in an ad-hoc wireless network, the wireless communication device comprising:

a receiver for receiving designation information identifying a target MS;

a processor coupled to said receiver for controlling the wireless communication device;

a first memory location coupled to said processor for storing said designation information;

a detector program coupled to said processor for programming said processor to detect a communication from said target MS;

a second memory location coupled to said processor for storing call information about said communication; and

a reporter program coupled to said processor for programming said processor to report said call information to a predetermined lawful intercept entity.

17. The wireless communication device of claim 16, further comprising

a transmitter coupled to said processor for transmitting said call information to said predetermined lawful intercept entity.

18. The wireless communication device of claim 16,

wherein said target MS and the wireless communication device are the same MS, and

wherein said reporter program is arranged to program said processor to report the wireless communication device'"'"'s own communications in response to said designation information.

19. The wireless communication device of claim 16, wherein said first and second memory locations are accessible to said predetermined lawful intercept entity and not modifiable by a user of the wireless communication device.

20. The wireless communication device of claim 16, wherein said reporter program is arranged to program said processor to relay said call information through another MS operating in the ad-hoc wireless network.

21. The wireless communication device of claim 16, wherein said receiver and said processor are arranged and programmed to receive and respond to designation information comprising a surveillance type selected from (a) intercept-related information, (b) actual call content, and (c) both intercept-related, information and actual call content.

22. The wireless communication device of claim 16, wherein said reporter program is arranged to program said processor to report billing information that is maintained by an operator of the ad-hoc wireless network.

23. The wireless communication device of claim 16,

further comprising a location-determining element for determining a position of said target MS during said communication, and

wherein said second memory location and said processor are arranged and programmed to store said position, and

wherein said reporter program is arranged to program said processor to report said call information in accordance with said position as compared with location parameters provided in said designation information.