Cell phone parental control

• US 20050096009A1
• Filed: 09/27/2004
• Published: 05/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Ackley, Jonathan
• Granted Patent: US 7,302,272 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/405
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2072 Schedules, e.g. personal calendars
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/48 Arrangements for recalling a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/02 Access restriction performed under specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

A method for allowing remote control of the usage of a networked wireless device including incoming communications, outgoing communications, and application launching. Controlling entities, such as parent cellular telephones or web sites, are provided with the ability to select a list of approved anytime incoming communications, or approved incoming and outgoing communications based on time and day. Incoming communications include text messaging and telephone calls. Further, the controlling entity is provided with the ability to reroute to the controlling entity any usage of the wireless device such as incoming communications, outgoing communications, and application launching. Access to usage logs of the wireless device is provided to the controlling entity.

Claims

1. A time-based method of remotely controlling a particular use of a wireless device, the method comprising:

providing a first software to a controlling entity wherein the first software allows to schedule a usage time restriction by identifying periods of time when a particular usage of the controlled wireless device is allowed;

communicating the usage time restriction from the controlling entity to a networked permission database via the communications network;

storing the usage time restriction at the networked permission database; and

providing a second software to the wireless device wherein the second software is configured to;

retrieve the usage time restriction from the networked permission database to assess if the particular use of the wireless device is permitted; and

allow the particular use only during the usage time restriction.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the period of time is a starting time in the day, and ending time in the day, and a day.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the particular use of the wireless device is receiving an incoming communication

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the incoming communication is a text message

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the incoming communication is a telephone call.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein the incoming communication is an electronic mail.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the particular use of the wireless device is sending an outgoing communication.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the outgoing communication is a text message.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the outgoing communication is a telephone call.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the outgoing communication is a universal resource locator request.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the outgoing communication is an electronic mail message.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the particular use of the wireless device is launching applications in the wireless device.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless device is a cellular telephone.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless device is a personal digital assistant (PDA).

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the controlling entity is a cellular telephone.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the controlling entity is a web based application.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the controlling entity is a computer application.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the first software is further configured to provide access to the controlled wireless device past usage information.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein the second software is further configured to display an alert indicating that the particular use is only allowed during the usage time restrictions.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein the networked permission database resides in the wireless device.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein the networked permission database resides in a database server.

22. A permission-based method of remotely controlling the use of a wireless device, the method comprising:

transmitting via a communications network a request from the wireless device to a controlling entity to permit an incoming communication from an incoming communication source;

providing a first software to a controlling entity wherein the first software is configured to;

formulating a response to the request; and

transmitting the response to a networked permission database via the communications network; and

providing a second software to the wireless device wherein the second software is configured to;

retrieve a permission from the networked permission database to communicate with the incoming communication source; and

communicate with the incoming communication source only after receiving the permission.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the wireless device is a cellular telephone.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein the wireless device is a personal data assistant.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein the controlling entity is a cellular telephone.

26. The method of claim 22 wherein the controlling entity is a web based application.

27. The method of claim 22 wherein the controlling entity is a computer application.

28. The method of claim 22 wherein the incoming communication is a text message.

29. The method of claim 22 wherein the incoming communication is a telephone call.

30. The method of claim 22 wherein the incoming communication is an electronic mail message.

31. The method of claim 22 wherein the first software is further configured to access to the wireless device past usage information.

32. The method of claim 22 wherein the second software is further configured to display an alert indicating that the particular only allowed during the usage time restrictions.

33. A method of remotely controlling communications to a wireless device, the method comprising:

providing a first software to a controlling entity wherein the first software allows to determine an identifier for a forbidden incoming communication source;

transmitting the identifier from the controlling entity to a networked permission database via a communications network;

storing the identifier at the networked permission database; and

providing a second software to the wireless device wherein the second software is configured to;

retrieve from the networked permission database the identifier corresponding to the forbidden incoming communication source; and

reject communication attempts from the forbidden incoming communication source based on the identifier retrieved.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the networked permission database resides in the wireless device.

35. The method of claim 33 wherein the networked permission database resides on a database server.

36. The method of claim 33 wherein the wireless device is a cellular telephone.

37. The method of claim 33 wherein the wireless device is a personal data assistant.

38. The method of claim 33 wherein the controlling entity is a cellular telephone.

40. The method of claim 33 wherein the controlling entity is a web based application.

41. The method of claim 33 wherein the controlling entity is a computer application.

42. The method of claim 33 wherein the incoming communication is a text message.

43. The method of claim 33 wherein the incoming communication is a telephone call.

44. The method of claim 33 wherein the incoming communication is an electronic mail message.

45. A method of remotely controlling a particular use of a wireless device, the method comprising:

providing a first software to a controlling entity wherein the first software allows to place a usage restriction on the wireless device;

communicating the usage time restriction from the controlling entity to a networked permission database via the communications network;

storing the usage time restrictions at the networked permission database; and

providing a second software to the wireless device wherein the second software is configured to;

retrieve the usage restriction from the networked permission database to assess if the particular use of the wireless device is permitted; and

allow the particular use only in compliance with the usage restrictions; and

forward the usage request from the wireless device to the controlling entity.

46. The method of claim 45 wherein the first software is further configured to provide access to the wireless device past usage information.

47. The method of claim 45 wherein the second software is further configured to display an alert indicating the communication attempt from the forbidden incoming communication source.

48. The method of claim 45 wherein the networked permission database resides in the wireless device.

49. The method of claim 45 wherein the networked permission database resides in a database server.

50. The method of claim 45 wherein the particular use of the wireless device is receiving incoming communication.

51. The method of claim 50 wherein the incoming communication is a text message.

52. The method of claim 50 wherein the incoming communication is a telephone call.

53. The method of claim 50 wherein the incoming communication is an electronic mail.

54. The method of claim 45 wherein the particular use of the wireless device is sending outgoing communication.

55. The method of claim 54 wherein the outgoing communication is a text message.

56. The method of claim 54 wherein the outgoing communication is a telephone call.

57. The method of claim 55 wherein the outgoing communication is a universal resource locator request.

58. The method of claim 55 wherein the outgoing communication is an electronic mail message.

59. The method of claim 45 wherein the wireless device is a cellular telephone.

60. The method of claim 45 wherein the wireless device is a personal data assistant.

61. The method of claim 45 wherein the particular use of the wireless device is launching applications in the wireless device.

62. The method of claim 45 wherein the controlling entity is a cellular telephone.

63. The method of claim 45 wherein the controlling entity is a web based application.

64. The method of claim 45 wherein the controlling entity is a computer application.

65. The method of claim 45 wherein the first software is further configured to provide access to the wireless device past usage information.

66. The method of claim 45 wherein the second software is further configured to display an alert indicating that the particular use is only allowed during the usage time restrictions.

67. The method of claim 45 wherein the second software is further configured to display an alert indicating that the particular use has been forwarded to the controlling entity.

68. The method of claim 45 wherein the networked permission database resides in the wireless device.

69. The method of claim 45 wherein the networked permission database resides on a database server.