Location based execution rights

• US 20050266857A1
• Filed: 05/27/2004
• Published: 12/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Poikela, Heikki
• Application Number:
  US10/856,006
• Publication Number:
  US 20050266857A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.300
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/065 Continuous authentication

Abstract

A method, device, and system provide location-based execution rights for applications in mobile terminals. The method, for example, includes setting a key for location-based identification of a mobile terminal where the key corresponds to an application; upon executing the application, checking the key for a condition indicating that execution rights are available; ending the application if the condition indicates execution rights are not available; and continuing execution of the application if the condition indicates execution rights are available.

Claims

1. A method of providing location-based execution rights for applications in mobile terminals, the method comprising:

setting a key for location-based identification of a mobile terminal, wherein the key corresponds to an application; and

upon executing the application, checking the key for a condition indicating that execution rights are available.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

disabling the application if the condition indicates execution rights are not available; and

continuing execution of the application if the condition indicates execution rights are available.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising locating the key in a secure store in the mobile terminal.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising checking the key for a condition indicating that execution rights are available at frequent, non-periodic intervals during operation of the application.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the condition is whether the mobile terminal is within coverage of a bluetooth server.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein setting a key for location-based identification of a mobile terminal is done by a service provider.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the application is an application specific to a business location and the condition in which execution rights are available corresponds to the mobile terminal being within an area of the business location.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the condition is whether the mobile terminal is a proximate distance to a geographical location.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the condition is a cell identifier from a cellular network.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising during continued execution of the application, checking the key for the condition and, if the condition indicates that execution rights are not available, disabling the application.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the key is checked during periodic intervals.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the execution of the disabled application is continued when the condition is again satisfied.

13. A device for executing at least one application based on location-based execution rights, the device comprising:

a store including a location-based rule; and

a processor configured to, upon executing an application, determine if the location-based rule is satisfied and disabling the application if the location-based rule is not satisfied while the program runs.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the location-based rule is a connection to a Bluetooth device.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein the location-based rule is a landmark identified by a location system.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the location system is a global positioning system (GPS).

17. The device of claim 13, wherein the location-based rule is a cell identifier from a cellular network.

18. A system for providing location-based execution rights for applications in mobile terminals, the system comprising:

an application programming interface (API); and

a location-based key in a secure store for location-based identification of a mobile terminal, wherein the key corresponds to an application,

wherein the API further performs rule checking routines to determine if the location-based key is satisfied and disables the application if the location-based key is not satisfied.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein they location-based key is associated with a freely-distributed game that only functions in a particular vicinity.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the particular vicinity is a business location.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the location-based key is a network connection.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the location-based key is security condition that limits access of secure data to particular locations.

23. The system of claim 18, wherein an application developer uses the API to develop an application using location-based rights.

24. A computer program product for providing location-based execution rights for applications in mobile terminals, the computer program product comprising:

computer code to set a key for location-based identification of a mobile terminal, wherein the key corresponds to an application, and, upon executing the application, check the key for a condition indicating that execution rights are available.

25. The computer program product of claim 24, further comprising:

computer code to disable the application if the condition indicates execution rights are not available and continue execution of the application if the condition indicates execution rights are available.

26. The computer program product of claim 25, further comprising computer code to continue the execution of the disabled application if the condition indicates execution rights become available.

27. A server for verifying location-based execution rights for applications in mobile terminals, the server comprising:

means for distributing a key for location-based identification of a mobile terminal, wherein the key corresponds to an application; and

means for checking the key for a condition indicating that execution rights are available upon executing the application.

28. The server of claim 27, further comprising:

means for disabling the application if the condition indicates execution rights are not available; and

means for continuing execution of the application if the condition indicates execution rights are available.