Method and system for providing supervisory control over wireless phone data usage
First Claim
1. A method of controlling data usage by a wireless communication device, comprising:
- associating the wireless communication device with a supervisor;
receiving from the supervisor a plurality of preferences regarding limitations on data usage by the wireless communication device;
storing the received plurality of preferences; and
automatically allowing or disallowing a data usage to or by the wireless communication device according to the stored preferences.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for controlling wireless phone usage enables a supervisor to establish user profiles for supervised users of wireless phones across a range of parameters, which are stored in a user profile database. Such parameters can include one or more locations, at which use of the wireless phone is restricted or permitted. In addition, restrictions on phone use, such as cumulative usage time, number of messages or number of bytes, can be provided based upon total phone usage within a specified control period, time periods, dates or days of the week during which phone use is restricted or permitted. One or more lists including numbers or other identifiers that are always-accessible can be provided, and one or more lists including numbers or other identifiers that are never-accessible can also be provided. In the event a call, message or browse does not satisfy predefined criteria, the communication attempt is blocked. Predetermined messages can be played or displayed to the called or calling party, as applicable, when a communication attempt is blocked. Boolean combinations of restrictions and permissive use criteria for the wireless phone can be specified to provide for flexibility when establishing use criteria for the wireless phone.
271 Citations
43 Claims
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1. A method of controlling data usage by a wireless communication device, comprising:
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associating the wireless communication device with a supervisor;
receiving from the supervisor a plurality of preferences regarding limitations on data usage by the wireless communication device;
storing the received plurality of preferences; and
automatically allowing or disallowing a data usage to or by the wireless communication device according to the stored preferences. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A service data point, comprising:
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a memory containing a database storing a plurality of supervisor-specified preferences for each of a plurality of wireless communication devices, the preferences being associated with the respective wireless communication devices and related to data usage by the respective associated wireless communication devices; and
business logic connected to the database and operative to;
receive a request related to an attempted data usage by one of the wireless communication devices; and
determine, based on information in the request and the plurality of supervisor-specified preferences associated with the one of the wireless communication devices, whether to permit the attempted data usage. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A computer-based system for controlling use of a plurality of wireless communication devices, comprising:
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a memory storing a database comprising a plurality of records, each record being associated with at least one of said wireless communication devices and storing an associated plurality of parameters, each parameter defining a restriction governing use of said associated wireless communication device to engage in a data usage;
a web interface configured to enable an account supervisor associated with a subset of said plurality of records to modify said plurality of parameters of said subset of said plurality of records; and
a control point operable to;
receive a notification of an attempt to engage in a data usage with one of said plurality of wireless communication devices;
determine, based on said plurality of parameters associated with said one of said plurality of wireless communication devices, whether to permit said attempt to engage in said data usage; and
generate a control message of a first type if said attempt is to be permitted and generate a control message of a second type if said attempt is not to be permitted.
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Specification