Methods, systems and storage media to remotely control a wireless unit

• US 20060003758A1
• Filed: 07/14/2005
• Published: 01/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bedingfield, James Carlton Sr., Nguyen, Hong Thi, Bishop, Michael L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,773,982 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/419
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0235 where the received signal is a power saving command
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method to remotely control a wireless unit, includes receiving an activation/deactivation request from a user. It is determined if the user is authorized to activate/deactivate the wireless unit. If the user is authorized to activate/deactivate the wireless unit, a signal is sent to the wireless unit causing the wireless unit to power-on/power-off in response to the signal.

Claims

1. A method to remotely control a wireless unit, comprising:

receiving an activation/deactivation request from a user;

determining if the user is authorized to activate/deactivate the wireless unit;

if the user is authorized to activate/deactivate the wireless unit, sending a signal to the wireless unit causing the wireless unit to power-on/power-off in response to the signal.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the activation/deactivation request is a data message.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the activation/deactivation request is generated based on a phone call from the user.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein determining if the user is authorized to activate/deactivate the wireless unit includes accessing an authorized user database including records associated with users.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the records include user identification data identifying users by a user identification entry.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the user identification entry corresponds to at least one of a phone number associated with the user and an IP address associated with the user.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein the records include at least one of time restriction data identifying a time limitation on when the user is permitted to activate/deactivate the wireless unit, ignore data identifying that a user is not permitted to activate/deactivate the wireless unit, and options data including an options entry defined by the user of the wireless unit, the options entry identifying options for activation/deactivation of the wireless unit.

8. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

sending an auxiliary notice to the user of the wireless unit, the auxiliary notice indicating that activation/deactivation of the wireless unit has been requested.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the auxiliary notice indicates an identity of the user requesting activation/deactivation of the wireless unit.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the records include auxiliary notice data identifying a format for the auxiliary notice.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the options entry specifies the mode of the wireless device upon activation.

12. A computer program product for controlling a wireless unit, the computer program product comprising:

a storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for facilitating a method comprising;

causing the wireless unit to have a power-on state and a sleep state;

causing the wireless unit to go into the sleep state when the wireless unit is turned-off;

causing the wireless unit in the sleep state to have an active transmit and receive function and an active location function;

causing the wireless unit in the sleep state to change to the power-on state in response to receipt of an authorized remote power-on signal.

13. The computer program product of claim 12 wherein the storage medium readable by a processing circuit further includes instructions for execution by the processing circuit for facilitating a method comprising:

causing the wireless unit to include a remote power-on function;

causing the remote power-on function to be able to detect receipt by the wireless unit of an authorized remote power-on signal; and

in response to detecting the remote power-on signal, causing the remote power-on function to power-on the wireless unit.

14. A computer program product for remotely controlling a wireless unit, the computer program product comprising:

a storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for facilitating a method comprising;

receiving an activation/deactivation request from a user;

determining if the user is authorized to activate/deactivate the wireless unit;

if the user is authorized to activate/deactivate the wireless unit, sending a signal to the wireless unit causing the wireless unit to power-on/power-off in response to the signal.

15. The computer program product of claim 14 wherein the activation/deactivation request is a data message.

16. The computer program product of claim 14 wherein the activation/deactivation request is generated based on a phone call from the user.

17. The computer program product of claim 14 wherein determining if the user is authorized to activate/deactivate the wireless unit includes accessing an authorized user database including records associated with users.

18. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein the records include user identification data identifying users by a user identification entry.

19. The computer program product of claim 18 wherein the user identification entry corresponds to at least one of a phone number associated with the user and an IP address associated with the user.

20. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein the records include at least one of time restriction data identifying a time limitation on when the user is permitted to activate/deactivate the wireless unit, ignore data identifying that a user is not permitted to activate/deactivate the wireless unit, and options data including an options entry defined by the user of the wireless unit, the options entry identifying options for activation/deactivation of the wireless unit.

21. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein the storage medium readable by a processing circuit further includes instructions for execution by the processing circuit for facilitating a method comprising:

sending an auxiliary notice to the user of the wireless unit, the auxiliary notice indicating that activation/deactivation of the wireless unit has been requested.

22. The computer program product of claim 21 wherein the auxiliary notice indicates an identity of the user requesting activation/deactivation of the wireless unit.

23. The computer program product of claim 21 wherein the records include auxiliary notice data identifying a format for the auxiliary notice.

24. The computer program product of claim 19 wherein the options entry specifies the mode of the wireless device upon activation