Mobile phone policy management

• US 20060135140A1
• Filed: 12/16/2004
• Published: 06/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Guangdong OPPO Mobile Telecommunications Corporation Limited
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Zimmer, Vincent J., Rothman, Michael A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,826,835 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to attempting to control and monitor a number of features associated with a mobile telephone and, more specifically, to attempting to turn a specific feature, such as, for example, the ability to take pictures, on or off based upon a set policy scheme.

Claims

1. :

A method comprising;

receiving a control command;

determining if the control command requests the alteration of the behaviour of a feature; and

if so, attempting to alter the requested feature.

2. :

The method of claim 1, further comprising, if the control command does not request the alteration, responding to the control command.

3. :

The method of claim 1, wherein the feature includes at least one feature selected from the group of abilities comprising;

text messaging;

Short Message Service (SMS);

email;

playing a ring tone;

vibrating;

video conferencing;

recording image(s);

recording audio;

playing audio;

acting as a computer; and

acting as a personal digital assistant.

4. :

The method of claim 1, where attempting to alter the requested feature includes an action selected from the group of actions comprising;

activating the feature;

deactivating the feature; and

modifying the behaviour of the feature.

5. :

The method of claim 4, further comprising;

receiving a trigger; and

attempting to unalter the feature.

6. :

The method of claim 5, wherein receiving a trigger includes transitioning to a new cell transceiver.

7. :

The method of claim 4, wherein attempting to alter the requested feature further includes transmitting a message that indicates the results of the attempted alteration.

8. :

The method of claim 7, further comprising;

receiving a control command that requests an enumeration of supported features; and

transmitting a message that includes an enumeration of supported features.

9. :

The method of claim 4, wherein attempting to alter the requested feature includes;

detecting if a user approves of the requested alteration of the feature; and

if approved, altering the requested feature.

10. :

The method of claim 1, wherein

determining if the control command requests the alteration of the behaviour of a feature includes

determining if the control command requests the disabling of an ability to record image(s); and

wherein attempting to alter the requested feature includes

attempting to disable the ability to record image(s).

11. :

An article comprising;

a machine accessible medium having a plurality of machine accessible instructions, for attempting to optimize code layout, wherein when the instructions are executed, the instructions provide for;

receiving a control command;

determining if the control command requests the alteration of the behaviour of a feature; and

if so, attempting to alter the requested feature.

12. :

The article of claim 11, further comprising instructions providing for, if the control command does not request the alteration, responding to the control command.

13. :

The article of claim 11, wherein the feature includes at least one feature selected from the group of abilities comprising;

text messaging;

Short Message Service (SMS);

email;

playing a ring tone;

vibrating;

video conferencing;

recording image(s);

recording audio;

playing audio;

acting as a computer; and

acting as a personal digital assistant.

14. :

The article of claim 11, where the instructions providing for attempting to alter the requested feature includes instructions providing for an action selected from the group of actions comprising;

activating the feature;

deactivating the feature; and

modifying the behaviour of the feature.

15. :

The article of claim 14, further comprising instructions providing for;

receiving a trigger; and

attempting to unalter the feature.

16. :

The article of claim 15, wherein the instructions providing for receiving a trigger includes instructions providing for transitioning to a new cell transceiver.

17. :

The article of claim 14, wherein the instructions providing for attempting to alter the requested feature further includes instructions providing for transmitting a message that indicates the results of the attempted alteration.

18. :

The article of claim 17, further comprising instructions providing for;

receiving a control command that requests an enumeration of supported features; and

transmitting a message that includes an enumeration of supported features.

19. :

The article of claim 14, wherein the instructions providing for attempting to alter the requested feature includes instructions providing for;

detecting if a user approves of the requested alteration of the feature; and

if approved, altering the requested feature.

20. :

The article of claim 11, wherein

the instructions providing for determining if the control command requests the alteration of the behaviour of a feature includes instructions providing for

determining if the control command requests the disabling of an ability to record image(s); and

wherein the instructions providing for attempting to alter the requested feature includes instructions providing for

attempting to disable the ability to record image(s).

21. :

A method comprising;

detecting a mobile phone;

determining if the mobile phone has one or more features; and

if so, requesting that at least one feature of the mobile phone be altered.

22. :

The method of claim 21, wherein requesting that at least one feature of the mobile phone be altered includes requesting an alteration selected from the group of alterations comprising;

activating the feature;

deactivating the feature; and

modifying the behaviour of the feature.

23. :

The method of claim 21, further comprising determining if the mobile phone is authorized.

24. :

The method of claim 23, wherein determining if the mobile phone is authorized includes;

determining if the mobile phone includes a feature that is not authorized;

if so, determining if the feature may be altered in such a way as to be authorized; and

if the feature is not authored and can not be altered, issuing an alert.

25. :

The method of claim 24, further comprising;

if it cannot be determined whether or not the mobile phone includes a feature that is not authorized, issuing an alert.

26. :

The method of claim 25, wherein issuing an alert includes refusing to facilitate communication between the mobile phone and a telephone network.

27. :

The method of claim 21, wherein detecting a mobile phone includes an action selected from a group of actions including;

noticing that a mobile phone has entered an area serviced by a cell transceiver;

noticing that a mobile phone is within an predefined area; and

noticing that a mobile phone has entered an active state.

28. :

The method of claim 21, wherein both;

determining if the mobile phone has one or more features; and

if so, requesting that at least one feature of the mobile phone be altered include;

communicating with the mobile phone utilizing a control command message.

29. :

The method of claim 21, wherein the feature includes at least one feature selected from the group of abilities comprising;

text messaging;

Short Message Service (SMS);

email;

playing a ring tone;

vibrating;

video conferencing;

recording image(s);

recording audio;

playing audio;

acting as a computer; and

acting as a personal digital assistant.

30. :

The method of claim 21, wherein;

detecting a mobile phone includes

noticing that a mobile phone is within an predefined area;

determining if the mobile phone has one or more features includes

requesting from the mobile phone whether or not it includes the ability to record image(s),

determining if the ability to record image(s) is authorized within the predefined area; and

requesting that at least one feature of the mobile phone be altered includes

if the ability to record image(s) is not authorized, requesting that the ability to record image(s) be disabled.

31. :

An article comprising;

a machine accessible medium having a plurality of machine accessible instructions, for attempting to optimize code layout, wherein when the instructions are executed, the instructions provide for;

detecting a mobile phone;

determining if the mobile phone has one or more features; and

if so, requesting that at least one feature of the mobile phone be altered.

32. :

The article of claim 31, wherein the instructions providing for requesting that at least one feature of the mobile phone be altered includes instructions providing for requesting an alteration selected from the group of alterations comprising;

activating the feature;

deactivating the feature; and

modifying the behaviour of the feature.

33. :

The article of claim 31, further comprising instructions providing for determining if the mobile phone is authorized.

34. :

The article of claim 33, wherein the instructions providing for determining if the mobile phone is authorized includes instructions providing for;

determining if the mobile phone includes a feature that is not authorized;

if so, determining if the feature may be altered in such a way as to be authorized; and

if the feature is not authored and can not be altered, issuing an alert.

35. :

The article of claim 34, further comprising instructions providing for;

if it cannot be determined whether or not the mobile phone includes a feature that is not authorized, issuing an alert.

36. :

The article of claim 35, wherein the instructions providing for issuing an alert includes instructions providing for refusing to facilitate communication between the mobile phone and a telephone network.

37. :

The article of claim 31, wherein detecting a mobile phone includes an action selected from a group of actions including;

noticing that a mobile phone has entered an area serviced by a cell transceiver;

noticing that a mobile phone is within an predefined area; and

noticing that a mobile phone has entered an active state.

38. :

The article of claim 31, wherein both the instructions providing for;

determining if the mobile phone has one or more features; and

if so, requesting that at least one feature of the mobile phone be altered include instructions providing for;

communicating with the mobile phone utilizing a control command message.

39. :

The article of claim 31, wherein the feature includes at least one feature selected from the group of abilities comprising;

text messaging;

Short Message Service (SMS);

email;

playing a ring tone;

vibrating;

video conferencing;

recording image(s);

recording audio;

playing audio;

acting as a computer; and

acting as a personal digital assistant.

40. :

The article of claim 31, wherein the instructions providing for;

detecting a mobile phone includes instructions providing for

noticing that a mobile phone is within an predefined area;

determining if the mobile phone has one or more features includes instructions providing for

requesting from the mobile phone whether or not it includes the ability to record image(s),

determining if the ability to record image(s) is authorized within the predefined area; and

requesting that at least one feature of the mobile phone be altered includes instructions providing for

if the ability to record image(s) is not authorized, requesting that the ability to record image(s) be disabled.

41. :

An apparatus comprising;

a transceiver is capable of sending and receiving wireless signals between the apparatus and a cell transceiver;

at least one feature; and

a feature controller capable of altering the behaviour of the features;

wherein at least one of the wireless signals received from the cell transceiver includes a request for the feature controller to alter the behaviour of at least one feature.

42. :

The apparatus of claim 41, wherein

the transceiver is further capable of receiving a control command; and

the feature controller is further capable of;

determining if the control command requests the alteration of the behaviour of a feature; and

if so, attempting to alter the requested feature.

43. :

The apparatus of claim 42, the feature controller is further capable of;

receiving a trigger; and

attempting to unalter the feature.

44. :

The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the at least one feature includes at least one feature selected from the group of abilities comprising;

text messaging;

Short Message Service (SMS);

email;

playing a ring tone;

vibrating;

video conferencing;

recording image(s);

recording audio;

playing audio;

acting as a computer; and

acting as a personal digital assistant.

45. :

The apparatus of claim 41, wherein

the at least one feature includes an ability to record image(s); and

the transceiver is capable of receiving from a cell transceiver a control command including a request to disable the ability to record image(s);

the feature controller is capable of upon receiving the control command attempting to disable the ability to record image(s).

46. :

An apparatus comprising;

a transceiver capable of sending and receiving wireless signals between the apparatus and a mobile phone;

a handset detector capable of detecting a mobile phone that is within a predefined area; and

a feature controller capable of attempting to alter the behaviour of a feature of a mobile phone.

47. :

The apparatus of claim 46, further comprising;

a policy manager capable of determining whether or not the mobile phone feature is authorized under a policy scheme;

wherein the policy manager is capable of instructing the feature controller to attempt to alter the behaviour of a feature of a mobile phone.

48. :

The apparatus of claim 47, wherein

the handset detector is further capable of determining if the mobile phone has one or more features; and

the policy manager is further capable of

determining if one or more of the features is authorized within the predefined area, and

if not, instructing the feature controller to request that the at least one unauthorized feature be altered to an authorized state.

49. :

The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the feature of the mobile phone includes at least one feature selected from the group of abilities comprising;

text messaging;

Short Message Service (SMS);

email;

playing a ring tone;

vibrating;

video conferencing;

recording image(s);

recording audio;

playing audio;

acting as a computer; and

acting as a personal digital assistant.

50. :

The apparatus of claim 47, wherein

the handset detector is further capable of detecting whether or not the mobile phone includes the ability to record image(s);

the policy manager is capable of determining whether or not the ability to record image(s) is authorized within the predefined area;

the feature controller is capable of, if the ability to record image(s) is not authorized, requesting that the ability to record image(s) be disabled; and

the transceiver is capable of sending the request to the mobile phone.

51. :

A system comprising;

an enhanced mobile phone including

a transceiver capable of sending and receiving wireless signals between the enhanced mobile phone and a cell transceiver,

at least one feature, and

a feature controller capable of altering the behaviour of the features; and

a cell transceiver including

a transceiver capable of sending and receiving wireless signals between the cell transceiver and a mobile phone;

a handset detector capable of detecting a mobile phone that is within a predefined area; and

a feature controller capable of attempting to alter the behaviour of a feature of the enhanced mobile phone;

wherein the cell transceiver is capable of altering a feature of the enhanced mobile phone when the enhanced mobile phone is within a predefined area.

52. :

The system of claim 51, wherein

the transceiver of the enhanced mobile phone is further capable of receiving a control command; and

the feature controller of the enhanced mobile phone is further capable of;

determining if the control command requests the alteration of the behaviour of a feature; and

if so, attempting to alter the requested feature.

53. :

The system of claim 52, the feature controller of the enhanced mobile phone is further capable of;

receiving a trigger; and

attempting to unalter the feature.

54. :

The system of claim 51, wherein the at least one feature of the enhanced mobile phone includes at least one feature selected from the group of abilities comprising;

text messaging;

Short Message Service (SMS);

email;

playing a ring tone;

vibrating;

video conferencing;

recording image(s);

recording audio;

playing audio;

acting as a computer; and

acting as a personal digital assistant.

55. :

The system of claim 51, wherein

the at least one feature of the enhanced mobile phone includes an ability to record image(s); and

the transceiver of the enhanced mobile phone is capable of receiving from a cell transceiver a control command including a request to disable the ability to record image(s);

the feature controller of the enhanced mobile phone is capable of upon receiving the control command attempting to disable the ability to record image(s).

56. :

The system of claim 51, wherein

the enhanced mobile phone is capable of providing information from which the user of the enhanced mobile phone may be inferred; and

the cell transceiver is capable of determining whether or not the inferred user of the enhanced mobile phone is authorized to use a feature within the predefined area.

57. :

The system of claim 51, further comprising;

a policy manager of the cell transceiver is capable of determining whether or not the mobile phone feature is authorized under a policy scheme; and

wherein the policy manager of the cell transceiver is capable of instructing the feature controller to attempt to alter the behaviour of a feature of a mobile phone.

58. :

The system of claim 57, wherein

the handset detector of the cell transceiver is further capable of determining if the mobile phone has one or more features; and

the policy manager of the cell transceiver is further capable of

determining if one or more of the features is authorized within the predefined area, and

if not, instructing the feature controller to request that the at least one unauthorized feature be altered to an authorized state.

59. :

The system of claim 57, wherein

the feature controller of the enhanced mobile phone is capable of reporting whether or not the requested alteration of the feature was successful or not; and

the policy manager of the enhanced mobile phone is capable of, if the requested alteration was not successful, issuing an alert.

60. :

The system of claim 57, wherein

the handset detector of the cell transceiver is further capable of detecting whether or not the mobile phone includes the ability to record image(s);

the policy manager of the cell transceiver is capable of determining whether or not the ability to record image(s) is authorized within the predefined area;

the feature controller of the cell transceiver is capable of, if the ability to record image(s) is not authorized, requesting that the ability to record image(s) be disabled; and

the transceiver of the cell transceiver is capable of sending the request to the mobile phone.