Method and apparatus for alerting a target that it is subject to sensing and restricting access to sensed content associated with the target

• US 20060148418A1
• Filed: 11/30/2005
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Purkayastha, Debashish, Thommana, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,574,220 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25841 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; arrangements for identifying locations of receiving stations in broadcast systems H04H60/51; location of the user terminal in data switching networks H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42201 biosensors, e.g. heat sensor for presence detection, EEG sensors or any limb activity sensors worn by the user input arrangements for interaction with the human body based on nervous system activity detection G06F3/015
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4408 involving video stream encryption, e.g. re-encrypting a decrypted video stream for redistribution in a home network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6334 for authorisation, e.g. by transmitting a key wireless communications network key management H04W12/04; wireless communications network access security H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8355 involving usage data, e.g. number of copies or viewings allowed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/1675 Providing digital key or authorisation information for generation or regeneration of the scrambling sequence pseudo-random number generators in general G06F7/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed

Abstract

A method and apparatus for protecting sensed content and warning a target of sensing is disclosed. A first transceiver, (e.g., a network server), includes a database which defines at least one zone in which sensing a target is not permitted. A second transceiver, (e.g., a cell phone), senses a target to obtain content and temporarily stores the content in a memory, after being encrypted. The cell phone transmits information to the network server which indicates the location of the cell phone. The network server receives the location information from the cell phone and determines whether the target was sensed in a “Do Not Disturb Zone”. If so, the network server instructs the cell phone to delete the encrypted content from the memory. Otherwise, the network server indicates to the cell phone that the temporarily stored content may be decrypted, stored in a permanent memory and used as desired.

Claims

1. In a system including a first transceiver and second transceiver, the second transceiver including a database which defines at least one zone in which sensing a target is not permitted, a method of protecting sensed content comprising:

(a) the first transceiver sensing a target to obtain content;

(b) the first transceiver temporarily storing the content in a first memory within the first transceiver;

(c) the first transceiver transmitting information to the second transceiver, the information indicating the location of the first transceiver;

(d) the second transceiver receiving the information from the first transceiver and determining whether the location indicated by the information is within the zone in which sensing a target is not permitted;

(e) if the second transceiver determines that the location of the first transceiver is within the zone, the second transceiver transmitting a first command signal instructing the first transceiver to delete the content from the first memory; and

(f) if the second transceiver determines that the location of the first transceiver is not within the zone, the second transceiver transmitting a second command signal instructing the first transceiver that the content in the first memory may be used as desired.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) further comprises comparing the received location information to information in a “

Do Not Disturb Zone”

database located in the second transceiver to determine whether there is a match which indicates that use of the temporarily stored content is not permitted.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) further comprises comparing the received location information to information in a “

Do Not Disturb Zone”

database located in the second transceiver to determine whether there is not a match which indicates that use of the temporarily stored content is permitted.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the second transceiver is operated by a service provider for a plurality of subscribers and the first transceiver is operated by at least one of the subscribers.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the first transceiver is a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) and the second transceiver is a base station.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(g) encrypting content sensed by the first transceiver before temporarily storing the content in the first memory.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(g) in response to the first transceiver receiving the second command signal from the second transceiver, the first transceiver decrypting the content stored in the first memory; and

(h) the first transceiver permanently storing the decrypted content in a second memory.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(g) a user using a user interface of the first transceiver to define the zone in which sensing a target is not permitted.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the user selects one or more sensing devices via the user interface to obtain content associated with the target.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the user indicate the dimensions and configuration of the zone via the user interface.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the user selects a power save criteria via the user interface to designate how often the first transceiver will provide location information to the second transceiver.

12. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

(g) the user sending an email to the second transceiver requesting that the zone be established.

13. A method of sending a warning signal indicating that a target is subject to sensing by a sensing apparatus, the method comprising:

(a) activating the sensing apparatus;

(b) in response to step (a), the sensing apparatus determining field of usage (FOU) information based on the location of the sensing apparatus;

(c) the sensing apparatus identifying a communication path to at least one communication device associated with the target; and

(d) the sensing apparatus sending a warning signal to the communication device over the communication path indicating that the target is subject to sensing by the sensing apparatus.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the communication path is routed through a peer-to-peer network.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the communication path is routed through a network server.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the communication path is routed through an Ad-hoc network.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the communication path is routed through a local network.

18. A method of sending a warning signal indicating that a target is subject to sensing by a sensing apparatus, the method comprising:

(a) the sensing apparatus determining field of usage (FOU) information based on the location of the sensing apparatus;

(b) the sensing apparatus analyzing the target to be sensed to generate target analysis information;

(c) the sensing apparatus sending the FOU information and the target analysis information to a network server;

(d) the network server identifying the target and at least one communication device associated with the target; and

(e) the network server sending a warning signal to the communication device over the communication path indicating that the target is subject to sensing by the sensing apparatus.

19. Apparatus for protecting sensed content comprising:

(a) a first transceiver; and

(b) a second transceiver comprising;

(i) a sensing unit for sensing a target to obtain content;

(ii) a first memory which temporarily stores the content;

(iii) a position locator configured to generate information of the location of the second transceiver; and

(iv) a first transmitter which transmits the location information to the first transceiver; and

the first transceiver comprising;

(v) a first receiver which receives the location information from the first transceiver;

(vi) a “

Do Not Disturb Zone”

database which indicates zones in which sensing a target is not permitted;

(vii) a first processor which determines whether the location indicated by the location information is within a zone in the database; and

(viii) a second transmitter configured to transmit a first command signal instructing the second transceiver to delete the content from the first memory if the location of the second transceiver is within the zone, and configured to transmit a second command signal instructing the second transceiver that the content in the first memory may be used as desired.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the first processor compares the received location information to information in the “

Do Not Disturb Zone”

database to determine whether there is a match which indicates that use of the temporarily stored content is not permitted.

21. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the first processor compares the received location information to information in the “

Do Not Disturb Zone”

database to determine whether there is not a match which indicates that use of the temporarily stored content is permitted.

22. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the first transceiver is operated by a service provider for a plurality of subscribers and the second transceiver is operated by at least one of the subscribers.

23. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the second transceiver is a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) and the first transceiver is a base station.

24. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the second transceiver further comprises:

(ix) a content encryption/decryption unit which encrypts content sensed by the sensing unit before temporarily storing the content in the first memory.

25. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the second transceiver further comprises:

(ix) a content encryption/decryption unit which decrypts the content stored in the first memory in response to the first receiver receiving the second command signal from the second transmitter; and

(x) a second memory for permanently storing the decrypted content.

26. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the second transceiver further comprises:

(g) a user interface used by a user of the second transceiver to define the zone in which sensing a target is not permitted.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the user selects one or more sensing devices via the user interface to obtain content associated with the target.

28. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the user indicates the dimensions and configuration of the zone via the user interface.

29. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the user selects a power save criteria via the user interface to designate how often the second transceiver will provide location information to the first transceiver.

30. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the first transmitter in the second transceiver further transmits the encrypted content to the first transceiver, the content encryption/decryption unit decrypts the encrypted content, and the first processor compares the decrypted content to content in the “

Do Not Disturb Zone”

database to determine whether use of the content nu the second transceiver is authorized.

31. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) for sensing and protecting sensed content comprising:

(a) a sensing unit for sensing a target to obtain content;

(b) a first memory which temporarily stores the content;

(c) a position locator configured to generate information of the location of the WTRU;

(d) a transmitter which generates and transmits a content verification request to a network server;

(e) a receiver for receiving a message sent by the network server in response to the content verification request;

(f) a content encryption/decryption unit which encrypts content sensed by the sensing unit before temporarily storing the content in the first memory, and decrypts the content stored in the first memory if the message indicates that the stored content is authorized for use; and

(g) a processor for initiating a process to delete the encrypted content if the message indicates that the stored content is not authorized for use.

32. The WTRU of claim 31 further comprising:

(h) a permanent memory for storing the decrypted content if the message indicates that the content is authorized for use.

33. The WTRU of claim 31 further comprising:

(h) a user interface used by a user of the WTRU to define a zone in which sensing a target is not permitted.

34. The WTRU of claim 33 wherein the user indicates the dimensions and configuration of the zone via the user interface.

35. The WTRU of claim 31 further comprising:

(h) a user interface used by a user of the WTRU to select one or more sensing devices to obtain content associated with the target.

36. The WTRU of claim 31 further comprising:

(h) a user interface used by a user of the WTRU to select a power save criteria to designate how often the WTRU will provide location information to the network server.

37. The WTRU of claim 31 wherein the sensing unit includes a microphone for recording sounds emitted by the target.

38. The WTRU of claim 31 wherein the sensing unit includes a zoom lens for recording images of the target.

39. An integrated circuit (IC) for use in conjunction with a sensing unit which senses a target to obtain content, the IC comprising:

(a) a first memory which temporarily stores the content;

(b) a position locator configured to generate information of the location of the sensing unit;

(c) a transmitter which generates and transmits a content verification request to a network server;

(d) a receiver for receiving a message sent by the network server in response to the content verification request;

(e) a content encryption/decryption unit which encrypts content sensed by the sensing unit before temporarily storing the content in the first memory, and decrypts the content stored in the first memory if the message indicates that the stored content is authorized for use; and

(f) a processor for initiating a process to delete the encrypted content if the message indicates that the stored content is not authorized for use.

40. The IC of claim 39 further comprising:

(g) a permanent memory for storing the decrypted content if the message indicates that the content is authorized for use.

41. The IC of claim 39 further comprising:

(g) a user interface used to define a zone in which sensing a target is not permitted.

42. The IC of claim 41 wherein a user indicates the dimensions and configuration of the zone via the user interface.

43. The IC of claim 39 further comprising:

(g) a user interface used by to select one or more sensing devices to obtain content associated with the target.

44. The IC of claim 39 further comprising:

(g) a user interface used to select a power save criteria to designate how often to provide location information to the network server.