System and method of modifying communications policy settings in a wireless network

• US 20070060103A1
• Filed: 08/03/2005
• Published: 03/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Patterson, Ian, Plumb, Marc, Goggin, Sean Arthur
• Granted Patent: US 8,363,558 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/410
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0893 Assignment of logical groups to network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0894 Policy-based network configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1079 of unsolicited session attempts, e.g. SPIT
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2757 by data transmission, e.g. downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/57 Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2005 Temporarily overriding a service configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

The present invention provides a system and method of modifying policy settings in a network having a plurality of subscriber devices. An embodiment includes a plurality of base stations, each capable of wirelessly transmitting across a geographic region. A cell-phone, capable of roaming between regions is operable to establish a wireless link with the base stations. The network contains a communication policy determining from which other communication devices a subscriber device can receive voice calls. A copy of this policy is stored on each subscriber device as a database and periodically updated as the devices make contact with the base stations or other subscriber devices. When receiving a voice call, the device first determines who the originator of the call is and then determines whether it is allowed to receive the call from that originator according to its policy database. The policy database can be updated either by subscriber devices or by base stations.

Claims

1. A method of processing communications in a network having a plurality of subscriber devices;

said method comprising the steps of;

maintaining a policy common to all subscriber devices for determining whether it is permissible to accept voice calls;

receiving a voice call at one of said subscriber devices;

said voice call having an originator identifier;

accessing said common policy;

determining a permissibility as to whether said voice call is permissible according to said common policy based on said originator identifier; and

accepting or rejecting said call according to said permissibility.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said method comprises the additional steps of, prior to said accepting step:

maintaining an override policy unique to each said subscriber device for determining whether it is permissible to accept voice calls based on said originator identifier;

accessing said override policy; and

altering said permissibility according to said override policy.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said override policy is an opt-out policy, and said altering step is performed such that said permissibility is altered if said override policy for said identifier is to ignore said common policy.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said override policy is an opt-in policy for those calls deemed impermissible according to said common policy, and said altering step is performed such that said permissibility is altered if said override policy for said identifier is not to follow said common policy.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said network has at least one server, and said maintaining step is performed at said at least one server;

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said voice call is received over a peer-to-peer connection.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said network is based on one or more of CDMA, OFDM, AMPS, GSM, GPRS, Bluetooth, infrared, 802.11, and PSTN.

8. A method of updating a common communication policy for a network having a plurality of subscriber devices;

said method comprising the steps of;

receiving a voice call at one of said subscriber devices;

said communication having an originator identifier;

marking said identifier; and

updating said common policy with said identifier chosen at said selecting step such that reception by said plurality of subscriber devices of a voice call having said originator identifier is impermissible.

9. The method of claim 8 comprising additional step:

receiving a plurality of other originator identifiers identifying different communication devices;

marking said other identifiers; and

updating said policy with said identifiers received at said receiving step such that reception by said plurality of subscriber devices of a voice call having said identifiers becomes impermissible.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein said marking step is performed at said subscriber devices.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein said wherein said network has at least one base station and said marking step is performed at said at least one base station.

12. A method of updating an override policy for overriding a common policy for a network having a plurality of subscriber devices;

said method comprising the steps of;

accessing said common policy at one of said subscriber devices;

said common policy having at least one identifier such that reception by said plurality of subscriber devices of a voice call having one of said at least one identifier is impermissible;

marking at least one of said at least one identifier from said common policy; and

updating said override policy associated for said one subscriber device according to said marked at least one identifier.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said override policy is an opt-out policy, and said updating step is performed such that reception of a voice call having said at least one identifier is permissible at said one subscriber device.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein said override policy is an opt-in policy, and said updating step is performed such that reception of a voice call having said originator identifier is impermissible at said one subscriber device.

15. A wireless subscriber device part of a communications network having a plurality of subscriber devices;

said device comprising;

an interface operable to receive communications; and

a computer connected to said interface and operable to access a policy;

said policy common to said plurality of subscriber devices;

said policy defining originators from which it is permissible for said subscriber devices to accept communications;

said microcomputer permitting said interface to communicate in accordance with said policy.

16. A server for communicating with at least one subscriber device;

said server comprising;

a microcomputer operable to maintain a common policy defining originators from which it is permissible for said at least one subscriber device to accept communications; and

an interface for delivering said policy to each of said at least one subscriber device.

17. A computer-readable storage medium containing a set of instructions for an electronic device;

said set of instructions characterized by the steps of;

maintaining a common policy common to all subscriber devices for determining whether it is permissible to accept voice calls;

receiving a voice call at one of said subscriber devices;

said voice call having an originator identifier;

accessing said common policy;

determining a permissibility as to whether said voice call is permissible according to said common policy based on said originator identifier; and

accepting said call according to said permissibility.

18. A computer readable storage medium for storing data for access by an application program being executed on an electronic device comprising a policy stored in said medium;

said policy including an originator identifier such that acceptance of calls by said device originating from said originator is not permitted.