Interactive Control of Access to Services and Capabilities of a Mobile Device

• US 20080274765A1
• Filed: 05/03/2007
• Published: 11/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omnitracs LLC (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Lopez, Ricardo Jorge, Lane, Richard Doil, Lauer, Craig
• Granted Patent: US 8,150,371 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/552.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/60 Subscription-based services using application servers or record carriers, e.g. SIM application toolkits

Abstract

A system device and method are provided which determine authorization for access to one or more services grouped together as a package of services without direct intervention of a wireless network provider or wired network access provider. This offers business proprietors, contractors for telecommunication services, service resellers, OEMs and service providers the ability to authorize users, particularly users of mobile communication terminals, hereafter referred to as the “Owner,” access to package services. In this way a large package of features and applications can be available to a mobile device, but access to those features and applications can be controlled by the Owner thus providing the Owner with control over expenses related to accessing those features and applications. It also provides the Owner the ability to secure and prevent unauthorized access to features and applications which could allow an unauthorized user access to sensitive data and equipment.

Claims

1. A smart phone comprising:

a transceiver;

a processor connected to said transceiver;

memory connected to said processor;

a feature control daemon operable to store feature control authorization information in said memory.

2. A smart phone as recited in claim 1 wherein said feature control daemon is further operable to wirelessly receive authorization information through said transceiver.

3. A smart phone as recited in claim 1 wherein said authorization information consists of files selected from XML files, WML files, DLL files, exe files, binary files, JAR files, Perl files, BREW app., files C++ files, C files, C# files, other data, script or executables known to said smart phone, or a combination thereof.

4. A smart phone as recited in claim 1 where said feature control daemon includes a mobile feature control application operable to spawn one or more additional mobile feature control application being operable to interrogate said memory for feature control information granting access to one or more features.

5. A smart phone as recited in claim 1 further including a mobile operating system wherein said mobile operation system permits smart phone access to features authorized in connection with feature control information stored in said memory.

6. A smart phone as recited in claim 1 further including a mobile operating system and an interface operable to receive inputs, said mobile operating system being operable to implement features approved for access through said feature control daemon in connection with inputs received by said interface.

7. A smart phone as recited in claim 1 further including a mobile operating system and an interface operable to receive inputs, said mobile operating system being operable to implement features previously approved for access through use of said feature control daemon in connection with inputs received by said interface using previously downloaded XML files, WML files, DLL files, exe files, binary files, JAR files, Perl files, BREW app., files C++ files, C files, C# files, other data, script or executables known to said smart phone, or a combination thereof.

8. A method of control access to services for a mobile station comprising:

receiving a service request;

spawning a application to evaluate said service request by determining whether the service is supported by the mobile station as indicated by stored authorizations in a database within said mobile station;

directing a mobile operating system to access said service in connection with said application determining authorization to access said service.

9. A method as recited in claim 8 wherein said mobile operating system is an operating system selected from the group consisting of Symbian™

, Win CE™

, Rex™

, VxWorks™

, ThreadX™

, or Nucleus™

Operating Systems.

10. A method as recited in claim 8 wherein keypad inputs to a mobile station are interpreted as a service request.

11. A method as recited in claim 8 wherein predetermined data received by a mobile station is interpreted as a service request.

12. A method as recited in claim 11 wherein said predetermined data is received from a source consisting of a network management center or an authorization server.

13. A method as recited in claim 8 wherein one consisting of an application, a portion of an application or an application enabler is downloaded to a mobile station over-the-air.

14. A method as recited in claim 8 wherein said stored authorizations are contain in files consisting of files selected from XML files, WML files, DLL files, exe files, binary files, JAR files, Perl files, BREW app., files C++ files, C files, C# files, other data, script or executables known to said mobile station, or a combination thereof.

15. A mobile station including:

a transceiver;

a processor connected to said transceiver;

memory connected to said processor;

and a downloadable software application, said software application being operable to provide access to features by a user of said mobile station.

16. A mobile station as recited in claim 15 wherein said downloadable software application is further operable to determine access to features by a mobile station in connection with examining authorization information stored in said memory.

17. A mobile station as recited in claim 15 wherein access to features by said mobile station is based upon one consisting of position, time, data collected, prior activities, device capabilities, identity of a user of the mobile station, or a combination thereof.

18. A mobile communications terminal comprising:

a processor;

a memory including software operable to implement a package of features;

a feature control daemon;

a transceiver coupled to said processor, said transceiver being operable to send and receive data through a wireless communications network coupled to a network, said processor being operable to access package features, for a mobile communications terminal user, provided through said wireless communications network and said network in connection with said feature control daemon providing authorization to access said package features.

19. A mobile communications terminal as recited in claim 18 wherein said processor is permitted use of said package features in connection with programming received by said transceiver from a remote station.

20. A mobile communications terminal as recited in claim 18 wherein said processor is denied use of said package features in connection with said feature control daemon failing to provide authorization.

21. A mobile communications terminal as recited in claim 18 wherein said package of features is selected from the group consisting of ring back tones, three-way calling, call waiting, voice mail, text messaging long distance calling, caller ID, picture messages, multimedia features, non-telephone applications and features, business applications, database access or a combination thereof.

22. A mobile communications terminal as recited in claim 18 further including a mobile operating system and an interface operable to receive inputs, said mobile operating system being operable to implement features previously approved for access through use of said feature control daemon in connection with inputs received by said interface using previously downloaded XML files, WML files, DLL files, exe files, binary files, JAR files, Perl files, BREW app., files C++ files, C files, C# files, other data, script or executables known to said smart phone, or a combination thereof.

23. A mobile communications terminal as recited in claim 18 wherein said network includes a plurality of routers connected together through the Internet.

24. A mobile communications terminal as recited in claim 18 wherein said network is connected within one consisting of a packet switched data network or a data switched network.

25. A mobile communications terminal as recited in claim 18 wherein said wireless network is selected from networks consisting of CDMA, WCDMA, UMTS, GSM, 802.11, BT, TDMA, or OFDMA networks.

26. A mobile communications terminal as recited in claim 18 further including an interface used to identify a user for communication with an authorization device through said transceiver.

27. A mobile communications terminal as recited in claim 26 wherein said interface includes a biometric sensor selected from the group consisting of a fingerprint reader, a retinal scanner, a voice recognition device or a combination thereof.

28. A mobile communications terminal as recited in claim 26 wherein said interface includes data entry devices consisting of a keypad, a touch pad screen, a track ball or a combination thereof.

29. A mobile communication terminal as recited in claim 18 wherein said network is an ATM network.

30. A method of doing business as recited in claim 18 wherein said package of features is provided through a subscription service.

31. A method of doing business wherein said mobile communications terminal as recited in claim 18 is provided access to a package of features through said network exclusive of a MSC.

32. A method of providing a package of services to a mobile station through a wireless network comprising:

receiving authorization code through a wireless network coupled to an ATM network in order to access features of a package authorized for a user; and

accessing features of said package, authorized by a feature control daemon within said mobile station, through said wireless network coupled to said ATM network.

33. A method of providing a package of services through a wireless network as recited in claim 32 wherein said features of said package are accessed without routing through a mobile switching center which is under the proprietary ownership of another entity.

34. A method as recited in claim 33 wherein said features of said package are accessed using 802.11 connections.

35. A method as recited in claim 33 wherein proprietary ownership includes ownership through being an affiliate, subsidiary, or division of said another entity.

36. A method of providing a package of services through a wireless network as recited in claim 32 wherein said features of said package are selected from the group consisting of ring back tones, three-way calling, call waiting, voice mail, text messaging or a combination thereof.

37. A method of providing a package of services through a wireless network as recited in claim 32 wherein said features of said package and said services include features and services that are not directly tied to phone calls.

38. A mobile communications system comprising:

a wireless communications network;

an ATM network coupled to said wireless communications network;

a authorization device connected to said ATM network; and

a package of features accessible through said authorization device, said authorization device being operable to provide authorization for use of features by a mobile communication terminal in connection with directives received from an entity remote from the mobile communication terminal.

39. A mobile communications system as recited in claim 38

wherein said wireless communications network is coupled to a plurality of mobile communications terminals.

40. A system as recited in claim 39 wherein selected authorized users of said mobile communications terminals are able to access features of said package without communications routing through a mobile switching center that is under the proprietary ownership of another entity.

41. A system as recited in claim 38 wherein said proprietary ownership includes ownership through being an affiliate, subsidiary, or division of said another entity.

42. A system as recited in claim 38 wherein said package of features is selected from the group consisting of ring back tones, three-way calling, call waiting, voice mail, text messaging, other features or a combination thereof.

43. A system as recited in claim 38 wherein said ATM network includes a plurality of routers connected together through the Internet.

44. A system as recited in claim 38 wherein said access device is an authorization server.

45. A system as recited in claim 38 wherein said ATM network is connected within a packet switched data network.

46. A system as recited in claim 38 wherein said ATM network is connected within a data switched data network.

47. A system as recited in claim 38 wherein said wireless communications network consists of a network selected from CDMA, WCDMA, UMTS, GSM, 802.11, BT, TDMA, or OFDMA networks.

48. A system as recited in claim 38 wherein said authorization device grants access to said package of features in connection with criteria controlled by an entity remote from said mobile communications terminal, selected from a current location of the mobile communication terminal, a time of day, specific end user rights, download of data, scripts executable source code or a combination thereof.

49. A mobile device comprising:

a transceiver;

a processor connected to said transceiver;

memory connected to said processor;

a feature control daemon operable to store feature control authorization information in said memory.

50. A mobile device as recited in claim 49 wherein said feature control daemon is further operable to wirelessly receive authorization information through said transceiver.

51. A mobile device as recited in claim 49 wherein said authorization information consists of files selected from XML fries, WML fries, DLL, exe, binary, JAR, Perl, BREW app., C++ tiles, C files, C# files, or other data, script or executable know to the device, or a combination thereof.

52. A mobile device as recited in claim 49 where said feature control daemon includes a mobile feature control application operable to spawn one or more additional mobile feature control application being operable to interrogate said memory for feature control information granting access to one or more features.

53. A mobile device as recited in claim 49 further including a mobile operating system wherein said mobile operation system permits smart phone access to features authorized in connection with feature control information stored in said memory.

54. A mobile device as recited in claim 49 further including a mobile operating system and an interface operable to receive inputs, said mobile operating system being operable to implement features approved for access through said feature control daemon in connection with inputs received by said interface.

55. A mobile device as recited in claim 49 further including a mobile operating system and an interface operable to receive inputs, said mobile operating system being operable to implement features previously approved for access through use of said feature control daemon in connection with inputs received by said interface, by using previously downloaded XML files, WML files, DLL, exe, binary, JAR, Perl, BREW app., C++ files, C files, C# files, or other data, script or executable know to the device, or a combination thereof.