Methods And Apparatus For Providing Restrictions On Long Distance Calls From A Wireless Communication Device
First Claim
1. A method in a wireless communication device for use in providing restrictions on long distance calls attempted from the wireless communication device via a cellular telecommunications network, the method comprising the acts of:
- causing data synchronization to be regularly performed, over a wireless link of the cellular telecommunications network, for user data items of a personal information manager application of the wireless device and corresponding user data items stored in association with a host enterprise server, the host enterprise server being connected in a private communication network which is not part of any cellular telecommunications network within which the wireless device is adapted to operate;
receiving, over a wireless link of the cellular telecommunications network, long distance call restriction information from the host enterprise server in the private communication network, the long distance call restriction information being indicative of one or more country codes or area codes;
storing the long distance call restriction information received from the host enterprise server;
determining whether a call attempt from the wireless device is restricted by comparing a country code or area code of a telephone number of the call attempt with the one or more country codes or area codes of the long distance call restriction information;
if the call attempt is determined to be restricted based on the comparing, prohibit the call attempt from the wireless device over the cellular telecommunications network; and
if the call attempt is determined to not be restricted based on the comparing, allowing the call attempt from the wireless device for establishing a call via the cellular telecommunications network.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for providing restrictions on long distance calls from wireless communication devices. The wireless devices are preferably combined voice and data communication devices. In one illustrative example, each wireless device receives and stores long distance call restriction information which is pushed from a private computer network through the wireless network. During typical operation, a wireless device determines whether call attempts from the wireless device are restricted by the long distance call restriction information. If a call attempt is restricted by the long distance call restriction information, the wireless device restricts the call attempt from the wireless device and provides for a call restriction alert indication (e.g. an alert tone or visual text). If a call attempt is not restricted by the long distance call restriction information, the wireless device allows the call attempt from the wireless device. Advantageously, control over long distance calls may be established on a per-user basis in the private home network.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method in a wireless communication device for use in providing restrictions on long distance calls attempted from the wireless communication device via a cellular telecommunications network, the method comprising the acts of:
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causing data synchronization to be regularly performed, over a wireless link of the cellular telecommunications network, for user data items of a personal information manager application of the wireless device and corresponding user data items stored in association with a host enterprise server, the host enterprise server being connected in a private communication network which is not part of any cellular telecommunications network within which the wireless device is adapted to operate; receiving, over a wireless link of the cellular telecommunications network, long distance call restriction information from the host enterprise server in the private communication network, the long distance call restriction information being indicative of one or more country codes or area codes; storing the long distance call restriction information received from the host enterprise server; determining whether a call attempt from the wireless device is restricted by comparing a country code or area code of a telephone number of the call attempt with the one or more country codes or area codes of the long distance call restriction information; if the call attempt is determined to be restricted based on the comparing, prohibit the call attempt from the wireless device over the cellular telecommunications network; and if the call attempt is determined to not be restricted based on the comparing, allowing the call attempt from the wireless device for establishing a call via the cellular telecommunications network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A wireless communication device, comprising:
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a radio modem which is configured to provide communications via a cellular telecommunications network; memory; a user interface which is configured to receive a telephone call attempt from the wireless device; a controller coupled to the radio modem, the memory, and the user interface, the controller being configured to; cause data synchronization to be regularly performed, via the cellular telecommunications network with use of the radio modem, for user data items of a personal information manager application of the wireless device and corresponding user data items stored in association with a host enterprise server, the host enterprise server being connected in a private communication network which is not part of any cellular telecommunications network within which the wireless device is adapted to operate; receive, over the cellular telecommunications network with use of the radio modem, long distance call restriction information from the host enterprise server of the private communication network, the long distance call restriction information being indicative of one or more country codes or area codes; store the long distance call restriction information in the memory; determine whether the call attempt is restricted by comparing a country code or area code of a telephone number of the call attempt with the one or more country codes or area codes of the long distance call restriction information; if the controller determines that the call attempt is restricted by the long distance call restriction information based on the comparing, prohibit the call attempt from the wireless device via the cellular telecommunications network; and if the controller determines that the call attempt is not restricted by the long distance call restriction information based on the comparing, allow the call attempt from the wireless device for establishing a call via the cellular telecommunications network. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A host enterprise server configured for connecting in a private computer network of an enterprise which is associated with a plurality of wireless communication devices, wherein the private computer network is not part of any cellular telecommunications network within which the plurality of wireless communication devices are adapted to operate, the host enterprise server comprising:
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the host enterprise server being configured to regularly perform, for each one of the wireless devices via the cellular telecommunications network, data synchronization for user data items of a personal information manager application of the wireless device and corresponding user data items stored in association with the host enterprise server; the host enterprise server being further configured to access memory which is adapted to store a plurality of user profiles associated with the plurality of wireless devices, each user profile having user profile information which is unique to a wireless device thereof and including long distance call restriction information which is indicative of one or more country codes or area codes for restricting long distance telephone call attempts from the wireless device; and the host enterprise server being further configured to cause, for each one of the wireless devices, the long distance call restriction information to be sent to the wireless device, via the cellular telecommunications network, for restricting the long distance telephone call attempts from the wireless device. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A communication system, comprising:
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a host enterprise server which is configured to connect to a host computer network of an enterprise; memory of the host enterprise server; the memory for storing user profile information which is unique to a wireless communication device or a subscriber thereof in the enterprise; the user profile information including long distance call restriction information which is indicative of one or more country codes or area codes; the host enterprise server being configured to connect with the host computer network which is not part of any cellular telecommunication network within which the wireless device is adapted to operate; the host enterprise server being further configured to regularly perform data synchronization, over a wireless link of a cellular telecommunication network, for user data items of a personal information manager application of the wireless device and corresponding user data items stored in association with the host enterprise server; the host enterprise server being further configured to cause the long distance call restriction information to be sent to the wireless device through the host computer network and the wireless network; the wireless device including; a radio modem which is configured to receive the long distance call restriction information through the wireless network; memory which stores the long distance call restriction information; a user interface which is configured to receive a telephone call attempt; a controller which is configured to; determine whether the call attempt is restricted by comparing a country code or area code of a telephone number of the call attempt with the one or more country codes or area codes of the long distance call restriction information; if the call attempt is restricted based on the comparing, prohibit the call attempt from the wireless device over the wireless network; and if the call attempt is not restricted based on the comparing, allow the call attempt from the wireless device for establishing a call over the cellular telecommunications network. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification