SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SELECTING PARAMETERS BASED ON PHYSICAL LOCATION OF A COMPUTER DEVICE

• US 20090195445A1
• Filed: 01/31/2008
• Published: 08/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ronald J. Dehaas
• Original Assignee: Ronald J. Dehaas
• Inventors: DeHaas, Ronald J.
• Application Number:
  US12/023,576
• Publication Number:
  US 20090195445A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/357.75
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0009 Transmission of position information to remote stations involving assistance data G01S5/0236
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/107 wherein the security policies are location-dependent, e.g. entities privileges depend on current location or allowing specific operations only from locally connected terminals

Abstract

A system to predefine multiple allowed activities of a wireless computing device based on geographic location and, specifically, for security parameters associated with wireless access of such devices. Wireless access can be controlled on a movable computing device by ascertaining a geographic location of computing device, using a position sensing device; coupling motion sensing device with computing device; determining whether geographic location is within a predefined zone; and generating a command for controlling wireless access in response to determining. Commands can be derived from a predetermined table of allowed wireless activities in a geographically defined area and, specifically, for security parameters associated with the computing device. Wireless activities can include Internet protocols, instant messaging, email, and newsgroups. The commands can include blocking all wireless access, restricting file sharing, restricting Internet access, restricting email, restricting newsgroups, restricting instant messaging, and generating reports.

Claims

1. A method for controlling wireless access of a movable computing device, comprising;

ascertaining a geographic location of said computing device using a position sensing device;

coupling said position sensing device with said computing device;

determining whether said geographic location is within a pre-defined zone; and

generating a command for controlling said wireless access comprising restricting file-sharing in response to said determining.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

detecting motion of said computing device using a motion sensing device;

coupling said motion sensing device with said position sensing device; and

determining geographic location upon each motion detected.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said ascertaining of said geographic location comprises using a satellite-based position determining system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said ascertaining of said geographic location comprises using a terrestrial-base position determining system to determine said geographic location.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of generating a command is drawn from a table of allowed wireless activities both inside and outside of a geographically restricted area, said wireless activities based on security parameters associated with the computing device.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein wireless access is selected from the list of:

Internet protocols, instant messaging, email, and newsgroups.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the command for controlling said wireless access further comprises restricting Internet access.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of generating a table of commands by a security guardian.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of generating a table of commands includes:

generating a whitelist;

generating a blacklist;

generating a time chart for specific wireless uses with specified time parameters; and

generating a list of reporting parameters to be sent to a third party.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of generating a time chart includes parameters for time of day and or duration.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

monitoring tampering of the controlling of the wireless access of the computing device; and

disabling said device in response to said tampering.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein tampering of the controlling is disabling the controlling of the wireless access of the device.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the generating of a list of reporting parameters to be sent to a third party comprises generating an event and the geographic location of the computing device.

14. A method for controlling wireless access of a movable computing device, comprising:

ascertaining a geographic location of said computing device using a position sensing device;

coupling said position sensing device with said computing device;

determining whether said geographic location is within a pre-defined zone; and

generating a command for controlling said wireless access comprising restricting Internet access in response to said determining.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the command for controlling said wireless access further comprises restricting email and restricting instant messaging.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the command for controlling said wireless access further comprises restricting newsgroups.

17. A method for controlling wireless access of a movable computing device, comprising:

ascertaining a geographic location of said computing device, using a position sensing device;

coupling said position sensing device with said computing device;

determining whether said geographic location is within a pre-defined zone; and

generating a command for controlling said wireless access comprising restricting email and restricting instant messaging in response to said determining.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the command for controlling said wireless access further comprises restricting file sharing.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the command for controlling said wireless access further comprises restricting newsgroups.