SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING OPERATION OF A MOBILE STATION

• US 20100229217A1
• Filed: 03/04/2009
• Published: 09/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Bhatia, Ashok
• Granted Patent: US 8,413,217 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/4
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed

Abstract

Systems, apparatuses, and methods disclosed herein allow a requesting party to control use of another user'"'"'s mobile station. In some aspects, a server is configured to communicate with a plurality of remote computer systems and target mobile stations. The server includes a memory device and a processor configured to access data and logic instructions embedded on the memory device. The server authenticates a requesting party accessing the computer server from one of the remote communication systems. The requesting party is not a user of a selected one of the target mobile stations. The server receives selective availability attributes for the selected one of the target mobile stations from the requesting party. The selective availability attributes indicate conditions under which the target mobile station is enabled or disabled to operate, and features that are available on the target mobile station under a plurality of conditions when the target mobile station is enabled. The server further determines when the target mobile station is operational and downloads the selective availability attributes to the target mobile station when the target mobile station is operational.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a computer server configured to communicate with a plurality of remote computer systems and target mobile stations, the server including a memory device and a processor configured to access data and logic instructions embedded on the memory device;

the logic instructions operable to cause the processor to;

authenticate a requesting party accessing the computer server from one of the remote communication systems, the requesting party is not a user of a selected one of the target mobile stations;

receive selective availability attributes for the selected one of the target mobile stations from the requesting party, the selective availability attributes indicate conditions under which the target mobile station is enabled or disabled to operate, and features that are available on the target mobile station under a plurality of conditions when the target mobile station is enabled;

determine when the target mobile station is operational; and

download the selective availability attributes to the target mobile station when the target mobile station is operational.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising.

logic instructions operable to cause the processor to:

receive a first message from the target mobile station indicating whether the selective availability attributes are successfully downloaded to the selected one of the target mobile stations; and

send a second message to the requesting party indicating whether the selective availability attributes have been successfully downloaded to the selected one of the target mobile stations.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

logic instructions operable to cause the processor to;

allow the requesting party to view and modify the selective availability attributes currently downloaded in the selected one of the target mobile stations.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

logic instructions operable to cause the processor to;

determine a plurality of target mobile stations associated with the requesting party;

present options to select one of the target mobile stations associated with the requesting party; and

allow the requesting party to specify different sets of selective availability attributes for different ones of the plurality of the target mobile stations.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

the selective availability attributes restrict features available on the target mobile station while the target mobile station is moving faster than a specified speed.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

the selective availability attributes restrict features available on the target mobile station during a specified time period.

7. A mobile station comprising:

a processor;

a computer-readable medium comprising;

code operable to cause the processor to;

receive and store selective availability attributes from a central server, the selective availability attributes indicate conditions under which the mobile station is enabled or disabled to operate, and features that are available on the mobile station under a plurality of conditions when the target mobile station is enabled; and

send a message to the centralized server indicating whether the selective availability attributes have been successfully downloaded to the mobile station.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

logic instructions operable to cause the processor to;

restrict features available on target mobile station while the mobile station is moving faster than a speed specified in the selective availability attributes.

9. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

logic instructions operable to cause the processor to;

restrict features available on the mobile station during a time period specified in the selective availability attributes.

10. The mobile station of claim 7, further comprising:

logic instructions operable to cause the processor to;

require authentication information before storing the selective availability attributes.

11. A computer-implemented method comprising:

authenticating a requesting party accessing a computer server from a remote communication system;

receiving selective availability attributes for a target mobile station from the requesting party, the requesting party is not a user of the target mobile station, the selective availability attributes indicating conditions under which the target mobile station is enabled or disabled to operate, and features that are available on the target mobile station under a plurality of conditions when the target mobile station is enabled;

determining when the target mobile station is operational; and

downloading the selective availability attributes to the target mobile station when the target mobile station is operational.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising.

receiving a first message from the target mobile station indicating whether the selective availability attributes are successfully downloaded to the target mobile station;

and

sending a second message to the requesting party indicating whether the selective availability attributes have been successfully downloaded to the target mobile station.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

allowing the requesting party to view and modify the selective availability attributes currently downloaded in the target mobile station.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining a plurality of target mobile stations associated with the requesting party;

presenting options to select one of the target mobile stations associated with the requesting party; and

allowing the requesting party to specify different sets of selective availability attributes for different ones of the plurality of the target mobile stations.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

the selective availability attributes restrict features available on the target mobile station while the target mobile station is moving faster than a specified speed.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

the selective availability attributes restrict features available on the target mobile station during a specified time period.

17. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving and storing selective availability attributes in a mobile station, the selective availability attributes indicating conditions under which the mobile station is enabled or disabled to operate, and features that are available on the mobile station when the target mobile station is enabled, the availability attributes are generated by a requesting party and the availability attributes cannot be modified or deleted by the user of the mobile station; and

sending a message to the server indicating whether the selective availability attributes have been successfully downloaded to the mobile station.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

restricting features available on target mobile station while the mobile station is moving faster than a speed specified in the selective availability features.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

restricting features available on the mobile station during a time period specified in the selective availability attributes.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

requiring authentication information before storing the selective availability attributes.

21. A computer server comprising:

means for authenticating a requesting party accessing a computer server from a remote communication system;

means for receiving selective availability attributes for a target mobile station from the requesting party, the selective availability attributes indicating conditions under which the target mobile station is enabled or disabled to operate, and features that are available on the target mobile station under a plurality of conditions when the target mobile station is enabled;

means for determining when the target mobile station is operational; and

means for downloading the selective availability attributes to the target mobile station when the target mobile station is operational.

22. The computer server of claim 21, further comprising.

means for receiving a first message from the target mobile station indicating whether the selective availability attributes are successfully downloaded to the target mobile station;

and

means for sending a second message to the requesting party indicating whether the selective availability attributes have been successfully downloaded to the target mobile station.

23. The computer server of claim 21, further comprising:

means for allowing the requesting party to view and modify the selective availability attributes currently downloaded in the target mobile station.

24. The computer server of claim 21, further comprising:

means for determining a plurality of target mobile stations associated with the requesting party;

means for presenting options to select one of the target mobile stations associated with the requesting party; and

means for allowing the requesting party to specify different sets of selective availability attributes for different ones of the plurality of the target mobile stations.

25. The computer server of claim 21, further comprising:

the selective availability attributes restrict features available on the target mobile station while the target mobile station is moving faster than a specified speed.

26. The computer server of claim 21, further comprising:

the selective availability attributes restrict features available on the target mobile station during a specified time period.

27. A mobile station comprising:

means for receiving and storing selective availability attributes in a mobile station from a server, the selective availability attributes indicating conditions under which the mobile station is enabled or disabled to operate, and features that are available on the mobile station under a plurality of conditions when the target mobile station is enabled; and

means for sending a message to the server indicating whether the selective availability attributes have been successfully downloaded to the mobile station.

28. The mobile station of claim 27, further comprising:

means for restricting features available on target mobile station while the mobile station is moving faster than a specified speed based on the selective availability features.

29. The mobile station of claim 27, further comprising:

means for restricting features available on the mobile station during a specified time period based on the selective availability attributes.

30. The mobile station of claim 27, further comprising:

means for requiring authentication information before storing the selective availability attributes.

31. A mobile device comprising:

one or more motion sensors configured to detect motion of the mobile device;

control logic to determine whether the detected motion of the mobile device indicates device control of one or more functions of the mobile device is to be initiated; and

control logic to change the availability of one or more functions of the mobile device if the detected motion of the mobile station indicates that device control of one or more functions of the mobile device is to be initiated.

32. The mobile device of claim 31, further comprising:

memory storing time limitation information indicative of one or more time intervals during which device control may be initiated;

control logic to compare a current time to the time limitation information to determine whether the current time is included in the one or more time intervals; and

wherein changing the availability of the one or more functions of the mobile device comprises changing the availability of the one or more functions of the mobile device if the detected motion of the mobile station indicates that device control of one or more functions of the mobile device is to be initiated and if the current time is included in the one or more time intervals

33. The mobile device of claim 31, further comprising a processor, and wherein the control logic comprises executable instructions stored in a computer readable medium to be executed by the processor.

34. The mobile device of claim 31, wherein the control logic comprises one or more gates implemented in hardware and/or firmware.

35. The mobile device of claim 31, wherein the control logic to change the availability of one or more functions of the mobile device comprises control logic to disable one or more functions selected from the group consisting of voice messaging, text messaging, and game functionality.

36. A method of controlling a mobile device comprising:

detecting motion of the mobile device using one or more motion sensors in communication with the the mobile device;

determining whether the detected motion of the mobile station indicates device control of one or more functions of the mobile device is to be initiated; and

changing the availability of one or more functions of the mobile device if the detected motion of the mobile station indicates that device control of one or more functions of the mobile device is to be initiated.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

storing time limitation information indicative of one or more time intervals during which device control may be initiated;

comparing a current time to the time limitation information to determine whether the current time is included in the one or more time intervals; and

wherein changing the availability of the one or more functions of the mobile device comprises changing the availability of the one or more functions of the mobile device if the detected motion of the mobile station indicates that device control of one or more functions of the mobile device is to be initiated and if the current time is included in the one or more time intervals

38. The method of claim 36, wherein changing the availability of the one or more functions of the mobile device comprises disabling one or more functions selected from the group consisting of voice messaging, text messaging, and game functionality.

39. A mobile device comprising:

means for detecting motion of the mobile device;

means for determining whether the detected motion of the mobile station indicates device control of one or more functions of the mobile device is to be initiated; and

means for changing the availability of one or more functions of the mobile device if the detected motion of the mobile station indicates that device control of one or more functions of the mobile device is to be initiated.

40. The mobile device of claim 39, further comprising:

means for storing time limitation information indicative of one or more time intervals during which device control may be initiated;

means for comparing a current time to the time limitation information to determine whether the current time is included in the one or more time intervals; and

wherein the means for changing the availability of the one or more functions of the mobile device comprises means for changing the availability of the one or more functions of the mobile device if the detected motion of the mobile station indicates that device control of one or more functions of the mobile device is to be initiated and if the current time is included in the one or more time intervals

41. The mobile device of claim 39, wherein the means for changing the availability of the one or more functions of the mobile device comprises means for disabling one or more functions selected from the group consisting of voice messaging, text messaging, and game functionality.

42. A computer readable medium including instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause one or more machines to perform operations comprising:

receiving motion sensor information indicative of detected motion of a mobile device;

determining from the motion sensor information whether the detected motion of the mobile station indicates device control of one or more functions of the mobile device is to be initiated; and

changing the availability of one or more functions of the mobile device if the detected motion of the mobile station indicates that device control of one or more functions of the mobile device is to be initiated.

43. The computer readable medium of claim 42, the operations further comprising:

accessing stored time limitation information indicative of one or more time intervals during which device control may be initiated;

accessing current time information indicative of a current time;

comparing the current time information to the time limitation information to determine whether the current time is included in the one or more time intervals; and

wherein changing the availability of the one or more functions of the mobile device comprises changing the availability of the one or more functions of the mobile device if the detected motion of the mobile station indicates that device control of one or more functions of the mobile device is to be initiated and if the current time is included in the one or more time intervals

44. The method of claim 42, wherein changing the availability of the one or more functions of the mobile device comprises generating an indicator to be used to disable one or more functions selected from the group consisting of voice messaging, text messaging, and game functionality.