USAGE CONTROL SERVICES PERFORMED IN AN END USER DEVICE

• US 20110078767A1
• Filed: 09/30/2009
• Published: 03/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Hua, Suzann, Cai, Yigang
• Granted Patent: US 8,347,362 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for providing usage control of communication services within an end user device. A system in the network receives input from a controlling party defining usage restrictions for the end user device. The system then generates a usage control profile, and transmits the usage control profile to the end user device. The end user device then monitors activities in the device to identify a communication attempt (e.g., an incoming voice call). When a communication attempt is identified, the end user device processes the usage control profile to determine whether the communication attempt is authorized, and allows the communication attempt to continue if the attempt is authorized. If the attempt is not authorized, then the end user device blocks the communication attempt.

Claims

1. A network management system comprising:

a subscriber interface operable to receive input from a controlling party defining usage restrictions for an end user device;

a control system operable to process the input from the controlling party to generate a usage control profile for the end user device; and

a device interface operable to transmit the usage control profile to the end user device so that the end user device is able to provide usage control based on the usage control profile.

2. The network management system of claim 1 wherein:

the subscriber interface comprises a website that allows the controlling party to enter the input.

3. The network management system of claim 2 wherein:

the website provides options for the usage restrictions that are selectable by the controlling party as the input.

4. The network management system of claim 1 wherein:

the device interface is further operable to transmit the usage control profile to the end user device using Over The Air (OTA) programming.

5. The network management system of claim 1 wherein:

the device interface is further operable to transmit a text/multimedia message to the end user device instructing the end user device to download the usage control profile.

6. The network management system of claim 1 wherein:

the subscriber interface is further operable to receive additional input from the controlling party defining modified usage restrictions for the end user device;

the control system is further operable to process the additional input to generate an update message; and

the device interface is operable to transmit the update message to the end user device to update the usage control profile for the end user device.

7. A method of providing usage control within an end user device, the method comprising:

receiving input from a controlling party defining usage restrictions for an end user device;

processing the input from the controlling party to generate a usage control profile for the end user device; and

transmitting the usage control profile to the end user device so that the end user device is able to provide usage control based on the usage control profile.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein receiving input from a controlling party comprises:

receiving the input from the controlling party through a website.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the website provides options for the usage restrictions that are selectable by the controlling party as the input.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein transmitting the usage control profile to the end user device comprises:

transmitting the usage control profile to the end user device using Over The Air (OTA) programming.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein transmitting the usage control profile to the end user device comprises:

transmitting a text/multimedia message to the end user device instructing the end user device to download the usage control profile.

12. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

receiving additional input from the controlling party defining modified usage restrictions for the end user device;

processing the additional input to generate an update message; and

transmitting the update message to the end user device to update the usage control profile for the end user device.

13. An end user device comprising:

a network interface operable to receive a usage control profile from a communication network for an end user device, wherein the usage control profile comprises usage restrictions defined by a controlling party; and

a usage control system operable to monitor activities in the end user device to identify a communication attempt, to process the usage control profile to determine whether the communication attempt is authorized, to allow the communication attempt to continue responsive to a determination that the communication attempt is authorized, and to block the communication attempt in the end user device responsive to a determination that the communication attempt is not authorized.

14. The end user device of claim 13 further comprising:

a user interface operable to provide a notification to an end user that the communication attempt was blocked.

15. The end user device of claim 13 wherein:

the usage control system is further operable to provide a notification to another party that the communication attempt was blocked.

16. The end user device of claim 13 wherein:

the network interface is further operable to receive an update message from the communication network; and

the usage control system is further operable to process the update message to update the usage control profile.

17. The end user device of claim 16 wherein the update message comprises a text/multimedia message sent by the controlling party.

18. The end user device of claim 16 wherein the update message comprises an Over The Air (OTA) programming message sent by a network management system in the communication network.

19. The end user device of claim 13 wherein if the communication attempt comprises an incoming text/multimedia message, then the usage control system is further operable to store the text/multimedia message until the text/multimedia message is authorized according to the usage control profile, and to allow the text/multimedia message to be displayed to the end user when authorized.

20. The end user device of claim 13 wherein if the communication attempt comprises an outgoing text/multimedia message, then the usage control system is further operable to store the text/multimedia message until the text/multimedia message is authorized according to the usage control profile, and to allow the text/multimedia message to be sent to the communication network when authorized.