SELECTED RESTRICTION OF WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SERVICES

• US 20120009937A1
• Filed: 07/08/2010
• Published: 01/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Daly, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 8,744,480 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/50 Flanged connections
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/69 Redundant disconnection blocking means
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/0635 fastened over the edges of the sheets or plates
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/126 at least one of the sheets, plates, bars or strips having integrally formed or integrally connected snap-in-features
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/01 Satellite radio beacon positioning systems transmitting time-stamped messages, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System], GLONASS [Global Orbiting Navigation Satellite System] or GALILEO
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/088 using filters or firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/02 Access restriction performed under specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities

Abstract

Wireless communications services on a wireless communications device are selectively restricted in accordance with a location of the wireless device and specific permission and/or restrictions assigned to the wireless device while within/at the location. Services can be selectively blocked (denied), selectively modified, or selectively allowed on a wireless device based on lists indicating permissibility for specific services for specific devices at/within specific locations. A location can be a zone of coverage of a cellular tower, micro/pico/Femto cell or wireless access point, a sector of a zone of coverage, a geographic region within a zone of coverage, or any appropriate combination thereof

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an indication of a wireless communication device;

receiving an indication of a zone of coverage in which the wireless communication device is located;

determining, from the indication of the wireless communication device and the indication of the zone of coverage, a permissibility of a service for the wireless communication device; and

performing at least one of;

allowing the service for the wireless communication device while within the zone of coverage;

restricting the service for the wireless communication device while within the zone of coverage;

or

denying the service for the wireless communication device while within the zone of coverage.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the zone of coverage comprises a zone of coverage of at least one of a cellular tower, a micro cell, a pico cell, a Femto cell, or a wireless access point.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of a zone of coverage comprises a cell ID.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of a wireless communication device comprises at least one of:

an international mobile equipment identity of the wireless communication device;

a telephone number of the wireless communication device;

or

a mobile subscriber integrated services digital network number of the wireless communication device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a region in which the wireless communication device is located, the region being within the zone of coverage;

determining, from the indication of the wireless communication device and the region, a permissibility of a service for the wireless communication device; and

performing at least one of;

allowing, without restriction, the service for the wireless communication device while within the region;

or

restricting the service for the wireless communication device while within the region.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the region comprises geographic boundaries.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the region is determined utilizing a global position system.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein restricting the service comprises at least one of:

denying the service;

or

restricting the service in part.

9. A network entity comprising:

an input/output portion that;

receives an indication of a wireless communication device;

receives an indication of a zone of coverage in which the wireless communication device is located; and

a processing portion that;

determines, from the indication of the wireless communication device and the indication of the zone of coverage, a permissibility of a service for the wireless communication device; and

performs at least one of;

allowing the service for the wireless communication device while within the zone of coverage;

restricting the service for the wireless communication device while within the zone of coverage;

or

denying the service for the wireless communication device while within the zone of coverage.

10. The network entity of claim 9, wherein the zone of coverage comprises a zone of coverage of at least one of a cellular tower, a micro cell, a pico cell, a Femto cell, or a wireless access point.

11. The network entity of claim 9, wherein the indication of a zone of coverage comprises a cell ID.

12. The network entity of claim 9, wherein the indication of a wireless communication device comprises at least one of:

an international mobile equipment identity of the wireless communication device;

a telephone number of the wireless communication device;

or

a mobile subscriber integrated services digital network number of the wireless communication device.

13. The network entity of claim 9, wherein the processing portion further:

determines a region in which the wireless communication device is located, the region being within the zone of coverage;

determines, from the indication of the wireless communication device and the region, a permissibility of a service for the wireless communication device; and

performs at least one of;

allowing, without restriction, the service for the wireless communication device while within the region;

or

restricting the service for the wireless communication device while within the region.

14. The network entity of claim 13, wherein the region comprises geographic boundaries.

15. The network entity of claim 13, wherein the region is determined utilizing a global position system.

16. The network entity of claim 9, wherein restricting the service comprises at least one of:

denying the service;

or

restricting the service in part.

17. A wireless communications device comprising:

an input/output portion that;

provides an indication of the wireless communication device;

provides an indication of a zone of coverage in which the wireless communication device is located; and

a processing portion that;

determines, from the indication of the wireless communication device and the indication of the zone of coverage, a permissibility of a service for the wireless communication device; and

performs at least one of;

allowing the service for the wireless communication device while within the zone of coverage;

restricting the service for the wireless communication device while within the zone of coverage;

or

denying the service for the wireless communication device while within the zone of coverage.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the processing portion further:

determines a region in which the wireless communication device is located, the region being within the zone of coverage;

determines, from the indication of the wireless communication device and the region, a permissibility of a service for the wireless communication device; and

performs at least one of;

allowing, without restriction, the service for the wireless communication device while within the region;

or

restricting the service for the wireless communication device while within the region.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein the indication of a zone of coverage and the indication of the wireless communications device are provided during registration of the wireless communications device with a network.

20. The device of claim 17, wherein restricting the service comprises at least one of:

denying the service;

or restricting the service in part.