Regulating use of a mobile computing device for a user at a selected location

• US 20120284325A1
• Filed: 05/02/2011
• Published: 11/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitel Networks Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitel Networks Corporation
• Inventors: Erb, Paul Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 8,738,772 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 Multiple levels of security
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/63 Location-dependent; Proximity-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/02 Access restriction performed under specific conditions

Abstract

A system and method for regulating use of a mobile computing device is disclosed. The method comprises identifying a location of the mobile computing device. A role of the user at the identified location is determined. Predetermined limitations are classified for the mobile computing device based on the role of the user at the identified location. A functionality of applications operating on the mobile computing device is regulated based on the predetermined limitations while the mobile computing device is at the identified location.

Claims

1. A method for regulating use of a mobile computing device for a user at a selected location, comprising:

identifying a location of the mobile computing device;

determining a role of the user at the identified location;

classifying predetermined limitations for the mobile computing device based on the role of the user at the identified location; and

regulating a functionality of applications operating on the mobile computing device based on the predetermined limitations while the mobile computing device is at the identified location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the location of the mobile computing device further comprises identifying the location using at least one of global positioning satellites, radio frequency triangulation using cellular towers, and a connection of the mobile computing device with a wireless routing device located at a predetermined site within the identified location.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the location of the mobile computing device further comprises identifying the location based on a location of the user.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing distinct limitations for the mobile computing device for different areas within the predetermined location.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a role of the user further comprises registering with a user database and determining the role of the user based on information in the user database.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising registering a client side functionality module with a server side functionality module operating on a computer server that is in communication with the user database.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising providing credentials to the computer server to perform the registration of the mobile computing device, wherein the credentials identify a user as belonging to a selected role.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling a member of a first role to alter the predetermined limitations for a predetermined period of time for a group of users in a second role.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a time of day and regulating the functionality of applications operating on the mobile computing device based on the time of day at the identified location.

10. A system for regulating use of a mobile computing device for a user at a selected location, comprising:

a location identification module configured to identify a location of a mobile computing device;

a user database operating on a server in communication with the mobile computing device, wherein the user database is configured to identify a role of the user of the mobile computing device and each role is assigned selected permissions;

a server side functionality module configured to operate on the server in communication with the mobile computing device, wherein the server side functionality module is configured to store a set of limitations for the mobile computing device based on the location of the mobile computing device and the role of the user; and

a client side functionality module configured to operate on the mobile computing device that is configured to regulate a functionality of the mobile computing device based on the set of limitations.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the client side functionality module is further configured to enable the user to alter the set of limitations for the mobile computing devices of a group of users for a selected time limit at a selected location when the role of the user provides the selected permissions.

12. The system of claim 10, further comprising a credentials server to verify the role of the user using predetermined credentials provided to the user.

13. A computer program product, comprising a computer usable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein, said computer readable program code adapted to be executed to implement a method for regulating use of a mobile computing device for a user at a selected location, comprising:

identifying a location of the mobile computing device;

determining a role of the user at the identified location;

classifying predetermined limitations for the mobile computing device based on the role of the user at the identified location; and

regulating a functionality of applications operating on the mobile computing device based on the predetermined limitations while the mobile computing device is at the identified location.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein identifying the location of the mobile computing device further comprises identifying the location using at least one of global positioning satellites, radio frequency triangulation using cellular towers, and a connection of the mobile computing device with a wireless routing device located at a predetermined site within the identified location.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing distinct limitations for the mobile computing device for different areas within the predetermined location.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein determining a role of the user further comprises registering with a user database and determining the role of the user based on information in the user database.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising registering a client side functionality module with a server side functionality module operating on a computer server that is in communication with the user database.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising providing credentials to the computer server to perform the registration of the mobile computing device, wherein the credentials identify a user as belonging to a selected role.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising enabling a member of a first role to alter the predetermined limitations for a predetermined period of time for a group of users in a second role.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising determining a time of day and regulating the functionality of applications operating on the mobile computing device based on the time of day at the identified location.