METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OPT-IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATIONS

• US 20140357246A1
• Filed: 05/28/2013
• Published: 12/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: West Texas Technology Partners LLC
• Original Assignee: Atheer, Inc.
• Inventors: Itani, Sleiman, Fateh, Sina
• Granted Patent: US 10,637,984 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0245 according to signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Disclosed are methods, systems and paradigms for opt-in compliance with regulations. A region in physical space is defined. A condition for the region is defined, the condition being a capability of a communicator such as video recording, still image recording, audio recording, audio output, text messaging, audio communication, or remote connection. The presence and location of a communicator with the capability is detected in the region, and a message is sent to the communicator with a request for a response accepting or rejecting remote deactivation of the capability of the communicator. If an acceptance response is received, the communicator capability is deactivated. If an acceptance response is not received, a notification is generated that includes the lack of acceptance response and the location of the communicator.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

defining a region;

defining a condition for said region;

detecting a presence and a location of a communicator in said region;

detecting a presence and a location of said condition in said region;

associating said condition with said communicator;

sending a message to said communicator, said message including a request for a response;

executing a first action if a response including acceptance of a content of said message is received; and

executing a second action if said response is received without said acceptance.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said region is defined in a physical space.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said communicator includes at least one of a phone, a personal data assistant, a tablet, a laptop computer, or a head mounted display.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said condition includes a capability of said communicator.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said capability includes at least one of a video recording capability, a still image recording capability, an audio recording capability, an audio output capability, a text messaging capability, an audio communication capability, or a remote connection capability.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said message includes an yes or a no option.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said message includes a request for permission to deactivate a capability of said communicator.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said first action includes deactivating a capability of said communicator.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the deactivating said capability of said communicator includes sending a deactivation instruction to said communicator.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said capability includes at least one of a video recording capability, a still image recording capability, an audio recording capability, an audio output capability, a text messaging capability, an audio communication capability, or a remote connection capability.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said second action includes generating a notification, the notification including at least a lack of said response including acceptance and said location of said communicator.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said second action further includes communicating said notification to a recipient.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said recipient includes at least one of a video display, an audio speaker, or a data store.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting said presence of said condition includes querying said communicator for said presence of said condition therein.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

defining first and second regions;

defining said condition for said first and second regions;

detecting said presence and said location of said communicator within said first and second regions;

detecting said presence and said location of said condition in said first and second regions;

sending a first message to said communicator when said communicator is in said first region;

sending a second message to said communicator when said communicator is in said second region, said second message including said request for said response;

executing said first action if said response including acceptance of said content of said message is received; and

executing said second action if said response including acceptance is not received.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said first message includes an advisory regarding said condition.

17. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

executing a third action when said presence of said communicator is no longer detected in said region.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein said first action includes deactivating a capability of said communicator and said third action includes reactivating said capability of said communicator.

19. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor, said processor adapted to define a region and to define a condition for said region;

a sensor in communication with said processor, said sensor adapted to detect a presence and a location of a first communicator in said region, and to detect a presence and a location of said condition in said region;

a second communicator in communication with said processor, said second communicator adapted to (i) send a message to said first communicator, said message including a request for a response to said message, and (ii) receive said response; and

wherein said processor is further adapted to

associate said condition with said first communicator,

execute a first action if an acceptance response to said message is received, and

execute a second action if said acceptance response to said message is not received.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising:

a recipient in communication with said processor, said processor adapted to generate a notification if said acceptance response is not received, and said recipient adapted to receive said notification from said processor.

21. An apparatus, comprising:

means for defining a region;

means for defining a condition for said region;

means for detecting a presence and a location of a communicator in said region;

means for detecting a presence and a location of said condition in said region;

means for associating said condition with said communicator;

means for sending a message to said communicator, said message including a request for a response to said message;

means for receiving said response;

means for executing a first action if a response is received including acceptance of a content of said message; and

means for executing a second action if said response including acceptance is not received.

22. An article of manufacture comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium containing machine executable instructions which, when executed by a machine, performs a method of;

defining a region;

defining a condition for said region;

detecting a presence and a location of a second communicator in said region;

detecting a presence and a location of said condition in said region;

associating said condition with said second communicator;

sending a message, from a first communicator to said second communicator, said message including a request for a response to said message;

receiving said response at said first communicator;

executing a first action if an acceptance response to said message is received; and

executing a second action if said acceptance response is not received.

23. A method, comprising:

defining, by a processor, a region;

defining, by the processor, a condition for said region;

detecting, by a sensor in communication with the processor, a presence and a location of a second communicator in said region;

detecting, by the sensor, a presence and a location of said condition in said region;

associating, by said processor, said condition with said second communicator;

sending, by a first communicator, a message to said second communicator, said message comprising a request for a response to said message;

receiving, by said first communicator, said response;

executing, by said processor, a first action if an acceptance response to said message is received; and

execute, by said processor, a second action if said acceptance response is not received.

24. A method comprising:

defining a region in a physical space;

defining a condition for said region, said condition including a capability of a communicator, said capability including at least one of a video recording capability, a still image recording capability, an audio recording capability, an audio output capability, a text messaging capability, an audio communication capability, or a remote connection capability;

detecting a presence and a location of said communicator with said condition in said region;

sending a message to said communicator, said message including a request for a response including acceptance or rejection of deactivation of said capability of said communicator;

if an acceptance response is received, deactivating said capability; and

if said acceptance response is not received, generating a notification including at least a lack of said acceptance response and said location of said communicator.