Method and apparatus for restricting operation of cellular telephones to well delineated geographical areas

• US 6,011,973 A
• Filed: 12/05/1996
• Issued: 01/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Valentine, Eric, Alperovich, Vladimir
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Wellington
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jama, Isaak R.
• Application Number:
  US08/759,997
• Time in Patent Office: 1,125 Days
• Field of Search: 455/12.1, 455/419, 455/550, 455/411, 455/456, 455/457, 455/825.06
• US Class Current: 455/456.6
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for restricting operation of a cellular telephone to well delineated geographical areas. The cellular telephone is equipped with a location device for ascertaining the current geographical location of the cellular telephone. The ascertained geographical location is compared with information pertaining to the allowability of operation of cellular telephones in various geographical locations. A determination is made as to whether the cellular telephone is allowed to operate in its current geographical location. The cellular telephone accordingly enables or disables transmitting by the transceiver of the cellular telephone.

Claims

1. A system for restricting operation of a cellular telephone based on the geographical location of the cellular telephone comprising:

in the cellular telephone;

a locating device within the cellular telephone for ascertaining the geographical location of the cellular telephone;

a transceiver for transmitting to a serving cellular telephone network the geographical location of the cellular telephone in accordance with network requests; and

a controller for disabling the transceiver from transmitting in response to receiving a signal from the cellular telephone network denying operation of the cellular telephone; and

in the serving cellular telephone network;

means for determining whether the cellular telephone is allowed to operate in the ascertained geographical location;

means for dynamically increasing the rate of which the serving cellular telephone network requests location updates from the cellular telephone as the ascertained geographical location of the cellular telephone approaches a restricted area; and

the serving cellular telephone network further for transmitting a signal authorizing or denying operation of the cellular telephone.

2. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the locating device for ascertaining the geographical location of the cellular telephone is a Global Positioning System Receiver.

3. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the means for determining whether the cellular telephone is allowed to operate in the ascertained geographical location comprises:

a database pertaining to authorization to operate in geographical locations, the database accessible by the cellular telephone network.

4. The system recited in claim 3, wherein the cellular telephone network stores the most recent ascertained location.

5. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the serving cellular telephone network further for transmitting a parameter, with each signal denying operation, instructing the cellular telephone when to transmit the next geographical location update.

6. The system recited in claim 5, the parameter further for instructing the cellular telephone of a period of time which must elapse before the cellular telephone can retransmit its ascertained geographical coordinates.

7. The system recited in claim 5, the parameter further for instructing the cellular telephone at least one of a distance the cellular telephone must travel from its current geographical location before retransmitting a new ascertained geographical location and a set of geographical coordinates beyond which the cellular telephone must travel before retransmitting.

8. A method for restricting operation of a cellular telephone based on the geographical location of the cellular telephone comprising the steps of:

ascertaining the geographical location of the cellular telephone;

requesting the cellular telephone to transmit the ascertained geographical location to a serving cellular telephone network;

dynamically increasing the rate of requesting the ascertained geographical location of the cellular telephone as the cellular telephone approaches a restricted area;

determining whether operation of the cellular telephone is allowed in the ascertained geographical location; and

enabling or disabling transmissions by the cellular telephone depending on whether operation is determined to be allowed or prohibited, respectively, in the ascertained geographical location.

9. The method recited in claim 8, wherein the step of determining whether operation is allowed further comprises comparing the ascertained geographical location to information contained in the cellular telephone pertaining to the authorization to operate in geographical locations.

10. The method recited in claim 8, wherein the step of determining whether operation is allowed comprises the steps of:

transmitting tyhe ascertained geopgraphical location to a cellular telephone;

network;

comparing, by the cellular telephone network, the transmitted ascertained geographical location with information contained in the cellular telephone network pertaining to the authorization to operate in geographical locations;

transmitting a signal authorizing operation if operation is allowed in the ascertained geographical location;

otherwise

transmitting a signal denying operation if operation is not allowed in the ascertained geographical location; and

transmitting a parameter, along with each signal denying operation, instructing the cellular telephone when to transmit the next geographical location update.

11. The method recited in claim 10, the parameter further for instructing the cellular telephone at least one of a distance the cellular telephone must travel from its current geographical location before retransmitting a new ascertained geographical location and a set of geographical coordinates beyond which the cellular telephone must travel before retransmitting and a period of time which must elapse before the cellular telephone can retransmit its ascertained geographical coordinates.