Automated device behavior management based on preset preferences

• US 7,305,234 B1
• Filed: 07/26/2005
• Issued: 12/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: White, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): TIEU, BINH KIEN
• Application Number:
  US11/190,488
• Time in Patent Office: 861 Days
• Field of Search: 455407-408, 455/414.1, 455418-419, 379/114.01, 379/114.03, 379/114.06, 379/130
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/06 Recording class or number of calling , i.e. A-party or called party , i.e. B-party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/28 with meter at substation or with calculation of charges at terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/705 Account settings, e.g. limits or numbers or payment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/745 Customizing according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. friends or family
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/83 Notification aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/88 Provision for limiting connection, or expenditure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0108 Customization according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. customer preferences, friends and family, selecting services or billing options, Personal Communication Systems [PCS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0116 Provision for limiting expenditure, e.g. limit on call expenses or account
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7009 Account settings, e.g. users, terminals, limits, numbers or payment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/81 Notifying aspects, e.g. notifications or displays to the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42161 via computer interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42178 by downloading data to substation equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/205 Transfer to or from user equipment or user record carrier

Abstract

A system and method for automated management of the behavior of a wireless communication device is disclosed herein. Behavior preference settings are configured and provided to a wireless network and the wireless communication device. The wireless network provides current conditions or events to the wireless communication device. The wireless communication device enforces the preference settings based on current conditions and counters for incoming and outgoing communications to a third party.

Claims

1. A method for automatically managing wireless device actions, the method comprising:

associating at least one user preference with at least one wireless device, wherein the user preference is not based on a list of origination or termination address, or is not based solely on the list of origination or termination addresses;

determining an occurrence of one or more conditions that relate to the user preference;

at the wireless device, automatically prohibiting communications actions based on the occurrence of the condition; and

controlling actions of the wireless device in accordance with the occurrence of the condition and prohibitions associated with the occurrence of the condition, including automatically executing at least one downloaded application and updating at least one counter, wherein;

the at least one downloaded application internally controls the actions of the wireless device in accordance with the preference and without use of resources external to the wireless device other than the wireless device receiving at least one notification indicative of the condition.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining an occurrence includes sending an encoded short message service (SMS) message to the wireless device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein associating at least one user preference includes an authorized person selecting the user preference using a graphical user interface remote from the wireless device and the provider network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the condition includes at least one of:

a peak rate being current;

an off-peak rate being current;

a minute bucket being empty;

the wireless device currently roaming for service;

the wireless device currently on the network; and

a start of a new billing cycle.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the occurrence of the condition is indicated by a counter in the wireless device reaching a predetermined value.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

configuring macro level preferences associated with the amount of total usage of the wireless device;

configuring the list of approved origination and termination addresses, the origination and termination addresses including outgoing and incoming phone numbers, email addresses, and HTTP addresses; and

configuring micro level preferences associated with each of the addresses in the list of approved origination and termination addresses.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

updating a preferences database included in the provider network with the user preference;

sending a message to the wireless device when the user preference is available; and

downloading the user preference to the wireless device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the user preference includes at least one selected from the group of:

a number of minutes allotted to outgoing calls;

a number of minutes allotted to incoming calls;

a number of outgoing messages allowed;

a number of incoming messages allowed; and

a rule relating to whether a bucket of minutes can be exceeded.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the user preference at a website associated with a wireless service provider.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically prohibiting communications include:

initiating a communication over a provider network; and

preventing connection of the communication when an amount of total usage of the wireless device has been reached.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically prohibiting communications include:

initiating a communication over a provider network;

comparing an address associated with the communication with the list of approved origination and termination addresses; and

preventing the communication when the address is not included in the list.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically prohibiting communications include:

initiating a communication over a provider network;

comparing an address associated with the communication with the list of approved origination and termination addresses;

accessing restrictions associated with the address when the address is included in the list; and

preventing the communication when at least one of the accessed restrictions is applicable.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically prohibiting communications include:

initiating a communication over a provider network;

comparing an address associated with the communication with the list of approved origination and termination addresses;

accessing restrictions associated with the address when the address is included in the list;

permitting connection of the communication when none of the accessed restrictions is applicable; and

updating one or more counters at the wireless device.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically routing blocked calls to a voice mail service or automatically forwarding calls to be blocked for connection permission by an authorizing person.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein a person setting the preferences is not a user of the wireless device.