Methods to remotely control a wireless unit

• US 7,389,089 B1
• Filed: 11/25/2002
• Issued: 06/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: At&T Delaware Intellectual Property, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Hong, Bedingfield, James C. Sr.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, SIMON
• Application Number:
  US10/303,416
• Time in Patent Office: 2,031 Days
• Field of Search: 455/70, 455/243.1, 4553431-3434, 455/352, 455/574, 455/127.5, 455418-420, 455/92, 340/10.33, 340/10.34, 340 732- 736
• US Class Current: 455/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0235 where the received signal is a power saving command
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Methods for remote control of a wireless unit such as remote power-on and remote power-off. An authorized user may send a power-on communication to a remote wireless unit. The power-on communication may be sent by way of an activation system. The wireless unit may be in a sleep state or be turned-off. In response to receipt of the power-on communication or a signal from the activation system, the wireless unit powers-on and may power-on through a remote power-on function. The power-on communication or the signal that initiates the power-on may include a security mechanism necessary to power-on the wireless unit. The user may be provided with confirmation of the power-on of the wireless unit, or the user may be connected in a communication with the wireless unit. Similarly, a wireless unit that is powered-on may be remotely powered-off.

Claims

1. A method to remotely power-on a wireless unit, comprising:

causing an activation system in a telecommunications system to receive a power-on communication;

in response to the power-on communication, causing the activation system to send a signal to the wireless unit; and

causing the wireless unit to power-on in response to the signal,

wherein causing the wireless unit to power-on in response to the signal comprises causing the wireless unit when the wireless unit is turned-off to be able to receive the power-on signal, and

wherein causing the wireless unit when it is turned off to be able to receive the power-on signal comprises;

causing a transmit and receive function of the wireless unit to still be active when the wireless unit is turned-off,

causing a location function of the wireless unit to still be active when the wireless unit is turned-off, and

causing a remote power-on function of the wireless unit to still be active when the wireless unit is turned-off.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the wireless unit to power-on in response to the signal comprises:

causing the wireless unit to include a remote power-on function; and

causing the remote power-on function to power-on the wireless unit in response to the signal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the transmit and receive function, the location function, and the remote power-on function of the wireless unit to be active when it is turned-off comprises:

causing the transmit and receive function, the location function, and the remote power-on function of the wireless unit to be connected to a power source of the wireless unit so that the transmit and receive function, the location function, and the remote power-on function are not affected by an on/off function of the wireless unit.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising causing a remote power-on function of the wireless unit to deactivate when the wireless unit powers-on.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

causing the activation system to connect a caller, who directed the power-on communication to the activation system, in a communication with the wireless unit after the wireless unit is powered-on.

6. A method to remotely power-on a wireless unit, comprising:

causing an activation system in a telecommunications system to receive a power-on communication;

in response to the power-on communication, causing the activation system to send a signal to the wireless unit; and

causing the wireless unit to power-on in response to the signal,

wherein causing the wireless unit to power-on in response to the signal comprises causing the wireless unit when the wireless unit is turned-off to be able to receive the power-on signal, and

wherein causing the wireless unit when it is turned off to be able to receive the power-on signal comprises;

causing a transmit and receive function of the wireless unit to be active when it is turned-off,

causing a location function of the wireless unit to be active when it is turned-off;

causing a remote power-on function of the wireless unit to be active when it is turned-off, and

causing the activation system to provide a confirmation to a sender of the power-on communication.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein causing the activation system to provide a confirmation to the sender comprises causing the activation system to verify that the wireless unit is powered-on.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein causing the activation system to verify that the wireless unit is powered-on comprises causing the activation system to call the wireless unit for a confirmation response.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein causing the activation system to verify that the wireless unit is powered-on comprises causing the activation system to send a message to the wireless unit for a confirmation response.

10. A method to configure a wireless unit that may be remotely powered-on, comprising:

causing the wireless unit to have a power-on state and a sleep state;

causing the wireless unit to go into the sleep state when the wireless unit is turned-off;

causing the wireless unit in the sleep state to have an active transmit and receive function and an active location function; and

causing the wireless unit in the sleep state to change to the power-on state in response to receipt of a remote power-on signal.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein causing the wireless unit in the sleep state to change to the power-on state in response to receipt of the remote power-on signal comprises causing a remote power-on function of the wireless unit to change the state of the wireless unit.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising causing the wireless unit while in the sleep state not to accept a communication.

13. A method to remotely turn-off a wireless unit that is powered-on, comprising:

causing an activation system in a telecommunications system to receive a turn-off communication;

in response to the turn-off communication, causing the activation system to send a signal to the wireless unit, the signal transmitted to the wireless unit over a communications network;

causing the wireless unit to turn-off in response to the signal; and

causing a remote power-on function of the wireless unit to be active when the wireless unit turns-off,

wherein the remote power-on function includes causing a transmit and receive function of the wireless unit to be active, and

wherein the remote power-on function includes causing a location function of the wireless unit to be active.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

causing the activation system to receive a power-on communication;

in response to the power-on communication, causing the activation system to send a power-on signal to the wireless unit; and

causing the wireless unit to power-on in response to the power-on signal.

15. A wireless communications device comprising:

a power source;

a radio receiver coupled to the power source;

a remote power circuit coupled to the receiver;

a power relay coupled to the remote power circuit and the power source;

additional circuitry coupled to the power relay;

the remote power circuit generating a turn-on signal in response to a signal from the radio receiver, the power relay coupling the additional circuitry to the power source in response to the turn-on signal; and

a wireless communications device location circuit coupled to the power source,

wherein;

the remote power circuit generates a turn-off signal in response to a signal from the radio receiver, the power relay decoupling the additional circuitry from the power source in response to the turn-off signal.

16. The wireless communications device of claim 15 wherein:

the additional circuitry includes a keypad circuit and a display circuit.

17. The wireless communications device of claim 15 further comprising:

a power switch coupled to the power relay, the power switch changing the state of the power relay to provide manual control of power to the additional circuitry.

18. A computer program product for remote power-on of a

wireless unit, the computer program product comprising:

a storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for facilitating a method comprising;

causing an activation system in a telecommunications system to receive a power-on communication;

in response to the power-on communication, causing the activation system to send a signal to the wireless unit;

causing the wireless unit to power-on in response to the signal;

causing an activation system in a telecommunications system to receive a turn-off communication;

in response to the turn-off communication, causing the activation system to send a signal to the wireless unit, the signal transmitted to the wireless unit over a communications network; and

causing the wireless unit to turn-off in response to the signal.

19. A computer program product for remote power-on of a

wireless unit, the computer program product comprising:

a storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for facilitating a method comprising;

causing the wireless unit to have a power-on state and a sleep state;

causing the wireless unit to go into the sleep state when the wireless unit is turned-off;

causing the wireless unit in the sleep state to have an active transmit and receive function and an active location function; and

causing the wireless unit in the sleep state to change to the power-on state in response to receipt of a remote power-on signal.

20. The computer program product of claim 19 wherein the storage medium readable by a processing circuit further includes instructions for execution by the processing circuit for facilitating a method comprising:

causing the wireless unit to include a remote power-on function;

causing the remote power-on function to be able to detect receipt by the wireless a remote power-on signal; and

in response to detecting the remote power-on signal, causing the remote power-on on to power-on the wireless unit.