Method and apparatus for controlling a quiet zone for wireless units

• US 7,437,168 B1
• Filed: 05/11/2005
• Issued: 10/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Westfield, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Ly; Nghi H
• Application Number:
  US11/126,838
• Time in Patent Office: 1,252 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.4, 455/404.2, 455/457, 455/433, 455/411, 455/456.1
• US Class Current: 455/456.4
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/00 Wireless channel access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

In an IP-based cellular wireless communication system, systems and methods for spatially controlling cellular phone usage are provided. Entry of a cellular phone device into an area of restricted phone access (“quiet zone”) is detected and an IP message identifying the phone sent to a central facility. In one embodiment, an IP message is sent to the phone causing it to change behavior, for example turning off the volume on the ringer. Alternatively, the central facility can process an incoming call for a phone that is determined to be in a quiet zone to reduce intrusion in the quiet zone; for example, it can send the call to a phone mailbox or give the caller a busy signal.

Claims

1. In an IP-based cellular wireless communication system, a central facility comprising:

a receiver arrangement for receiving a call for a cellular phone device, the receiver arrangement further being arranged to receive an IP message through a radio access network, wherein the IP message identifies the cellular phone device and provides information that the cellular phone device has entered an area of restricted service access;

a processor arrangement for determining whether the cellular phone device is in said area of restricted service access, wherein determining whether the cellular phone device is in the area of restricted service access includes determining whether said information that the cellular phone device has entered the area of restricted service access has been relayed in the IP message through a radio access network, the processor arrangement being arranged to forward the call to the cellular phone device when it is determined that the cellular phone device is not in the area of restricted service access, the processor arrangement further being arranged to perform special quiet zone processing when it is determined the cellular phone device is in the area of restricted service access; and

a sending arrangement for sending a hush command to the cellular phone device upon receiving said IP message.

2. The central facility of claim 1 wherein the processor arrangement is arranged to send the call to a phone mail box when performing the special quiet zone processing.

3. The central facility of claim 1 wherein the central facility is a switching center that controls access to a plurality of cellular base stations.

4. The central facility of claim 1 wherein the processor arrangement is further arranged to update data associated with the cellular phone device in response to receiving the IP message.

5. The central facility of claim 4 further including a storage arrangement, wherein the processor arrangement is arranged to update data by adding an identifier associated with the cellular phone device to a table of hushed phones stored in the storage arrangement.

6. The central facility of claim 5 wherein the processor arrangement is arranged to update data by setting a status associated with the cellular phone device in one or more location records stored in the storage arrangement to be a hush status, the one or more location records including at least one of a Home Location Register (HLR) and a Visitor Location Register (VLR).

7. The central facility of claim 1 wherein the IP message sent to the cellular phone device includes an HTTP web page with selectable buttons associated with hush options.

8. The central facility of claim 1 wherein information that the cellular phone device has entered the area of restricted service access comprises an identifier of the cellular phone device and identification of the area of restricted service access.

9. The central facility of claim 1 wherein the IP message is received from a quiet zone controller.