Method and device for wireless controlled access to telematic and voice services

• US 7,738,926 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2005
• Issued: 06/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Orange S.A.
• Original Assignee: Orange S.A.
• Inventors: Marie, Francois, Michel, Philippe, Courtemanche, Bernard
• Primary Examiner(s): RAMPURIA, SHARAD K
• Application Number:
  US11/165,935
• Publication Number:
  US 20060007920A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,817 Days
• Field of Search: 455410-411, 455 411- 413, 455/575.9, 455/558, 455/569.2, 455/426.1, 713/168, 380/247, 370/346, 370/350, 370/352, 370/338
• US Class Current: 455/569.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

In a method for accessing voice or data services via a mobile telephony network, a communication device provided with wireless communication means detects within radio range communication terminals equipped with authentication means to connect to a mobile telephone network, selects a communication terminal to be used for accessing the network, by polling the terminal owner, sets up a wireless communication with the selected communication terminal, uses the latter'"'"'s authentication means to set up a connection with the network, determines by polling the user of the communication terminal whether a terminal is authorized to access the voice or data services via the communication device and the connection it has set up with the network, and refuses access to the voice or data services if the terminal is not authorized.

Claims

1. A method for managing access to voice or data services via a mobile telephony network, comprising the steps during which:

a communication device provided with a modem to access said mobile telephony network and with wireless communication means to scan a radio environment to communicate, within radio range, with mobile devices equipped with similar wireless communications means;

the communication device sets up a first wireless connection with a first mobile device that is equipped with authentication means to connect to said mobile telephony network;

the communication device sets up a second wireless connection with a second mobile device, distinct from the first mobile device, that is attempting to access voice or data services;

the communication device asks a user of the first mobile device whether the user agrees for the second mobile device to access said voice or data services by using the authentication means of the first mobile device;

if the user agrees, the communication device using said modem and the authentication means of the first mobile device though said first wireless connection, sets up a third wireless connection to the mobile telephony network to enable the second mobile device to access said voice or data services though said second and third connections; and

if the user does not agree, the communication device refuses access to said voice or data services to the second mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the list of identifiers of mobile devices detected within radio range is used to allow the user of the mobile device being used to access the mobile telephony network to select at least one mobile device authorized to access the voice or data services though the connection set up with the mobile telephony network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein several mobile devices simultaneously access voice or data services via a hub provided in the communication device and via the third connection.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the third connection between the communication device and the mobile telephony network is maintained for as long as the first connection is maintained between the first mobile device and the communication device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising a pairing step conducted if the first mobile device has never been paired with the communication device, and an automatic authentication step using a session number obtained during a previous connection if the first mobile device has already been paired with the communication device.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the communication device displays a list of identifiers of communication devices within radio range, indicating which devices are equipped with authentication means to connect to the mobile telephony network to enable a user to select from the list of identifiers a communication device whose authentication means are to be used to connect to the mobile telephony network.

6. A communication device to manage access to voice or data services via a mobile telephony network, the communication device comprising:

wireless communications means to scan a radio environment to communicate with, within radio range, mobile devices equipped with similar wireless communications means;

modem means to access said mobile telephony network;

means to set up a first wireless connection with a first mobile device that is equipped with authentication means to connect to said mobile telephony network;

means to set up a second wireless connection with a second mobile device, distinct from the first mobile device, the second mobile device attempting to access voice or data services, and to ask a user of the first mobile device whether the user agrees for the second mobile device to access said voice or data services by using the authentication means of the first mobile device;

means for determining if the user agrees, and if the user agrees, using the modem means and the authentication means of the first mobile device to set up a third wireless connection to the mobile telephony network and the second mobile device to enable the second mobile device to access the voice and data services though the second and third wireless connections, and if the user does not agree, refusing to provide access to the voice and data services to the second mobile device.

7. The device of claim 6, further comprising a hub to set up a communication with several mobile devices simultaneously to allow them access to voice or data services via the third connection.

8. The device of claim 6, further comprising a display to display a list of mobile devices detected within radio range, and means for determining for each detected mobile device whether it is equipped with authentication means to access the mobile telephony network.