Methods, systems and storage media to remotely control a wireless unit

• US 7,773,982 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2005
• Issued: 08/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bedingfield, James Carlton Sr., Nguyen, Hong Thi, Bishop, Michael L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cho; Un C
• Application Number:
  US11/181,321
• Publication Number:
  US 20060003758A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,853 Days
• Field of Search: 455/418, 455/419, 455/420, 455/574, 455/343.2, 455/343.3, 455/343.4, 455/410, 340/7.32, 340/7.33, 340/7.36, 340/10.33, 340/10.34
• US Class Current: 455/420
• 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

A method to remotely control a wireless unit, includes receiving an activation/deactivation request from a user. It is determined if the user is authorized to activate/deactivate the wireless unit. If the user is authorized to activate/deactivate the wireless unit, a signal is sent to the wireless unit causing the wireless unit to power-on/power-off in response to the signal.

Claims

1. A method to remotely control a first wireless unit, comprising:

receiving an activation or deactivation request from a user;

determining if the user is authorized to activate or deactivate the first wireless unit;

if the user is authorized to activate or deactivate the wireless unit, sending a signal to the wireless unit causing the wireless unit to power on or power off in response to the signal;

subsequent to sending the signal, determining if the wireless unit is activated by initiating a call to the wireless unit or by initiating transmission of an interrogation message to the wireless unit; and

if a response to the call or to the interrogation message is received, performing at least one of;

initiating transmission of a confirmation message to the user;

or connecting the user in communication with the wireless unit.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the activation or deactivation request is a data message.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein determining if the user is authorized to activate or deactivate the wireless unit is performed using an authorized users database that includes user identification data identifying users by a user identification entry.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the user identification entry corresponds to at least one of a phone number associated with the user and an internet protocol (IP) address associated with the user.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the authorized users database further includes at least one of:

time restriction data identifying a time limitation on when a the user is permitted to activate or deactivate the wireless unit, ignore data identifying that a user is not permitted to activate or deactivate the wireless unit, and options data including an options entry defined for the wireless unit, the options entry identifying options for activation or deactivation of the wireless unit.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the options entry specifies a mode of the first wireless device upon activation.

7. The method of claim 3 further comprising sending an auxiliary notice to the wireless unit, the auxiliary notice indicating that activation or deactivation of the wireless unit has been requested.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the auxiliary notice indicates an identity of the user requesting activation or deactivation of the first wireless unit.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein sending the auxiliary notice is performed using auxiliary notice data identifying a format for the auxiliary notice.

10. A computer readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method of remotely controlling a wireless unit, the 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;

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 generated by an activation center operatively coupled to the network in response to receipt of an activation/deactivation request sent by a user;

determining if the wireless unit is in the power-on state by initiating a call to the wireless unit or by initiating transmission of an interrogation message to the wireless unit; and

if a response to the call or to the interrogation message is received, performing at least one of;

initiating transmission of a confirmation message to the user;

or connecting the user in communication with the wireless unit.

11. A computer readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method of remotely controlling a wireless unit, the method comprising:

receiving an activation or deactivation request from a user;

determining if the user is authorized to activate or deactivate the wireless unit;

if the user is authorized to activate or deactivate the wireless unit, sending a signal to the wireless unit causing the wireless unit to power on or power off in response to the signal;

subsequent to sending the signal, determining if the wireless unit is activated by initiating a call to the wireless unit or by initiating transmission of an interrogation message to the wireless unit; and

if a response to the call or to the interrogation message is received, performing at least one of;

initiating transmission of a confirmation message to the user;

or connecting the user in communication with the wireless unit.

12. The computer program product of claim 11 wherein the activation or deactivation request is a data message.

13. The computer program product of claim 11 wherein determining if the user is authorized to activate or deactivate the wireless unit is performed using an authorized users database that includes user identification data identifying users by a user identification entry.

14. The computer program product of claim 13 wherein the user identification entry corresponds to at least one of a phone number associated with the user and an IP address associated with the user.

15. The computer program product of claim 14 wherein the options entry specifies a mode of the wireless device upon activation.

16. The computer program product of claim 13 wherein the authorized users database includes at least one of:

time restriction data identifying a time limitation on when the user is permitted to activate or deactivate the wireless unit, ignore data identifying that a user is not permitted to activate or deactivate the wireless unit, and options data including an options entry defined for the wireless unit, the options entry identifying options for activation or deactivation of the wireless unit.

17. The computer program product of claim 13 wherein the storage medium readable by a processing circuit further includes instructions for execution by the processing circuit for facilitating a method comprising sending an auxiliary notice to the wireless unit, the auxiliary notice indicating that activation or deactivation of the wireless unit has been requested.

18. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein the auxiliary notice indicates an identity of the user requesting activation or deactivation of the wireless unit.

19. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein the authorized users database includes auxiliary notice data identifying a format for the auxiliary notice.