Method, apparatus, and program for automated property adjustment in a cellular network

• US 7,778,650 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2007
• Issued: 08/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Curtis, Bryce Allen, Pierre-Louis, Marc-Arthur, Hsu, Jimmy Ming-Der
• Primary Examiner(s): Trinh; Sonny
• Application Number:
  US11/738,151
• Publication Number:
  US 20070197257A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,215 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.4, 455/422.1, 455/456.1, 455/417, 455/457, 455/411, 455/450, 455/434, 455/435.1, 455/435.2, 455/1
• US Class Current: 455/456.4
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed

Abstract

A mechanism is provided for detecting when a wireless device is entering a quiet zone. An out-of-range condition is created in an entryway to a quiet zone. When a wireless device is in a transition zone, the device transmits a re-scan message with a unit identification in an attempt to reestablish communication with the communication tower. A re-scan receiver is provided in the entryway to receive re-scan messages and notify a mobile telephone switching office that the device is entering a quiet zone. The switching office then sends a ring type modifier property to the device when the device leaves the transition zone and reestablishes communications with the communication tower.

Claims

1. A method for adjusting properties of a wireless device, after the wireless device has traversed a selected path and entered a controlled area, said method comprising the steps of:

establishing a transition zone along said path and outside of the controlled area, wherein the transition zone contains a re-scan signal receiver, and further contains a mechanism for weakening signals within the transition zone;

responsive to the wireless device entering the transition zone, operating the signal weakening mechanism to selectively reduce a signal transmitted between the wireless device and a communication network that includes a specified switching computer;

responsive to weakening said transmitted signal, operating the wireless device to emit a re-scan signal in the transition zone;

receiving the re-scan signal at the re-scan signal receiver contained in the transition zone;

responsive to receiving the re-scan signal at the re-scan signal receiver, sending a message from the re-scan signal receiver to notify the switching computer that the wireless device is in the transition zone; and

responsive to sending said message from the re-scan signal receiver, operating the switching computer to send a ring type modifier (RTM) message with each of one or more calls that are sent to the wireless device after the wireless device has entered the controlled area, wherein at least one of the RTM messages sets a ring mechanism of the wireless device to an inaudible mode.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the re-scan signal is emitted by the wireless device in response to detecting the weakened signal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the RTM messages adjusts the wireless device to have a silent vibrating ring type, and another of the RTM messages adjusts the wireless device to have an audible ring type.

4. An apparatus for adjusting properties of a wireless device, after the wireless device has traversed a selected path and entered a controlled area, said apparatus comprising:

a re-scan signal receiver contained within a transition zone that is established along said path and outside of the controlled area;

a mechanism for weakening signals contained within the transition zone;

means responsive to the wireless device entering the transition zone, for operating the signal weakening mechanism to selectively reduce a signal transmitted between the wireless device and a communication network that includes a specified switching computer;

means responsive to weakening said transmitted signal, for operating the wireless device to emit a re-scan signal in the transition zone;

means for receiving the re-scan signal at the re-scan signal receiver contained in the transition zone;

means responsive to receiving the re-scan signal at the re-scan signal receiver, for sending a message from the re-scan signal receiver to notify the switching computer that the wireless device is in the transition zone; and

means responsive to sending said message from the re-scan signal receiver, for operating the switching computer to send a ring type modifier (RTM) message with each of one or more calls that are sent to the wireless device after the wireless device has entered the controlled area, wherein at least one of the RTM messages sets a ring mechanism of the wireless device to an inaudible mode.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein one of the RTM messages adjusts the wireless device to have a silent vibrating ring type.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein one of the RTM messages adjusts the wireless device to have an audible ring type.