Information inquiry to provide cell phone parental control

• US 8,145,202 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2007
• Issued: 03/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Ackley, Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): PHUONG, DAI
• Application Number:
  US11/983,682
• Publication Number:
  US 20080070608A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,600 Days
• Field of Search: 455410-415, 4554323-4351, 709220-229
• US Class Current: 455/420
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2072 Schedules, e.g. personal calendars
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/48 Arrangements for recalling a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/02 Access restriction performed under specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

A method for allowing remote control of the usage of a networked wireless device including incoming communications, outgoing communications, and application launching. Controlling entities, such as parent cellular telephones or web sites, are provided with the ability to select a list of approved anytime incoming communications, or approved incoming and outgoing communications based on time and day. Incoming communications include text messaging and telephone calls. Further, the controlling entity is provided with the ability to reroute to the controlling entity any usage of the wireless device such as incoming communications, outgoing communications, and application launching. Access to usage logs of the wireless device is provided to the controlling entity.

Claims

1. A method of supervisory control of a wireless communication device by a supervisory control device, the method comprising:

receiving a first message by the wireless communication device from the supervisory control device, wherein the first message includes an instruction from the supervisory control device for the wireless communication device;

examining the instruction in the first message from the supervisory control device by the wireless communication device to determine a task instructed by the supervisory control device;

determining the task to be providing information from the wireless communication device to the supervisory control device;

accessing the information stored in the wireless communication device by the wireless communication device in response to the instruction in the first message from the supervisory control device;

retrieving the information stored in the wireless communication device by the wireless communication device in response to the instruction in the first message from the supervisory control device; and

transmitting the information by the wireless communication device to the supervisory control device;

wherein the information includes a history log of the wireless communication device, including a list of phone numbers able to be seen as rejected or rerouted phone numbers.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the history log includes a list of authorized calls received by the wireless communication device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the history log includes a list of unauthorized calls restricted from being received by the wireless communication device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the history log includes a list of authorized calls placed by the wireless communication device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the history log includes a list of unauthorized calls restricted from being placed by the wireless communication device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the history log includes a list of unauthorized applications restricted from being launched by the wireless communication device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the history log includes a list of unauthorized e-mails restricted from being received by the wireless communication device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the history log includes a list of unauthorized Short Message Service(SMS) messages restricted from being received by the wireless communication device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first message is a Short Message Service (SMS) message.

10. A wireless communication device for supervising by a supervisory control device, the wireless communication device comprising:

a software for enabling the wireless communication device to;

receive a first message by the wireless communication device from the supervisory control device, wherein the first message includes an instruction from the supervisory control device for the wireless communication device;

examine the instruction in the first message from the supervisory control device by the wireless communication device to determine a task instructed by the supervisory control device;

determine the task to be providing information from the wireless communication device to the supervisory control device;

access the information stored in the wireless communication device by the wireless communication device in response to the instruction in the first message from the supervisory control device;

retrieve the information stored in the wireless communication device by the wireless communication device in response to the instruction in the first message from the supervisory control device; and

transmit the information by the wireless communication device to the supervisory control device;

wherein the information includes a history log of the wireless communication device, including a list of phone numbers able to be seen as rejected or rerouted phone numbers.

11. The wireless communication device of claim 10, wherein the history log includes a list of authorized calls received by the wireless communication device.

12. The wireless communication device of claim 10, wherein the history log includes a list of unauthorized calls restricted from being received by the wireless communication device.

13. The wireless communication device of claim 10, wherein the history log includes a list of authorized calls placed by the wireless communication device.

14. The wireless communication device of claim 10, wherein the history log includes a list of unauthorized calls restricted from being placed by the wireless communication device.

15. The wireless communication device of claim 10, wherein the history log includes a list of unauthorized applications restricted from being launched by the wireless communication device.

16. The wireless communication device of claim 10, wherein the history log includes a list of unauthorized e-mails restricted from being received by the wireless communication device.

17. The wireless communication device of claim 10, wherein the history log includes a list of unauthorized Short Message Service (SMS) messages restricted from being received by the wireless communication device.

18. The wireless communication device of claim 10, wherein the first message is a Short Message Service (SMS) message.