Non-jamming security zone access control for mobile communication devices

• US 8,175,577 B1
• Filed: 12/23/2009
• Issued: 05/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Global Tel-Link Corporation
• Original Assignee: Cellco Partnership, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Harvey, Richard Lee, Burt-Geiger, Renitta
• Primary Examiner(s): Taylor, Barry
• Application Number:
  US12/646,556
• Time in Patent Office: 867 Days
• Field of Search: 455/410, 455/411, 455/528, 455/456.1, 455/456.6, 455/456.5
• US Class Current: 455/410
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed

Abstract

A security zone monitoring system in cooperation with a wireless communication system may control access to the wireless communication system by mobile communication devices while near or within a security zone. The wireless communication system may include a security communication system which may receive communications from the security zone monitoring system indicating the identity of each mobile communication device which has been detected and whether the mobile communication device is near or within the security zone. The wireless communication system may include a security information processing system which may disrupt access to the wireless communication system by each mobile communication device in ways which differ depending on whether a communication from the security zone monitoring system indicates that the mobile communication device is near or within the security zone.

Claims

1. An access control system for controlling access to a wireless communication system by mobile communication devices while near or within a security zone comprising:

a security communication system configured to receive communications from a security zone monitoring system indicating the identity of each mobile communication device which has been detected and whether the mobile communication device is near or within the security zone; and

a security information processing system configured to disrupt access to the wireless communication system by each mobile communication device in ways which differ depending on whether a communication from the security zone monitoring system indicates that the mobile communication device is near or within the security zone, and on whether or not the mobile communication device has participated in at least a pre-determined number of separately-established communications while near or within the security zone.

2. The access control system of claim 1 wherein the security information processing system is configured to disrupt access if a communication from the security zone monitoring system indicates that the mobile communication device is within the security zone and the mobile communication device is not on an allow-access list.

3. The access control system of claim 1 wherein the security information processing system is configured to allow access if a communication from the security zone monitoring system indicates that the mobile communication device is near but not within the security zone, unless the mobile communication device is on a disrupt-access list.

4. The access control system of claim 1 wherein the security information processing system is configured to disrupt access if a communication from the security zone monitoring system indicates that the mobile communication device is near but not within the security zone, unless the mobile communication device is on an allow-access list.

5. The access control system of claim 1 wherein the security information processing system is configured to allow access if communications from the security zone monitoring system indicate that the mobile communication device has been near but not within the security zone, unless the communications indicate that the mobile communication device has participated in at least a pre-determined number of separately-established communications while near or within the security zone.

6. The access control system of claim 1 wherein the security information processing system is configured to allow access if communications from the security zone monitoring system indicate that the mobile communication device is near but not within the security zone, unless the communications indicate that access should be disrupted based on application of an algorithm to the communications.

7. The access control system of claim 1 wherein the security information processing system is configured to restore access after it has been disrupted when the access control system receives information indicating that the mobile communication device is at a location which is not near or within the security zone.

8. The access control system of claim 7 wherein the security information processing system is configured to receive the information indicating that the mobile communication device is at a location which is not near or within the security zone from a source other than the security zone monitoring system.

9. The access control system of claim 1 wherein the security information processing system is configured to disrupt access by taking down any communication which is taking place.

10. The access control system of claim 1 wherein the security information processing system is configured to disrupt access by allowing any communication which is taking place to be completed, but by disrupting subsequently-initiated communications.

11. The access control system of claim 1 wherein the security information processing system is configured to disrupt access by redirecting an addressed communication from the mobile communication device to a destination other than the one to which the communication was addressed.

12. The access control system of claim 11 wherein the security information processing system is configured to disrupt access by redirecting an addressed communication from the mobile communication device to a pre-recorded message indicating that access has been disrupted.

13. The access control system of claim 12 wherein the pre-recorded message indicates steps that may be taken to restore access.

14. An access control system for controlling access to a wireless communication system by mobile communication devices while near or within a security zone comprising:

a security communication system configured to receive communications from a security zone monitoring system indicating the identity of each mobile communication device which has been detected, and whether the mobile communication device is near or within the security zone; and

a security information processing system configured to disrupt access to the wireless communication system by each mobile communication device in ways which differ depending on whether a communication from the security zone monitoring system indicates that the mobile communication device is near or within the security zone, and on whether the mobile communication device has been near or within the security zone for at least a pre-determined period.

15. The access control system of claim 14 wherein the security information processing system is configured to allow access if communications from the security zone monitoring system indicate that the mobile communication device is near but not within the security zone, unless the communications indicate that the mobile communication device has been near or within the security zone for at least the pre-determined period, wherein the pre-determined period is five minutes or more.

16. The access control system of claim 15 wherein the pre-determined period is six hours or more.

17. A security zone monitoring system for controlling access to a regional cellular communication network by mobile communication devices while near or within a security zone comprising:

an antenna system configured to receive signals from the mobile communication devices;

a receiver configured to detect signals from the mobile communication devices and to extract therefrom information indicative of the identity of each detected mobile communication device and whether the mobile communication device is near or within the security zone; and

a carrier communication system configured to communicate information to an access control system of the regional cellular communication network indicative of the identity of each mobile communication device which has been detected, whether the mobile communication device is near or within the security zone, and whether or not the mobile communication device has participated in at least a pre-determined number of separately-established communications while near or within the security zone.

18. The security zone monitoring system of claim 17 wherein the receiver is not configured to indicate the absolute location of each mobile communication device, but only whether the location is near or within the security zone.

19. A security zone monitoring system for controlling access to a wireless communication system by mobile communication devices while near or within a security zone comprising:

an antenna system configured to receive signals from the mobile communication devices;

a receiver configured to detect signals from the mobile communication devices and to extract therefrom device information indicative of the identity of each detected mobile communication device and whether the mobile communication device is near or within the security zone;

a security information processing system configured to process the device information and, based thereon, to generate access information indicative of whether access to the wireless communication system by each detected mobile communication device should be disrupted in ways which differ depending on whether the device information indicates that the detected mobile communication device is near or within the security zone, and whether or not the mobile communication device has participated in at least a pre-determined number of separately-established communications while near or within the security zone; and

a carrier communication system configured to communicate the access information to the wireless communication system.

20. Computer-readable storage media containing computer programming instructions which, when executed by a wireless communication system, cause the wireless communication system to control access to the wireless communication system by mobile communication devices while near or within a security zone by:

receiving communications from a security zone monitoring system indicating the identity of each mobile communication device which has been detected and whether the mobile communication device is near or within the security zone; and

disrupting access to the wireless communication system by each mobile communication device in ways which differ depending on whether a communication from the security zone monitoring system indicates that the mobile communication device is near or within the security zone, and on whether or not the mobile communication device has participated in at least a pre-determined number of separately-established communications while near or within the security zone.

21. Computer-readable storage media containing computer programming instructions which, when executed by a security zone monitoring system, cause the security zone monitoring system to control access to a wireless communication system by mobile communication devices while near or within a security zone by:

detecting signals from the mobile communication devices;

extracting therefrom information indicative of the identity of each detected mobile communication device and whether the mobile communication device is near or within the security zone; and

communicating information to an access control system indicative of the identity of each mobile communication device which has been detected, whether the mobile communication device is near or within the security zone, and whether or not the mobile communication device has participated in at least a pre-determined number of separately-established communications while near or within the security zone.

22. Computer-readable storage media containing computer programming instructions which, when executed by a security zone monitoring system, cause the security zone monitoring system to control access to a wireless communication system by mobile communication devices while near or within a security zone by:

detecting signals from the mobile communication devices;

extracting therefrom device information indicative of the identity of each detected mobile communication device and whether the mobile communication device is near or within the security zone;

processing the device information and, based thereon, generating access information indicative of whether access to the wireless communication system by each detected mobile communication device should be disrupted in ways which differ depending on whether the device information indicates that the detected mobile communication device is near or within the security zone, and whether or not the mobile communication device has participated in at least a pre-determined number of separately-established communications while near or within the security zone; and

communicating the access information to the wireless communication system.