Providing information pertaining to usage of a mobile wireless communications device

• US 8,265,590 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2009
• Issued: 09/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sennett, DeWayne A., Daly, Brian K.
• Primary Examiner(s): MITCHELL, NATHAN A
• Application Number:
  US12/572,450
• Publication Number:
  US 20110081885A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,075 Days
• Field of Search: 455/405, 4554561-4566
• US Class Current: 455/405
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed

Abstract

When a device, such as a cellular phone, enters into a region, usage information pertaining to usage of devices in the region is provided to the device. For example, restrictions pertaining to usage of cellular phones while driving can be provided. Usage information also can be provided upon request or in accordance with various factors, such as subscriber preferences, elapsed time since the last time usage information was sent to the device, elapsed time since usage regulations have been enacted or updated, and/or the frequency of which the device is in the region. A region can include a geographic region, a political boundary, a country, a state, a municipality, a county, a parish, a township, a building (e.g., school, library, movie theatre, court house, local, state, or federal government building), a public place (e.g., restaurant, bus, train, taxi), a zip code, a telephone area code, or the like.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

upon occurrence of an event, determining whether usage information pertaining to usage of mobile wireless communications devices in a region is to be provided to a mobile wireless communications device; and

when it is determined that the usage information is to be provided, providing the usage information to the mobile wireless communications device based on;

an amount of time that has elapsed since information pertaining to usage of mobile wireless communications devices in the region has been provided to the mobile wireless device; and

an amount of time that has elapsed since information pertaining to usage of mobile wireless communications devices in the region has been enacted or updated.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the event comprises one of:

a request for the usage information;

or

a determination that the mobile wireless communications device is entering into the region.

3. The method in accordance with claim 2, further comprising:

determining that the mobile wireless communications device is entering into the region via at least one of;

a global positioning system;

an assisted global position system;

or

an identifier of a radio access network servicing the mobile communications device.

4. The method in accordance with claim 3, wherein the mobile wireless communications device comprises a global positioning system receiver.

5. The method in accordance with claim 2, wherein when it is determined that the mobile wireless communications device is entering into the region, the method further comprising:

determining whether usage of mobile wireless communications devices in the region differs from usage of mobile wireless communications devices in another region; and

when it is determined that usage of mobile wireless communications devices in the region does not differ from usage of mobile wireless communications devices in the other region, performing one of;

providing no usage information pertaining to usage of mobile wireless communications devices in the region to the mobile wireless communications device;

or

providing an indication that the usage information has not changed; and

when it is determined that usage of mobile wireless communications devices in the region differs from usage of mobile wireless communications devices in the other region, providing the usage information pertaining to usage of mobile wireless communications devices in the region to the mobile wireless communications device.

6. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the usage information further comprises information pertaining to equipment available to facilitate compliance with usage of mobile wireless communications devices in the region.

7. The method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising providing the usage information via at least one of:

an audible message;

a text message;

a video message;

or

a link to a message.

8. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein it is determined whether the information is to be provided to the mobile wireless communications device further based on at least one of:

a preference of a subscriber associated with the mobile device;

or

a rate of recurrence in which the mobile wireless communications device is in the region.

9. A system comprising:

a processing portion configured to;

upon occurrence of an event, determine whether usage information pertaining to usage of mobile wireless communications devices in a region is to be provided to a mobile wireless communications device; and

an input/output portion configured to;

when it is determined that the usage information is to be provided, provide the usage information to the mobile wireless communications device based on a rate of recurrence in which the mobile wireless communications device is in the region.

10. The system in accordance with claim 9, wherein the event comprises one of:

a request for the usage information;

or

a determination that the mobile wireless communications device is entering into the region.

11. The system in accordance with claim 10, the processing portion further configured to:

determine that the mobile wireless communications device is entering into the region via at least one of;

a global positioning system;

an assisted global position system;

or

an identifier of a radio access network servicing the mobile communications device.

12. The system in accordance with claim 11, wherein the mobile wireless communications device comprises a global positioning system receiver.

13. The system in accordance with claim 11, wherein when it is determined that the mobile wireless communications device is entering into the region:

the processing portion further configured to;

determine whether usage of mobile wireless communications devices in the region differs from usage of mobile wireless communications devices in another region; and

the input/output portion further configured to;

when it is determined that usage of mobile wireless communications devices in the region does not differ from usage of mobile wireless communications devices in the other region, performing one of;

providing no usage information pertaining to usage of mobile wireless communications devices in the region to the mobile wireless communications device;

or

providing an indication that the usage information has not changed; and

when it is determined that usage of mobile wireless communications devices in the region differs from usage of mobile wireless communications devices in the other region, providing the usage information pertaining to usage of mobile wireless communications devices in the region to the mobile wireless communications device.

14. The system in accordance with claim 9, wherein it is determined whether the information is to be provided to the mobile wireless communications device in accordance with at least one of:

a preference of a subscriber associated with the mobile device;

an amount of time that has elapsed since information pertaining to usage of mobile wireless communications devices in the region has been provided to the mobile device;

an amount of time that has elapses since information pertaining to usage of mobile wireless communications devices in the region has been enacted or updated;

or

rate of recurrence in which the mobile wireless communications device is in the region.

15. A mobile wireless communications device comprising:

a processing portion configured to;

upon occurrence of an event, determine whether usage information pertaining to usage of mobile wireless communications devices in a region is to be provided to the device;

an input/portion configured to;

when it is determined that the usage information is to be provided;

request the usage information; and

receive the usage information, wherein the usage information is provided based on;

an amount of time that has elapsed since information pertaining to usage of mobile wireless communications devices in the region has been provided to the mobile wireless device; and

an amount of time that has elapsed since information pertaining to usage of mobile wireless communications devices in the region has been enacted or updated.

16. The device in accordance with claim 15, wherein the event comprises one of:

a request for the usage information;

or

a determination that the mobile wireless communications device is entering into the region.

17. The device in accordance with claim 16, wherein the determination that the mobile wireless communications device is entering into the region is accomplished via at least one of:

a global positioning system;

an assisted global position system;

or

an identifier of a radio access network servicing the mobile communications device.

18. The device in accordance with claim 17, wherein the device comprises a global positioning system receiver.

19. The device in accordance with claim 16, wherein when it is determined that the device is entering into the region:

the processing portion further configured to;

determine whether usage of mobile wireless communications devices in the region differs from usage of mobile wireless communications devices in another region; and

the input/output portion further configured to;

when it is determined that usage of mobile wireless communications devices in the region does not differ from usage of mobile wireless communications devices in the other region, receive one of;

no usage information pertaining to usage of mobile wireless communications devices in the region to the mobile wireless communications device;

or

receive an indication that the usage information has not changed; and

when it is determined that usage of mobile wireless communications devices in the region differs from usage of mobile wireless communications devices in the other region, receive the usage information pertaining to usage of mobile wireless communications devices in the region to the mobile wireless communications device.

20. The device in accordance with claim 15, wherein it is determined whether the information is to be provided to the device in accordance with at least one of:

a preference of a subscriber associated with the mobile device;

an amount of time that has elapsed since information pertaining to usage of mobile wireless communications devices in the region has been provided to the mobile device;

an amount of time that has elapses since information pertaining to usage of mobile wireless communications devices in the region has been enacted or updated;

or

rate of recurrence in which the mobile wireless communications device is in the region.