Mobile communication terminal and function limitation control

• US 8,285,264 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2011
• Issued: 10/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Murata, Masanobu, Goseki, Ryoko
• Primary Examiner(s): Karikari, Kwasi
• Application Number:
  US13/034,912
• Publication Number:
  US 20110244837A1
• Time in Patent Office: 592 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.1, 455/418, 455/419, 455/404.2
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/37 Managing security policies for mobile devices or for controlling mobile applications
• 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 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring

Abstract

A predetermined communication terminal limits an available function of a mobile communication terminal. The mobile communication terminal sets on a limitation on the use of a specified function of its own terminal in accordance with function limitation setting information determined between the predetermined communication terminal and a server. When the specified function is tried to be used, the mobile communication terminal acquires current location information on the predetermined communication terminal and determines whether to enable or disable the specified function depending on the relationship of location with the predetermined communication terminal.

Claims

1. A mobile communication device having a plurality of functions, comprising:

a function limitation setting section for setting a limitation on a specified function according to function limitation setting information which is determined by a predetermined communication device through a server; and

a control section for determining whether to enable the specified function depending on a relationship of location with the predetermined communication device when the function limitation setting section places a limitation on the specified function,

wherein the function limitation setting information sets a time range and a geographic area in which the specified function is unusable by the mobile communication device unless the mobile communication device is located within a predetermined distance away from the predetermined communication device,

such that where a current time falls within the time range, the mobile communication device is within the geographic area, and the mobile communication device is located away from the predetermined communication device more than the predetermined distance, the specification function is not usable by the mobile communication device, and

such that where the current time falls within the time range, the mobile communication device is within the geographic area, and the mobile communication device is located away from the predetermined communication device less than the predetermined distance, the specification function is usable by the mobile communication device.

2. The mobile communication device according to claim 1, wherein the control section enables the specified function when the predetermined communication device is located within a predetermined distance from the mobile communication device.

3. The mobile communication device according to claim 1, wherein, when an operation to use the specified function is made, the control section acquires location information of the predetermined communication device from the server to determine the relationship of location with the predetermined communication device.

4. A method for controlling function limitation in a mobile communication device having a plurality of functions, comprising:

setting a limitation on a specified function according to function limitation setting information which is determined by a predetermined communication device through a server; and

when a limitation is placed on the specified function, determining whether to enable the specified function depending on a relationship of location with the predetermined communication device,

wherein the function limitation setting information sets a time range and a geographic area in which the specified function is unusable by the mobile communication device unless the mobile communication device is located within a predetermined distance away from the predetermined communication device,

such that where a current time falls within the time range, the mobile communication device is within the geographic area and the mobile communication device is located away from the predetermined communication device more than the predetermined distance, the specification function is not usable by the mobile communication device, and

such that where the current time falls within the time range, the mobile communication device is within the geographic area, and the mobile communication device is located away from the predetermined communication device less than the predetermined distance, the specification function is usable by the mobile communication device.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the specified function is enabled when the predetermined communication device is located within a predetermined distance from the mobile communication device.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein, when an operation to use the specified function is made, location information of the predetermined communication device is acquired from the server to determine the relationship of location with the predetermined communication device.

7. A mobile communications system comprising:

a mobile communication device having a plurality of functions;

a predetermined communication device which is capable of parental control of the mobile communication device; and

a server which provides a parental control service to the mobile communication device and the predetermined communication device,

wherein the predetermined communication device determines function limitation setting information through the server to set a limitation on a specified function of the mobile communication device,

wherein the mobile communication device determines whether to enable the specified function depending on a relationship of location with the predetermined communication device when a limitation is placed on the specified function,

wherein the function limitation setting information sets a time range and a geographic area in which the specified function is unusable by the mobile communication device unless the mobile communication device is located within a predetermined distance away from the predetermined communication device,

such that where a current time falls within the time range, the mobile communication device is within the geographic area, and the mobile communication device is located away from the predetermined communication device more than the predetermined distance, the specification function is not usable by the mobile communication device, and

such that where the current time falls within the time range, the mobile communication device is within the geographic area, and the mobile communication device is located away from the predetermined communication device less than the predetermined distance, the specification function is usable by the mobile communication device.

8. The mobile communications system according to claim 7, wherein the specified function is enabled when the predetermined communication device is located within a predetermined distance from the mobile communication device.

9. The mobile communications system according to claim 7, wherein, when an operation to use the specified function is made, the mobile communication device acquires location information of the predetermined communication device from the server to determine the relationship of location with the predetermined communication device.

10. A non-transitory recording medium storing a program for instructing a program-controlled processor to control function limitation in a mobile communication device having a plurality of functions, the program comprising:

setting a limitation on a specified function according to function limitation setting information which is determined by a predetermined communication device through a server; and

when a limitation is placed on the specified function, determining whether to enable the specified function depending on a relationship of location with the predetermined communication device,

wherein the function limitation setting information sets a time range and a geographic area in which the specified function is unusable by the mobile communication device unless the mobile communication device is located within a predetermined distance away from the predetermined communication device,

such that where a current time falls within the time range, the mobile communication device is within the geographic area, and the mobile communication device is located away from the predetermined communication device more than the predetermined distance, the specification function is not usable by the mobile communication device, and

such that where the current time falls within the time range, the mobile communication device is within the geographic area, and the mobile communication device is located away from the predetermined communication device less than the predetermined distance, the specification function is usable by the mobile communication device.

11. The non-transitory recording medium according to claim 10, wherein the specified function is enabled when the predetermined communication device is located within a predetermined distance from the mobile communication device.

12. The non-transitory recording medium according to claim 10, wherein, when an operation to use the specified function is made, location information of the predetermined communication device is acquired from the server to determine the relationship of location with the predetermined communication device.