Methods and systems for location-based management of wireless devices

• US 8,285,300 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2007
• Issued: 10/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Craine, Ari J., Ruckart, John P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Faragalla, Michael
• Application Number:
  US11/679,998
• Publication Number:
  US 20080207218A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,050 Days
• Field of Search: 4554561-4566, 455/404.1, 455/418, 455/420, 701/213, 370/328, 370/329, 370/338
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/105 Radio frequency identification data [RFID]
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1004 Alarm systems characterised by the type of sensor, e.g. current sensing means using door lock sensors B60R25/1001
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0261 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect trespassing over a fixed physical boundary, e.g. the end of a garden
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• 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 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

Method and apparatus are for monitoring the location of a wireless device and taking supervisory action in response to that location. Location information obtained from a user'"'"'s wireless device, or otherwise concerning the present location of the user, is monitored and compared with one or more locations previously approved for that user. An exception is noted if the user reaches a non-approved location, or fails to timely arrive at an approved destination. In response to an exception, supervisory action is taken which may include contacting the wireless device, partially or completely disabling further service of that device, or contacting another person.

Claims

1. A method, for monitoring a user of a wireless device using a monitoring service having a computer processor and a memory, the method including the processor performing acts comprising:

receiving location information identifying a first geographic location of the wireless device;

receiving information identifying a time of departure from the first geographic location by the wireless device;

determining an exception in response to determining that the wireless device did not arrive at a second, expected, geographic location within a predetermined amount of time after the time of departure from the first geographic location, including the processor obtaining the predetermined amount of time from the memory of the monitoring service, wherein the second, expected location includes multiple expected locations so that the exception is determined if the wireless device does not arrive at one of the multiple expected locations within the predetermined amount of time; and

responsive to determining the exception, sending an instruction to take supervisory action, wherein the supervisory action includes disabling a function of the wireless device so that the wireless device is not able to perform the function.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the supervisory action further includes sending a message to the wireless device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the supervisory action further includes sending a message to another device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the information identifying the time of departure from the first geographic location is received from the wireless device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the information identifying the time of departure from the first geographic location is received from a device associated with the first location.

6. A system for monitoring a user of a wireless device, the system comprising:

a computer processor; and

a tangible storage medium storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform acts including;

receiving first location information identifying a geographic location of the wireless device corresponding to a first time;

receiving second, expected, location information identifying the geographic location of the wireless device corresponding to a second time;

determining that the first time is a time of departure from the first geographic location by the wireless device;

determining that the second time is a time of arrival at the second, expected, geographic location by the wireless device;

determining an exception in response to determining that the wireless device did not arrive at the second geographic location within a predetermined amount of time after the time of departure from the first geographic location, the predetermined amount of time being stored in and retrieved from the memory, wherein the second, expected location includes multiple expected locations so that processor is operative to determine the exception if the wireless device does not arrive at one of the multiple expected locations within the predetermined amount of time; and

in response to the determining the exception, sending an instruction to take supervisory action, wherein the supervisory action includes disabling a function of the wireless device, so that the wireless device is not able to perform the function.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the supervisory action further includes sending a message to the wireless device.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the supervisory action further includes sending a message to another device.

9. A non-transitory computer program product having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising:

receiving location information identifying a certain first geographic location of the wireless device;

receiving information identifying a time of departure from the first location by the wireless device;

determining an exception in response to a determination that the received location information does not indicate that the wireless device arrived at a second, expected location within a predetermined amount of time after the identified time of departure from the first location, wherein the second, expected location includes multiple expected locations so that processor is operative to determine the exception if the wireless device does not arrive at one of the multiple expected locations within the predetermined amount of time; and

responsive to the exception, sending an instruction message including a supervisory action, wherein the supervisory action includes disabling a function of the wireless device, so that the wireless device is not able to perform the function.

10. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 9, wherein the supervisory action further includes sending a message to the wireless device.

11. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 9, wherein the supervisory action further includes sending a message to another device.