Methods and apparatus for providing restrictions on communications of a wireless communication device

• US 8,295,885 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2011
• Issued: 10/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Pearce, Graham N
• Primary Examiner(s): Ajibade Akonai, Olumide T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Peaches, Randy
• Application Number:
  US13/087,935
• Publication Number:
  US 20110195698A1
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 455/565, 455/550, 455/418, 455/415
• US Class Current: 455/565
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/677 Preventing the dialling or sending of predetermined telephone numbers or selected types of telephone numbers, e.g. long distance numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• 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 3/42178 by downloading data to substation equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/35 Protecting application or service provisioning, e.g. securing SIM application provisioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• 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

Techniques in a wireless device for use in providing restrictions on communications via a cellular network are described. The wireless device communicates with a host enterprise server of a private network which is external to the cellular network for performing data synchronization in association with a personal information manager (PIM) application. The wireless device receives communication restriction information from this same host enterprise server in the private network, and stores this information in its memory. The wireless device determines whether a communication is restricted by comparing a user selected code of a communication attempt with one or more codes of the stored information. If the communication is determined to be restricted, the wireless device disallows the communication via the cellular network. If the communication is determined to not be restricted, the wireless device may allow the communication via the cellular network.

Claims

1. A method in a wireless communication device for use in providing restrictions on communications of the wireless communication device via a cellular network, the method comprising:

communicating with a server of a private network which is external to the cellular network for performing data synchronization, over a wireless link of the cellular network, for data items of a personal information manager application of the wireless device and corresponding data items stored in association with the server;

receiving communication restriction information from the server in the private network, the communication restriction information being associated with an IT policy of a group of the private network, the communication restriction information being indicative of one or more codes, wherein the one or more codes comprise one or more country codes;

storing the communication restriction information received from the server;

determining whether a communication of the wireless device is restricted by comparing a user selected code of a communication attempt from the wireless device with the one or more codes of the communication restriction information;

if the communication is determined to be restricted based on the comparing, then disallowing the communication via the cellular network; and

if the communication is determined to not be restricted based on the comparing, then allowing the communication via the cellular network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless device is associated with a subscriber region for communications, and the communication restriction information disallows communications outside of the subscriber region.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

for the communication;

making a query request to server, and receiving a response as to whether the communication should be allowed or disallowed.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more codes are selected via a graphical user interface.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein communication restriction information is received periodically from the server in the private network.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving updates of the communication restriction information from the server in the private network when updates exist.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a tunnel connection via the cellular network through which the communication restriction information is pushed to the wireless device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the user data items of the personal information manager application comprise at least one of e-mail message data items and calendar event data items.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the server comprises a host enterprise server.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication restriction information comprises one or more area codes designating one or more regions for the communication.

11. A wireless communication device, comprising:

a radio frequency (RF) transceiver which is configured to provide communications via a cellular network;

memory for use in storing a personal information manager application;

a user interface which is configured to receive an attempt to establish a communication;

a controller coupled to the RF transceiver, the memory, and the user interface;

the controller being configured to;

communicate with a server of a private network which is external to the cellular network for performing data synchronization, over a wireless link of the cellular network, for data items of the personal information manager application and corresponding data items stored in association with the server;

receive, via the RF transceiver, communication restriction information from the server in the private network, the communication restriction information being associated with an IT policy of a group of the private network, the communication restriction information being indicative of one or more codes, wherein the one or more codes comprise one or more country codes;

store, in the memory, the communication restriction information received from the server;

determine whether a communication of the wireless device is restricted by comparing a user selected code of a communication attempt from the wireless device with the one or more codes of the communication restriction information;

if the communication is determined to be restricted based on the comparing, then disallow the communication via the cellular network; and

if the communication is determined to not be restricted based on the comparing, then allow the communication via the cellular network.

12. The wireless device of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to establish, with use of the RF transceiver, a tunnel connection via the cellular network through which the communication restriction information is pushed to the wireless device.

13. The wireless device of claim 11, wherein the server comprises a host enterprise server.

14. The wireless device of claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to periodically receive communication restriction information from the server in the private network.

15. The wireless device of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to receive updates of the communication restriction information from the server in the private network when updates exist.

16. The wireless device of claim 11, wherein the user data items of the personal information manager application comprise at least one of e-mail message data items and calendar event data items.

17. The wireless device of claim 11, wherein the communication restriction information comprises one or more area codes designating one or more regions for the communication.

18. The wireless device of claim 11, which is associated with a subscriber region for communications, and the communication restriction information disallows communications outside of the subscriber region.

19. The wireless device of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to send via the RF transceiver a query request to the server and receive via the RF transceiver a response as to whether the communication should be allowed or disallowed.

20. The wireless device of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to receive the communication restriction information via a packet data service of the cellular network.

21. A method in a wireless communication device for use in providing restrictions on communications of the wireless communication device via a cellular network, the method comprising:

communicating with a server of a private network which is external to the cellular network for performing data synchronization, over a wireless link of the cellular network, for data items of a personal information manager application of the wireless device and corresponding data items stored in association with the server;

receiving communication restriction information from the server in the private network, the communication restriction information being indicative of one or more codes, wherein the one or more codes comprise one or more country codes;

storing the communication restriction information received from the server;

determining whether a communication of the wireless device is restricted by comparing a user selected code of a communication attempt from the wireless device with the one or more codes of the communication restriction information;

if the communication is determined to be restricted based on the comparing, then disallowing the communication via the cellular network;

if the communication is determined to not be restricted based on the comparing, then allowing the communication via the cellular network; and

receiving updates of the communication restriction information from the server in the private network when updates exist.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the communication restriction information is associated with an IT policy of a group of the private network.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the user data items of the personal information manager application comprise at least one of e-mail message data items and calendar event data items.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the server comprises a host enterprise server.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the communication restriction information further comprises one or more area codes designating one or more regions for the communication.