Usage control services performed in an end user device

• US 8,347,362 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2009
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Cai, Yigang, Hua, Suzann
• Primary Examiner(s): Yalew, Fikremariam A
• Application Number:
  US12/570,242
• Publication Number:
  US 20110078767A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,189 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 726/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for providing usage control of communication services within an end user device. A system in the network receives input from a controlling party defining usage restrictions for the end user device. The system then generates a usage control profile, and transmits the usage control profile to the end user device. The end user device then monitors activities in the device to identify a communication attempt (e.g., an incoming voice call). When a communication attempt is identified, the end user device processes the usage control profile to determine whether the communication attempt is authorized, and allows the communication attempt to continue if the attempt is authorized. If the attempt is not authorized, then the end user device blocks the communication attempt.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an end user device that receives communication services from a communication network, the end user device comprising;

a network interface operable to receive a usage control profile from the communication network, wherein the usage control profile defines limits on the communication services available to the end user device over the communication network; and

a usage control system operable to monitor activities in the end user device to identify a communication attempt, to process the usage control profile to determine whether the communication attempt is authorized, to allow the communication attempt to continue responsive to a determination that the communication attempt is authorized, and to block the communication attempt in the end user device responsive to a determination that the communication attempt is not authorized;

the usage control system is further operable to provide a notification to a controlling party that the communication attempt was blocked, wherein the controlling party specified the limits on the communication services available to the end user device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the end user device further comprises:

a user interface operable to notify an end user that the communication attempt was blocked.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the usage control system is further operable to provide another notification to the other party involved in the communication attempt that the communication attempt was blocked.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the network interface is further operable to receive an update message from the communication network; and

the usage control system is further operable to process the update message to update the usage control profile.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the update message comprises a text/multimedia message sent by the controlling party.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein:

the usage control system is further operable to parse the text/multimedia message to identify modified usage restrictions inserted in the text/multimedia message, and to update the usage control profile based on the modified usage restrictions.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein if the communication attempt comprises an incoming text/multimedia message, then the usage control system is further operable to store the text/multimedia message until the text/multimedia message is authorized according to the usage control profile, and to allow the text/multimedia message to be displayed to an end user when authorized.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein if the communication attempt comprises an outgoing text/multimedia message, then the usage control system is further operable to store the text/multimedia message until the text/multimedia message is authorized according to the usage control profile, and to allow the text/multimedia message to be sent to the communication network when authorized.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the usage control system is further operable to generate a text message that indicates that the communication attempt was blocked, and to send the text message to a mobile device of the controlling party.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the usage control system is further operable to include details about the communication attempt in the notification to the controlling party.

11. A method operable in an end user device that receives communication services from a communication network, the method comprising:

receiving a usage control profile in the end user device from the communication network, wherein the usage control profile defines limits on the communication services available to the end user device over the communication network;

monitoring activities in the end user device to identify a communication attempt;

processing the usage control profile to determine whether the communication attempt is authorized;

allowing the communication attempt to continue responsive to a determination that the communication attempt is authorized;

blocking the communication attempt in the end user device responsive to a determination that the communication attempt is not authorized; and

if the communication attempt was blocked, providing a notification to a controlling party that the communication attempt was blocked, wherein the controlling party specified the limits on the communication services available to the end user device.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

notifying an end user that the communication attempt was blocked.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

providing another notification to the other party involved in the communication attempt that the communication attempt was blocked.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

receiving an update message in the end user device from the communication network; and

processing the update message to update the usage control profile.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the update message comprises a text/multimedia message sent by the controlling party.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

parsing the text/multimedia message to identify modified usage restrictions inserted in the text/multimedia message; and

updating the usage control profile based on the modified usage restrictions.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein if the communication attempt comprises an incoming text/multimedia message, then:

storing the text/multimedia message until the text/multimedia message is authorized according to the usage control profile; and

allowing the text/multimedia message to be displayed to an end user when authorized.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein if the communication attempt comprises an outgoing text/multimedia message, then:

storing the text/multimedia message until the text/multimedia message is authorized according to the usage control profile; and

allowing the text/multimedia message to be sent to the communication network when authorized.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein providing a notification to a controlling party that the communication attempt was blocked comprises:

generating a text message that indicates that the communication attempt was blocked; and

sending the text message to a mobile device of the controlling party.

20. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

including details about the communication attempt in the notification to the controlling party.