Localized detection of mobile devices

• US 8,521,183 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2013
• Issued: 08/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2008
• 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 Allan, Daly, Brian Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, MAHENDRA R
• Application Number:
  US13/774,558
• Publication Number:
  US 20130171979A1
• Time in Patent Office: 186 Days
• Field of Search: 455/434, 455/509, 455/16, 455/450, 455/435.1, 455/445, 455/433, 455/456.1, 455/67.11, 455/90.3, 343/702, 343/895, 343/725, 343/848, 343/825, 365/51, 365/244, 365/63, 713/322, 713/321, 713/170, 713/161, 370/252
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/0085 using test signal generators
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/23 Indication means, e.g. displays, alarms, audible means
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/24 with feedback of measurements to the transmitter
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/24 Transfer of terminal data

Abstract

Various aspects are disclosed herein for detection of mobile devices. Detection of mobile devices can be localized to an environment that is radio frequency enclosed. Within this environment, any packages can be scanned for the presence of mobile devices and for the interrogation of information from such mobile devices, such as the mobile device number and mobile device equipment information. The environment can contain an antenna for communicating with any mobile devices within the environment and a receiver component configured to receive information from any contacted mobile device. Based on this information, a determination can be made whether to validate a contacted mobile device or to take any alternative action.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

wirelessly broadcasting a plurality of bands of frequencies inside a wireless radio frequency enclosed environment, wherein the broadcast of the plurality of bands of frequencies is confined within the wireless radio frequency enclosed environment;

selecting a frequency by adjusting a signal strength of the broadcast;

turning on a mobile device inside the wireless radio frequency enclosed environment via the selected frequency;

interrogating the mobile device for information comprising at least one of a mobile identifier or a phone number;

validating the information;

searching for a frequency other than the selected frequency in a background mode while communicating on the selected frequency and

receiving a signal from the mobile device inside the wireless radio frequency enclosed environment in response to the broadcast of the plurality of bands of frequencies.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising analyzing the signal for information regarding the mobile device.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising determining, based on the information, whether to validate the mobile device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the information comprises at least one of a phone number of the mobile device or equipment information of the mobile device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising wirelessly controlling the mobile device.

6. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

memory coupled to the processor, the memory comprising executable instruction that when executed by the processor cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising;

wirelessly broadcasting a plurality of bands of frequencies inside a wireless radio frequency enclosed environment, wherein the broadcast of the plurality of bands of frequencies is confined within the wireless radio frequency enclosed environment;

selecting a frequency by adjusting a signal strength of the broadcast;

turning on a mobile device inside the wireless radio frequency enclosed environment via the selected frequency;

interrogating the mobile device for information comprising at least one of a mobile identifier or a phone number;

validating the information;

searching for a frequency other than the selected frequency in a background mode while communicating on the selected frequency and

receiving a signal from the mobile device inside the wireless radio frequency enclosed environment in response to the broadcast of the plurality of bands of frequencies.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, the operations further comprising analyzing the signal for information regarding the mobile device.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, the operations further comprising determining, based on the information, whether to validate the mobile device.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the information comprises at least one of a phone number of the mobile device or equipment information of the mobile device.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, the operations further comprising wirelessly controlling the mobile device.

11. A computer-readable storage medium that is not a propagating signal, the computer-readable comprising executable instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising:

wirelessly broadcasting a plurality of bands of frequencies inside a wireless radio frequency enclosed environment, wherein the broadcast of the plurality of bands of frequencies is confined within the wireless radio frequency enclosed environment;

selecting a frequency by adjusting a signal strength of the broadcast;

turning on a mobile device inside the wireless radio frequency enclosed environment via the selected frequency;

interrogating the mobile device for information comprising at least one of a mobile identifier or a phone number;

validating the information;

searching for a frequency other than the selected frequency in a background mode while communicating on the selected frequency and

receiving a signal from the mobile device inside the wireless radio frequency enclosed environment in response to the broadcast of the plurality of bands of frequencies.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, the operations further comprising analyzing the signal for information regarding the mobile device.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 the operations further comprising determining, based on the information, whether to validate the mobile device.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the information comprises at least one of a phone number of the mobile device or equipment information of the mobile device.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, the operations further comprising wirelessly controlling the mobile device.