Proximity-based authorization

• US 8,571,541 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2004
• Issued: 10/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arlington Technologies, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Inventors: Seligmann, Doree Duncan, Sammon, Michael J., Brotman, Lynne Shapiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ajit
• Application Number:
  US10/891,867
• Publication Number:
  US 20060014532A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,393 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.2, 455/418, 455/420, 4554561-4566, 455/422.1, 455/440, 455/404.2, 455/403, 455/419, 455/414.1, 455/457
• US Class Current: 455/420
• 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 2221/2111 Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2141 Access rights, e.g. capability lists, access control lists, access tables, access matrices
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0492 by using a location-limited connection, e.g. near-field communication or limited proximity of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/14 with services dependent on location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• 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: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for enabling the response to a command from a wireless terminal to be based at least partially on the presence or absence of other users nearby, and possibly the identity of those users. In the illustrated embodiment, a server maintains an updated list of the locations of fixed and wireless terminals within an area (e.g., an IEEE 802.11 wireless access point'"'"'s area of coverage, a CDMA base station'"'"'s cell, etc.). When a user issues a command to his or her wireless terminal, the command is transmitted to the server. The server determines whether there are any other nearby wireless terminals (and inferentially, the users associated with these terminals), and then determines whether the command is authorized in that environment.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at a first wireless terminal, a request from a first user to access content associated with the first wireless terminal;

when a second wireless terminal associated with a second user is within a distance D of the first wireless terminal, displaying the content, via the first wireless terminal, as text; and

when the second wireless terminal is not within the distance D of the first wireless terminal, providing the content as audio via the first wireless.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the content comprises a setting of the first wireless terminal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the content comprises an acoustic signal.

4. A method comprising:

receiving, at a first wireless terminal, an input for placing a call;

determining if a second wireless terminal is within a distance of the first wireless terminal to yield a first determination;

when the first determination indicates that the second wireless terminal is within the distance of the first wireless terminal, determining whether the call is authorized in a presence of a user associated with the second wireless terminal to yield a second determination; and

placing the call only when the second determination indicates that the call is authorized in the presence of the user.

5. A method comprising:

receiving a remote command that is submitted by a first user of a first wireless terminal;

executing the remote command to yield a value;

determining if a second wireless terminal is within a distance of the first wireless terminal to yield a first determination;

when the first determination indicates that the second wireless terminal is within the distance of the first wireless terminal, determining whether transmission of the value to the first wireless terminal is authorized in a presence of a second user associated with the second wireless terminal to yield a second determination; and

transmitting the value to the first wireless terminal only when the second determination indicates that transmission of the value to the first wireless terminal is authorized in the presence of the second user.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the remote command is for updating a second value in a database.