Location-based parental controls
First Claim
1. A method for location-based parental controls, the method comprising:
- providing, to a parent of a child, an instant messaging communications session window and a co-user list;
receiving, from the parent via the instant messaging communications session window, a parental control command in the form of an instant message comprising;
an input specifying a geographic location having an associated boundary, anda configuration instruction for controlling one or more modes of communication of a mobile device associated with the child when the mobile device is located within the specified geographic location, wherein the configuration instruction identifies the one or more modes of communication to be controlled;
determining, via a processor, a current location of the mobile device; and
when the current location of the mobile device is within the specified geographic location, using the configuration instruction to regulate how the mobile device associated with the child communicates with other mobile devices using the one or more modes of communication.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An entity acting as a parent (e.g., a parent, a guardian, a school, an athletic organization, or a combination thereof—referred to as a parent or a supervising entity) may restrict a mobile device (e.g., a mobile telephone, a laptop, a PDA, a text messaging device, a two-way radio, a hand-held computer, or an mp3 player), or certain functionalities of a mobile device (e.g., text messaging, instant messaging, telephone calls, email capabilities, or playing music), that is being used by a child (referred to as a child or a supervised entity) while the child is at a current location. Similar mobile device restrictions may be used with other users, such as, for example, an employer and an employee, a secure government site and a visitor to the site, and a business and a customer.
39 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for location-based parental controls, the method comprising:
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providing, to a parent of a child, an instant messaging communications session window and a co-user list; receiving, from the parent via the instant messaging communications session window, a parental control command in the form of an instant message comprising; an input specifying a geographic location having an associated boundary, and a configuration instruction for controlling one or more modes of communication of a mobile device associated with the child when the mobile device is located within the specified geographic location, wherein the configuration instruction identifies the one or more modes of communication to be controlled; determining, via a processor, a current location of the mobile device; and when the current location of the mobile device is within the specified geographic location, using the configuration instruction to regulate how the mobile device associated with the child communicates with other mobile devices using the one or more modes of communication. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for location-based controls for communications by a supervised entity, the method comprising:
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providing, to a supervising entity associated with the supervised entity, an instant messaging communications session window and a co-user list; receiving, from the supervising user via the instant messaging communications session window, a supervisory control command in the form of an instant message comprising; an input specifying a geographic location having an associated boundary, and a configuration instruction identifying one or more modes of communication of a mobile device associated with the supervised entity and the geographic location; and using the configuration instruction to regulate, via a processor, how the mobile device associated with the supervised entity communicates with other mobile devices using the one or more modes of communication when the supervised entity is located at the geographic location. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A non-transitory computer program product for location-based controls for communications by a supervised entity, the computer program product including instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
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provide, to a parent of a child, an instant messaging communications session window and a co-user list; receive, from the parent via the instant messaging communications session window, a parental control command in the form of an instant message comprising; a geographic location having an associated boundary, and a configuration instruction identifying one or more modes of communication and the geographic location; and use the configuration instruction to regulate how the supervised entity communicates with others using the one or more modes of communication when the supervised entity is located at the geographic location.
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Specification