Feature management of a communication device

• US 8,639,216 B1
• Filed: 03/06/2013
• Issued: 01/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kajeet, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Kajeet, Inc.
• Inventors: Baker, Matthew Donald, Geller, Steven Ira, Kesser, Douglas Owen, Neal, Daniel John, Politi, Carol Ann, Weintraub, Ben Julian
• Primary Examiner(s): MATHARU, MANPREET S
• Application Number:
  US13/786,703
• Time in Patent Office: 328 Days
• Field of Search: 455/445, 455/428, 455/466, 455/41.1, 455405-408, 455410-411, 705/52, 705/53, 705/41
• US Class Current: 455/406
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/103 Workflow collaboration or project management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/405 Establishing or using transaction specific rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/61 based on the service used
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/00 Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a coded card to authorise calls from a telephone set H04M1/675
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/10 Account details or usage
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/35 Pay as you go
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/14 using user query or user detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/00 Connection management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/186 Processing of subscriber group data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A system and method for the real-time management of a device, and more particularly to the establishment and enforcement of policies or rules associated with the feature or functions that may be performed with the device, such as making and receiving calls, exchanging data, playing games and music, sending and receiving email, accessing web sites, and paying for goods and services. If a child or employee is using the device, there may be a need to regulate how that device can be used and to determine who will pay for what goods or services. In addition to providing all of the features associated with a device, service providers need to be able to establish and enforce rules (policies) regulating how and when that device can be used and who will pay for a good or service requested by the user of the device.

Claims

1. A computing device configured to communicate over a communication network managed by a service provider, the computing device comprising a memory bearing instructions that, when executed on the computing device, cause the computing device to at least:

send, to a server at the service provider, a request to communicate with a remote computing device over the communication network;

receive, from the server, a response indicative of an enforcement by the server of a decision of the server to grant or deny the request, the decision being based on one or more policies that are stored at the server and that are configured by an administrator of the computing device; and

communicate with the remote computing device over the communication network when the response grants the request, the communication being performed without downloading the policy or the decision to the computing device, wherein the one or more policies comprises a limit on units of value that can be used to communicate with the remote computing device and one or more contacts associated with one or more computing devices, wherein the decision grants the request when communicating with the remote computing device is associated with a charge of units of value that is within the limit, wherein the decision grants the request when communicating with the remote computing device is associated with a charge of units of value that exceeds the limit and when the remote computing device is associated with a contact from the one or more contacts, and wherein the decision denies the request when communicating with the remote computing device is associated with a charge of units of value that exceeds the limit and when the remote computing device is not associated with a contact from the one or more contacts.

2. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the computing device is a mobile phone.

3. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the communication with the remote computing device comprises one or more of voice calling, messaging, data surfing, gaming, content accessing, goods purchasing, and service purchasing.

4. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the one or more policies comprises one or more of a time-based policy, a location-based policy, and a quality of service-based policy.

5. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the computing device is associated with an account managed by an administrator, wherein the account is shared with a plurality of computing devices.

6. The computing device of claim 5, wherein the one or more policies are accessible via an interface, and wherein each computing device from the plurality of computing devices is associated with a list of one or more policies, and wherein each list of one or more policies is customizable by the administrator.

7. The computing device of claim 6, wherein the lists of one or more policies are accessible by the administrator via a website.

8. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the one or more policies comprises one or more blocked contacts associated with one or more computing devices, wherein the decision denies the request when the remote computing device is associated with a blocked contact from the one or more blocked contacts.

9. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the one or more policies control content that can be sent, received, or used by the computing device.

10. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the computing device is used by a user and managed by the administrator, and wherein the response comprises a notification to the administrator, the user, or both the administrator and the user when the decision denies the request.

11. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed on a computing device configured to be operatively coupled to a communication network managed by a service provider, causes the computing device to at least:

send, to a server, a request to communicate with a remote computing device over the communication network;

receive, from the server, a response indicative of a decision to grant the request, the decision being based on a policy that is stored on the computing device and that is configured by an administrator of the computing device, the response being further indicative of an enforcement of the decision by the server; and

communicate with the remote computing device over the communication network based on the response, the communication being executed without downloading the policy or the decision to the service provider, wherein the policy comprises a limit on units of value that can be used to communicate with the remote computing device and one or more contacts associated with one or more computing devices, wherein the decision grants the request when communicating with the remote computing device is associated with a charge of units of value that is within the limit, wherein the decision grants the request when communicating with the remote computing device is associated with a charge of units of value that exceeds the limit and when the remote computing device is associated with a contact from the one or more contacts, and wherein the decision denies the request when communicating with the remote computing device is associated with a charge of units of value that exceeds the limit and when the remote computing device is not associated with a contact from the one or more contacts.

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the policy includes a rule that manages content that can be sent, received, or used by the computing device, and wherein the rule is a total prohibition on content that can be sent, received, or used.

13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the policy includes a rule that manages content that can be sent, received, or used by the computing device, and wherein the rule establishes a quantity limit on content that can be sent, received or used in a given period of time.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the policy includes a rule that manages content that can be sent, received, or used by the computing device, and wherein the rule establishes a limit on how many units of value can be spent by a user of the computing device on content that can be sent, received, or used in a given period of time.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the response comprises a notification to the administrator, the user or both the administrator and the user when the limit on how many units of value can be spent by the user has been reached.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the policy includes a rule that manages content that can be sent, received or used by the computing device, and wherein the rule establishes a limit on a type of content that can be sent, received, or used.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the policy includes a rule that manages content that can be sent, received, or used by the computing device, and wherein the rule establishes a time frame during which the computing device can send, receive, or use the content.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the computing device can be geographically located by the communication network, and wherein the policy establishes a geographic location within which the computing device can be used to send, receive, or use content.

19. A method executed on a computing device configured to communicate via a communication network associated with a service provider, the method comprising:

receiving, from a server at the service provider, a policy pertaining to a request to communicate with a remote computing device over the communication network;

generating a decision to allow the request, the decision being based on the policy received from the server;

causing an enforcement action consistent with the decision; and

communicating with the remote computing device over the communication network based on the decision when the enforcement action allows said communicating, wherein the policy includes a limit on units of value that can be used to communicate with the remote computing device and one or more contacts associated with one or more computing devices, wherein the decision grants the request when communicating with the remote computing device is associated with a charge of units of value that is within the limit, wherein the decision grants the request when communicating with the remote computing device is associated with a charge of units of value that exceeds the limit and when the remote computing device is associated with a contact from the one or more contacts, and wherein the decision denies the request when communicating with the remote computing device is associated with a charge of units of value that exceeds the limit and when the remote computing device is not associated with a contact from the one or more contacts.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the policy is associated with an account managed based on input associated with an administrator, wherein the account is shared with a plurality of computing devices, and wherein the policy can be selectively applied to each computing device from the plurality of computing devices.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the policy establishes a limit on a type of content that can be sent, received, or used.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the limit on a type of content is determined by a filter that reviews content that can be sent, received, or used.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the filter is established and managed by an administrator of the computing device.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the filter is established and managed by the service provider or by a third party.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein the policy includes a user-established rule and an administrator-established rule, and wherein the administrator-established rule can take precedence over the user-established rule.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the policy further includes a third party-established rule, and wherein the third party-established rule can take precedence over the user-established rule and the administrator-established rule.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the third party-established rule is generated based on input associated with an institution associated with a user of the computing device.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the third party-established rule is generated based on input associated with an employer of a user of the computing device.