System and method for controlling access to a particular functionality of a wireless communication device

• US 8,649,771 B1
• Filed: 02/12/2013
• Issued: 02/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Faaborg, Alexander, Ghosh, Angana
• Primary Examiner(s): Khan, Suhail
• Application Number:
  US13/765,442
• Time in Patent Office: 364 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location

Abstract

Systems and methods for controlling access to a particular functionality of a wireless communication device are described. For example, a device can include a memory and a processor that is operatively coupled to the memory. The processor can be configured to display a list of entities that have applications installed on the device that can access a particular functionality of the device; display, for each entity, a complete list of applications associated with the corresponding entity and installed on the device, wherein each of the listed applications can access the particular functionality of the device; and provide a respective graphical switch for each entity and by which access is denied to the particular functionality of the device to all of the listed applications associated with the corresponding entity.

Claims

1. A mobile device, comprising:

one or more memories; and

one or more processors operatively coupled to the one or more memories, wherein the one or more processors are configured to;

provide for display a list of entities that have applications installed on the device that can access a particular functionality of the device related to accessing a location of the device,

provide for display, with each entity of the list of entities, a respective list of applications installed on the device and associated with the entity, wherein each application of the respective list of applications can access the particular functionality of the device, and

provide a respective graphical switch for each entity of the list of entities, wherein access to the particular functionality of the device for all applications of the respective list of applications associated with the entity is configured based on a state of the respective graphical switch.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the particular functionality of the device is determining the location of the device.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the particular functionality of the device is using an antenna to send or receive information.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the particular functionality of the device is using a wireless receiver to receive information.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the respective graphical switch is a respective graphical box that can be checked and unchecked.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the checking or unchecking of the respective graphical box determines whether all applications of the respective list of applications associated with the entity are denied access to the particular functionality.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to run an operating system that displays the list of entities;

displays, with each entity, the complete respective list of applications associated with the entity; and

provides a respective graphical switch for each entity of the list of entities.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to group all of the applications installed on the device according to a particular entity that developed the applications.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to analyze a respective signature used with each respective application installed on the device, wherein the signature identifies a particular entity with which the respective application is associated.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to associate a particular application with an entity by analyzing a signature used with the particular application.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to associate a particular application with an entity by analyzing a key used with the particular application, wherein the key belongs to the entity.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to associate a particular application with an entity by determining an account under which the particular application was downloaded.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the respective graphical switch for each entity of the list of entities is under the control of an operating system that runs on the processor.

14. The device according to claim 1, wherein the respective graphical switch for a particular entity of the list of entities is not under the control of one of the applications associated with the particular entity.

15. The device according to claim 5, wherein the checking or unchecking of the respective graphical box, which is under the control of an operating system that runs on the processor, determines whether access to the particular functionality of the device for all applications of the respective list of applications associated with an entity of the list of entities is allowed based on a state of the respective graphical switch.

16. The device according to claim 1, wherein the memory and the processor are part of one or more of the following:

a cellular device, a cellular phone, a smart phone, a computing tablet, a laptop computer, a computer, and a wireless communication device.

17. A method, comprising:

providing for display, by one or more processors on a wireless communication device, a list of entities that have applications installed on the wireless communication device that can access a particular functionality of the wireless communication device;

providing for display, by the one or more processors, with each entity of the list of entities, a respective list of applications installed on the wireless communication device and associated with the entity, wherein each application of the respective list of applications can access the particular functionality of the wireless communication device;

providing, by the one or more processors, a respective graphical switch for each entity of the list of entities, wherein access to the particular functionality of the wireless communication device for all applications of the respective list of applications associated with the entity is configured based on a state of the respective graphical switch; and

denying access, by the one or more processors, to all applications of the respective list of applications associated with the entity based on the state of the respective graphical switch.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the wireless communication device includes one or more of the following:

a cellular device, a cellular phone, a smart phone, a computing tablet, a laptop computer, a computer, a handheld wireless device and a mobile phone.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the particular functionality of the wireless communication device includes one or more of the following:

determining a location of the wireless communication device, using an antenna to send or receive information, and using a wireless receiver to receive data.

20. A method, comprising:

associating, by an operating system running on one or more processors of a wireless communication device, all applications installed on the wireless communication device according to a particular entity that developed the applications;

providing for display, by the operating system, a list of entities that have applications installed on the wireless communication device that can access a particular functionality of the device;

providing for display, by the operating system, with each entity of the list of entities, a respective list of applications installed on the wireless communication device and associated with the entity, wherein each application of the respective list of applications can access the particular functionality of the wireless communication device;

providing, by the operating system, a respective graphical switch for each entity of the list of entities, wherein access to the particular functionality of the wireless communication device for all applications of the respective list of applications associated with the entity is configured based on a state of the respective graphical switch; and

denying access, by the operating system, to all applications of the respective list of applications associated with the entity based on the state of the respective graphical switch.