Apparatus and methods for enforcement of policies upon a wireless device

• US 8,676,182 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2012
• Issued: 03/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Bell, Michael, Lovich, Vitali
• Primary Examiner(s): Siddiqui, Kashif
• Application Number:
  US13/595,836
• Publication Number:
  US 20130078979A1
• Time in Patent Office: 568 Days
• Field of Search: 455/403, 455/411, 455/419, 455/420, 455/456, 455/550.1, 370/331
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/088 using filters or firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for changing one or more functional or operational aspects of a wireless device, such as upon the occurrence of a certain event. In one embodiment, the event comprises detecting that the wireless device is within range of one or more other devices. In another variant, the event comprises the wireless device associating with a certain access point. In this manner, various aspects of device functionality may be enabled or restricted (device “policies”). This policy enforcement capability is useful for a variety of reasons, including for example to disable noise and/or light emanating from wireless devices (such as at a movie theater), for preventing wireless devices from communicating with other wireless devices (such as in academic settings), and for forcing certain electronic devices to enter “sleep mode” when entering a sensitive area.

Claims

1. A method of operating a wireless network, comprising:

receiving at a mobile device a transmission comprising at least one command capable of causing modification of at least one functionality of the mobile device, where the modification is required for association with the wireless network;

evaluating whether the received at least one command includes an appropriate permission to modify the at least one functionality;

when the received at least one command is determined to have the appropriate permission, modifying the at least one functionality responsive to the received at least one command and associating with the wireless network; and

when the received at least one command does not have the appropriate permission, ignoring the wireless network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmission is received responsive to the mobile device entering a first area.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising reverting the modifications caused by the received at least one command upon the mobile device leaving the first area.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of evaluating further comprises prompting a user of the mobile device for permission to modify the at least one functionality.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

wherein in response to the act of modifying the at least one functionality, notifying a network entity of the modification.

6. A base station apparatus comprising:

a processor;

at least one wireless interface in data communication with the processor; and

logic in data communication with the processor and the at least one wireless interface, the logic configured to;

detect a mobile device comprising one or more modifiable functions; and

transmit a first command to cause adjustment of the one or more modifiable functions according to a plurality of policies, where a policy is selected based at least in part on a distance from the base station apparatus.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the detection of the mobile device comprises detecting that the mobile device is within a prescribed range.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, the logic further configured to:

determine when the mobile device exits the prescribed range; and

transmit a second command to revert the adjustments caused by the first command to the mobile device based at least in part on the determination of the mobile device exiting the prescribed range.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the one or more modifiable functions comprises Bluetooth inquiry and pairing function logic configured to selectively disable at least one of the inquiry and pairing functions.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions which are configured to, when executed by a processor:

receive at a mobile device a transmission comprising at least one command capable of causing modification of at least one functionality of the mobile device, where the modification is required for association with the wireless network;

evaluate whether the received at least one command includes an appropriate permission to modify the at least one functionality;

when the received at least one command is determined to have the appropriate permission, modify the at least one functionality responsive to the received at least one command and associating with the wireless network; and

when the received at least one command does not have the appropriate permission, ignore the wireless network.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the transmission is received responsive to the mobile device entering a first area.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the instructions are further configured to revert the modifications caused by the received at least one command upon the mobile device leaving the first area.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the act of evaluating further comprises prompting a user of the mobile device for permission to modify the at least one functionality.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the instructions are further configured to:

in response to the act of modifying the at least one functionality, notify a network entity of the modification.