Cell phone control and localization for restricted facilities

• US 8,750,903 B1
• Filed: 03/28/2012
• Issued: 06/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CellAntenna Corp.
• Original Assignee: CellAntenna Corp.
• Inventors: Fitzsimmons, Daniel, Melamed, Howard
• Primary Examiner(s): Brandt, Christopher M
• Application Number:
  US13/432,575
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• Field of Search: 455/445, 455/426.1, 455/432.1, 455/432.3, 455/435.1, 455/435.2, 455/435.3, 455/456.4
• US Class Current: 455/456.4
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/02 Access restriction performed under specific conditions

Abstract

A method and system for controlling cell phones and cellular phone system based wireless devices in a restricted environment, such as prisons, where the control system makes use of software defined radios to mimic the ambient wireless signals transmitted from nearby cell phone base stations. The system produces a multi-protocol beacon set based on the existing wireless environment and a pre-determined logic set to accomplish complete coverage of all relevant cell phone operating protocols. Cell phones within the desired target coverage area are then attracted to the system and their operation can be controlled. The cell phone control system is able to selectively deny or permit calls based upon a whitelist/blacklist database. The cell phone control system is interfaced to a distributed system of antennas in order to provide the proper control needed over the coverage area.

Claims

1. A method of controlling wireless communication devices within a predetermined target area comprising:

operating a cell phone controller to scan for base station beacon signals associated with the target area,

collecting identification and control data of all detected base station beacon signals,

creating a beacon set appropriate for all the base station beacon signals operative within the target area, attaching operation of cell phones within the target area to the cell phone controller by conducting an active processing mode,

defining the active processing mode as producing a higher level of signal power by the cell phone controller than that of an ambient signal provided by the base station,

providing a radio frequency (RF) detection apparatus, including time detection recording capabilities, to determine location of a cell phone within a target area,

determining the location of a cell phone within the target area by receiving a response signal from the cell phone and determining the time therefore; and

performing a query to a detection logger and recording port numbers when a time match of said time determined as a result of said response signal from the cell phone, occurs.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising utilizing a predetermined active rules database stored within the cell phone controller to reduce the number of beacons required to provide complete coverage of all beacon signal combinations within the target area.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 accessing a blacklist/whitelist database and comparing the identification and control data therewith for determining allowed cell phone calls from within the target area.

4. A method as recited in claim 3 completing the allowed cell phone calls utilizing an Internet Protocol interface to a predetermined phone system.

5. A method as recited in claim 4 defining the predetermined phone system as a restricted target area phone system.

6. A method as recited in claim 4 defining the predetermined phone system as a private branch exchange (PBX) system.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising comparing a time stamp indicative of the time match and associating the port number recorded with the time stamp.

8. A method as recited in claim 1 defining the beacon set as comprising each frequency band, cell phone carrier and wireless protocol combination in the collected base station beacon signals.

9. A system for controlling wireless communication within a predetermined target area, said system comprising:

at least one communication device controller interactive with a plurality of antennas associated with the target area,

a radio frequency (RF) detection apparatus, including time detection recording capabilities structured to determine location of communication devices within the target area by receiving response signals from the communication devices and determining the time of the response signals being received and to log an occurrence of time matches related to the time of the response signals,

said one communication device controller further structured to detect ambient signals from at least one communications base station,

said one communication device controller further structured to generate a higher level of signal power than that of said ambient signal;

said higher level of signal power sufficient to attach operation of communication devices within the target area to the one communication device controller, and

said one communication device controller structured to create a beacon set appropriate for coverage by the one communication device controller by all base station beacon signals operating within the target area.

10. A system as recited in claim 9 wherein said beacon set comprises each frequency band, cell phone carrier and wireless protocol combination in collected base station beacon signals.

11. A system as recited in claim 9 further comprising a blacklist/whitelist database including identification and control data of communication devices operating within the target area.

12. A system as recited in claim 11 further comprising an Internet Protocol interface connecting predetermined communication devices within the target area to a predetermined phone system for completion of communication from within the target area to an outside of the target area.

13. A system as recited in claim 12 wherein said predetermined phone system comprises a restricted target area phone system.

14. A system as recited in claim 12 wherein said predetermined phone system comprises a private branch exchange (PBX) system.

15. A system as recited in claim 9 further comprising a predetermined active rules database stored within said one communication device controller, said active rules database operative to reduce the number of beacons within said beacon set required to provide complete coverage of all beacon signal combinations within the target area.