Methods and systems for limiting mobile station operation in a group setting

• US 9,049,622 B1
• Filed: 11/25/2013
• Issued: 06/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Cope, Warren B., Sankaranaraynan, Pallavur A., Pankajakshan, Bejoy, Belser, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): SHAHEED, KHALID W
• Application Number:
  US14/089,711
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 455/436, 455/437, 455/442, 455/438, 455/439, 455/440
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0005 Control or signalling for completing the hand-off
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0009 for a plurality of users or terminals, e.g. group communication or moving wireless networks user group management H04W4/08; processing of subscriber group data H04W8/186
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/006 with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities

Abstract

Methods and corresponding systems are provided for limiting mobile station operation when multiple mobile stations are moving together in a group. Such group movement includes but is not limited to movement in a vehicle. According to disclosed methods, a determination is made that multiple mobile stations are moving substantially together, and in response to the determination, operation of one or more of the mobile stations is limited.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

a network server determining that multiple mobile stations are moving substantially together, wherein determining that multiple mobile stations are moving substantially together comprises determining that respective handoffs of the multiple mobile stations occur (a) at substantially the same time and (b) between identical wireless coverage areas, wherein determining that the respective handoffs of the multiple mobile stations occur at substantially the same time comprises determining based on handoff records that the respective handoffs occur within a threshold time of each other, wherein the threshold time is at least 100 milliseconds; and

in response to determining that the multiple mobile stations are moving substantially together, the network server limiting operation of one or more of the multiple mobile stations.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the multiple mobile stations comprises at least one of a cellular telephone and a wireless personal digital assistant (PDA).

3. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the multiple mobiles stations has a respective user profile, and in response to determining that the multiple mobile stations are moving substantially together, (i) the network server evaluating the user profiles of the multiple mobile stations, and (ii) based at least in part on the evaluating, the network server limiting operation of the one or more of the multiple mobile stations.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the user profile of each of the multiple mobile stations defines an age of a user of the mobile station, and wherein evaluating the user profiles comprises comparing the ages of the users of the multiple mobile stations.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the user profile of each of the multiple mobile stations defines a genealogical relationship of a user of the mobile station, and wherein evaluating the user profiles comprises considering the genealogical relationships of the users of the multiple mobile stations.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the user profile of at least one of the multiple mobile stations defines at least one circumstance when the network server should limit the operation of the at least one of the multiple mobile stations, and wherein limiting the operation of the one or more of the multiple mobile stations comprises limiting the operation of the at least one of the multiple mobile stations if the at least one circumstance exists.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the network server determining that the multiple mobile stations are moving at greater than a threshold rate, and wherein limiting the operation of the one or more of the multiple mobile stations comprises limiting the operation of the one or more of the multiple mobile stations based at least in part on determining that the multiple mobile stations are moving at greater than the threshold rate.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein determining that the multiple mobile stations are moving at greater than a threshold rate comprises detecting more than a threshold number of handoffs in a particular amount of time for at least one of the multiple mobile stations.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein determining that the multiple mobile stations are moving at greater than a threshold rate comprises using global positioning system (GPS) technology for tracking a series of locations of at least one of the multiple mobile stations over a period of time.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein limiting the operation of the one or more of the multiple mobile stations comprises blocking non-hands-free voice communications of the one or more of the multiple mobile stations.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein limiting the operation of the one or more of the multiple mobile stations comprises limiting at least one text messaging capability of the one or more of the multiple mobile stations.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein limiting at least one text messaging capability comprises disabling manual keying of text messages.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein limiting at least one text messaging capability comprises disabling visible presentation of received text messages.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein limiting the operation of the one or more of the multiple mobile stations further comprises enabling at least one text messaging capability selected from the group consisting of audio input of outgoing text messages and audio output of incoming text messages of the one or more of the multiple mobile stations.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising the network server determining that the multiple mobile stations are no longer moving, and in response to determining that the multiple mobile stations are no longer moving, the network server adjusting at least one limitation of the one or more of the multiple mobile stations, wherein adjusting comprises removing or modifying.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein limiting the operation of the one or more of the multiple mobile stations comprises limiting the operation of the one or more of the multiple mobile stations by sending a service directive to each of the one or more of the multiple mobile stations that directs each of the one or more of the multiple mobile stations to limit the operation of itself.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein limiting the operation of the one or more of the multiple mobile stations comprises limiting the operation of the one or more of the multiple mobile stations by sending a service directive to a short message service center (SMSC) that directs the SMSC to limit the operation of the one or more of the multiple mobile stations by prohibiting SMS messages from being delivered to and from the one or more of the multiple mobile stations.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising, the network server determining that the multiple mobile stations are moving substantially together along a roadway, and wherein limiting the operation of the one or more of the multiple mobile stations comprises limiting the operation of the one or more of the multiple mobile stations based at least in part on determining that the multiple mobile stations are moving substantially together along the roadway.

19. A system comprising:

a network communication interface;

one or more processors;

data storage; and

program logic executable by the one or more processors to carry out functions including;

(i) determining that multiple mobile stations are moving substantially together, wherein determining that multiple mobile stations are moving substantially together comprises determining that respective handoffs of the multiple mobile stations occur (a) at substantially the same time and (b) between identical wireless coverage areas; and

(ii) in response to determining that the multiple mobile stations are moving substantially together, limiting operation of one or more of the multiple mobile stations,

wherein determining that the respective handoffs of the multiple mobile stations occur at substantially the same time comprises determining based on handoff records that the respective handoffs occur within a threshold time of each other, wherein the threshold time is at least 100 milliseconds.

20. A method comprising:

a network server determining that respective handoffs of multiple mobile stations occur (a) at substantially the same time and (b) between identical wireless coverage areas; and

in response to determining that respective handoffs of the multiple mobile stations occur (a) at substantially the same time and (b) between identical wireless coverage areas, the network server limiting operation of one or more of the multiple mobile stations by limiting at least one capability of each of the one or more of the multiple mobile stations, wherein limiting at least one capability of each of the one or more of the multiple mobile stations comprises an action selected from the group consisting of prohibiting at least one text messaging capability and prohibiting non-hands-free voice communications,

wherein determining that the respective handoffs of the multiple mobile stations occur at substantially the same time comprises determining based on handoff records that the respective handoffs occur within a threshold time of each other, wherein the threshold time is at least 100 milliseconds.