System and method for continuous mobile service geochronous validation

• US 9,084,214 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2009
• Issued: 07/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cook, Andrew, Kerr, Jade, Mathur, Mohit, Morrissey, Michael, Smoyer, Clinton
• Primary Examiner(s): Shen, Qun
• Application Number:
  US12/398,798
• Publication Number:
  US 20100227629A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,322 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.4, 455/456.1, 455/419, 455/414.1, 455/456.2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

In one embodiment of the present invention, a system and method may be provided for validating communications permissions for an in progress communication. The system and method may include receiving location information, at a service provider, from a wireless communications device. The location information may be communicated to a database that is able to determine communications permissions based upon some predetermined criteria, such as time, date, and location. Based upon the received location information and a related database record, permissions for the wireless communications device may be determined. The determined permissions may be communicated to the service provider. The wireless communications device may be notified about restrictions on its communications, in response to receiving the permissions. The permissions determination may be repeated, as necessary, in response to receiving updated location information.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a processor;

a memory configured to store data, the data accessible by the processor, the processor configured to execute instructions to perform operations comprising;

receiving location information associated with a wireless communications device;

determining permissions, based upon the received location information and a related database record, wherein the location information is compared against one or more location boundaries associated with the related database record to determine whether the location information is within the one or more location boundaries;

implementing restrictions associated with the determined permissions for the one or more location boundaries, wherein the restrictions comprise a restriction allowing only hands-free use of voice communications;

notifying a calling party about restrictions on the wireless communications device, wherein the notification is a message that instructs the calling party to alter the type of communication from voice communication to an alternative communication that will be sent to the wireless communications device, wherein the alternative communication comprises a text message;

repeating the permissions determination in response to receiving updated location information; and

placing time insensitive inbound communications directed toward the wireless communications device in a queue while restrictions on communicating the time insensitive inbound communications are currently in place.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system is managed by a government entity or an industry standards group, and wherein the operations further include sending a notification to the wireless communications device about the restrictions on communications.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the notification indicates that no text messaging capabilities are presently allowed in response to the determined permissions.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the operations include notifying a user, currently using an application on the wireless communications device, that use of the application is currently being restricted.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the notification is a message displayed on the wireless communications device.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein determining permissions includes determining whether a wireless communications device, continuing on the same trajectory, is anticipated to enter the one or more boundaries where a restriction upon permissions is in place.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the operations include notifying a user of the wireless communications device that one of the restrictions associated with the one or more boundaries will be implemented for the wireless device if the user continues on the same trajectory.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the time insensitive communications include in-bound text messages.

9. A method for validating communications permissions for an in progress communication, the method comprising:

receiving location information, at a service provider, from a wireless communications device;

querying a database to determine communications permissions based upon predetermined criteria, wherein the location information is compared against one or more location boundaries stored in the database to determine whether the location information is within the one or more location boundaries;

implementing restrictions associated with the determined communications permissions for the one or more location boundaries, wherein the restrictions comprise a restriction allowing only hands-free use of voice communications;

notifying a calling party about restrictions on the wireless communications device, wherein the notification is a message that instructs the calling party to alter the type of communication from voice communication to an alternative communication that will be sent to the wireless communications device, wherein the alternative communication comprises a text message;

repeating the permissions determination, in response to receiving updated location information; and

placing time insensitive inbound communications directed toward the wireless communications device in a queue while restrictions on communicating the time insensitive inbound communications are currently in place.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising sending a notification to the wireless communications device about the restrictions on communications.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the notification indicates that no text messaging capabilities are presently allowed in response to the determined permissions.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein receiving the location information includes receiving one or more updates of current location coordinates.

13. The method according to claim 9, further comprising notifying a user, currently using an application on the wireless communications device, that use of the application is currently being restricted.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein notifying the user includes displaying a message on the wireless communications device.

15. The method according to claim 9, wherein determining permissions further includes determining whether a wireless communications device continuing on the same trajectory is anticipated to enter the one or more boundaries where a restriction upon permissions is in place.

16. The method according to claim 15, further including notifying a user of the wireless communications device that one of the restrictions associated with the one or more boundaries will be implemented for the wireless device if the user continues on the same trajectory.

17. The method according to claim 9, wherein the time insensitive inbound communication includes in-bound text messages.