Managed access system that provides selective communications and registration of mobile wireless devices

• US 9,681,360 B1
• Filed: 05/13/2016
• Issued: 06/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harris Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Harris Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Salyers, Eric J., Gallagher, Shawn H., Birdwell, Barry R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sarwar, Babar
• Application Number:
  US15/153,770
• Time in Patent Office: 396 Days
• Field of Search: 455410, 455 411- 412, 455411, 455415, 4554121-4142, 455420, 4555521, 4555221, 4554561, 4554042, 455457, 455 1, 455 133, 37911423, 37911421, 37912702, 37912705, 379386
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/30 Security of mobile devices; Security of mobile applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/64 using geofenced areas
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

A managed access system for mobile wireless devices (MWDs) in a facility that is geographically within a wireless communications network includes a plurality of antennas at the facility. Radio equipment is coupled to the antennas. A management access controller cooperates with the radio equipment to communicate with a given MWD within the facility, block outside communications via the wireless communications network when the given MWD is an unauthorized MWD, and provide outside communications when the given MWD is an authorized MWD. The management access controller registers a candidate MWD as an authorized MWD and provides selective communications with both authorized and unauthorized MWD'"'"'s within the facility.

Claims

1. A managed access system for mobile wireless devices (MWDs) in a facility, the facility being geographically within a wireless communications network, the managed access system comprising:

a plurality of directional antennas arranged around a periphery of the facility;

radio equipment coupled to said plurality of antennas, said radio equipment comprising a plurality of radios each coupled to a respective antenna;

a management access controller cooperating with said radio equipment to communicate with a given MWD within the facility, block outside communications via the wireless communications network when the given MWD is an unauthorized MWD, provide outside communications when the given MWD is an authorized MWD, and implement a corresponding change in said radio equipment in response to a change in the wireless communications network of at least one of a change in power level of at least one of said radios, a change in a communications protocol of at least one of said radios, and a change in a frequency range of at least one of said radios; and

at least one registration antenna configured to define an MWD registration location at the facility;

said management access controller configured to register a candidate MWD presented at the MWD registration location as an authorized MWD.

2. The managed access system according to claim 1 further comprising an electromagnetic radiation shielded enclosure surrounding said at least one registration antenna.

3. The managed access system according to claim 2 wherein said enclosure has a door therein permitting entry of the candidate MWD therethrough.

4. The managed access system according to claim 1 wherein said at least one registration antenna is configured to define the MWD registration location at a personnel restricted area of the facility.

5. The managed access system according to claim 1 further comprising a display and at least one input device coupled to said management access controller;

and wherein said management access controller is configured to display on said display a registration selection image for the candidate MWD presented to said at least one registration antenna, and register the candidate MWD presented at the MWD registration location responsive to said at least one input device.

6. The managed access system according to claim 1 wherein the authorized MWD has a time limit thereon.

7. The managed access system according to claim 1 wherein the authorized MWD has a number of visits limit.

8. A method for operating a managed access system for mobile wireless devices (MWDs) in a facility, the facility being geographically within a wireless communications network, the managed access system comprising a plurality of directional antennas arranged around a periphery of the facility, radio equipment coupled to the plurality of antennas, said radio equipment comprising a plurality of radios each coupled to a respective antenna, and at least one registration antenna configured to define an MWD registration location at the facility, the method comprising:

operating a management access controller to

cooperate with the radio equipment to communicate with a given MWD within the facility, block outside communications via the wireless communications network when the given MWD is an unauthorized MWD, and provide outside communications when the given MWD is an authorized MWD,

cooperate with the at least one registration antenna to register a candidate MWD presented at the MWD registration location as an authorized MWD; and

implement a corresponding change in said radio equipment in response to a change in the wireless communications network of at least one of a change in a power level of at least one of said radios, a change in communications protocol of at least one of said radios, and a change in a frequency range of at least one of said radios.

9. The method according to claim 8 further comprising an electromagnetic radiation shielded enclosure surrounding the at least one registration antenna.

10. The method according to claim 9 wherein the enclosure has a door therein permitting entry of the candidate MWD therethrough.

11. The method according to claim 8 wherein the at least one registration antenna is configured to define the MWD registration location at a personnel restricted area of the facility.

12. The method according to claim 8 further comprising a display and at least one input device coupled to the management access controller;

and wherein the management access controller is configured to display on the display a registration selection image for the candidate MWD presented to the at least one registration antenna, and register the candidate MWD presented at the MWD registration location responsive to the at least one input device.

13. The method according to claim 8 wherein the authorized MWD has a time limit thereon.

14. The method according to claim 8 wherein the authorized MWD has a number of visits limit.

15. A managed access system for mobile wireless devices (MWDs) in a facility, the facility being geographically within a wireless communications network, the managed access system comprising:

a plurality of directional antennas arranged around a periphery of the facility;

radio equipment coupled to said plurality of antennas, said radio equipment comprising a plurality of radios each coupled to a respective antenna; and

a management access controller cooperating with said radio equipment to communicate with a given MWD within the facility, block outside communications via the wireless communications network when the given MWD is an unauthorized MWD, provide outside communications when the given MWD is an authorized MWD, and implement a corresponding change in said radio equipment in response to a change in the wireless communications network of at least one of a change in power level of at least one of said radios, a change in a communications protocol of at least one of said radios, and a change in a frequency range of at least one of said radios;

said management access controller configured to register a candidate MWD as an authorized MWD based upon receipt of a communication initiated by a user of the candidate MWD within the facility.

16. The managed access system according to claim 15 wherein the communication comprises a text message.

17. The managed access system according to claim 15 wherein the communication comprises an electronic mail message.

18. The managed access system according to claim 15 wherein the communication comprises a dialed number.

19. The managed access system according to claim 15 further comprising a display and at least one input device coupled to said management access controller;

and wherein said management access controller is configured to display on said display a registration selection image for the candidate MWD presented to said at least one registration antenna, and register the candidate MWD presented at the MWD registration location responsive to said at least one input device.

20. The managed access system according to claim 18 wherein the authorized MWD has a time limit thereon.

21. The managed access system according to claim 18 wherein the authorized MWD has a number of visits limit.

22. A method for operating a managed access system for mobile wireless devices (MWDs) in a facility, the facility being geographically within a wireless communications network, the managed access system comprising a plurality of directional antennas arranged around a periphery of the facility and radio equipment coupled to the plurality of antennas, said radio equipment comprising a plurality of radios each coupled to a respective antenna, the method comprising:

operating a management access controller to

cooperate with the radio equipment to communicate with a given MWD within the facility, block outside communications via the wireless communications network when the given MWD is an unauthorized MWD, provide outside communications when the given MWD is an authorized MWD,

register a candidate MWD as an authorized MWD based upon receipt of a communication initiated by a user of the candidate MWD within the facility; and

implement a corresponding change in said radio equipment in response to a change in the wireless communications network of at least one of a change in a power level of at least one of said radios, a change in communications protocol of at least one of said radios, and a change in a frequency range of at least one of said radios.

23. The method according to claim 22 wherein the communication comprises a text message.

24. The method according to claim 22 wherein the communication comprises an electronic mail message.

25. The method according to claim 22 wherein the communication comprises a dialed number.

26. The method according to claim 22 further comprising a display and at least one input device coupled to the management access controller;

and wherein the management access controller is configured to display on the display a registration selection image for the candidate MWD presented to the at least one registration antenna, and register the candidate MWD presented at the MWD registration location responsive to the at least one input device.

27. The method according to claim 22 wherein the authorized MWD has a time limit thereon.

28. The method according to claim 22 wherein the authorized MWD has a number of visits limit.

29. A managed access system for mobile wireless devices (MWDs) in a facility, the facility being geographically within a wireless communications network, the managed access system comprising:

a plurality of directional antennas arranged at around a periphery of the facility;

radio equipment coupled to said plurality of antennas, said radio equipment comprising a plurality of radios each coupled to a respective antenna;

a management access controller cooperating with said radio equipment to communicate with a given MWD within the facility, block outside communications via the wireless communications network when the given MWD is an unauthorized MWD, provide outside communications when the given MWD is an authorized MWD, and implement a corresponding change in said radio equipment in response to a change in the wireless communications network of at least one of a change in power level of at least one of said radios, a change in a communications protocol of at least one of said radios, and a change in a frequency range of at least one of said radios;

said management access controller configured to provide selective communications with both authorized and unauthorized MWDs within the facility.

30. The managed access system according to claim 29 wherein the selective communications comprises a broadcast message sent from the management access controller to a plurality of MWDs.

31. The managed access system according to claim 29 wherein the selective communications comprises a 911 message received from an MWD.

32. The managed access system according to claim 31 wherein said management access controller routes the 911 message to a predetermined extension at the facility.

33. The managed access system according to claim 29 wherein the selective communications establish a private call between a pair of MWDs.

34. The managed access system according to claim 29 wherein said management access controller is configured to track locations of the MWDs.

35. A method for operating a managed access system for mobile wireless devices (MWDs) in a facility, the facility being geographically within a wireless communications network, the managed access system comprising a plurality of directional antennas arranged around a periphery of the facility and radio equipment coupled to the plurality of antennas, said radio equipment comprising a plurality of radios each coupled to a respective antenna, the method comprising:

operating a management access controller to

cooperate with the radio equipment to communicate with a given MWD within the facility, block outside communications via the wireless communications network when the given MWD is an unauthorized MWD, provide outside communications when the given MWD is an authorized MWD,

provide selective communications with both authorized and unauthorized MWDs within the facility; and

implement a corresponding change in said radio equipment in response to a change in the wireless communications network of at least one of a change in a power level of at least one of said radios, a change in communications protocol of at least one of said radios, and a change in a frequency range of at least one of said radios.

36. The method according to claim 35 wherein the selective communications comprises a broadcast message sent from the management access controller to a plurality of MWDs.

37. The method according to claim 35 wherein the selective communications comprises a 911 message received from an MWD.

38. The method according to claim 37 wherein the management access controller routes the 911 message to a predetermined extension at the facility.

39. The method according to claim 35 wherein the selective communications establish a private call between a pair of MWDs.

40. The method according to claim 35 wherein the management access controller is configured to track locations of the MWDs.