Control beacons for wireless devices

• US 10,063,995 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2016
• Issued: 08/28/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Lihosit, Christopher, Axdorff, Tyler
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Nhan
• Application Number:
  US15/393,088
• Publication Number:
  US 20170188183A1
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: 455 411, 455 412, 455 9, 455 111, 455410, 455411, 455418, 4555501
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/33 for indoor environments, e.g. buildings
• 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 40/244 using a network of reference devices, e.g. beaconing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel

Abstract

Systems and methods for automatically modifying computing devices are provided. Various embodiments allow multiple control beacons (e.g., Bluetooth low energy beacons) with GPS to automatically pre-configure by discovering each other using location provided by the GPS in the beacons. These beacons can then be used to enforce multiple rules or policies on the computing device (e.g., restrict the activities/functionality of a mobile device). For example, a beacon can be installed at a family'"'"'s dinner table and can be used as a trigger to restrict (or activate) phone features (e.g., allow only incoming calls while near this beacon during dinner times). In some embodiments, the GPS on the beacon can be used to notify administrators (e.g., parents) if the beacon is moved from its current location.

Claims

1. A method for operating a mobile device, the method comprising:

monitoring, at the mobile device, for a signal broadcast by a first control beacon,

wherein the first control beacon is associated with one or more policies that enable or disable specific hardware or software functionality of the mobile device, and

wherein the first control beacon has a range of less than a 100 meter radius;

determining, upon detection of the signal broadcast by the first control beacon, whether the mobile device is to be modified according to the one or more policies;

when the mobile device is determined to be modified according to the one or more policies, and while the mobile device is in range of the first control beacon, temporarily enabling or disabling the hardware or software functionality of the mobile device in accordance with the one or more policies;

ceasing the temporary enabling or disabling the hardware or software functionality of the mobile device when a condition is met; and

automatically associating a second control beacon with the one or more policies when the second control beacon detects the signal broadcast by the first control beacon.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first control beacon includes a global position system and the method further comprises:

monitoring a position of the first control beacon using the global positioning system; and

receiving a message indicating the first control beacon has been moved upon detection of a change in the position of the first control beacon.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more policies cause the mobile device to disable one or more of a camera, a microphone, incoming text messages, outgoing text messages, sounds, ability to receive incoming calls, ability to place outgoing calls, an e-mail application, a gaming application, a social media application, a device connection, a network connection, or a cellular service of the mobile device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request from another mobile device to be temporarily excluded from the one or more policies; and

temporarily excluding, upon receipt of a monetary value or earned value, the mobile device from the one or more policies.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first control beacon uses Bluetooth Low Energy protocols to transmit the signal, and the mobile device receives the signal via Bluetooth Low Energy protocols.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more policies or the conditions are based on time, location, or sensor input.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that when executed by one or more processors cause a machine to:

monitor for a signal broadcast by a control beacon using personal area network communications,

wherein the signal broadcast by the control beacon is associated with one or more policies that modify a hardware or software functionality of the machine, and

wherein the signal broadcast by the control beacon includes a portion that identifies the one or more polices;

parse the signal broadcast by the control beacon to generate a parsed signal;

identify the one or more policies based on the parsed signal;

determine, upon detection of the signal broadcast by the control beacon, whether the one or more policies should be applied to the machine until an ending event occurs; and

temporarily modify, when the one or more policies should be applied, the hardware or software functionality of the machine in accordance with the one or more policies that should be applied; and

terminate modification of the hardware or software functionality of the machine upon occurrence of the ending event.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the machine includes cellular communications capable of connection with a carrier and the one or more policies include disabling the cellular communication.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the one or more polices also include changes to splash screens, boot animations, logos, wallpaper, background colors, startup sounds, or ringtones.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the one or more policies are change based on time, location, or sensor input.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the control beacon is installed in an automobile and the instructions when executed by one or more processors further cause the machine to:

determine if the automobile is moving based on a signal from an accelerometer or a GPS unit; and

disable incoming and outgoing calls and messaging services on the machine when the automobile is in motion.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the instructions when executed by the one or more processors further cause the machine to:

monitor for a request to modify the one or more policies; and

determine that the request to modify the one or more policies should be allowed or denied.

13. A computing system for operating a mobile device, the system comprising:

at least one processor;

memory coupled to the at least one processor, wherein the memory stores contents that, when executed by the at least one processor performs a method of;

monitoring, at the mobile device, for a signal broadcast by a first control beacon,

wherein the first control beacon is associated with one or more policies that enable or disable specific hardware or software functionality of the mobile device, and

wherein the first control beacon has a range of less than a 100 meter radius;

determining, upon detection of the signal broadcast by the first control beacon, whether the mobile device is to be modified according to the one or more policies;

when the mobile device is determined to be modified according to the one or more policies, and while the mobile device is in range of the first control beacon, temporarily enabling or disabling the hardware or software functionality of the mobile device in accordance with the one or more policies;

ceasing the temporary enabling or disabling the hardware or software functionality of the mobile device when a condition is met; and

automatically associating a second control beacon with the one or more policies when the second control beacon detects the signal broadcast by the first control beacon.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the first control beacon includes a global position system and the method further comprises:

monitoring a position of the first control beacon using the global positioning system; and

receiving a message indicating the first control beacon has been moved upon detection of a change in the position of the first control beacon.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the one or more policies cause the mobile device to disable one or more of a camera, a microphone, incoming text messages, outgoing text messages, sounds, ability to receive incoming calls, ability to place outgoing calls, an e-mail application, a gaming application, a social media application, a device connection, a network connection, or a cellular service of the mobile device.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the instructions when executed by the one or more processors further cause the system to:

receiving a request from another mobile device to be temporarily excluded from the one or more policies; and

temporarily excluding, upon receipt of a monetary value or earned value, the mobile device from the one or more policies.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the first control beacon uses Bluetooth Low Energy protocols to transmit the signal, and the mobile device receives the signal via Bluetooth Low Energy protocols.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the one or more policies or the conditions are based on time, location, or sensor input.