Systems and methods wherein a mobile user device operates in accordance with a location policy and user device information

• US 20030008662A1
• Filed: 07/09/2001
• Published: 01/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines SA (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines SA (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: Stern, Edith H., Willner, Barry E., Yu, Philip Shi-lung, Greene, David P.
• Application Number:
  US09/901,788
• Publication Number:
  US 20030008662A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2094 Proximity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided wherein a mobile user device operates in accordance with a location policy and user device information. According to one embodiment, a location policy associated with a location is determined. For example, a school may establish a location policy that prevents students from wirelessly exchanging information during class. User device information associated with a mobile user device is also determined. For example, it may be determined if the mobile user device is being used by a student or a teacher. It is then arranged for the mobile user device to operate in accordance with the location policy and the user device information.

Claims

1. A method of facilitating operation of a mobile user device at a location, comprising:

determining a location policy associated with the location;

determining user device information associated with the mobile user device; and

arranging for the mobile user device to operate in accordance with the location policy and the user device information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining the location policy comprises at least one of:

(i) retrieving a pre-stored location policy, (ii) receiving an indication of the location policy from a location device, (iii) evaluating a plurality of potential location policies, and (iv) receiving an indication of the location policy via a third-party service device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the indication of the location policy comprises at least one of:

(i) the location policy, (ii) a location identifier, (iii) a policy identifier, (iv) a pointer to a location policy, and (v) payment information.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the user device information comprises at least one of:

(i) information associated with the mobile user device, (ii) information associated with a user, (iii) a user device policy, (iv) a policy identifier, (v) a user device identifier, (vi) a user identifier, (vii) a user category, and (viii) payment information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining the user device information comprises at least one of:

(i) retrieving pre-stored user device information, (ii) receiving an indication of the user device information from the mobile user device, and (iii) receiving an indication of the user device information via a third-party service device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said arranging further comprises:

comparing the location policy with the user device information.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said arranging further comprises:

determining whether to apply the location policy based on the user device information.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said arranging further comprises:

negotiating a policy to be applied by the mobile user device.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

verifying that the mobile user device operates in accordance with the location policy and the user device information.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

arranging for a user to receive a notification associated with operation of the mobile user device in accordance with the location policy and the user device information.

11. The method of claim 1, where in the location is associated with at least one of:

(i) proximity to a location device, (ii) a location boundary, (iii) a mobile location, (iv) a plurality of locations, (v) an event time, (vi) an event area, (vii) an education area, and (viii) a health care area.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile user device comprises at least one of:

(i) a mobile computing device, (ii) a personal digital assistant, (iii) a communication device, (iv) a wireless telephone, (v) a pager, (vi) an information storage device, (vii) an audio recording device, and (viii) an image recording device.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein operation of the user device is associated with communication via at least one of:

(i) a wireless network, (ii) a wireless local area network, (iii) an infrared radiation network, (iv) a communication network, (v) a Bluetooth network, and (vi) an 802.11 network.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said arranging is performed by a location device.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said arranging is performed by the mobile user device.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein said arranging is performed by a third-party service device.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

arranging for a third-party service to exchange payment associated with at least one of;

(i) a user and (ii) a location.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the operation of the mobile user device is associated with at least one of:

(i) receiving information, (ii) storing information, (iii) transmitting information, and (iv) providing information to a user.

19. A computer-implemented method of facilitating operation of a wireless communication device at a location, comprising:

establishing a location policy associated with the location;

receiving a device policy from the wireless communication device;

comparing the location policy with the device policy; and

transmitting information to arrange for the wireless communication device to communicate in accordance with the location policy and the device policy.

20. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device in communication with said processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by said processor to;

determine a location policy associated with a location;

determine user device information associated with a mobile user device; and

arrange for the mobile user device to operate in accordance with the location policy and the user device information.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said storage device further stores at least one of:

(i) a user device policy database, (ii) a user device operation status database, (iii) a location policy database, and (iv) a location operation status database.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising:

a communication device coupled to said processor and adapted to communicate with at least one of;

(i) a user device, (ii) a location device, (iii) a third-party service device, and (iv) a payment device.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the user device information comprises location information.

23. A medium storing instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to perform a method of facilitating operation of a mobile user device at a location, said method comprising:

determining a location policy associated with the location;

determining user device information associated with the mobile user device; and

arranging for the mobile user device to operate in accordance with the location policy and the user device information.

24. A method of facilitating operation of a mobile user device at a location, comprising:

determining a user device policy associated with the mobile user device;

determining location information associated with the location; and

arranging for the mobile user device to operate in accordance with the user device policy and the location information.

25. A method of facilitating operation of a mobile user device at a location, comprising:

determining a location policy associated with the location;

determining a user device policy associated with the mobile user device; and

arranging for the mobile user device to operate in accordance with at least one of;

(i) the location policy, and (ii) the user device policy.

26. A method performed by a third-party service to facilitate operation of a mobile user device at a location, comprising:

receiving an indication of a location policy associated with the location;

receiving user device information associated with the mobile user device; and

transmitting information to arrange for the mobile user device to operate in accordance with the location policy and the user device information.