WIRELESS DEVICE MONITORING SYSTEMS AND MONITORING DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED METHODS

• US 20080291013A1
• Filed: 08/08/2008
• Published: 11/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Battelle Energy Alliance LLC (Battelle Memorial Institute)
• Original Assignee: Battelle Energy Alliance LLC (Battelle Memorial Institute)
• Inventors: MCCOWN, STEVEN H., ROHDE, KENNETH W., DERR, KURT W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,737,965 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/552 involving long-term monitoring or reporting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2111 Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2141 Access rights, e.g. capability lists, access control lists, access tables, access matrices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/80 Wireless network architectures or network communication protocols for wireless network security H04W12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/30 for supporting lawful interception, monitoring or retaining of communications or communication related information circuit switched telephony call monitoring H04M3/2281
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3271 using challenge-response
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/12 Detection or prevention of fraud
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/122 Counter-measures against attacks; Protection against rogue devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/30 Security of mobile devices; Security of mobile applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/64 using geofenced areas

Abstract

Wireless device monitoring systems and monitoring devices include a communications module for receiving wireless communications of a wireless device. Processing circuitry is coupled with the communications module and configured to process the wireless communications to determine whether the wireless device is authorized or unauthorized to be present at the monitored area based on identification information of the wireless device. Methods of monitoring for the presence and identity of wireless devices are also provided.

Claims

1. A monitoring device, comprising:

a communications module configured to receive wireless communications of a wireless device within a monitored area; and

processing circuitry coupled with the communications module and configured to process the wireless communications to determine whether the wireless device is authorized or unauthorized to be present at the monitored area.

2. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the communications module is configured to forward the wireless communications to a telecommunications provider.

3. The monitoring device of claim 2, wherein, if the wireless communications forwarded to the telecommunications provider are encrypted, the communications module is configured to receive communications from the telecommunications provider comprising at least a portion of the wireless communications in an unencrypted format.

4. The monitoring device of claim 1, further comprising storage media configured to store information, and wherein the processing circuitry is configured to use the stored information to determine whether the wireless device is authorized or unauthorized to be present at the monitored area.

5. The monitoring device of claim 4, wherein the stored information comprises at least one of identification information and authentication data of one or more authorized wireless devices.

6. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the communications module is configured to output communications to the wireless device and to receive a responsive wireless communication from the wireless device, and wherein the processing circuitry is configured to determine whether the wireless device is authorized or unauthorized using the responsive wireless communication.

7. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the communications module is configured to communicate the wireless communications to at least one other monitoring device configured to determine whether the wireless device is authorized or unauthorized.

8. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the communications module is configured to receive the wireless communications from at least one other monitoring device.

9. The monitoring device of claim 1, further comprising an indication module configured to generate an indication regarding the presence of the wireless device.

10. The monitoring device of claim 9, wherein the indication module is configured to generate at least one of a silent alarm, a visual alarm and an audible alarm.

11. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the communications module is configured to forward the wireless communications to an external device to determine whether the wireless device is authorized or unauthorized.

12. A wireless device monitoring system, comprising:

at least one monitoring device comprising;

a communications module configured to receive wireless communications of a wireless device located within a monitored area; and

processing circuitry coupled with the communications module and configured to process the wireless communication to determine whether the wireless device is authorized or unauthorized to be present at the monitored area.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the communications module is configured to receive the wireless communications directly from the wireless device.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the communications module is configured to receive the wireless communications of the wireless device from at least one other monitoring device.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one other monitoring device comprises at least another communications module configured to:

detect the wireless communications of the wireless device;

output communications to the wireless device and receive wireless communications from the wireless device responsive to the output communications; and

communicate the wireless communications to the at least one monitoring device.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one other monitoring device comprises another communications module configured to forward the wireless communications to a telecommunications provider.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least one communications module of the at least one monitoring device is configured to forward the wireless communications to a telecommunications provider.

18. The system of claim 12, further comprising at least one storage medium configured to store information, and wherein the processing circuitry is configured to use the stored information to determine whether the wireless device is authorized or unauthorized to be present at the monitored area.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the stored information comprises at least one of identification information and authentication data regarding at least one authorized wireless device.

20. The system of claim 12, further comprising an indication module configured to generate an indication regarding presence of the wireless device.

21. A method of monitoring for presence of a wireless device, comprising:

detecting a wireless device within a monitored area;

obtaining identification information regarding the wireless device; and

determining whether the wireless device is authorized or unauthorized to be present at the monitored area in response to the obtained identification information.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein detecting the wireless device comprises scanning frequencies of use of the wireless device.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein obtaining identification information regarding the wireless device comprises:

generating a communication to the wireless device requesting the identification information; and

receiving at least one responsive communication from the wireless device.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising determining that the wireless device is unauthorized upon failure of the wireless device to provide the at least one responsive communication.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein obtaining identification information regarding the wireless device comprises obtaining information regarding at least one of a unique device identifier, an indicator whether the wireless device is enrolled in a corporate PED server, and an identification of the corporate PED server for the wireless device.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein obtaining identification information regarding the wireless device comprises:

receiving at least one indecipherable communication from the wireless device;

forwarding the at least one indecipherable communication to a telecommunications provider; and

receiving identification information regarding the wireless device from the telecommunications provider.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein determining whether the wireless device is authorized or unauthorized comprises comparing the obtained identification information from the wireless device with stored information.

28. The method of claim 21, wherein determining whether the wireless device is authorized or unauthorized comprises:

communicating at least some of the identification information to an external device; and

comparing the at least some of the identification information with stored information accessible by the external device.

29. The method of claim 21, further comprising indicating that the wireless device is authorized or unauthorized.

30. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

obtaining device authentication data relating to the wireless device;

comparing the obtained device authentication data with at least one item of stored authentication data; and

determining if the device is authorized or unauthorized responsive to the comparing the obtained device authentication data with the at least an item of stored authentication data.

31. A method of monitoring wireless devices, comprising:

interrogating a wireless device located in a monitored area;

receiving at least one reply from the wireless device responsive to the interrogating the wireless device; and

determining whether the wireless device is authorized or unauthorized to be present at the monitored area responsive to the at least one reply.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein interrogating a wireless device comprises requesting at least one of identification information of the wireless device and authentication data of the wireless device.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein receiving at least one reply from the wireless device responsive to the interrogating the wireless device comprises receiving at least one indecipherable reply from the wireless device, and further comprising:

forwarding the at least one indecipherable reply to a telecommunications provider; and

receiving the at least one reply in a decipherable format from the telecommunications provider.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein determining whether the wireless device is authorized or unauthorized to be present at the monitored area comprises comparing the at least one received reply with stored information.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein determining whether the wireless device is authorized or unauthorized comprises:

communicating at least a portion of the at least one received reply from the wireless device to an external device; and

comparing the at least a portion of the at least one received reply from the wireless device with stored information accessible by the external device.

36. The method of claim 31, further comprising indicating that the wireless device is authorized or unauthorized.