Controlling Portable Digital Devices
First Claim
1. A method of controlling usage of a portable digital device in a communications network, the method including:
- receiving a signal over the network at the device, the signal including a cell ID within the communications network;
analysing the signal at the device to determine whether usage of the device should be controlled in the cell identified by the cell ID; and
controlling usage of the device in accordance with the result of the analysis.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for controlling usage of a portage digital device (14) having an audio and/or image data recording or capture function (12). Operation of said data recording or capture function is inhibited when the portable digital device is located in a specific geographic location or region (10). A method of controlling usage of a portable digital device in a communications network, is also described which includes the steps of: receiving a signal over the network at the device; analysing the signal at the device to determine whether usage of the device should be controlled, and controlling usage of the device in accordance with the result of the analysis. The method also includes the steps of: providing a list of locations where control of the application is to be restricted; comparing information regarding the location of the device with the location: on the list, and if the location of the device is present in the list, producing a result indication that usage of the device is to be controlled.
108 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method of controlling usage of a portable digital device in a communications network, the method including:
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receiving a signal over the network at the device, the signal including a cell ID within the communications network; analysing the signal at the device to determine whether usage of the device should be controlled in the cell identified by the cell ID; and controlling usage of the device in accordance with the result of the analysis. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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2. (canceled)
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8. (canceled)
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10. (canceled)
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11. (canceled)
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22. (canceled)
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25. (canceled)
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26. (canceled)
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27. (canceled)
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28. A method of controlling usage of an application of a portable digital device in a communications network, the method including:
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receiving a signal over the network at the device, the signal including a cell ID within the communications network; analysing the signal at the device to determine whether usage of the application of the device should be controlled in the cell identified by the cell ID; and enabling or disabling at least part of the functionality of the application in accordance with the result of the analysis. - View Dependent Claims (9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24)
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29. A portable digital device in a communications network, said device comprising:
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a receiver that receives a signal from the network, the signal including a cell ID within the network; means for analysing the signal to determine whether usage of the device should be controlled in the cell identified by the cell ID; and means for controlling usage of the device in accordance with the result of the analysis. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
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32. An inhibiting device for disabling an application on a portable digital device in a surrounding geographic area, comprising:
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means for storing a cell ID; and a portable beacon transmitter that transmits a signal including the cell ID to portable digital devices in the transmission range of said transmitter, whereby each portable digital device receiving the signal may determine from the cell ID whether the portable digital device is to be disabled. - View Dependent Claims (33)
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Specification