Method, apparatus, and program for automated property adjustment in a cellular network

• US 7,231,219 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2002
• Issued: 06/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Curtis, Bryce Allen, Pierre-Louis, Marc-Arthur, Hsu, Jimmy Ming-Der
• Primary Examiner(s): Trinh; Sonny
• Application Number:
  US10/322,057
• Publication Number:
  US 20040203899A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,638 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.4, 455/456.1, 455/457, 455/417, 455/567, 455/422.1, 455/411, 455/450, 455/434, 455/435.1, 455/414.1
• US Class Current: 455/456.4
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed

Abstract

A mechanism is provided for detecting when a wireless device is entering a quiet zone. An out-of-range condition is created in an entryway to a quiet zone. When a wireless device is in a transition zone, the device transmits a re-scan message with a unit identification in an attempt to reestablish communication with the communication tower. A re-scan receiver is provided in the entryway to receive re-scan messages and notify a mobile telephone switching office that the device is entering a quiet zone. The switching office then sends a ring type modifier property to the device when the device leaves the transition zone and reestablishes communications with the communication tower.

Claims

1. A method for adjusting properties of a wireless device, comprising:

responsive to a wireless device entering a controlled area, causing the wireless device to emit a re-scan signal;

identifying a device identifier from the re-scan signal;

sending a zone change message including the device identifier to a computer, wherein the zone change message indicates that the wireless device is entering a zone;

establishing communication with unrestricted power between the wireless device in the zone and a location outside the zone; and

adjusting the ring type of the wireless device in accordance with a requirement corresponding to the zone.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the zone change message includes a zone identifier.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the zone change message includes a property for the zone.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the property is a ring type.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the computer is located at one of a mobile telephone switching office and a third-party service.

6. A method for adjusting a property of a wireless device, comprising:

responsive to a wireless device entering a controlled area causing the wireless device to emit a re-scan signal, receiving a zone change message including a device identifier;

determining a property for the wireless device based on the zone change message;

sending to the wireless device a property modifier for changing the property of the device; and

establishing unrestricted communication between the wireless device in the controlled area and a location outside the controlled area.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the zone change message includes a zone identifier and wherein the step of determining a property includes determining the property based on the zone identifier.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the zone change message includes a property for the zone.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of sending to the device a property modifier includes:

receiving a call for the wireless device;

determining a property modifier for the call;

associating the property modifier with the call; and

directing the call to wireless device.

10. A re-scan receiver, in a controlled area, for adjusting properties of a wireless device, comprising:

means for receiving a re-scan signal from a wireless device responsive to the wireless device emitting the re-scan signal when entering the controlled area;

means for identifying a device identifier from the re-scan signal;

means for sending a zone change message including the device identifier to a computer, wherein the zone change message indicates that the wireless device is entering a zone; and

means for establishing unrestricted communication between the wireless device in the zone area and a location outside the zone.

11. The re-scan receiver of claim 10, wherein the zone change message includes a zone identifier.

12. The re-scan receiver of claim 10, wherein the zone change message includes a property for the zone.

13. The re-scan receiver of claim 12, wherein the property is a ring type.

14. An apparatus for adjusting a property of a wireless device, comprising:

receipt means, responsive to a wireless device entering a controlled area causing the wireless device to emit a re-scan signal, for receiving a zone change message including a device identifier, wherein the receipt means comprises a first directional re-scan receiver that receives re-scan signals from a first direction, and a second directional re-scan receiver that receives re-scan signals from a second direction;

determination means for determining a property for the wireless device based on the zone change message; and

sending means for sending to the wireless device a property modifier for changing the property of the wireless device.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the zone change message includes a zone identifier and wherein the determination means includes means for determining the property based on the zone identifier.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the zone change message includes a property for the zone.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the sending means includes:

means for receiving a call for the wireless device;

means for determining a property modifier for the call;

means for associating the property modifier with the call; and

means for directing the call to wireless device.

18. A property adjustment system, comprising:

a signal weakening mechanism, wherein the signal weakening mechanism weakens cellular communications signals in a transition zone, causing a wireless device to emit a re-scan signal;

a re-scan receiver located in the transition zone, wherein the re-scan receiver sends a zone change message in response to receiving the re-scan signal, wherein the re-scan receiver is a first directional re-scan receiver that receives re-scan signals from a first direction, and the property adjustment system further comprises a second directional re-scan receiver that receives re-scan signals from a second direction, and wherein the zone change message includes a device identifier; and

a computer, wherein the computer sends a property modifier to the wireless device responsive to receiving the zone change message.

19. The property adjustment system of claim 18, wherein the signal weakening mechanism is one of shielding and a short-range signal jammer.

20. The property adjustment system of claim 18, wherein the computer is located at one of a mobile telephone switching office and a third-party service.

21. A computer program product encoded in a computer readable medium, for adjusting a property of a wireless device, comprising:

instructions for receiving a zone change message including a device identifier, responsive to a wireless device entering a controlled area causing the wireless device to emit a re-scan signal;

instructions for determining a property for the wireless device based on the zone change message;

instructions for sending to the wireless device a property modifier for changing the property of the wireless device; and

instructions for establishing unrestricted communication between the wireless device in the controlled area and a location outside the controlled area.