Cell phone parental control

• US 7,302,272 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2004
• Issued: 11/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Ackley, Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Duc M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Phuong; Dai
• Application Number:
  US10/951,955
• Publication Number:
  US 20050096009A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,156 Days
• Field of Search: 455/411, 455/414.1, 455/466, 455/456.1, 455/456.3
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2072 Schedules, e.g. personal calendars
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/48 Arrangements for recalling a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/02 Access restriction performed under specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

A method for allowing remote control of the usage of a networked wireless device including incoming communications, outgoing communications, and application launching. Controlling entities, such as parent cellular telephones or web sites, are provided with the ability to select a list of approved anytime incoming communications, or approved incoming and outgoing communications based on time and day. Incoming communications include text messaging and telephone calls. Further, the controlling entity is provided with the ability to reroute to the controlling entity any usage of the wireless device such as incoming communications, outgoing communications, and application launching. Access to usage logs of the wireless device is provided to the controlling entity.

Claims

1. A method of supervisory control of a wireless communication device by a supervisory control device, the method comprising:

receiving a first Short Message Service (SMS) message by the wireless communication device from the supervisory control device, wherein the first SMS message includes an instruction from the supervisory control device for the wireless communication device;

examining the instruction in the first SMS message from the supervisory control device by the wireless communication device to determine a task instructed by the supervisory control device;

determining the task to be adding a communication entity identifier to a list of communication entity identifiers in the wireless communication device;

retrieving the communication entity identifier from the first SMS message by the wireless communication device in response to the instruction in the first SMS message from the supervisory control device; and

storing the communication entity identifier in the list of telephone numbers in the wireless communication device in response to the instruction in the first SMS message from the supervisory control device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication entity identifier is an incoming communication source identifier.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the incoming communication source identifier is a telephone number, an SMS address, an e-mail address or an application.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the incoming communication source identifier is a telephone number, and wherein the list of communication entity identifiers is a list of authorized incoming telephone numbers.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the incoming communication source identifier is a telephone number, and wherein the list of communication entity identifiers is a list of unauthorized incoming telephone numbers.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication entity identifier is an outgoing communication source identifier.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the outgoing communication source identifier is a telephone number, an SMS address or an e-mail address.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the outgoing communication source identifier is a telephone number, and wherein the list of communication entity identifiers is a list of authorized outgoing telephone numbers.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the outgoing communication source identifier is a telephone number, and wherein the list of communication entity identifiers is a list of unauthorized outgoing telephone numbers.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the instruction further includes a restriction associated with the communication entity identifier, and wherein the method further comprises:

retrieving the restriction from the first SMS message from the supervisory control device by the wireless communication device in response to the instruction in the first SMS message from the supervisory control device;

storing the restriction in the wireless communication device in response to the instruction in the first SMS message from the supervisory control device; and

associating the communication entity identifier stored in wireless communication device with the restriction.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the restriction is a time restriction.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an incoming communication request from an incoming communication source by the wireless communication device, wherein the communication request includes an incoming communication identifier;

comparing the incoming communication identifier with the communication entity identifier in the list of communication entity identifiers;

determining that the incoming communication identifier matches the communication entity identifier; and

rejecting the incoming communication request from the incoming communication source in response the determining that the incoming communication identifier matches the communication entity identifier.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving an outgoing communication request from the wireless communication device, wherein the outgoing communication request includes an outgoing communication identifier;

comparing the outgoing communication identifier with the communication entity identifier in the list of communication entity identifiers;

determining that the outgoing communication identifier matches the communication entity identifier; and

rejecting the outgoing communication request from the wireless communication device in response the determining that the outgoing communication identifier matches the communication entity identifier.

14. A method of supervisory control of a wireless communication device by a supervisory control device, the method comprising:

receiving a first Short Message Service (SMS) message by the wireless communication device from the supervisory control device, wherein the first SMS message includes an instruction from the supervisory control device for the wireless communication device;

examining the instruction in the first SMS message from the supervisory control device by the wireless communication device to determine a task instructed by the supervisory control device;

determining the task to be adding a reminder to a list of reminders in the wireless communication device;

retrieving the reminder from the first SMS message from the supervisory control device by the wireless communication device in response to the instruction in the first SMS message from the supervisory control device; and

storing the reminder in the list of telephone numbers in the wireless communication device in response to the instruction in the first SMS message from the supervisory control device.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

launching an application at a time of the reminder.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

displaying a reminder message at a time of the reminder.