Methods, systems and storage media to remotely control a wireless unit

• US 8,090,365 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2010
• Issued: 01/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bishop, Michael L., Bedingfield, James Carlton Sr., Nguyen, Hong Thi
• Primary Examiner(s): Cho, Un C
• Application Number:
  US12/774,059
• Publication Number:
  US 20100216525A1
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: 455/418, 455/419, 455/420, 455/574, 455/343.2, 455/343.3, 455/343.4, 340/7.32, 340/7.33, 340/7.36, 340/10.33, 340/10.34
• US Class Current: 455/420
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0235 where the received signal is a power saving command
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method to remotely control a wireless unit, includes receiving an activation/deactivation request from a user. It is determined if the user is authorized to activate/deactivate the wireless unit. If the user is authorized to activate/deactivate the wireless unit, a signal is sent to the wireless unit causing the wireless unit to power-on/power-off in response to the signal.

Claims

1. A method to remotely control a wireless unit, comprising:

receiving an activation request from a user;

determining if the user is authorized to activate the wireless unit;

if the user is authorized to activate the wireless unit, sending a signal to the wireless unit causing the wireless unit to power-on in response to the signal;

subsequent to sending the signal, determining if the wireless unit is activated by initiating a communication to the wireless unit; and

if a response to the communication is received, providing further communication to the user.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the activation request is generated based on a phone call from the user.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein determining if the user is authorized to activate the wireless unit includes accessing an authorized user database including records associated with users.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the records include user identification data identifying users by a user identification entry.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the user identification entry corresponds to a communication address associated with the user.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein the records include time restriction data identifying a time limitation on when the user is permitted to activate the wireless unit, ignore data identifying that a user is not permitted to activate the wireless unit, and options data including an options entry identifying options for activation of the wireless unit.

7. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

sending an auxiliary notice to a user of the wireless unit, the auxiliary notice indicating that activation of the wireless unit has been requested.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the auxiliary notice indicates an identity of the user requesting activation of the wireless unit.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the records include auxiliary notice data identifying a format for the auxiliary notice.

10. A method for controlling a wireless unit, the method comprising:

causing the wireless unit to have a power-on state and a sleep state;

causing the wireless unit to go into the sleep state when the wireless unit is turned-off;

causing the wireless unit in the sleep state to have an active transmit and receive function and an active location function;

causing the wireless unit in the sleep state to change to the power-on state in response to receipt of an authorized remote power-on signal generated by an activation center in response to receipt of an activation request sent by an authorized user; and

providing confirmation that the wireless unit is in the power-on state through a communication with the wireless unit.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

causing the wireless unit to include a remote power-on function;

causing the remote power-on function to be able to detect receipt by the wireless unit of an authorized remote power-on signal; and

in response to detecting the remote power-on signal, causing the remote power-on function to power-on the wireless unit.

12. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium including instructions for execution by a processing circuit for facilitating a method for remotely controlling a wireless unit, the method comprising:

receiving an activation request from a user;

determining if the user is authorized to activate the wireless unit;

if the user is authorized to activate the wireless unit, sending a signal to the wireless unit causing the wireless unit to power-on in response to the signal;

subsequent to sending the signal, determining if the wireless unit is activated by initiating a communication to the wireless unit; and

in response to the communication, providing further communication to the user.

13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 12 wherein the activation request is a data message.

14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 12 wherein the activation request is generated based on a phone call from the user.

15. The computer readable storage medium of claim 14 wherein the records include time restriction data identifying a time limitation on when the user is permitted to activate the wireless unit, ignore data identifying that a user is not permitted to activate the wireless unit, and options data including an options entry identifying options for activation of the wireless unit.

16. The computer readable storage medium of claim 12 wherein determining if the user is authorized to activate the wireless unit includes accessing an authorized user database including records associated with users.

17. The computer readable storage medium of claim 16 wherein the records include user identification data identifying users by a user identification entry.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17 wherein the user identification entry corresponds to a communication address associated with the user.

19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 16 wherein the storage medium readable by a processing circuit further includes instructions for execution by the processing circuit for facilitating a method comprising:

sending an auxiliary notice to a user of the wireless unit, the auxiliary notice indicating that activation of the wireless unit has been requested.

20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 19 wherein the auxiliary notice indicates an identity of the user requesting activation of the wireless unit, wherein the records include auxiliary notice data identifying a format for the auxiliary notice.