Controlling the use of a wireless mobile communication device

• US 8,204,494 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2009
• Issued: 06/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ANELTO
• Original Assignee: Enfora Incorporated (Inseego Corp.)
• Inventors: Weinzierl, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): ADDY, ANTHONY S
• Application Number:
  US12/568,536
• Publication Number:
  US 20100151849A1
• Time in Patent Office: 995 Days
• Field of Search: 455/405, 455/410, 455/411, 455/414.1, 455418-420, 455/466, 455517-519, 455/565, 455/566, 379/207.02, 379/207.03, 379/210.02, 379/88.19, 379/111, 379/114.17, 379/201.01, 709/203, 709/204, 709/206, 709/208, 709/209, 709/217, 709/219, 709/220, 709/227, 709/228
• US Class Current: 455/419
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/204 on-line recharging, e.g. cashless
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/24 with on-line recharging of an account or card, e.g. cashless
• 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: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00

Abstract

A controlling party can set limitations on a controlled party'"'"'s access to applications operating on the controlled party'"'"'s wireless mobile communication device. The controlling party can effectuate these limitations via various different mechanisms. In one instance, the controlling party uses another wireless communication device to effectuate the limitations. In another instance, the limitations are effectuated by the controlling party'"'"'s operation of a data processing apparatus connected by a wired data communication bus to the controlled party'"'"'s wireless mobile communication device. In a still further instance, the controlling party effectuates the limitations by accessing a website supported by a web server.

Claims

1. A web server remotely accessible by a controlling party device for controlling the use of a wireless mobile communication device, the web server comprising:

a web interface for displaying a plurality of control filters for enabling a controlling party to input via the controlling party device filtering information for a plurality of communication capabilities and user applications on the wireless mobile communication device, the filtering information including first information identifying a first remote communication device with which the wireless mobile communication device may communicate without restriction, second information identifying a second remote communication device with which the wireless mobile communication device may communicate with one or more restrictions, and third information for controlling use of another one of the user applications;

a data processor having an input coupled to said web interface, said data processor for processing said first, second and third information for transmission to the wireless mobile communication device;

an output coupled to said data processor for outputting said first, second and third information for transmission to the wireless mobile communication device; and

a database for storing IP information of the wireless mobile communication device received from the wireless mobile communication device, the IP information operable for enabling the web server to communicate with the wireless mobile communication device.

2. The web server of claim 1, wherein said first, second and third information is transmitted to the wireless mobile communication device via, first, a wired data network and, second, a wireless communication channel.

3. The web server of claim 1, wherein said data processor supports a text messaging application for providing said first, second and third information in a text message.

4. The web server of claim 1, wherein said web server is accessible through the Internet.

5. The web server of claim 1, wherein said wireless mobile communication device is provided as one of a telephone, a personal digital assistant, and a portable computer, each equipped for wireless communication.

6. The web server of claim 1 wherein the first and second information comprise telephone numbers of the first and second remote communication devices, respectively.

7. The web server of claim 1 wherein the first information identifies a first group of remote communication devices in a first list and the second information identifies a second group of remote communication devices in a second list.

8. The web server of claim 1 wherein the one or more restrictions includes a time of day restriction.

9. The web server of claim 1 wherein the one or more restrictions includes a call duration restriction.

10. The web server of claim 1 wherein the other user application is a data and time application.

11. The web server of claim 1 wherein the web server receives the IP information from the wireless mobile communication device at least a one of:

periodically or when the IP information of the wireless mobile communication device changes.

12. A method of controlling the use of a wireless mobile communication apparatus, comprising:

providing a web configuration interface from a web server to a remote controlling party device, the web configuration interface operable for receiving filtering information from the remote controlling party device for a plurality of communication capabilities and user applications on the wireless mobile communication device, the filtering information including first information identifying a first remote communication device with which the wireless mobile communication apparatus may communicate without restriction, second information identifying a second remote communication device with which the wireless mobile communication apparatus may communicate with one or more restrictions, and third information for controlling use of another one of the user applications;

transmitting the first, second and third information from the web configuration interface to a wireless mobile communication network;

in response to receipt of the first, second and third information at the wireless mobile communication network, transferring the first, second and third information to the wireless mobile communication apparatus;

in response to receipt of the first, second and third information at the wireless mobile communication apparatus, allowing or restricting communication with the first and second remote communication devices in accordance with the first and second information, respectively, and controlling the other user application in accordance with said third information.

receiving, at the web server, IP information from the wireless mobile communication apparatus, the IP information operable for enabling the web server to communicate with the wireless mobile communication apparatus.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said transmitting step includes transmitting the first, second and third information through the worldwide web.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein said transmitting step includes transmitting the first, second and third information across a data communication network.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein said transmitting step includes transmitting the first, second and third information on a wired communication channel, and said transferring step includes transmitting the first, second and third information on a wireless communication channel.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first, second and third information is stored on the web server prior to being transferred on the wireless communication channel.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein said third information determines the user'"'"'s ability to access the other user application during selected times or under selected conditions.

18. The method of claim 17, including transmitting from the wireless mobile communication apparatus to the web configuration interface an indication that a user has accessed the user application.

19. The method of claim 12 wherein the first and second information comprise telephone numbers of the first and second remote communication devices, respectively.

20. The method of claim 12 wherein the first information identifies a first group of remote communication devices in a first list and the second information identifies a second group of remote communication devices in a second list.

21. The method of claim 12 wherein the one or more restrictions includes at least one of a time of day restriction and a call duration restriction.

22. The method of claim 12 wherein the other user application is a data and time application.

23. The method of claim 12 wherein the first and second information comprise telephone numbers of the first and second remote communication devices, respectively, and the one or more restrictions includes a one of an incoming restriction and an outgoing restriction.

24. The method of claim 12 wherein receiving, at the web server, IP information from the wireless mobile communication apparatus comprises at least a one of:

receiving the IP information periodically or receiving the IP information when the IP information of the wireless mobile device changes.

25. A web server remotely accessible by a controlling party device for controlling the use of a wireless mobile communication device, the web server comprising:

a web interface for displaying a plurality of control filters for enabling a controlling party to input via the controlling party device a first telephone number identifying a first remote communication device with which the wireless mobile communication device may communicate without restriction, a second telephone number identifying a second remote communication device with which the wireless mobile communication device may communicate with one or more restrictions, and predetermined information for controlling use of a user application available on the wireless mobile communication device, the user application different from a phone application;

a data processor having an input coupled to the web interface, the data processor for processing the first and second telephone numbers and the predetermined information for transmission to the wireless mobile communication device;

an output coupled to the data processor for outputting the first and second telephone numbers and the predetermined information for transmission to the wireless mobile communication device; and

a database for storing IP information of the wireless mobile communication device received from the wireless mobile communication device, the IP information operable for enabling the web server to communicate with the wireless mobile communication device.

26. The web server of claim 25 wherein the web server receives the IP information from the wireless mobile communication device at least a one of:

periodically or when the IP information of the wireless mobile communication device changes.

27. A method of controlling the use of a wireless mobile communication apparatus, comprising:

providing a web configuration interface from a web server to a remote controlling party device, the web configuration interface operable for receiving via the remote controlling party device a first telephone number identifying a first remote communication device with which the wireless mobile communication apparatus may communicate without restriction, a second telephone number identifying a second remote communication device with which the wireless mobile communication apparatus may communicate with one or more restrictions, and predetermined information for controlling use of a user application available on the wireless mobile communication device, the user application different than a phone application;

transmitting the first and second telephone numbers and the predetermined information from the web configuration interface to a wireless mobile communication network;

in response to receipt of the first and second telephone numbers and the predetermined information at the wireless mobile communication network, transferring the first and second telephone numbers and the predetermined information to the wireless mobile communication apparatus;

in response to receipt of the first and second telephone numbers and the predetermined information at the wireless mobile communication apparatus, allowing or restricting communication with the first and second remote communication devices, respectively, and controlling the user application in accordance with the predetermined information; and

receiving, at the web server, IP information from the wireless mobile communication apparatus, the IP information operable for enabling the web server to communicate with the wireless mobile communication apparatus.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein receiving, at the web server, IP information from the wireless mobile communication apparatus comprises at least a one of:

receiving the IP information periodically or receiving the IP information when the IP information of the wireless mobile device changes.