Apparatus and methods for enforcement of policies upon a wireless device

• US 8,254,902 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2008
• Issued: 08/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Bell, Michael, Lovich, Vitali
• Primary Examiner(s): Afshar, Kamran
• Assistant Examiner(s): Siddiqui, Kashif
• Application Number:
  US12/215,592
• Publication Number:
  US 20090325566A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,524 Days
• Field of Search: 455/403, 455/411, 455/419, 455/420, 455/456, 455/550.1, 370/331
• US Class Current: 455/419
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/088 using filters or firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for changing one or more functional or operational aspects of a wireless device, such as upon the occurrence of a certain event. In one embodiment, the event comprises detecting that the wireless device is within range of one or more other devices. In another variant, the event comprises the wireless device associating with a certain access point. In this manner, various aspects of device functionality may be enabled or restricted (device “policies”). This policy enforcement capability is useful for a variety of reasons, including for example to disable noise and/or light emanating from wireless devices (such as at a movie theater), for preventing wireless devices from communicating with other wireless devices (such as in academic settings), and for forcing certain electronic devices to enter “sleep mode” when entering a sensitive area.

Claims

1. A base station apparatus comprising:

a transceiver module adapted to communicate with a client wireless device;

a first module adapted to detect that the client wireless device comprising a first set of functions is within a first range;

a second module adapted to identify one or more modifiable portions of the first set of functions;

where the identification of the one or more modifiable portions of the first set of functions is based at least in part on received client wireless device information relating to the one or more modifiable portions; and

a third module adapted to cause at least one of the first set of functions to be modified based at least in part upon the first module detecting that the wireless device is within the first range and the identified one or more modifiable portions, and to cause notification for a user of the client wireless device to be provided via the client wireless device; and

wherein the modification of the at least one of the first set of functions is performed after said notification.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the client wireless device comprises a cellular-enabled mobile device having a wireless LAN (WLAN) interface, and the apparatus is contained substantially within the cellular-enabled mobile device.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first set of functions comprises audible ringer functionality, and wherein the modification comprises suppression or mute of the audible ringer functionality.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first set of functions comprises a first lighting configuration having a first intensity associated therewith, and wherein the modification comprises a second lighting configuration having a second intensity associated therewith, said second intensity being less than said first intensity.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the second lighting configuration comprises fewer selectable settings than the first lighting configuration.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first set of functions comprises Bluetooth inquiry and pairing functions, and wherein the modification comprises disablement of at least one of said inquiry and pairing functions.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first set of functions comprises a first power setting, and wherein the modification comprises a second power setting, said second setting configured to consume less electrical power than said first setting.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first set of functions comprises a first security policy, and wherein the modification comprises a second security policy which imposes higher security requirements than said first policy.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the second access policy comprises at least:

an authentication requirement;

a password requirement; and

an encryption requirement.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first set of functions does not require that the wireless device remain in sleep mode, and wherein the modification requires that the wireless device:

(i) enter and remain in sleep mode while within said first range;

or (ii) remain in sleep mode while within said first range if already in said sleep mode when first entering within said first range.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first module is adapted to detect that the wireless device is within the first range using at least global positioning system (GPS) signals.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first module is adapted to detect that the wireless device is within the first range using at least triangulation based on two or more radio frequency signals.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first module is adapted to detect that the wireless device is within the first range based on association or attempted association of the wireless device with the base station access point.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless device comprises a cellular-enabled mobile device having a wireless LAN (WLAN) interface, and the base station apparatus comprises a WLAN interface capable of communicating with the WLAN interface of said mobile device.

15. A wireless device comprising:

a first module adapted to receive a signal from a transmitting device, the signal comprising at least one command adapted to invoke changes in a plurality of functions of the wireless device, the plurality of functions selected from the group consisting of;

(i) a display function;

(ii) an audible alert or alarm function;

(iii) a power conservation mode; and

(iv) a communications interface mode;

a second module adapted to process the at least one command to change the plurality of functions of the wireless device;

a user interface module adapted to determine whether a user of the wireless device has agreed to accept the changes before the command is processed by the second module; and

a third module adapted to transmit to the transmitting device information relating to the plurality of functions of the wireless device;

wherein the selection of the changes in the plurality of functions is based at least in part on the information relating to the plurality of functions of the wireless device.

16. The wireless device of claim 15, wherein said device further comprises logic adapted to transmit information relating to whether a user of said wireless device has agreed to invoke said changes to a wireless base station or access point in communication with said wireless device.

17. The wireless device of claim 15, wherein one or more of said display functions comprises adjustment of at least one of the brightness and intensity of the display of said wireless device.

18. The wireless device of claim 15, wherein one or more of said audible alert or alarm functions comprises adjustment of the volume of an audible sound that would otherwise be generated by said wireless device.

19. The wireless device of claim 15, wherein one or more of said communications interface modes comprises prevention of at least one mode of communication between said wireless device and another proximate wireless device.

20. A method of modifying a set of functions within a user wireless mobile device, wherein the user wireless mobile device comprises a first set of functions, comprising:

determining the user wireless mobile device is within a first area;

evaluating the first set of functions of the user wireless mobile device for acceptable modifications;

identifying one or more modifications of the first set of functions to a base station apparatus by transmitting to the base station apparatus information relating thereto;

receiving at least one command adapted to invoke one or more of the evaluated first set of functions within the detected user wireless mobile device; and

implementing the one or more of modifications of the first set of functions at the user wireless mobile device in accordance with the received at least one command.

21. The method of. claim 20, wherein the one or more of first set of functions comprises:

(i) a display function;

(ii) an audible alert or alarm function;

(iii) a power conservation mode; and

(iv) a communications interface mode.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein responsive to the user wireless mobile device leaving the first area, reverting the one or more set of functions to a setting in use prior to the changing.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the detection of said user wireless mobile device being within a first area is performed using at least global positioning system (GPS) sinnals.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the detection of the user wireless mobile device being within the first area is performed using at least a location determination, the determination based on two or more radio frequency signals.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the detection of the user wireless mobile device being within the first area is based on association or attempted association of the user wireless mobile device with a base station or access point.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein the first set of functions comprises a first power setting, and wherein the modification comprises a second power setting, the second setting consuming less electrical power than said first setting.

27. The method of claim 20, wherein the first set of functions comprises a first lighting configuration having a first intensity associated therewith, and wherein the modification comprises a second lighting configuration having a second intensity associated therewith, said second intensity being less than said first intensity.

28. The method of claim 20, wherein the first set of functions comprises Bluetooth inquiry and pairing functions, and wherein the modification comprises disabling at least one of said inquiry and pairing functions.

29. The method of claim 20, wherein the first set of functions comprises audible ringer functionality, and wherein the modification comprises suppressing or muting the audible ringer functionality.