System and method for managing events associated with the detection of wireless devices

• US 8,554,214 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2008
• Issued: 10/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sweeney, Jeffrey M., Rooks, Kelsyn D. S., Gupta, Shekhar, Dwyer, Kendra, Wilmoth, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Appiah, Charles
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sabouri, Mazda
• Application Number:
  US12/256,337
• Publication Number:
  US 20100099410A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,812 Days
• Field of Search: 455/435.1
• US Class Current: 455/435.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/33 for indoor environments, e.g. buildings
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals

Abstract

The disclosed embodiments provide a system and method for managing events associated with the detection of wireless devices. The disclosed embodiments utilize a residential wireless access point for detecting the signal transmitted by a wireless device. A user configures a wireless device detection program to perform specified events in response to the detection and/or absence of a wireless device. The disclosed embodiments may provide home automation functions, home security functions, and/or provide child monitoring features.

Claims

1. A method for performing a user-specified event comprising:

storing a data table for managing events associated with a wireless detection program that performs user-specified events in response to detection and absence of one or more wireless devices using a residential wireless access point;

receiving a user-specified detection event associated with detection of a first wireless device;

storing the user-specified detection event associated with detection of the first wireless device in the data table;

receiving data from a residential wireless access point;

determining from the data, using a processor, whether the first wireless device is detected; and

responsive to a determination that the first wireless device is detected, performing the user-specified detection event associated with the first wireless device;

determining whether the first wireless device has departed from the signal range of the residential wireless access point by monitoring the strength of a signal associated with the first wireless device;

wherein if the monitored signal strength gradually decreases, it is determined that the first wireless device has departed from the signal range of the residential access point;

wherein if the monitored signal strength is constant for a period of time and abruptly ends, it is determined that the first wireless device has not departed from the signal range of the residential wireless access point;

receiving a user-specified departure event associated with identifying the departure of the first wireless device from the signal range of the residential access point;

storing the user-specified departure event associated with identifying the departure of the first wireless device from the signal range of the residential access point in the data table;

performing the user-specified departure event in response to identifying the departure of the first wireless device from the signal range of the residential access point;

receiving a user-specified unknown event associated with detecting the presence of an unknown wireless device;

storing the user-specified unknown event associated with detecting the presence of the unknown wireless device in the data table; and

performing the user-specified unknown event in response to detecting the presence of the unknown wireless device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining from the data whether an unknown wireless device is detected;

in response to determination that an unknown wireless device is detected, retrieving subscriber data from a subscriber database for identifying a person associated with the unknown wireless device; and

providing the subscriber data to a user associated with the residential wireless access point.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing a condition state associated with the first wireless device being detected by the residential wireless access point.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving subsequent data from the residential wireless access point;

determining if the condition state associated with the first wireless device being detected by the residential wireless access point has changed; and

responsive to the condition state having been changed, performing a second user-specified event associated with a change in condition state.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the user-specified absence event includes transmitting an email message to a user associated with the residential wireless access point.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising configuring a signal detection range of the residential wireless access point.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising logging the amount of time a signal of the first wireless device is detected.

15. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining an estimated distance of the unknown wireless device from the residential wireless access point; and

providing the estimated distance of the unknown wireless device from the residential wireless access point to a user associated with the residential wireless access point.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the user-specified detection event is time dependent.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein the user-specified absence event is time dependent.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a data bus system;

memory coupled to the data bus system, wherein the memory includes computer usable program code;

a network communication device coupled to the data bus for receiving data from a residential wireless access point over a network connection;

a processing unit coupled to the data bus system, wherein the processing unit executes the computer usable program code to;

store a data table for managing events associated with a wireless detection program that performs user-specified events in response to detection and departure of one or more wireless devices using a residential wireless access point;

receive a user-specified detection event associated with detection of a first wireless device;

store the user-specified detection event associated with detection of the first wireless device in the data table;

receive data from a residential wireless access point;

determine from the data whether the first wireless device is detected;

responsive to a determination that the first wireless device is detected performing the user-specified detected event associated with the first wireless device;

determine whether the first wireless device has departed from the signal range of the residential wireless access point by monitoring the strength of a signal associated with the first wireless device;

wherein if the monitored signal strength gradually decreases, it is determined that the first wireless device has departed from the signal range of the residential access point;

wherein if the monitored signal strength is constant for a period of time and abruptly ends, it is determined that the first wireless device has not departed from the signal range of the residential wireless access point;

receive a user-specified departure event associated with identifying the departure of the first wireless device from the signal range of the residential access point;

store the user-specified departure event associated with identifying the departure of the first wireless device from the signal range of the residential access point in the data table;

perform the user-specified departure event in response to identifying the departure of the first wireless device from the signal range of the residential access point;

receive a user-specified unknown event associated with detecting the presence of an unknown wireless device;

store the user-specified unknown event associated with detecting the presence of the unknown wireless device in the data table;

perform the user-specified unknown event in response to detecting the presence of the unknown wireless device.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the processing unit further executes the computer usable program code to:

determine an estimated distance of the unknown wireless device from the residential wireless access point; and

provide the estimated distance of the unknown wireless device from the residential wireless access point to a user associated with the residential wireless access point.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the user-specified unknown event transmitting a text message to the user associated with the residential wireless access point.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the residential wireless access point is a femto cell.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the residential wireless access point detects cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth signals.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the processing unit further executes the computer usable program code to:

retrieve subscriber data from a subscriber database provided by a service provider for identifying a person associated with the unknown wireless device; and

provide the subscriber data to a user associated with the residential wireless access point.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the processing unit further executes the computer usable program code to:

log the amount of time a signal of the first wireless device is detected.