Controlling the use of a wireless mobile communication device

• US 8,655,342 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2012
• Issued: 02/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ANELTO
• Original Assignee: Zackat, Inc.
• Inventors: Weinzierl, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bhattacharya, Sam
• Application Number:
  US13/476,708
• Publication Number:
  US 20130023263A1
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 455/405, 455/418, 455/419, 455/420
• 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 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 configured for displaying a plurality of control filters to enable a controlling party to input, via the controlling party device, filtering information for a plurality of communication capabilities 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, and second information identifying a second remote communication device with which the wireless mobile communication device may communicate with one or more restrictions;

a data processor having an input coupled to the web interface, the data processor for processing the first and second information;

an output coupled to the data processor for outputting the first and second 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 the first and second information are transmitted to the wireless mobile communication device via a wired data network and a wireless communication channel.

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

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

5. The web server of claim 1 wherein the wireless mobile communication device is configured as at least a 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 comprises at least a one of a time of day restriction and a call duration restriction.

9. 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.

10. 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 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, and second information identifying a second remote communication device with which the wireless mobile communication apparatus may communicate with one or more restrictions;

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

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

in response to receipt of the first and second 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

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.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein transmitting includes transmitting the first and second information through the worldwide web.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein transmitting includes transmitting the first and second information across a data communication network.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein transmitting includes transmitting the first and second information on a wired communication channel, and transferring includes transmitting the first and second information on a wireless communication channel.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the first and second information is stored on the web server prior to being transferred on the wireless communication channel.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the first and second information comprise telephone numbers of the first and second remote communication devices, respectively.

16. The method of claim 11 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.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the one or more restrictions comprises at least a one of a time of day restriction and a call duration restriction.

18. The method of claim 11 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.

19. The method of claim 11 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.

20. 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 configured 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, and a second telephone number identifying a second remote communication device with which the wireless mobile communication device may communicate with one or more restrictions;

a data processor coupled to the web interface for processing the first and second telephone numbers for transmission to the wireless mobile communication device;

an output coupled to the data processor for outputting the first and second telephone numbers 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.

21. The web server of claim 20 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.

22. 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, and a second telephone number identifying a second remote communication device with which the wireless mobile communication apparatus may communicate with one or more restrictions;

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

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

in response to receipt of the first and second telephone numbers at the wireless mobile communication apparatus, allowing or restricting communication with the first and second remote communication devices, respectively; 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.

23. The method of claim 22 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.