Methods and systems to enable presence related services

• US 9,253,639 B1
• Filed: 08/11/2014
• Issued: 02/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avant Location Technologies LLC (Anjay Venture Partners LLC)
• Original Assignee: Afirma Consulting & Technologies S.l
• Inventors: Lafuente, Carlos Alberto Prez
• Primary Examiner(s): Odom, Curtis
• Application Number:
  US14/456,789
• Publication Number:
  US 20160044510A1
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0838 using one-time-passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/04 Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/64 using geofenced areas
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for monitoring the presence of a mobile device in at least one special area, wherein a radio communication defining device transmits a radio distinctive defining signal that defines the special area by its coverage. The mobile device processes signals received to determine whether or not the signals are a distinctive defining signal that at least partially defines the special area. Upon a determination that the mobile device is in a special area the mobile device sends an updating signal to a special operating means of a provider of presence related services via a mobile telephone network, the special operating means adapts the value of one or more operating parameter in response to receiving the updating signal. The mobile device also generates a One-Time-Password (OTP) calculated based on information in the distinctive defining signal and sends the OTP to a server of the provider of presence related services.

Claims

1. A method associated with the use of a mobile device and at least one radio communication defining device that transmits a distinctive defining signal that at least partly defines a special area by its coverage, the distinctive defining signal including data, the method comprising:

receiving and processing one or more defining signals in the mobile device to determine, based on a previously obtained at least portion of the data, whether the one or more defining signals are one or more distinctive defining signals and to determine whether or not the mobile device is present in the special area,

upon determining in the mobile device that one of the defining signals is a distinctive defining signal and that the mobile device is present in the special area, generating in the mobile device one or more One-Time-Passwords with at least one of the one or more One-Time Passwords being calculated based on information in the distinctive defining signal,

sending from the mobile device via a mobile telephone network an updating signal to one or more servers of a provider of presence related services about the mobile device'"'"'s presence in the special area, the sending of the updating signal being uncorrelated to any mobile device phone call establishment, the updating signal being sent at least one of (i) periodically, (ii) at times recent to when the mobile device enters into or exits from the special area, (iii) when the mobile device remains in the special area and (iv) when the mobile device remains outside the special area; and

sending from the mobile device via the mobile telephone network to the one or more servers of the provider of presence related services at least one of the one or more One-Time-Passwords.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more One-Time-Passwords is univocally correlated to the updating signal.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more One-Time-Passwords is sent to the one or more servers of the provider of presence related services comprised in the updating signal.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving in the mobile device a personal identification number, at least one of the one or more One-Time-Passwords being calculated using the personal identification number.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the personal identification number is stored in a memory of the mobile device and subsequently deleted from the memory after the conclusion of at least one of the one or more One-Time-Password calculations.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more One-Time Passwords is calculated using a token and/or hardcoded keys.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the updating signal comprises the result of a previous determination performed by the mobile device about the mobile device'"'"'s presence in the special area.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the frequency of the updating signal is different from the frequency of the distinctive defining signal.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the mobile device enables or disables one or more functions related to a presence related service upon receiving enabling or disabling instructions from the provider of presence related services.

10. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer readable program code for causing a processor of a mobile device to perform a method associated with the use of at least one radio communication defining device that transmits a distinctive defining signal that at least partly defines a special area by its coverage, the distinctive defining signal including data, the method comprising:

receiving and processing one or more defining signals in the mobile device to determine, based on a previously obtained at least portion of the data, whether the one or more defining signals are one or more distinctive defining signals and to determine whether or not the mobile device is present in the special area,

upon determining in the mobile device that one of the defining signals is a distinctive defining signal and that the mobile device is present in the special area, generating in the mobile device one or more One-Time-Passwords with at least one of the one or more One-Time Passwords being calculated based on information in the distinctive defining signal,

sending from the mobile device via a mobile telephone network an updating signal to one or more servers of a provider of presence related services about the mobile device'"'"'s presence in the special area, the sending of the updating signal being uncorrelated to any mobile device phone call establishment, the updating signal being sent at least one of (i) periodically, (ii) at times recent to when the mobile device enters into or exits from the special area, (iii) when the mobile device remains in the special area and (iv) when the mobile device remains outside the special area; and

sending from the mobile device via the mobile telephone network to the one or more servers of the provider of presence related services at least one of the one or more One-Time-Passwords.

11. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer readable program code according to claim 10 that causes at least one of the one or more One-Time-Passwords to be univocally correlated to the updating signal.

12. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer readable program code according to claim 10 that causes at least one of the one or more One-Time-Passwords to be sent to the one or more servers of the provider of presence related services comprised in the updating signal.

13. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer readable program code according to claim 10 that further causes at least one of the one or more One-Time-Passwords to be calculated using a personal identification number that is stored in a memory of the mobile device.

14. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer readable program code according to claim 10 that further cause at least one of the one or more One-Time-Passwords to be calculated using a token and/or hardcoded keys.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer readable program code according to claim 10 that further causes the processor to send the updating signal with information related to the result of a previous determination performed by the mobile device about the mobile device'"'"'s presence in the special area.

16. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer readable program code according to claim 10 that further causes the processor to enable or disable one or more functions in the mobile device related to a presence related service upon the mobile device receiving enabling or disabling instructions from the provider of presence related services.

17. A mobile device capable of receiving a distinctive defining signal from a radio communication defining device that at least partly defines a special area by its coverage, the distinctive defining signal including data, the mobile device comprising:

an electronic storage medium that stores at least a portion of the data; and

a processor adapted to;

process one or more defining signals to determine, based on the at least portion of the data, whether the one or more defining signals are one or more distinctive defining signals and to determine whether or not the mobile device is present in the special area,

upon determining in the mobile device that one of the defining signals is a distinctive defining signal and that the mobile device is present in the special area, generate in the mobile device one or more One-Time-Passwords with at least one of the one or more One-Time-Passwords being calculated based on information in the distinctive defining signal,

to send from the mobile device via a mobile telephone network an updating signal to one or more servers of a provider of presence related services about the mobile device'"'"'s presence in the special area, the sending of the updating signal being uncorrelated to any mobile device phone call establishment, the updating signal being sent at least one of (i) periodically, (ii) at times recent to when the mobile device enters into or exits from the special area, (iii) when the mobile device remains in the special area and (iv) when the mobile device remains outside the special area; and

send from the mobile device via the mobile telephone network to the one or more servers of the provider of presence related services at least one of the one or more One-Time-Passwords.

18. A mobile device according to claim 17, wherein the processor is adapted to univocally correlate at least one of the one or more One-Time-Passwords to the updating signal.

19. A mobile device according to claim 17, wherein the processor is adapted to send at least one of the one or more One-Time-Passwords to the one or more servers of the provider of presence related services comprised in the updating signal.

20. A mobile device according to claim 17, wherein a personal identification number is stored in a memory of the mobile device, the processor adapted to use the personal identification number to calculate at least one of the one or more One-Time-Passwords.

21. A mobile device according to claim 17, wherein the processor is adapted to enable or disable one or more functions related to a presence related service upon the mobile device receiving enabling or disabling instructions from the provider of presence related services.

22. A method associated with a mobile device receiving first and second distinctive defining signals respectively from first and second radio communication defining devices, the first and second distinctive defining signals at least partly define first and second special areas, respectively, by their coverage, each of the first and second distinctive defining signals respectively including first and second data, the method comprising:

receiving and processing one or more defining signals in the mobile device to determine, based on a previously obtained at least portion of the first data, whether the one or more defining signals are one or more first distinctive defining signals and to determine whether or not the mobile device is present in the first special area,

upon determining in the mobile device that one of the defining signals is a first distinctive defining signal and that the mobile device is present in the first special area, generating in the mobile device one or more first One-Time-Passwords with at least one of the one or more first One-Time-Passwords being calculated based on information in the first distinctive defining signal,

receiving and processing one or more defining signals in the mobile device to determine, based on a previously obtained at least portion of the second data, whether the one or more defining signals are one or more second distinctive defining signals and to determine whether or not the mobile device is present in the second special area,

upon determining in the mobile device that one of the defining signals is a second distinctive defining signal and that the mobile device is present in the second special area, generating in the mobile device one or more second One-Time-Passwords,

sending from the mobile device via a mobile telephone network, when the mobile device determination refers to the first special area, a first updating signal to one or more servers of a provider of presence related services about the mobile device'"'"'s presence in the first special area, the sending of the first updating signal being uncorrelated to any mobile device phone call establishment, the updating signal being sent at least one of (i) periodically, (ii) at times recent to when the mobile device enters into or exits from the first special area, (iii) when the mobile device remains in the first special area and (iv) when the mobile device remains outside the first special area,

sending from the mobile device via the mobile telephone network to the one or more servers of the provider of presence related services at least one of the one or more first One-Time-Passwords,

sending from the mobile device via a mobile telephone network, when the mobile device determination refers to the second special area, a second updating signal to one or more servers of a provider of presence related services about the mobile device'"'"'s presence in the second special area, the sending of the updating signal being uncorrelated to any mobile device phone call establishment, the second updating signal being sent at least one of (i) periodically, (ii) at times recent to when the mobile device enters into or exits from the second special area, (iii) when the mobile device remains in the second special area and (iv) when the mobile device remains outside the second special area; and

sending from the mobile device via the mobile telephone network to the one or more servers of the provider of presence related services at least one of the one or more second One-Time-Passwords.

23. A method according to claim 22, wherein at least one of the one or more first One-Time-Passwords is univocally correlated to the first updating signal.

24. A method according to claim 22, wherein at least one of the one or more second One-Time-Passwords is univocally correlated to the second updating signal.

25. A method according to claim 22, wherein at least one of the one or more first One-Time-Passwords is sent to the one or more servers of the provider of presence related services comprised in the first updating signal.

26. A method according to claim 22, wherein at least one of the one or more second One-Time-Passwords is sent to the one or more servers of the provider of presence related services comprised in the second updating signal.

27. A method according to claim 22, further comprising receiving in the mobile device a personal identification number, at least one of the one or more first One-Time-Passwords being calculated using the personal identification number.

28. A method according to claim 22, further comprising receiving in the mobile device a personal identification number, at least one of the one or more second One-Time-Passwords being calculated using the personal identification number.

29. A method according to claim 22, further comprising receiving in the mobile device a personal identification number, at least one of each of the one or more first and second One-Time-Passwords being calculated using the personal identification number.

30. A method according to claim 22, wherein at least one of the one or more first One-Time-Passwords is calculated using a token and/or hardcoded keys.

31. A method according to claim 22, wherein at least one of the one or more second One-Time-Passwords is calculated using a token and/or hardcoded keys.

32. A method according to claim 22, wherein the first updating signal is sent with information related to the result of a previous determination performed by the mobile device about the mobile device'"'"'s presence in the first special area.

33. A method according to claim 22, wherein the second updating signal is sent with information related to the result of a previous determination performed by the mobile device about the mobile device'"'"'s presence in the second special area.

34. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer readable program code for causing a processor of a mobile device to perform a method associated with the mobile device receiving first and second distinctive defining signals that at least partly define a first and second special areas, respectively, by their coverage, each of the first and second distinctive defining signal respectively including first and second data, the method comprising:

receiving and processing one or more defining signals in the mobile device to determine, based on a previously obtained at least portion of the first data, whether the one or more defining signals are one or more first distinctive defining signals and to determine whether or not the mobile device is present in the first special area,

upon determining in the mobile device that one of the defining signals is a first distinctive defining signal and that the mobile device is present in the first special area, generating in the mobile device one or more first One-Time-Passwords with at least one of the one or more first One-Time-Passwords being calculated based on information in the first distinctive defining signal,

receiving and processing one or more defining signals in the mobile device to determine, based on a previously obtained at least portion of the second data, whether the one or more defining signals are one or more second distinctive defining signals and to determine whether or not the mobile device is present in the second special area,

upon determining in the mobile device that one of the defining signals is a second distinctive defining signal and that the mobile device is present in the second special area, generating in the mobile device one or more second One-Time-Passwords,

sending from the mobile device via a mobile telephone network, when the mobile device determination refers to the first special area, a first updating signal to one or more servers of a provider of presence related services about the mobile device'"'"'s presence in the first special area, the sending of the first updating signal being uncorrelated to any mobile device phone call establishment, the updating signal being sent at least one of (i) periodically, (ii) at times recent to when the mobile device enters into or exits from the first special area, (iii) when the mobile device remains in the first special area and (iv) when the mobile device remains outside the first special area,

sending from the mobile device via the mobile telephone network to the one or more servers of the provider of presence related services at least one of the one or more first One-Time-Passwords,

sending from the mobile device via a mobile telephone network, when the mobile device determination refers to the second special area, a second updating signal to one or more servers of a provider of presence related services about the mobile device'"'"'s presence in the second special area, the sending of the updating signal being uncorrelated to any mobile device phone call establishment, the second updating signal being sent at least one of (i) periodically, (ii) at times recent to when the mobile device enters into or exits from the second special area, (iii) when the mobile device remains in the second special area and (iv) when the mobile device remains outside the second special area; and

sending from the mobile device via the mobile telephone network to the one or more servers of the provider of presence related services at least one of the one or more second One-Time-Passwords.

35. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer readable program code according to claim 34 that further causes at least one of the one or more first One-Time-Passwords to be univocally correlated to the first updating signal.

36. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer readable program code according to claim 34 that further causes at least one of the one or more second One-Time-Passwords to be univocally correlated to the second updating signal.

37. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer readable program code according to claim 34 that further causes at least one of the one or more first One-Time-Passwords to be sent to the one or more servers of the provider of presence related services comprised in the first updating signal.

38. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer readable program code according to claim 34 that further causes at least one of the one or more second One-Time-Passwords to be sent to the one or more servers of the provider of presence related services comprised in the second updating signal.

39. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer readable program code according to claim 34 that further causes at least one of the one or more first One-Time-Passwords to be calculated using a personal identification number stored in a memory of the mobile device.

40. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer readable program code according to claim 34 that further causes at least one of the one or more second One-Time-Passwords to be calculated using a personal identification number stored in a memory of the mobile device.

41. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer readable program code according to claim 34 that further causes at least one of each of the one or more first and second One-Time-Passwords to be calculated using a personal identification number stored in a memory of the mobile device.

42. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer readable program code according to claim 34 that further causes the processor to send the first updating signal with information related to the result of a previous determination performed by the mobile device about the mobile device'"'"'s presence in the first special area.

43. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer readable program code according to claim 34 that further causes the processor to send the second updating signal with information related to the result of a previous determination performed by the mobile device about the mobile device'"'"'s presence in the second special area.