Hacker-resistant denial of wireless device operation in restricted areas

• US 9,531,865 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2015
• Issued: 12/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Edward A. Wilson, Kelce S. Wilson, Kristine A. Wilson
• Original Assignee: Edward A. Wilson, Kelce S. Wilson, Kristine A. Wilson
• Inventors: Wilson, Kristine A., Wilson, Kelce S., Wilson, Edward A.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, DANH C
• Application Number:
  US14/920,842
• Publication Number:
  US 20160044158A1
• Time in Patent Office: 432 Days
• Field of Search: 455/550.1, 455/418, 455/411, 455/456.4
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/16 for telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/65 using deceptive jamming or spoofing, e.g. transmission of false signals for premature triggering of RCIED, for forced connection or disconnection to/from a network or for generation of dummy target signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/84 related to preventing electromagnetic interference in petrol station, hospital, plane or cinema
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

A system for restricting operation of wireless devices, for example cell phones, comprises a controller and a plurality of sensors. The system restricts device usage, while permitting emergency phone calls, for example 911 calls. The sensors receive transmissions from devices, and use the transmissions for identification and determining whether a device is within a restricted zone. One disclosed method is triangulation, using time of arrival of transmissions at the sensors. If the device is within the zone, the controller sends device identification, and possibly a customized restriction request, to a remote node, for example a control node of a cell phone network operator. The operator then uses its network resources to implement the requested restrictions. Communication between the controller and the remote node is secure, possibly encrypted, to minimize malicious interference. A wireless control can define vertices of the zone and exempt certain devices from restrictions. Jamming is not required.

Claims

1. A system for restricting operation of a cellular device in restricted areas without requiring cooperation from the cellular device, the system comprising:

a plurality of at least three sensors, each sensor remotely located from all serving cellular base station sites and remotely located from the cellular device, each sensor configured to receive a radio transmission from the cellular device; and

a controller, communicatively coupled to each sensor of the plurality of sensors, the controller remotely located from all serving cellular base station sites and remotely located from the cellular device, the controller comprising a memory;

the memory containing a definition of a first usage restriction zone;

the controller configured to;

receive, from the plurality of sensors, information about a radio transmission from the cellular device;

determine, using the received information, an identity of the cellular device, without requiring reception and processing of any wireless signals by the device;

determine, using the received information, whether the cellular device is within the first usage restriction zone, without requiring reception and processing of any wireless signals by the device; and

responsive to determining that the cellular device is within the first usage restriction zone, securely communicate the identity of the cellular device to a remote node across a public computer network and request that all serving cellular networks restrict service to the cellular device;

such that restriction of the operation of the cellular device occurs without requiring cooperation from the cellular device.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the information about a radio transmission from the cellular device comprises angle of arrival information at a sensor.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the information about a radio transmission from the cellular device comprises time of arrival information at a sensor.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a definition of a second usage restriction zone, the second usage restriction zone separate from the first usage restriction zone, and wherein the controller is further configured to restrict operation of the cellular device responsive to the cellular device being located within the second usage restriction zone.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a definition of usage restriction rules within the memory, wherein the controller is further configured to securely communicate the type of usage restriction for cellular device to the remote node, the type of usage restriction being in accordance with the usage restriction rules.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the usage restriction rules permit texting and block phone calls.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein the usage restriction rules permit phone calls and block texting.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a device exception list within the memory, wherein the controller is further configured to;

determine whether the cellular device identity is within the exception list; and

responsive to the cellular device identity being found within the exception list, not send a usage restriction request for the cellular device, even if the cellular device is within a usage restriction zone.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a remote user control having a user input control, separate from the sensors and the controller and the cellular device, wherein the user remote control is configured to transmit a calibration signal upon actuation of the user input control; and

wherein the controller, upon receiving the calibration signal through the plurality of sensors, determines a position of the remote user control and uses the determined position to define a vertex of a usage restriction zone.