Controlling the use of a wireless mobile communication device

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 processing 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.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to wireless mobile communication devices and, more particularly to controlling the use of a wireless mobile communication device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The usefulness and practicality of providing children with access to wireless mobile telecommunications technology is evident. Wireless communication devices such as mobile telephones are particularly useful and practical as a means of maintaining contact with children for purposes of safety, security and general peace of mind. However, although wireless telephones such as cell phones provide many obvious advantages for children, there are also several areas of concern. These areas of concern include the possibility of excessively large monthly telephone bills, unwanted callers, and general irresponsibility associated with children and young adults. This irresponsibility can manifest itself, for example, in excessive game playing on the wireless device, excessive time spent on telephone chats (whether or not they result in an increased bill), and poor management of the audible ringer function (for example, the phone rings in the middle of a child's math class).

It is therefore desirable to provide for parental control of the use of a wireless mobile communication device, such as a mobile telephone, that is made available by a parent to a child.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the limitations of the prior art and provides additional benefits. A brief summary of some embodiments and aspects of the invention are first presented. Some simplifications and omissions may be made in the following summary. The summary is intended to highlight and introduce some aspects of the disclosed embodiments, but not to limit the scope of the invention. The summary does not provide an exhaustive list of embodiments of the invention.

The present invention permits a controlling party to 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. For example, in some embodiments, the controlling party uses another wireless communication device to effectuate the limitations. In other embodiments, the limitations are effectuated by the controlling party operating a data processing apparatus connected by a wired data communication bus to the controlled party's wireless mobile communication device. In still further embodiments, the controlling party effectuates the limitations by accessing a website supported by a web server.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention so that those skilled in the art may better understand the detailed description of the invention that follows. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that they may readily use the conception and the specific embodiment disclosed as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. Those skilled in the art will also realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention will now be described with respect to various embodiments. The following description provides specific details for a thorough understanding of, and enabling description for, these embodiments of the invention. However, one skilled in the art will understand that the invention may be practiced without these details. In other instances, well known structures and functions have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments of the invention.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention permit a controlling party, for example a parent, to set limitations on a controlled party's, for example a child's, access to and use of communication and other applications operating on the controlled party's wireless mobile communication device. The controlling party can effectuate these limitations via several different mechanisms, for example by using another wireless communication device, by operating a data processing apparatus connected by a wired data communication bus to the controlled party's wireless mobile communication device, or by accessing a website supported by a web server which can communicate with the controlled party's wireless mobile communication device.

FIG. 1diagrammatically illustrates exemplary embodiments of communication systems according to the invention.FIG. 1illustrates a child's wireless mobile communication station MS1(e.g., a phone, a PDA, a laptop computer, etc.) which supports various communication applications. A parent can limit the child's access to (or use of) these communication applications via three different control mechanisms according to the examples ofFIG. 1. In one example, the parent can use another wireless communication station, for example the mobile wireless communication station MS2to communicate the desired limitations to the child's communication device MS1. The actual wireless communication of the limitation information from MS2to MS1can be performed using conventional wireless communication techniques, for example the techniques described in the well known GSM/GPRS standards. Some embodiments use suitably customized text messaging to communicate the limitation information from MS2to MS1.

In another example, the parent can communicate the desired limitation information to MS1via a data processing apparatus connected to MS1via a wired data communication bus110, for example a Universal Serial Bus (USB) or an RS-232 bus. The data processing apparatus ofFIG. 1, designated PC1, can be any data processing apparatus capable of data communication via the wired data communication bus110. Examples of the data processing apparatus PC1include a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a notebook computer, a personal digital assistant, etc.

In another example, the parent can communicate the desired limitation information to MS1by using a suitable data processing apparatus PC2to access, via a data network124(such as the internet), a web server120that supports a website (password protected in some embodiments) designed to process, store and transmit (to MS1) the limitation information. The server120includes a database121for storing the limitation information. In the example ofFIG. 1, the server120utilizes conventional cellular infrastructure (shown by broken line at122) to gain access to a conventional cellular base station123. The base station123communicates with MS1using any suitable conventional wireless communication techniques, for example the techniques defined in the GSM/GPRS standards. The limitation information provided by the parent to the server120can thus be communicated from the server120to the child's communication device MS1via the cellular infrastructure122and the cellular base station123. The data processing apparatus PC2that the parent utilizes to access the web server120via the data network124can be any suitable data processing apparatus capable of data communication over a data network such as the internet. Examples of PC2include a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a notebook computer, a personal digital assistant, etc.

FIG. 2illustrates in more detail an exemplary embodiment of the child's communication device MS1ofFIG. 1. In the example ofFIG. 2, the communication device MS1includes a GSM/GPRS module201that is provided with a data processing apparatus202, for example a microprocessor, a microcontroller, or a digital signal processor. Various user interface components are coupled to the module201. In the example ofFIG. 2, these user interface components include a handsfree speaker203, a visual display204, a keypad and/or push button component205, a microphone206, an alert vibrator/motor207and an interface jack208. The interface jack208can give the various illustrated external devices access to the module201. In particular, the data processing apparatus PC1ofFIG. 1can access the module201via the data communication bus110(see alsoFIG. 1) and the interface jack208ofFIG. 2, thus permitting the data processor202to receive the controlling party's limitation information. The communication device MS1also includes an antenna apparatus209coupled to the module201for supporting wireless communication according to the GSM/GPRS standards. Thus, the antenna apparatus209and the GSM/GPRS module201permit the data processor202to receive the controlling party's limitation information via the air interface.

In some embodiments, the data processor202of communication device MS1implements the controlling party's limitations in the form of corresponding filtering functions. For example, if the controlling party places a limitation on the controlled party's use of a given application running on the data processor202, then the data processor202implements that limitation in the form of a filter which filters input and/or output information associated with that application.

FIG. 3illustrates examples of various applications and corresponding limitation information, or filter parameters, which filter parameters can be defined by the controlling party and transmitted to the controlled party's device MS1.FIG. 3specifies filter parameters for a mobile telephony application by specifying at310telephone numbers (and corresponding parties) with which the controlled party is allowed to establish a telephone call. Separate lists of approved parties can be provided for incoming calls and outgoing calls. The filter parameters at320specify the call duration permitted for the various allowed parties specified at310. The call duration parameter can be defined in any manner desired, for example, no restrictions, or restricted to a specified total amount of time per month, etc. The filter parameters at330specify a time of day filter corresponding to each of the permitted parties at310. Thus, the controlled party can carry on telephone conversations with the various parties permitted at310only during the permitted times specified at330. Considering one example of a filter defined by the filter parameters at310,320and330, and assuming, for example, that these filter parameters pertain to incoming calls, the controlled party can receive incoming calls from John (e.g., John's telephone number), but only during the hours of 7 to 9 p.m., and for no more than a total of 60 minutes in a month.

Referring still to the examples ofFIG. 3, general phone settings are designated at340. For example, the controlling party can specify at340the time period(s) during the day or night when MS1will be on or off, the time period(s) during the day or night when MS1will ring to announce an incoming call, the type of ring that will occur during specific time periods during the day or night, etc. One parameter at340can specify that the telephone would not ring during the hours that a child would have the device in school. This parameter may also specify that the vibration announcement is to be utilized instead of the audible ring during the time period that the child will be in school. Various exemplary applications normally available to the controlled party (user of MS1) are designated generally at350. Limitations (filter parameters) can be programmed to permit or prevent (e.g., at all times or during selected time periods) the controlled party from accessing one or more of the applications at350, namely the current date and time, the calendar of events, the to-do list, countdown timers, incoming and outgoing messaging, and games. Thus, the applications at350can have associated therewith filter parameters of the same general type shown at330inFIG. 3. Preventing access to the date and time application can, for example, prevent the controlled party from modifying the date and time in order to avoid the restrictions at320and/or330. The countdown timer application could provide information such as, for example, “24 days and 6 hours until Dad's birthday”. The rest of the exemplary applications illustrated at350are self-explanatory.

FIG. 4illustrates exemplary filter provisioning operations which can be performed at the direction of the controlling party to impose limitations or filters on the available applications (also referred to as user applications) of the controlled party's communication device MS1. In some exemplary embodiments, the operations ofFIG. 4can be performed by the controlling party via any of the above-described mechanisms associated with MS2, PC1and PC2ofFIG. 1. After selecting a given user application at410, the desired filter parameter(s) can be associated to the selected user application at420, thereby producing completed filter information for the currently selected user application. As indicated at430, the operations at410and420can be repeated for as many user applications as desired before proceeding to440. As illustrated at440, and depending upon the particular embodiment, the completed filter information produced at420can be stored without transmitting it to MS1at that time (for example, if MS1is known to be turned off at that time), or it can be transmitted to MS1without storing it, or it can be both stored and transmitted to MS1. Referring again to the operation at430above, it can be seen that the operations at440can be performed with respect to as many or as few user applications as desired. After the desired operation is performed at440, the operations at410,420and440can be performed with respect to another user application, as indicated generally at450. The operations at430and450are thus provided to illustrate that the operation selected at440can, in various embodiments, be performed with respect to one user application at a time (for example when430is answered “no” and450is answered “yes”), or can be performed with respect to as many user applications as desired (for example when430is answered “yes”).

FIG. 5diagrammatically illustrates pertinent portions of exemplary embodiments of the data processing apparatus PC1ofFIG. 1. A user interface510(e.g., tactile, visual, etc.) provides a user with access to a filter provisioning application520running on a data processor. The filter provisioning application520receives from the user interface510controlling party input information indicative of selected user applications and corresponding filter parameters. The filter provisioning application520associates the user applications to the filter parameters to produce completed filter information (see also420ofFIG. 4). The filter provisioning application520can then transmit the completed filter information to the controlled party's device MS1via the wired data communication bus110(see alsoFIG. 1) and the interface jack208of MS1(see alsoFIG. 2). In some embodiments, indicated by broken line inFIG. 5, the filter provisioning application520can also store the completed filter information in a database530. In other embodiments, the filter provisioning application520can store the completed filter information in the database530without transmitting the completed filter information to MS1at that time.

FIG. 6diagrammatically illustrates pertinent portions of exemplary embodiments of a wireless communication device operated by the controlling party (such as MS2inFIG. 1). A user interface610(e.g., tactile, visual, etc.) provides the controlling party with access to a filter provisioning application620running on a data processor. In response to controlling party input information indicative of selected applications and corresponding filter parameters, the filter provisioning application620associates the selected applications to the corresponding filter parameters to thereby produce completed filter information (see also420inFIG. 4). The filter provisioning application620then provides the completed filter information to a wireless communication interface for conventional wireless transmission of the completed filter information to the controlled party's device MS1. In some embodiments, the filter provisioning application620implements a conventional text messaging application to construct text messages that each include the aforementioned completed filter information.

FIG. 7diagrammatically illustrates pertinent portions of exemplary embodiments of the web server120ofFIG. 1. As shown inFIG. 7, the server120implements a web application710which provides a HTML based user interface. The controlling party accesses the web application710via the data processing apparatus PC2and the data network124(see alsoFIG. 1), and is thereby able to provide to a provisioning application720controlling party input information indicative of selected communication applications and corresponding filter parameters. The provisioning application720associates the communication applications to the corresponding filter parameters in order to produce completed filter information (see also420inFIG. 4). The provisioning application720can then provide the completed filter information to a synchronous application740which provides a communication interface (via the cellular infrastructure) toward the controlled party's device MS1. In some exemplary embodiments, the provisioning application720provides the completed filter information to the synchronization application740for transmission to MS1. In other exemplary embodiments, the provisioning application provides the completed filter information to the database121(see alsoFIG. 1) for storage, without providing the completed information to the synchronization application740for transmission to MS1. In further embodiments, the provisioning application720provides the completed filter information to the database121for storage therein, and also to the synchronization application740for transmission to MS1. In some exemplary embodiments, the applications at710,720and740are JAVA (J2EE) based applications. In some exemplary embodiments, the database121is provided as an SQL-based database.

FIG. 8diagrammatically illustrates pertinent portions of exemplary embodiments of the controlled party's wireless mobile communication device MS1ofFIGS. 1 and 2. A filter provisioning interface application810, running on the data processor202, can receive input information from the controlling party via either the interface jack208ofFIG. 2or via a wireless communication interface (including antenna apparatus209ofFIG. 2). The controlling party's input information includes the completed filter information for the communication (user) applications820. The filter provisioning interface810provides the completed filter information at840to configure a filter logic application830running on the data processor202. This filter logic implements the filters with respect to the user applications820. The filter logic830is interposed in the data path between the user applications820and the user interface850(which can include for example, some, all or any combination of the user interface components described above relative toFIG. 2), and can thereby filter information provided by or intended for the user applications820, thereby implementing the limitations embodied in the completed filter information840. In the example ofFIG. 8, some of the user applications820are coupled for communication with the wireless communication interface and others of the user applications820are coupled for communication with the interface jack208.

FIG. 9illustrates exemplary filter configuration operations which can be performed by the controlled party's wireless mobile communication device according to exemplary embodiments of the invention. The operations ofFIG. 9can be performed by the exemplary embodiments ofFIG. 8. After power-up at910, completed filter information is awaited at920. After the completed filter information has been received from the controlling party at920, the filter logic is configured at930to reflect the currently received completed filter information. After configuring the filter logic with the currently received completed filter information, the next completed filter information is awaited at920.

FIG. 10illustrates further exemplary filter configuration operations which can be performed by the controlled party's wireless mobile communication station according to exemplary embodiments of the invention. The exemplary operations ofFIG. 10can be performed by the exemplary embodiments ofFIG. 8. After power-up at1010, the communication device accesses the web site on the web server (see alsoFIG. 1) to obtain the completed filter information as stored in the web server database. This is illustrated generally at1020. After the completed filter information has been obtained at1020, the filter logic is configured at1030to implement the newly obtained completed filter information. As illustrated generally at1040, the website can be accessed periodically to obtain therefrom any new completed filter information. In some embodiments, the filter provisioning interface810ofFIG. 8uses conventional techniques to access the website ofFIG. 7(see alsoFIG. 1).

FIG. 11illustrates exemplary communication application filtering operations which can be performed according to the invention. The exemplary operations ofFIG. 11can be performed by the exemplary embodiments ofFIG. 8. If an attempted communication between the user interface and a user application is detected at1110, the corresponding filter is applied at1120with respect to communications between the user interface and that user application. Thereafter, the next attempted communication is awaited at1110.

Referring again toFIGS. 1,7and8, in GSM/GPRS embodiments, the GSM/GPRS operation utilizes a dynamic IP environment. Accordingly, in embodiments where the controlling party utilizes the web server120to access the controlled party's communication device MS1, the device MS1utilizes a scheme to transmit the dynamic IP to the web server120, so the web server120can maintain contact with the controlled party's device MS1. The filter provisioning interface810ofFIG. 8includes a dynamic LP input which receives information indicative of the dynamic IP. The filter provisioning interface810forwards this information to the web server120(see alsoFIG. 1) via the air interface and cellular infrastructure. The synchronization application740receives the updated dynamic IP information, and stores it in the database121. In this manner, the web server can remain abreast of the changing IP environment of the controlled party's device MS1.

FIGS. 12 and 13illustrate exemplary operations in support of the above-described dynamic LP update scheme.FIG. 12illustrates exemplary operations which can be performed by the controlled party's device. It is first determined at1210whether or not it is time to transmit the dynamic IP information. For example, this can be done periodically, or whenever a change in the dynamic LP environment occurs. When it is determined at1210that it is time to transmit the dynamic IP information, this information is transmitted to the web server at1220. Thereafter, operations return to1210to await the occurrence of the next occasion of transmitting dynamic IP.

FIG. 13illustrates exemplary operations which can be performed by the synchronization application740of the web server ofFIG. 7. At1310, the synchronization application awaits the dynamic IP information update. When the dynamic IP information update has been received at1310, the synchronization application then stores the dynamic IP information update at1320. Thereafter, the synchronization application awaits the next dynamic EP update at1310.

In some embodiments, the synchronization application740utilizes an acknowledgement verification protocol in order to confirm delivery of the completed filter information to the controlled party's device MS1. In such embodiments, the filter provisioning interface810ofFIG. 8transmits an acknowledgement to the synchronization application740upon receipt of the completed filter information. In various embodiments, the filter provisioning interface810provides acknowledgements to any of the sources (e.g.,120, PC1and MS2inFIG. 1) from which it receives completed filter information.

In some exemplary embodiments, the synchronization application740and the filter provisioning interface810utilize checksum verifications in conjunction with transmission of the completed filter information. In other exemplary embodiments, checksum verification is used in conjunction with transmission of the completed filter information from any of the sources ofFIG. 1to the controlled party's device MS1. In some embodiments, the aforementioned acknowledgement and checksum verification techniques are combined with respect to the transmission of the completed filter information to the controlled party's device.

In some embodiments which utilize the aforementioned acknowledgement protocol, the synchronization application740can implement a retry algorithm wherein the server attempts a predetermined number of retries in the absence of an acknowledgement, for example 3 retries, the first retry at 30 seconds after the initial transmission, the second retry at one minute after the initial transmission, and the third retry at 5 minutes after the initial transmission.

In some embodiments, the controlling party defines the filter operation such that the filter examines information associated with the user application and provides to the web server an update regarding the status of the examined information. For example, the filter operation can detect whether the controlled party is, via the user interface, removing a task from a “to-do” list, and the filter provisioning interface810can forward to the web server120a message indicating that this task of the “to-do” list has been completed. The controlling party can thus monitor the completion of activities by simply visiting the website on the server120.

In some exemplary embodiments, the filter operation can be defined to perform an addition of an item to a given “to-do” list. For example, if the controlled party already has a list of things to do when she arrives home from school, the controlling party can add an item to that “to-do” list, for example “take out the dog when you get home”.

In some exemplary embodiments, the identifier of the conventional, non-removable modem hardware in the module201ofFIG. 2is used instead of the removable SIM as the identification information for the controlled party's device MS1. This identification information is used to verify communication between the controlled party's device MS1and the source from which the controlling party's completed filter information is received.

Although exemplary embodiments of the invention have been described above in detail, this does not limit the scope of the invention, which can be practiced in a variety of embodiments.