Abstract:
A system and method for provisioning wireless devices such that they are only capable of accessing network services when in a specified location. A device surveys the current location of the device for existing base stations and stores a corresponding network environment profile. After the profile is stored, network services will only be provided to the device if the current network profile matches the stored profile.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/618,972, filed Oct. 14, 2004 and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the accessing of network services by wireless electronic devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to the provisioning of wireless devices to regulate access to network services. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Traditional wireless communication devices are typically in the form of mobile devices. Such mobile devices are configured to search for and communicate with a wireless communication network nearest the current location of the device. As the device moves from one location to another, it is handed off from one cell site within the network to another in order to provide continuous service to the device as it moves out of range of one site and into range of another site. Wireless operators desire to provide fixed wireless data and voice services to consumers. In order to do this cost effectively, the devices must only be allow to operate in a fixed location. The problem is how to cost effectively fix the service location of the devices. 
     Fixed wireless is an emerging wireless communication system in which subscribers are provided with wireless communication as their primary communication means in a residence, business, or other defined location. Fixed wireless can be particularly useful in areas where wire services are not available, inadequate or cost prohibitive. In a fixed wireless system, a subscriber&#39;s wireless device is typically assigned to a geographically defined fixed location or “home zone.” 
     Although wireless operators desire to provide fixed wireless data and voice services to consumers, it must be possible for the devices to be permitted to operate only in the defined fixed location or home zone in order for such a system to be implemented in a cost effective manner. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention comprises a system and method for provisioning wireless devices such that they are only capable of accessing network services when in a specified location. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a device surveys the current location of the device for existing base stations and stores a corresponding network environment profile. Once the profile is stored, network service will only be provided to the device if the current network profile matches the stored profile. In such a system, the distribution logistics can be greatly simplified, resulting in substantial cost savings to the wireless carrier. 
     These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention, together with the organization and manner of operation thereof, will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements have like numerals throughout the several drawings described below. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a system constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an illustration of one embodiment of a device constructed according to the principles of present invention; and 
         FIG. 3  is a flow chart showing the implementation of one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention provides a system and method for addressing how to permit an electronic device to access network services only when it is within a particular geographical area. 
       FIG. 1  shows a system  10  constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The system  10  comprises a wireless device  12  and a network  14 . The network  14  includes a plurality of network elements  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32 , and  34 . These various network elements can comprises items such as cell sites, etc. Each network element  16 - 34  can be uniquely identified based upon information unique to the cell site, such as, for example, the Cell ID# and LAC, the cell scrambling code, the frequency band of operation of the cell, etc. Some of the network elements  16 - 28  can be positioned in a geographic home zone  36  of the mobile device  12 , while other of the network elements  30 ,  32  and  34  can be positioned outside the home zone  36 . 
     According to one embodiment of the invention, the device  12  is permitted to only communicate with the network elements  16 - 28  in its home zone  36 . Conversely, the device  12  is denied permission to access the network  14  via the network elements  30 ,  32  and  34  outside of its home zone  36 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates one embodiment of a device  12  according to the present invention. The device  12  can include a processor  38 , volatile memory  40 , non-volatile memory  42 , and first and second communications interfaces  44  and  46 . In one embodiment, the first communication interface  44  can be configured to provide WLAN communications services. The second communication interface  46  can be configured to communicate with a UMTS communication network. The processor  38  can be configured to control operation of the first and second communication interfaces  44  and  46 , as well as the volatile memory  40  and the non-volatile memory  42 . 
     The device  12  can be configured to establish a connection with a network element in order to receive various communications services from the network  14 . Various different permissioning schemes can be used based on whether the device  12  is inside or outside its home zone  36 . For example, the device  12  can be allowed to connect to a cell site outside its home zone  36 , but be denied data services. 
     The present invention involves dynamically fixing the service location for the device  12 . By dynamically fixing the location of the device  12 , the distribution logistics can be greatly simplified, ultimately providing significant cost savings to the wireless carrier. 
     One embodiment of the present invention involves the use of an algorithm in the device  12  that can survey the current location of the device  12  for existing base stations and/or other network elements and store the network environment profile. Once the profile is stored, service can only be provided if the current network profile matches the stored profile. This algorithm can be initiated locally or remotely. Remote initiation can be triggered by an encrypted short message service (SMS) message to the device. Encryption keys can be specific to the device to prevent tampering. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the device  12  comprises a fixed wireless residential gateway device, which serves as a gateway between one or more local area networks and a larger wide area network. One such gateway device is described in detail in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/618,972, filed Oct. 14, 2004 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/250,594, both entitled “Method and Apparatus for routing Voice Traffic Over a Residential Gateway” and incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
     As discussed previously, carriers can use one embodiment of the present invention to limit service to wireless devices such that the device can only access the services in certain locations. Such systems can be configured to dynamically fix a serviceable location for a wireless device by surveying the wireless network and storing the network information. This information can then be used by comparing the information to the current network information. Embodiments of the invention can be configured to allow services to be accessed only if the current network information matches with the stored information. Otherwise, if no match is found, various services can be blocked. 
       FIG. 3  is a flow chart showing the implementation of one embodiment of the present invention. At step  300 , during the initial setup phase for an electronic device, the electronic device surveys the location of the device for existing base stations. At step  310 , the electronic device stores a network environment profile. This profile is considered to be the “default” profile. At some later time, the device is activated (if necessary) and enters the same communication area as a particular base station. Upon noting the presence of the electronic device at step  320 , the base station transmits an encrypted SMS message to the electronic device at step  330 . The encrypted SMS message, when received by the electronic device and matched with the electronic device&#39;s encryption key, triggers the configuration process at step  340 . At step  350 , the electronic device surveys the network environment at that particular moment, noting the base stations that are within range of the electronic device. At step  360 , it is then determined if the current network environment matches the default network environment. In the event that the current network environment matches the default network environment, then the electronic device is permitted to access the services of the base station at step  370 . On the other hand, if the current network environment does not match the default network environment, then service is denied at step  380 . 
     In other embodiments of the invention, instead of accepting or denying access to all services for the network, access to the network can be more selective. For example, in one embodiment of the invention, a lack of a match between the current network profile and the default profile could result in only limited, low-level access to the network. Similarly, the granting and denying of access rights can be tailored to certain bit rates. For example, higher bit transfer rates can be granted only to those devices who are identified as being their “correct” zone of use. Other variations and embodiments of the present invention can also be implemented. 
     Although the process depicted in  FIG. 4  involves the use of SMS messages, the configuration steps for the implementation of the present invention can be triggered in a number of ways. For example, in embodiments of the invention using Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) and Evolution Data Only (EVDO) wireless standards, a combination of system IDs, network IDs, and signal strength may also be used to trigger the configuration process. GUI can also be used to initiate the algorithm of the present invention. 
     The present invention is described in the general context of method steps, which may be implemented in one embodiment by a program product including computer-executable instructions, such as program code, executed by computers in networked environments. 
     Generally, program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc. that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Computer-executable instructions, associated data structures, and program modules represent examples of program code for executing steps of the methods disclosed herein. The particular sequence of such executable instructions or associated data structures represents examples of corresponding acts for implementing the functions described in such steps. 
     Software and web implementations of the present invention could be accomplished with standard programming techniques with rule-based logic and other logic to accomplish the various database searching steps, correlation steps, comparison steps and decision steps. It should also be noted that the words “component” and “module” as used herein, and in the claims, is intended to encompass implementations using one or more lines of software code, and/or hardware implementations, and/or equipment for receiving manual inputs. 
     The foregoing description of embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise form disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the present invention. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application to enable one skilled in the art to utilize the present invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.