Method and system for providing supervisory control over wireless phone usage

A system of controlling the usage of a wireless device comprising:

• a storage device containing a user profile database, said user profile database storing a first set of coordinates representative of a first geographic location;
• at least one first processor in communication with said user profile database, said at least first processor operative in response to an attempt to establish a communication involving said wireless device and another communication device:
• to obtain a second set of coordinates representative of a second geographic location corresponding to a geographic location of said wireless phone;
• to determine based upon said first and second set of coordinates whether said wireless device is at a location at which use of the wireless device is restricted;
• to generate a control message of a first type in the event said determining step indicates that said wireless device is at a location at which the use of the wireless device is restricted;
• and
• to generate a control message of a second type in the event said determining step indicates that said wireless device is at a location at which the use of the wireless device is not restricted and to utilize said distance in the determination whether the use of said wireless device is restricted.

A system of controlling the usage of a wireless device comprising:

• a supervisory control system comprising:
• a storage device containing a user profile database, said user profile database storing a first set of coordinates in a specified coordinate system representative of a first geographic location;
• and
• at least one first processor in communication with said user profile database;
• and
• a wireless device in communication with said supervisory control system, said wireless device comprising:
• a memory;
• and
• at least one second processor in communication with said memory;
• said at least one first processor operative to forward said first set of coordinates to said wireless device for storage in said memory;
• said at least one second processor operative in response to an attempt to establish a communication from said wireless device to another communication device:
• to obtain a second set of coordinates in said specified coordinate system representative of a second geographic location corresponding to a geographic location of said wireless device;
• and
• to determine based upon said first and second set of coordinates whether said wireless device is at a location at which use of the wireless device is restricted;
• to generate a control message of a first type upon a determination that said wireless device is at a location at which the use of the wireless device is restricted;
• and
• to generate a control message of a second type upon a determination that said wireless device is at a location at which the use of the wireless device is not restricted.

A method of controlling communications between a wireless communication device and another communication device comprising the steps of:

• storing within a database at least one parameter corresponding to at least one restriction on use of said wireless communication device for outgoing communications, said at least one restriction comprising at least one of a time of day restriction defining at least one time period during which an outgoing communication from said wireless communication device is not permitted, an accessibility restriction comprising at least one identifier associated with another communication device that cannot be reached from said wireless communication device, and a location restriction defining at least one location at which an outgoing communication from said wireless communication device is not permitted;
• forwarding said at least one parameter from said database to said wireless communication device and storing said at least one parameter in a memory within said wireless communication device;
• in response to an attempt to initiate a communication from said wireless communication device to said other communication device, retrieving said at least one parameter from said memory and determining via use of a processor within said wireless communication device, whether a connection of said communication from said wireless communication device to said other communication device is contrary to said at least one restriction;
• in the event the connection of said communication from said wireless communication device to said other communication device is not contrary to said at least one restriction, allowing the communication between said wireless communication device and said other communication device;
• and
• in the event the communication from said wireless communication device to said other communication device phone is contrary to said at least one restriction, preventing the communication from said wireless communication device to said other communication device.

Apparatus for controlling usage of a wireless device comprising:

• a first memory within said wireless device for storing at least one parameter specifying at least one restriction on use of said wireless device for outgoing communications, said at least one restriction on use comprising at least one of a time of day restriction defining times during which an outgoing communication from said wireless device is not permitted, an accessibility restriction defining at least one identifier associated with another communication device that is inaccessible for outgoing communications from said wireless device, and a location restriction defining at least one restricted location from which an outgoing communications from said wireless device is not permitted;
• at least one processor within said wireless device;
• a second memory operable to store program code executable on said at least one processor;
• and
• program code stored in said second memory and executable on said at least one processor, said program code operable:
• to detect the initiation of a communication from said wireless device to said other communication device and, responsive to said initiation, to determine whether a connection of said communication between said wireless device and said other communication device is contrary to said at least one restriction;
• to permit said communication from said wireless device to said other communication device in the event said connection is not contrary to said at least one restriction;
• and
• to prevent said communication from said wireless device to said other communication device in the event said communication is contrary to at least one of said at least one restriction.

A system for controlling usage of a wireless phone, said system operative in conjunction with a billing system including a first server operable to execute a billing process and a first database containing parameters defining billing parameters applicable to said wireless device, said system comprising:

• a second server operable to execute a supervisory process for controlling usage of said wireless phone as an overlay to said billing process;
• a second database containing a value defining a time duration that said wireless device may be used within a predetermined period, said second database being communicably coupled to said second server;
• said second server being operative:
• to maintain a record of time usage for said wireless phone within said predetermined period;
• to prevent a call involving said wireless phone from being connected in the event said record of time usage indicates that said wireless phone has been used within said predetermined period for a period equal to said time duration;
• and
• to allow a call involving said wireless phone to be connected in the event said record of time usage indicates that said wireless phone has been used in said predetermined period for a period less than said time duration.

A computer based method of controlling the use of a wireless device comprising the steps of:

• storing in a database a supervisory account identifier associated with a supervisory account, said supervisory account including information pertaining to the use of at least one wireless device including said wireless device, said information being password protected and at least some of said information being modifiable by said account administrator;
• storing in said database in association with said supervisory account identifier at the request of said account administrator, a wireless device identifier associated with said wireless device and at least one modifiable restriction governing the use of said wireless device by a wireless device user, wherein said wireless device user is an individual distinct from said account administrator;
• storing in said database in association with said supervisory account identifier, a code value corresponding to a cut-through code, wherein said code-value is useable by said account administrator to permit said account administrator to establish communication with said wireless device at a time when the use of said wireless device is restricted;
• receiving an indication of an intended communication from a communication device to said wireless device;
• determining whether said intended communication violates said at least one restriction governing the use of said wireless device prior to connection of said communication between said communication device and said wireless device;
• in the event said determining step indicates that the connection of said intended communication violates said at least one restriction and an input value corresponding to said stored code value is not received from said communication device within a predetermined time interval, generating a control message of a first type to prevent said communication from proceeding;
• and
• in the event said determining step indicates that the connection of said intended communication would violate said at least one restriction pertaining to the use of said wireless device and said input value corresponding to said code value code is received from said communication device within said predetermined time interval, generating a control message of a second type to allow said communication to be proceed.

A computer based system for controlling the use of a wireless device by a wireless device user, said system comprising:

• a database stored in a storage device, said database containing a supervisory account identifier associated with a supervisory account, said database including information pertaining to the use of at least one wireless device, including said wireless device, said information contained in said database being password protected and modifiable by a supervisory account administrator;
• said database containing in association with said supervisory account identifier, a wireless device identifier associated with said wireless device and at least one parameter defining at least one restriction governing the use of said wireless device by said wireless device user, wherein said wireless device user is an individual distinct from said account administrator;
• said database a code value corresponding to a cut-through code, wherein said code value is stored in association with said supervisory account identifier and wherein said code-value is useable by said account administrator to establish communication with said wireless device at a time when the use of said wireless device is restricted;
• at least one computer operative to:
• receive an indication of an intended communication from a communication device to said wireless device;
• determine using said at least one parameter whether said intended communication violates said at least one restriction governing the use of said wireless device prior to connection of said communication between said communication device and said wireless device;
• generate a control message of a first type to prevent said communication from proceeding in the event said at least one computer determines that the connection of said intended communication would violate said at least one restriction and an input value corresponding to said stored code value is not received from said communication device within a predetermined time interval;
• and
• generate a control message of a second type to allow said communication to proceed in the event said at least one computer determines that the connection of said intended communication would violate said at least one restriction pertaining to the use of said wireless device and said input value corresponding to said code value code is received from said communication device within said predetermined time interval.

A method of communicating information regarding the usage of a wireless device comprising the steps of:

• storing in a database an identifier of said wireless device in association with an identifier associated with a supervisory account, wherein information in said database pertaining to said supervisory account is modifiable by a supervisor having administrative responsibility for said supervisory account;
• storing in said database in association with said wireless device identifier at least one parameter defining at least one alert condition relating to the usage of said wireless device;
• maintaining for said at least one wireless device a time measure indicative of the cumulative usage of said wireless device within a control period;
• determining whether said alert condition has occurred by utilizing said time measure and said at least one parameter;
• and
• in the event said determining step indicates that said alert condition has occurred, communicating an alert message to said supervisor.