# US 2018/0027360 A1 · Machine to machine privacy protection > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0027360 A1 - Document ID: US20180027360A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/694,112 - Filed: 2017-09-01 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2013-10-30 - Assignees: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. - Applicants: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. - Inventors: Venson Shaw - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180027360A1 ## CPC - H04W 4/70: Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC] - H04W 12/08: Access security - H04W 76/10: Connection setup - H04L 63/107: {wherein the security policies are location-dependent, e.g. entities privileges depend on current location or allowing specific operations only from locally connected terminals} - H04W 12/63: Location-dependent; Proximity-dependent - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract An intelligent decision engine is configured on a mobile device that includes rules and criteria that the engine uses to determine whether to allow the mobile device to engage in M2M communications with an M2M device. The criteria may be based on user groups, location of the mobile device, privacy zones that may or may not include the M2M device, “black” and/or “white” access lists, time of day, traffic on a wireless link to a wireless network, etc. If the communication meets all applicable criteria it is permitted to commence, and if not, it is blocked. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: detecting, at a mobile device, a first communication associated with a time of day by a first device having a device type, the first communication transmitted via a network; identifying a geographic location associated with the mobile device; determining that the geographic location is not within a geographic area in which, at the time of day, the mobile device is prohibited from engaging in communications with devices of the device type; determining a traffic load on a communication link between the mobile device and the network; determining that the first communication meets a first criteria and a second criteria, wherein the first criteria is based on a characteristic of the first device, and wherein the second criteria is based on the traffic load; and responsive to determining that the first communication meets the first criteria and the second criteria, allowing the mobile device to engage in the communications with the first device, wherein the characteristic includes at least one of processor usage, memory load, or temperature. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining an emergency status of the mobile device; and wherein allowing the mobile device to engage in the communications with the first device is further based the emergency status. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: if the first criteria is not met, querying a user for manual approval of the first communication; and modifying the first criteria based on the manual approval. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining whether a username and a password have been received, wherein allowing the mobile device to engage in the communications with the first device is further based on whether the username and the password have been received. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining whether the first communication aligns with a calendar associated with the mobile device, wherein allowing the mobile device to engage in the communications with the first device is further based on whether the first communication aligns with the calendar activity. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the characteristic is the device type. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein allowing the mobile device to engage in the communications with the first device is further based on the geographic location not being within the geographic area. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first criteria and second criteria are determined in an order based on a first priority assigned to the first criteria and a second priority assigned to the second criteria. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: detecting a second communication from a second device, determining that the second communication does not meet at least one of the second criteria and a third criteria, wherein the third criteria is based on a second device characteristic of the second device; and responsive to determining that the second communication does not meet at least one of the first criteria and the second criteria, blocking the second communication from being transmitted to the mobile device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: identifying a black list; wherein allowing the mobile device to engage in the communications with the first device is further based on whether the black list includes an identifier of the first device. ### Claim 11 A mobile device comprising: a processor; and a memory comprising executable instructions that cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising: detecting a first communication from a first device having a device type, the first communication transmitted via a network and the first communication associated with a time of day; identifying a geographic location associated with the mobile device; determining that the geographic location is not located within a geographic area in which, at the time of day, the mobile device is prohibited from engaging in communications with devices of the device type; determining at least one device characteristic based on the geographic location and the time of day; determining a traffic load on a communication link between the mobile device and the network; determining that the first communication meets a first criteria and a second criteria, wherein the first criteria is based on whether a characteristic of the first device satisfies the at least one device characteristic, and wherein the second criteria is based on the traffic load; and responsive to determining that the first communication meets the first criteria and the second criteria, allowing the mobile device to engage in the communications with the first device, wherein the at least one device characteristic include at least one of processor usage, memory load, or temperature. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the geographic location is a residence of a user associated with the mobile device, and the at least one device characteristic includes being installed in the residence. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the at least one characteristic comprises the device type. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the operations further include: identifying a black list, wherein allowing the mobile device to engage in the communications with the first device is further based on whether the black list includes the first device. ### Claim 15 A tangible computer-readable storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions that cause a processor associated with a mobile device to effectuate operations, the operations comprising: detecting a first communication from a first device having a device type, the first communication associated with a time of day and transmitted via a network; identifying a geographic location associated with the mobile device; determining that the geographic location is not located within a geographic area in which, at the time of day, the mobile device is prohibited from engaging in communications with devices of the device type; determining a first criteria based on the geographic location and the time of day; determining a traffic load on a communication link between the mobile device and the network; determining that the first communication meets the first criteria and a second criteria, wherein meeting the first criteria is based on a characteristic of the first device, and wherein the second criteria is based on the traffic load; and responsive to determining that the first communication meets the first criteria and the second criteria, allowing the mobile device to engage in the communications with the first device, wherein the first criteria is based on at least one of processor usage, memory load, or temperature. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the processor usage, the memory load, or the temperature is associated with the mobile device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein allowing the mobile device to engage in communications with the first device is further based on whether a black list associated with the mobile device identifies the first device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the geographic location is a residence of a user associated with the mobile device, and the first criteria includes the first device being installed in the residence. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the first criteria and second criteria are determined in an order based on a first priority assigned to the first criteria and a second priority assigned to the second criteria. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the first criteria and second criteria are determined in an order based on a first priority assigned to the first criteria and a second priority assigned to the second criteria.