GB2397196A

GB2397196A - Mobile communications device with location dependent mode of operation.

Info

Publication number: GB2397196A
Application number: GB0300387A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Jennings
Original assignee: NEC Technologies UK Ltd
Current assignee: NEC Technologies UK Ltd
Priority date: 2003-01-08
Filing date: 2003-01-08
Publication date: 2004-07-14
Anticipated expiration: 2023-01-08
Also published as: GB2397196B; GB0300387D0

Abstract

A mobile communications device is able to repeatedly determine its current geographical position. The device also stores geographical information relating to at least one permitted area of use of the device, and includes means for selecting a mode of operation in dependence on the current position of the device. Also disclosed is a means enabling the device to switch between two or more communication lines as it moves from one permitted area to another, and further a means for a user to update the geographical information stored on the device.

Description

Mobile Communication Devices This invention relates to mobile

communication devices and in particular to devices which are able to determine their state of operation in dependence on location.

It is known to provide mobile communication devices such as mobile phones which can operate on two or more different communication lines, either within the same network or on different networks. Such devices are particularly useful when a user wishes to have a single mobile phone for both business and private use. One of the lines on the phone can be assigned to business use and the other to private use. All the user needs to do is then switch between the lines in dependence on the type of call being made.

Very often, business calls will take place in a different location to private calls. It is therefore important that the user remembers to switch the phone between business and private lines when he goes to work and when he goes home. Also, mobile phones are often provided which a user is intended to use only within a predefined geographical area. It would therefore be desirable to provide a phone which will only operate within that predefined geographical area. Such a feature can also be a useful security mechanism in case the phone is stolen.

It is known to provide mobile phones with global positioning system (GPS) location devices or with other types of location devices so that the position of a phone is known.

44737-spec - 2 A preferred embodiment of the invention provides a mobile communication device which is able to derive data pertaining to a predetermined geographical area and to select a mode of operation in dependence on the geographical area in which it is located.

In a preferred embodiment, the data pertaining to the predetermined geographical area is derived using cell identifiers from a mobile network or networks in which the mobile communication device operates.

lo In a preferred embodiment, the mobile communication is able to determine geographical data using the area codes received from cell broadcasts in the mobile network in which it operates.

In a preferred embodiment, the mobile communication device includes a location device such as a GPS receiver from which it is able to determine its location.

In one embodiment of the invention, the mobile communication device is able to switch between two or more communication lines as it moves between different permitted so areas of use.

In another embodiment, the mobile communication device is provided with a means for preventing the operation of the device if it is outside a predefined geographical area.

The invention is defined with more precision in the appended claims to which reference should now be made.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying figures in which: 44737spec - 3 - Figure 1 shows schematically an area covered by transmission and reception cells in which the cells which permit valid operation of particular devices are crosshatched and other cells forbidden; Figure 2 shows schematically how cells might cover e.g. a work area for one line and a home area for another; Figure 3 is a flow diagram showing the operation of a communication device embodying the invention as it moves between permitted and forbidden cells; and lo Figure 4 is a flow diagram showing how a default line is selected.

The operating area of a mobile communication device embodying the invention can be configured according to any one of the following techniques: I. By using network cell identifiers (ID). An issuer or user of a phone is provided with the ability to pre programme into the phone either manually or with the use of an external data input device, the IDs of cells in which the mobile is able to operate. Alternatively, the communication device can be instructed to learn the cell available in a predetermined geographical area whilst the user navigates through that geographical area. This method is less reliable since other factors such as atmospheric conditions can affect the cells available within a known geographical area.

2. The cells in mobile networks typically make periodic broadcasts of area codes relating to the areas covered by each cell. A mobile communication device can be programmed with these either manually or via an external data input 44737-spec - 4 - device. Alternatively, the device can be instructed to learn these codes whilst the user navigates the desired geographical area. Again, this second alternative is less desirable because other factors can affect the areas which cells cover.

3. A mobile communication device can be provided with a location deriving device such as a GPS receiver. The device can be programmed either manually by the user or using an external input device with a set of geographical coordinates lo defining one or more geographical areas in which the device may operate. Alternatively, the mobile can learn the geographical area by the user navigating within the area.

Figure 1 shows a plurality of communication cells in a communication network. A first area of crosshatched cells 2 represents a first area in which a particular user may use his mobile communication device. A second area of crosshatched cells 4 shows a second are in which the same user may use the communication device. The other cells 6 which have crosses through them are areas of forbidden so operation for that user.

Figure 2 shows schematically how the areas might interact, in the case of overlapping areas of use for two lines. This shows an area of use 8 for home area line which fully encompasses an area of use 10 for a work area line on a communication device which falls fully within the area 8.

This means, that the work area line can only be used when the user is within area 10 whilst the home area line can be used whenever the user is within area 8, including the times when he is also within area 10.

so The mobile communication device is configured to operate on at least one communication line, corresponding to a known address within a predetermined geographical area.

44737-spec - 5 - When a user tries to make a call or an incoming call is received, the device first determines its current location using any of the methods described above. It then compares the data which defines its current location with the stored data defining the geographical area in which it can operate on that communication line. If the current location is within the geographical area for which communication on that line is permitted then the call can be made or received as appropriate. If the current location is outside the lo programmed area of operation for that communication line then the mode of operation of the communication device is changed. It may be changed to a locked condition in which calls cannot be made or received by the user.

Alternatively, if the phone is provided with a second IS communication line which has its own geographical area of permitted operation programmed into the phone then the device may be switched to operate on this second line after comparison of the current location data with the permitted area of use for the second line. Additional lines may also be provided.

Figure 3 shown operation of a communication device as it moves between communication cells. The device starts in a valid area and is in normal operation at 12. A position update 14 is then performed and a determination made at 16 as to whether or not the area in which the communication device is positioned is still valid. If it is, the device returns to normal operation at 12.

If the result of the position determination is that the device has removed into a forbidden area, a determination is then made as to the operating mode of the phone. This could be in standard operating mode or in learn mode in which permitted regions are being stored into the phone as it moves around an area. If the determination is that it is in learn mode then a new permitted region is stored into the 44737-spec - 6 communication device at 20 and the communication device then returns to normal operation at 12. If the determination is that the phone is in operate mode then what happens next is determined at 22. If there are no active calls in operation then the receive and transmit applications on the phone are closed down at 24. If there are active calls then these are cleared at 26 and the receive and transmit applications close down at 24. After close down of the applications a security device is activated at 26. This security device lo prevents a user from accessing phone services other than emergency calls until a valid pin number has been entered.

This may comprise also activation of the dial-lock feature, autoactivation of card holder verification code, or removal of the ability to access mobile services with the exception of emergency calls.

Figure 4 shows an alternative for the steps 12 and 16 of Figure 3 when the phone has two lines it may use. Step 12 still represents normal operation of the phone. When the position update 14 is performed, or a call setup is made, the operating region is determined at 16. If this is in the line 1 area, then the default line is set to line 1 at 28.

If it is in the line 2 area, then the default line is set to line 2 at 30. After each both of these, the phone returns to normal operation at 12. If the phone is in a forbidden area, then the flow diagram passes to step 18 of Figure 3 where the operating mode will be determined as discussed above.

In an embodiment where the phone is intended to be locked from operation when the user moves outside the predetermined area of operation, a security feature can be activated on the phone. There are various ways in which these can be done, and these include the following: 44737-spec 1. Automatic activation of the dial-lock feature which is commonly provided on mobile phones.

2. Auto-activation of security feature.

3. Removal of the ability to access mobile services, with the exception of emergency calls To deactivate the security feature and get the phone back into operation, a user would first have to return to the designated operating region for which data is stored in the communication device. Preferably he would also be lo prompted to enter a security code to unlock the phone once he is within the designated operating region.

In an alternative embodiment, the phone is arranged to accept new geographical data corresponding to the current location of the phone after entry of an appropriate security code. This would permit the owner of the phone to use the phone outside his usual area of use by entering the security code. However, if the phone was stolen the person stealing it would not be able to use it outside the pre-programmed area of use without knowing the user's security code.

44737-spec - 8 -

Claims

1. A mobile communication device comprising means for repeatedly determining a current position for the device, means for selecting a mode of operation for the device in dependence on the last determined position.

2. A mobile communication device according to claim 1 in which the device stores geographical data relating to at least one permitted area of use for the device, and the means for selecting a mode of operation includes means for lo determining whether the current position of the device is within the permitted area of use, and means for preventing use in dependence on the result of this determination.

3. A mobile communication device according to claims 1 or 2 in which the device determines its current position from cell identifiers received from a mobile network in which the device operates.

4. A mobile communication device according to claims 1 or 2 in which the device determines it current position from area codes received from cell broadcasts in a mobile network so in which it operates.

5. A mobile communication device according to any of claims 1 to 4 in which the device includes means to switch between two or more communication lines as it moves between different permitted areas of use.

6. A mobile communication device according to any of claims 2 to 5 including means responsive to a user input to place the device in a learn mode in which new permitted areas of use may be stored in the device.

44737-spec - 9

7. A method for selecting a mode of operation for a mobile communication device comprising the steps of repeatedly determining a current position for the device and selecting a mode of operation in dependence on the last determined position.

8. A mobile communication device substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings.

9. A method for selecting a mode of operation for a mobile communication device substantially as herein described.

44737-spec