Controlling the use of a wireless mobile communication device

Abstract

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.

1 . canceled.  
     
     
         2 . canceled.  
     
     
         3 . A wireless mobile communication apparatus, comprising: 
 a data processor for supporting a user application that is controllably accessible to a user of said wireless mobile communication apparatus;    an input for receiving from an external communication source information indicative of a limitation that a controlling party desires to impose on the user's access to the user application; and wherein    said data processor is coupled to said input and responsive to said limitation information for automatically limiting the user's access to the user application in accordance with said limitation information.    
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said limitation information defines the user's ability to access the user application during selected times or under selected conditions.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said limitation information includes information indicative of one of a denial of the user's access to the user application, a time period during which the user's access to the user application is prohibited, a limit on a total amount of time permitted for the user's cumulative access of the user application, and a limit on the user's ability to access the user application for other than actions permitted by the controlling party.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , provided as one of a telephone, a personal digital assistant, and a portable computer, each equipped for wireless communication.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said data processor is responsive to receipt of said limitation information for providing an acknowledgement of said receipt, and including an output coupled to said data processor for outputting said acknowledgement for transmission to the external communication source.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said data processor is responsive to receipt of said limitation information for performing checksum verification of said limitation information.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said input is for receiving said limitation information via one of a wired communication channel and a wireless communication channel.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said wired communication channel includes one of a Universal Serial Bus (USB) and an RS-232 bus, and wherein said wireless communication channel includes a GSM/GPRS channel.  
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for controlling the use of a wireless mobile communication device, comprising: 
 a controlling party interface for enabling a controlling party to input first information indicative of a user application running on the wireless mobile communication device and controllably accessible to a user, and second information indicative of a limitation that the controlling party desires to impose on the user's access to the user application;    a data processor having an input coupled to said controlling party interface, said data processor for associating said first information to said second information and for producing third information indicative of an association between said first information and said second information; and    an output coupled to said data processor for outputting said third information for transmission to the wireless mobile communication device.    
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said output is for outputting said third information for transmission on one of a wired communication channel and a wireless communication channel.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said wired communication channel includes one of a Universal Serial Bus (USB) and an RS-232 bus, and wherein said wireless communication channel includes a GSM/GPRS channel.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said data processor supports a text messaging application for providing said third information in a text message.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said data processor is provided in a web server.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said controlling party interface includes a website implemented by said web server.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said website is accessible through the Internet.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said wireless mobile communication device is provided as one of a telephone, a personal digital assistant, and a portable computer, each equipped for wireless communication.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , provided as one of a telephone, a desktop computer, a portable computer and a personal digital assistant.  
     
     
         20 . A method of controlling the use of a wireless mobile communication apparatus, comprising: 
 transmitting, from a communication source apparatus to a communication destination apparatus that is physically separate from the communication source apparatus, information indicative of a limitation that a controlling party desires to impose on a user's access to a user application running on the wireless mobile communication apparatus and controllably accessible to the user;    in response to receipt of the limitation information at the communication destination apparatus, transferring the limitation information to the wireless mobile communication apparatus; and    in response to receipt of the limitation information at the wireless mobile communication apparatus, automatically limiting the user's access to the user application in accordance with the limitation information.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said transmitting step includes transmitting the limitation information on one of a wired communication channel and a wireless communication channel.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said transmitting step includes transmitting the limitation information across a data communication network.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said transmitting step includes transmitting the limitation information on a wired communication channel, and said transferring step includes transmitting the limitation information on a wireless communication channel.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the limitation information is stored on a server prior to being transferred on the wireless communication channel.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said transmitting step includes entering the limitation information at a website.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said limiting step includes limiting the user's ability to access the user application during selected times or under selected conditions.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 20 , including transmitting from the wireless mobile communication apparatus to a website server an indication that the user has accessed the user application.  
     
     
         28 . A method for controlling the use of a wireless communication device that provides a plurality of user applications, the method comprising: 
 configuring said wireless communication device to process parameters for controlling the use of at least one of said applications;    setting at a separate device the value(s) of at least one of said control parameters;    communicating said parameter value(s) from said separate device to said wireless communication device; and    processing said parameter value(s) at said wireless communication device to control the use of at least one of said applications.    
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said wireless communication device is a cellular telephone.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said wireless communication device is a personal digital assistant (PDA) with wireless communication capability.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said separate device is another wireless communication device that communicates with said wireless communication device through a wireless communication network.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said separate device is a computing device that communicates with said wireless communication device through a direct link.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said separate device is a computing device that communicates with said wireless communication device through a data communication network coupled to a wireless communication network.