Communication device operation management
View Patent ↗A communication group is activated within a communication system ( 100 ) including an administrator device ( 125 ) and at least one subordinate device ( 130,135 ). Each subordinate device ( 130,135 ) is programmed with a set of operation rules dependent upon communication source ( 300 ), information content ( 305 ), current time ( 310 ), or geographic location ( 315 ). The administrator device ( 125 ) dynamically changes the stored set of operation rules for the subordinate device ( 130,135 ) by communicating a change message.
1. A method for managing the operation of a communication device, the method comprising:
storing, at the communication device, a plurality of identifications, a plurality of content, a plurality of time periods, a plurality of locations, and a plurality of operation modes, a first set of the operation modes corresponding to the plurality of identifications, a second Set of the operation modes corresponding to the plurality of content, a third set of the operation modes corresponding to the plurality of time periods, and a fourth set of the operation modes corresponding to the plurality of locations;
receiving, by the communication device at a first time, a request to transmit information, the request including an identification of an intended recipient of the information, the communication device being located at a first location, the information being one of a location of the communication device and a status of the communication device;
comparing, within the communication device, the identification to the plurality of identifications;
restricting, at the communication device, transmission of the information in accordance with an operation mode of the first set of operation modes corresponding to the identification in the event that the identification matches at least one of the plurality of identifications;
in the event that the identification does not match at least one of the plurality of identifications,
comparing, within the communication device, content of the information to the plurality of content, and
restricting transmission of the information in accordance with an operation mode of the second set of operation modes corresponding to the content of the information in the event that the content matches at least one of the plurality of content;
in the event that the identification does not match at least one of the plurality of identifications and the content of the information does not match at least one of the plurality of content,
comparing, within the communication device, the first time to the plurality of time periods, and
restricting transmission of the information in accordance with an operation mode of the third set of operation modes corresponding to a time period that includes the first time in the event that the first time falls within at least one of the plurality of time periods;
in the event that the identification does not match at least one of the plurality of identifications, the content of the information does not match at least one of the plurality of content, and the first time does not fall within one of the plurality of time periods,
comparing, within the communication device, the first location to the plurality of locations, and
restricting transmission of the information in accordance with an operation mode of the fourth set of operation modes corresponding to the first location in the event that the first location matches at least one of the plurality of locations; and
transmitting, by the communication device, the information without restriction in the event that the identification does not match at least one of the plurality of identifications, the content of the information does not match at least one of the plurality of content, the first time does not fall within one of the plurality of time periods, and the first location does not match at least one of the plurality of locations.
2. A method for managing the operation of a communication device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the receiving step comprises receiving a user input to initiate the request to transmit information.
3. A method for managing the operation of a communication device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the receiving step comprises detecting an event requiring transmission of the information.
4. A method for managing the operation of a communication device as recited in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the restricting transmission steps comprises:
blocking at least some outgoing calls initiated by a user of the communication device.
5. A method for managing the operation of a communication device as recited in claim 4 , wherein the step of blocking at least some outgoing calls comprises:
blocking all outgoing calls initiated by the user of the communication device.
6. A method for managing the operation of a communication device as recited in claim 4 , wherein at least one of the restricting transmission steps further comprises:
allowing reception of at least some incoming calls.
7. A method for managing the operation of a communication device as recited in claim 6 , wherein the step of allowing reception of at least some incoming calls comprises:
allowing reception of only priority incoming calls.
8. A method for managing the operation of a communication device as recited in claim 4 , wherein the step of blocking at least some outgoing calls further comprises:
permitting transmission of an acknowledgment indicating that the communication device has received an incoming call.
9. A method for managing the operation of a communication device as recited in claim 1 , the method further comprising:
activating a communication group within a communication system, wherein the communication group comprises:
an administrator device, and
at least the communication device;
programming at least the communication device with a set of operation rules, the set of operation rules including at Least the first set of operation modes, the second set of operation modes, the third set of operation modes and the fourth set of operation modes;
receiving a change message by the communication device, wherein the change message is communicated from the administrator device; and
changing the set of operation rules within the communication device responsive to the change message.
10. A method for managing the operation of a communication device as recited in claim 9 , wherein the change message includes a message source identification, the method further comprising:
securely authenticating, at the communication device, the administrator device using the message source identification prior to the changing step.
11. A method for managing the operation of a communication device as recited in claim 9 , further comprising:
identifying the change message as originating from the administrator device prior to the changing step.