IP Library Granted Patent US 9,049,539
Granted Patent B2
US 9,049,539 · App. 14/048,103 · Granted Jun 2, 2015

System and method for managing events associated with the detection of wireless devices

Inventors: Jeffrey M. Sweeney (Olathe, KS); Kelsyn D. S. Rooks, Sr. (Overland Park, KS); Shekhar Gupta (Overland Park, KS); Kendra Dwyer (Wellsville, KS); Mark Wilmoth (Gardner, KS)
Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
H04W8/005H04W4/02H04W4/04H04L67/18
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,049,539
App. No.
14/048,103
Granted
Jun 2, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

The disclosed embodiments provide a system and method for managing events associated with the detection of wireless devices. The disclosed embodiments utilize a residential wireless access point for detecting the signal transmitted by a wireless device. A user configures a wireless device detection program to perform specified events in response to the detection and/or absence of a wireless device. The disclosed embodiments may provide home automation functions, home security functions, and/or provide child monitoring features.

Claims (78)

1. A method for performing a user-specified event comprising:

storing a data table for managing events associated with a wireless detection program that performs user-specified events in response to detecting of one or more wireless devices using a residential wireless access point;

receiving a user-specified detection event associated with detection of a first wireless device;

storing the user-specified detection event associated with detection of the first wireless device in the data table;

receiving data from a residential wireless access point;

determining from the data, using a processor, whether the first wireless device is detected;

responsive to a determination that the first wireless device is detected, performing the user-specified detection event associated with the first wireless device;

determining whether the first wireless device has departed from a signal range of the residential wireless access point by monitoring the strength of a signal associated with the first wireless device;

wherein if the monitored signal strength gradually decreases, it is determined that the first wireless device has departed from the signal range of the residential access point;

wherein if the monitored signal strength is constant for a period of time and abruptly ends, it is determined that the first wireless device has not departed from the signal range of the residential wireless access point;

receiving a user-specified departure event associated with identifying the departure of the first wireless device from the signal range of the residential access point;

storing the user-specified departure event associated with identifying the departure of the first wireless device from the signal range of the residential access point in the data table; and

performing the user-specified departure event in response to identifying the departure of the first wireless device from the signal range of the residential access point.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining from the data whether an unknown wireless device is detected;

in response to determination that an unknown wireless device is detected, retrieving subscriber data from a subscriber database for identifying a person associated with the unknown wireless device; and

providing the subscriber data to a user associated with the residential wireless access point.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

storing a condition state associated with the first wireless device being detected by the residential wireless access point.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

receiving subsequent data from the residential wireless access point;

determining if the condition state associated with the first wireless device being detected by the residential wireless access point has changed; and

responsive to the condition state having been changed, performing a second user-specified event associated with a change in condition state.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user-specified departure event includes transmitting an email message to a user associated with the residential wireless access point.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising configuring a signal detection range of the residential wireless access point.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising logging the amount of time a signal of the first wireless device is detected.

8. The method according to claim 2 , further comprising:

determining an estimated distance of the unknown wireless device from the residential wireless access point; and

providing the estimated distance of the unknown wireless device from the residential wireless access point to a user associated with the residential wireless access point.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the user-specified detection event is time dependent.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the user-specified departure event is time dependent.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a data bus system;

memory coupled to the data bus system, wherein the memory includes computer usable program code;

a network communication device coupled to the data bus for receiving data from a residential wireless access point over a network connection;

a processing unit coupled to the data bus system, wherein the processing unit executes the computer usable program code to:

store a data table for managing events associated with a wireless detection program that performs user-specified events in response to detection and departure of one or more wireless devices using a residential wireless access point;

receive a user-specified detection event associated with detection of a first wireless device;

store the user-specified detection event associated with detection of the first wireless device in the data table;

receive data from a residential wireless access point;

determine from the data whether the first wireless device is detected;

responsive to a determination that the first wireless device is detected performing the user-specified detected event associated with the first wireless device;

determine whether the first wireless device has departed from a signal range of the residential wireless access point by monitoring the strength of a signal associated with the first wireless device;

wherein if the monitored signal strength gradually decreases, it is determined that the first wireless device has departed from the signal range of the residential access point;

wherein if the monitored signal strength is constant for a period of time and abruptly ends, it is determined that the first wireless device has not departed from the signal range of the residential wireless access point;

receive a user-specified departure event associated with identifying the departure of the first wireless device from the signal range of the residential access point;

store the user-specified departure event associated with identifying the departure of the first wireless device from the signal range of the residential access point in the data table; and

perform the user-specified departure event in response to identifying the departure of the first wireless device from the signal range of the residential access point.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the processing unit further executes the computer usable program code to:

determine an estimated distance of an unknown wireless device from the residential wireless access point; and

provide the estimated distance of the unknown wireless device from the residential wireless access point to a user associated with the residential wireless access point.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the processing unit further executes the computer usable program code to transmit a text message to the user associated with the residential wireless access point in response to identifying an unknown wireless device.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the processing unit further executes the computer usable program code to:

log the amount of time a signal of the first wireless device is detected.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the residential wireless access point is a femto cell.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the residential wireless access point detects cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth signals.

17. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the processing unit further executes the computer usable program code to:

retrieve subscriber data from a subscriber database provided by a service provider for identifying a person associated with the unknown wireless device; and

provide the subscriber data to a user associated with the residential wireless access point.

18. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions for performing a user-specified event, the computer executable instructions when executed causes one or more machines to perform operations comprising:

storing a data table for managing user-specified events associated with detecting one or more wireless devices using a residential wireless access point;

receiving a user-specified detection event associated with detection of a first wireless device;

storing the user-specified detection event associated with detection of the first wireless device in the data table;

receiving data from a residential wireless access point;

determining from the data, using a processor, whether the first wireless device is detected;

responsive to a determination that the first wireless device is detected, performing the user-specified detection event associated with the first wireless device;

determining whether the first wireless device has departed from a signal range of the residential wireless access point by monitoring the strength of a signal associated with the first wireless device;

wherein if the monitored signal strength gradually decreases, it is determined that the first wireless device has departed from the signal range of the residential access point;

wherein if the monitored signal strength is constant for a period of time and abruptly ends, it is determined that the first wireless device has not departed from the signal range of the residential wireless access point;

receiving a user-specified departure event associated with identifying the departure of the first wireless device from the signal range of the residential access point;

storing the user-specified departure event associated with identifying the departure of the first wireless device from the signal range of the residential access point in the data table; and

performing the user-specified departure event in response to identifying the departure of the first wireless device from the signal range of the residential access point.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the computer executable instructions when executed further causes the one or more machines to perform operations comprising:

determining from the data whether an unknown wireless device is detected;

in response to determination that an unknown wireless device is detected, retrieving subscriber data from a subscriber database for identifying a person associated with the unknown wireless device; and

providing the subscriber data to a user associated with the residential wireless access point.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the computer executable instructions when executed further causes the one or more machines to perform operations comprising:

configuring a signal detection range of the residential wireless access point.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 8, 2013
From: SWEENEY, JEFFREY; ROOKS, KELSYN D.S.; GUPTA, SHEKHAR; DWYER, KENDRA; WILMOTH, MARK
To: EMBARQ HOLDINGS COMPANY, LLC
Reel/Frame 031360/0256 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 8, 2013
From: EMBARQ HOLDINGS COMPANY, LLC
To: CENTURYLINK INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LLC
Reel/Frame 031372/0544 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 12256337 · Oct 22, 2008
Related Publication 20140038586A1 · Feb 6, 2014