SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LOCATION BASED POLICY MANAGEMENT
In a particular embodiment, a policy server is disclosed that includes a network device interface adapted to communicate with a set of wireless access points via a short range wireless network. Each of the wireless access points has a coverage area. The policy server also includes a processor and a memory accessible to the processor. The memory includes instructions executable by the processor to determine whether at least one wireless device is located within a boundary area, to apply a first policy when the at least one wireless device is located within the boundary area, and to apply a second policy when the at least one wireless device is located outside of the boundary area. The boundary area covers an area that is different from the coverage area of any one wireless access point.
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This application is a Continuation Patent Application of and claims priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/890,397, filed on Jul. 13, 2004, entitled “System and method for location based policy management,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSUREThis disclosure, in general, relates to systems and methods for location based policy management.
BACKGROUNDShort-range wireless data networks have become commonplace, being found in homes, coffee shops, and places of business. Short-range wireless standards, such as 802.11x, and to some extent Bluetooth, provide network users with mobility and easy network access. However, this ease of wireless network access poses problems to network administrators including securing network traffic and preventing unauthorized network access.
Manufacturers of short-range wireless equipment have attempted to address the security issues posed by intrusive and unauthorized traffic through protocols, such as wireless application protocol (WAP), and encryption mechanisms such as wired equivalent privacy (WEP) and Wi-Fi protected access (WPA). The WAP protocol, for example, provides services for wireless devices that include security layers, such as wireless transport layer security (WTLS), that are designed to provide privacy, data integrity and authentication between communicating applications. WEP is an algorithm used to protect wireless communications from eavesdropping through data encryption. WEP relies upon a key that is shared between a mobile station and an access point. The key is used to encrypt packets before they are transmitted, and an integrity check is used to verify that the packets are not modified in transit. WPA is a security enhancement for Wi-Fi networks that defines the use of the advance encryption standard (AES) as an additional replacement for WEP encryption.
However, even with these security methods and mechanisms, wireless networks tend to extend beyond traditional physical boundaries, allowing users outside the boundaries to gain unauthorized access to networks. As such, improved systems and methods for managing access to short-range wireless networks would be desirable.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In a particular embodiment, a policy server is disclosed that includes a network device interface adapted to communicate with a set of wireless access points via a short range wireless network. Each of the wireless access points has a coverage area. The policy server also includes a processor and a memory accessible to the processor. The memory includes instructions executable by the processor to determine whether at least one wireless device is located within a boundary area, to apply a first policy when the at least one wireless device is located within the boundary area, and to apply a second policy when the at least one wireless device is located outside of the boundary area. The boundary area covers an area that is different from the coverage area of any one wireless access point of the set of wireless access points.
In another particular embodiment, a method is disclosed that includes receiving location information related to a wireless device from at least one access point of a set of access points providing a short range wireless network and determining a location of the wireless device relative to a boundary area defined within a coverage area of the short range wireless network. The boundary area defines a region that is not coextensive with the coverage area. The method also includes selectively associating at least one policy with the wireless device based on the determined location.
In yet another particular embodiment, a network device is disclosed that includes an interface adapted to communicate with a plurality of wireless access points that provide a wireless coverage area and a a network interface adapted to communicate with a network. The network device also includes logic adapted to communicate with the interface and the network interface. The logic determines a location of a wireless device relative to a boundary area that is not coextensive with the wireless coverage area. The logic enforces at least one location-based policy with respect to the wireless device based on the determined location.
In a particular embodiment, the disclosure is directed to a method of controlling network traffic including providing boundary data defining a boundary zone within a short-range wireless network coverage area, determining whether a wireless enabled device is located within the boundary zone, and controlling network traffic received from the wireless enabled device when the wireless enabled device is located outside the boundary zone.
In another embodiment, the disclosure is directed to a policy server including a processor, communication circuitry, and memory. The communication circuitry is accessible to the processor and is configured to connect to a set of wireless network access points. The set of wireless access points provide a short-range wireless network coverage area. The memory is accessible to the processor and includes boundary data and computer-implemented instructions operable by the processor to determine whether a wireless enabled device is located within a boundary zone within the coverage area based on data received from the set of wireless network access points. The boundary zone is defined by the boundary data.
In a further embodiment, the disclosure is directed to a communications device including long-range wireless communication circuitry configured to access a long-range wireless network, short-range wireless communication circuitry configured to access a short-range wireless network, configurable feature circuitry, and a feature policy driver. The feature policy driver is programmed to receive a feature policy via the short-range wireless communication circuitry and is programmed to configure the feature circuitry based on the feature policy.
In another embodiment, the disclosure is directed to a method for managing feature functionality of a wireless enabled device. The method includes providing boundary data defining a boundary zone within a short-range wireless network coverage area, determining whether a wireless enabled device is located within the boundary zone, and determining a feature policy to be applied to the wireless enabled device based on determining whether the wireless enabled device is located within the boundary zone.
In a particular embodiment, the disclosure is directed to a system including a set of access points and a policy server. The set of access points establish a coverage area for a short-range wireless network and provide data to the policy server regarding wireless devices within the coverage area. The policy server determines the location of the wireless devices and whether the wireless devices are located within a boundary zone. Based on the location of the wireless device or its location within or outside of the boundary zone, a policy, such as a network traffic policy or a feature policy, may be applied to the wireless devices or network traffic transmitted by the network device. For example, network traffic policies may define network access and network access parameters based on wireless enabled device location. Feature policies may manipulate device features and feature availability based on wireless enabled device location.
The nature of the short-range wireless network is such that individuals having wireless enabled devices located within the portions 104 of the short-range wireless network coverage area may receive signals from one or more of the access points 102. An individual within a preferred access area, such as a user 108, may receive data emitted by the access points 102. In addition, a user located outside the preferred access area, such as user 110, may also receive data transmitted from the access points 102.
In exemplary embodiments, the access points 102 may provide a short-range. wireless network using standards and protocols, such as Wi-Fi, Wi-Max, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11x, IEEE 802.15, IEEE 802.16, and Bluetooth. A short-range wireless network may, for example, have an effective coverage area portion provided by an access point, wherein the effective coverage area does not exceed 1000 feet in radius, such as not greater than 200 feet, or not greater than about 50 feet in radius. The short-range wireless network may, for example, provide wireless data network access in proximity to the access points, such as in and around a building, room, residence, office space, shop, or preferred access area. Wireless devices accessing the short-range wireless network may include wireless enabled computational devices, such as portable computers, printers, handheld computational devices, portable digital assistants (PDAs), wireless data network enabled cellular telephones, and other networkable devices. In general, a short-range wireless network is not a cellular or pager based network and is an Internet protocol (IP) based wireless data network. In contrast, long-range wireless networks generally provide wireless networks having a radius greater than about 1000 feet. For example, long-range wireless networks include pager networks and cellular telephone networks, such as time division multiple access (TDMA), code division multiple access (CDMA), and global system for mobile communication (GSM) networks.
The location of a wireless enabled device may be determined using data from the access points. In one exemplary embodiment, a triangulation method uses at least three access points. For example, location may be determined by evaluating timing data associated with a signal reaching several access points. Network equipment such as a server or router device may include instructions for determining location based on timing data provided by the access points. In another exemplary embodiment, the triangulation method may use relative power levels of wireless communications received either at the wireless device or at the access points. The network equipment may determine the location relative to the access points based on these power measurements. In alternative embodiments, methods may be employed such as power measurement methods to determine location using one or two access points.
The network equipment may use data from the access points 202 to determine whether wireless devices, such as those co-located with users 208 and 210 are located within the boundary zone 214. In one exemplary embodiment, the network equipment utilizes triangulation methods based on at least three access points 202 to determine the location of a user and whether the user is located within the boundary 212 or the boundary zone 214. Using this determination, the network equipment may determine and implement policies associated with the location of the mobile device, the device's traffic, and/or device features. For example, a user having a wireless device, such as user 208, located within the boundary zone 214 may be provided with or associated with a policy different than a user located outside the boundary zone 214, such as user 210. For example, user 208 located within the boundary zone 214 may be provided with differing security and network traffic controls than user 210 located outside the boundary zone. In another exemplary embodiment the user 208 located within the boundary zone 214 may be provided with one feature policy while a user device 210 located outside of the boundary zone 214 may be provided with a second feature policy.
While
In one exemplary embodiment users located outside of the preferred access zone as defined by the boundary zone may be denied network access.
In one exemplary embodiment, boundary data and locations may be determined by triangulation between at least three access points. A set of triangulated boundary points may be compared to locations of devices in the coverage area to determine whether the devices are located within a boundary zone. Using this determination, differing network access policies and feature policies may be applied to mobile wireless enabled device.
In another embodiment, the policy server 608 may interact with the wireless device 602 and control its features and feature activation based on the location within the coverage area. For example, if wireless device 602 is a short-range wireless enabled cellular telephone, the policy server 608 may interact with the cellular telephone to manipulate features located on the cellular telephone based on the phones location. For example, the policy server may manipulate ring tones, ring volume and vibration modes on a cellular telephone based on the cellular telephone's location. In another exemplary embodiment, the policy server manipulates or deactivates camera features on a camera enabled cellular telephone based on its location within the coverage area. Additional exemplary features and feature policies are described below.
The network and device interfaces 804 interact with access points and network equipment. For example, the network and device interfaces 804 include interfaces to a wired network and interfaces to access points that implement a wireless short-range wireless network. Through this interaction with the access points, data associated with the location of a wireless device are transferred to the policy server 800.
Programs and instructions 812 are operable by the processors 802 to determine the location of the wireless device within the short-range wireless network coverage area based on the data received from the access points. For example, the programs and instructions 812 may include location determination logic. In addition, the program and instructions 812 may also include software instructions for comparing the location of the wireless device to boundary data 808. From this comparison, the system determines whether particular wireless devices are located within or outside of the boundary zone. The programs and instructions 812 may further include software instructions for implementing policies, such as network traffic controls and feature policies, based on the location of the wireless device. For example, software instructions 812, operable by the processors 802, may be configured to access policy data and algorithms 810 to determine selected policies to implement based on the relative location of the wireless device to a boundary zone. For example, the system 800 may implement network traffic controls based on the location of the wireless device. In another exemplary embodiment the system 800 may implement feature policy controls based on the location of the wireless device.
In one particular embodiment, the wireless device may be implemented as a cellular telephone or portable hand-held device with cellular telephone functionality. In another exemplary embodiment, the wireless device may be configured to access both a long-range network, such as a pager or cellular network, and a short-range network.
In one exemplary embodiment, when the device 900 enters a coverage area of a short-range wireless network, short-range wireless communications circuitry 904 interacts with access points to establish a location of the wireless device 900. A policy server associated with the short-range wireless network determines a feature policy based upon the location of the wireless device within the coverage area relative to boundary zones or a policy mapping. The policy server transmits a feature policy to the device via the short-range wireless network. The feature policy driver 908 implements feature policies that manipulate the feature devices and circuitry 906. For example, the features policy server may transmit a feature policy that disables or deactivates camera features within camera enabled cell phones.
In one exemplary embodiment, a school may implement a policy that disables game features and JAVA-based applications within classrooms. In this example, the school may establish a short-range wireless network with boundary zones associated with classroom locations. When wireless enabled devices including a feature policy driver are located within the classroom boundary zones, features such as games, JAVA applications, cameras, and ringer volume may be manipulated, disabled or shut off. Similarly, an establishment may establish a boundary zone closely associated with restrooms and locker rooms. In such boundary zones, features such as cameras may be disabled. In a further exemplary embodiment, movie theaters may activate vibration or silent modes within theaters by applying feature policies to features policy enabled devices.
In another exemplary embodiment, a policy server may communicate with feature policy enabled devices utilizing voice alert messages and text alert messages. For example, the policy server may provide a text alert message indicating that the device is entering a restricted zone or that a certain feature policy will be enacted. A similar message may be provided by a voice alert. In a further example, features, such as voice over IP capabilities, may be enabled or disabled based on locations within the coverage area relative to the boundary zone.
If the device is determined to be in the boundary zone, the packet is forwarded, as shown at step 1108. If the device is not within the boundary zone, the packet is dropped or discarded, as shown at step 1106.
Policies may also be implemented as feature policies that manipulate and control features of a device enabled to receive the feature policies.
A device enabled to communicate via the short-range wireless network and including a feature policy driver, may receive the feature policy, as shown at step 1302 in
While the examples depict utilize a boundary that is determined based on data associated with a short-range network, a boundary zone may be determined using long-range networks and policies and features applied based on location within the long-range network. For example, location may be determined by GPS or cellular triangulation and policies applied to devices based on a policy mapping within the cellular network. Policies, such as the feature policy or network policy, may be implemented on a long-range network. In addition, IP-based communications protocols may be implemented that extend beyond the typical range of short-range wireless networks. In one exemplary embodiment a Wi-Max or IEEE 802.16 network that has a long-range coverage area may be used to implement boundary zones.
The above-disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, and not restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications, enhancements, and other embodiments, which fall within the true scope of the present invention. Thus, to the maximum extent allowed by law, the scope of the present invention is to be determined by the broadest permissible interpretation of the following claims and their equivalents, and shall not be restricted or limited by the foregoing detailed description.
Claims
1. A policy server comprising:
- a network device interface adapted to communicate with a set of wireless access points via a short range wireless network, each of the wireless access points having a coverage area;
- a processor and a memory accessible to the processor, the memory comprising instructions executable by the processor to: determine whether at least one wireless device is located within a boundary area, the boundary area covering an area that is different from the coverage area of any one wireless access point of the set of wireless access points; and apply a first policy when the at least one wireless device is located within the boundary area and apply a second policy when the at least one wireless device is located outside of the boundary area.
2. The policy server of claim 1, wherein the memory further comprises an instruction executable by the processor to receive location information from the at least one wireless device and to determine a location of the at least one wireless device relative to the boundary area based on the received location information.
3. The policy server of claim 1, wherein the memory further comprises an instruction executable by the processor to define the boundary area.
4. The policy server of claim 1, wherein the boundary area is located within a collective wireless coverage area provided by the coverage area of each wireless access point of the set of wireless access points.
5. The policy server of claim 1, wherein the first policy allows data packets from the at least one wireless device to pass to external networks and wherein the second policy does not allow data packets from the at least one wireless device to pass to external networks.
6. The policy server of claim 1, wherein the boundary area comprises a portion of a collective wireless coverage area of each of the wireless access points.
7. The policy server of claim 1, wherein the memory further comprises instructions executable by the processor to:
- receive a set of points from a calibration device; and
- extrapolate the boundary area from the received set of points.
8. A method comprising:
- receiving location information related to a wireless device from at least one access point of a set of access points providing a short range wireless network;
- determining a location of the wireless device relative to a boundary area defined within a coverage area of the short range wireless network, the boundary area defining a region that is not coextensive with the coverage area; and
- selectively associating at least one policy with the wireless device based on the determined location.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein selectively associating at least one policy comprises assigning a first policy when the wireless device is determined to be within the boundary area and assigning a second policy when the wireless device is determined to be outside of the boundary area.
10. The method of claim 8, wherein selectively associating at least one policy comprises controlling the wireless device within the boundary area to use a particular ring tone when the wireless device is located within the boundary area.
11. The method of claim 8, wherein selectively associating at least one policy comprises communicating using a first encryption protocol when the wireless device is within the boundary area and communicating using a second encryption protocol when the wireless device is outside of the boundary area.
12. The method of claim 8, wherein selectively associating at least one policy comprises communicating using a first security key when the wireless device is within the boundary area and communicating using a second security key when the wireless device is outside of the boundary area.
13. The method of claim 8, further comprising:
- receiving a plurality of calibration points from one or more calibration devices; and
- extrapolating the boundary area from the plurality of calibration points.
14. The method of claim 8, wherein receiving the location information comprises receiving global positioning system (GPS) location data related to the wireless device.
15. The method of claim 8, wherein receiving the location information comprises:
- receiving location data from at least three access points of the set of access points; and
- performing a triangulation operation based on the location data received from the at least three access points.
16. A network device comprising:
- an interface adapted to communicate with a plurality of wireless access points that provide a wireless coverage area;
- a network interface adapted to communicate with a network; and
- logic adapted to communicate with the interface and the network interface, the logic to determine a location of a wireless device relative to a boundary area that is not coextensive with the wireless coverage area, the logic to enforce at least one location-based policy with respect to the wireless device based on the determined location.
17. The network device of claim 16, wherein the at least one location-based policy comprises a first policy when the wireless device is located within the boundary area and a second policy when the wireless device is outside of the boundary area.
18. The network device of claim 16, wherein the logic is adapted to determine the location of the wireless device by triangulation using data received from at least three of the plurality of wireless access points.
19. The network device of claim 16, wherein the logic is adapted to receive boundary point data and to determine the boundary area from the boundary point data.
20. The network device of claim 16, wherein the boundary point data comprises a set of calibration points associated with a physical dimension of a building.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 11, 2007
Publication Date: Feb 21, 2008
Applicant: SBC Knowledge Ventures, LP (Reno, NV)
Inventor: Edward Walter (Boerne, TX)
Application Number: 11/853,247
International Classification: H04Q 7/24 (20060101); G01S 5/02 (20060101); H04B 7/00 (20060101); H04M 1/66 (20060101);