Wireless Policy Manager for Automatic Device Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods lack an automated way to enforce wireless device usage policies within specific environments, leading to user inconvenience and disturbances, as existing solutions require manual effort and do not effectively disable or limit device functionalities.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for automatically enforcing wireless device usage policies by using a wireless usage policy manager that disables or limits device operations as they enter a predetermined environment, restoring settings when exiting, without user intervention, utilizing existing wireless communication protocols and infrastructure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual enforcement methods (announcements, posters, flight attendants) are used to control wireless devices, then users are informed of usage policies, but compliance is low and disturbances continue to occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by having the wireless device automatically enforce usage policies without requiring manual intervention from users, flight attendants, or security personnel. The device autonomously monitors its location, detects entry into controlled zones, and automatically adjusts its operational state to comply with policies, eliminating the need for human enforcement while ensuring reliable compliance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the device's location through GPS or other positioning systems, comparing it against defined controlled zones, and automatically adjusting device operation based on the detected zone status. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures consistent policy compliance without requiring manual oversight.
2Reliability
If dedicated switches or key sequences are added to wireless devices to disable functions, then wireless functionality can be manually disabled, but device cost increases and adoption is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces mechanical controls (physical switches, buttons, or key sequences) with an electronic/software-based solution. The device uses software to automatically control wireless functions based on location data, eliminating the need for additional physical hardware components while achieving reliable wireless function control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses existing multi-functional components already present in modern wireless devices, such as GPS receivers, processors, and operating systems, to implement policy enforcement. By leveraging these universal components that serve multiple purposes (navigation, timing, control), the system avoids adding dedicated hardware while achieving reliable wireless function control.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If power monitoring units are used to define disabling zones, then cell phone calls can be prevented, but the transmitter remains active causing interference with communications and navigation equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic control by continuously adjusting the device's operational state based on real-time location data. When the device enters a controlled zone, the system dynamically changes the wireless transmitter from an active state to a disabled state, ensuring complete elimination of interference rather than merely preventing calls. This dynamic adjustment ensures no harmful emissions occur in controlled zones.
4Reliability
If users manually comply with usage policies by turning off devices, then wireless functions are disabled, but users lose primary phone functionality and experience inconvenience
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by having the wireless device automatically enforce usage policies without requiring manual intervention from users, flight attendants, or security personnel. The device autonomously monitors its location, detects entry into controlled zones, and automatically adjusts its operational state to comply with policies, eliminating the need for human enforcement while ensuring reliable compliance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-defining controlled zones and usage policies, then automatically applying them when the device enters these zones. The enforcement action is initiated automatically by the system based on location detection, rather than requiring the user to take action, thus preventing loss of productivity while ensuring policy compliance.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system and method is disclosed for the automatic enforcement of wireless-enabled device usage policies within a predetermined environment. A wireless usage policy manager enforces predetermined usage policies by automatically disabling or limiting the operation of wireless-enabled devices as they enter the predetermined boundaries of the wireless policy management environment. Information elements of existing wireless communications protocols are appended or extended and then communicated to subject wireless devices, and then implemented at the time of handover to limit their behavior. Similar information elements are communicated and implemented when the wireless-enabled devices exit the predetermined boundaries of the wireless policy management environment to automatically restore their prior operational state without user actions.