Small cell service delivery platform usage compliance

Abstract

Embodiments of the disclosed invention include an apparatus, method, and computer program product for managing cellular usage in controlled areas. For example, in one embodiment, a method executed by a cellular monitoring system for managing cellular usage in a controlled area is disclosed that includes the steps of configuring a size of the controlled area by varying the signal strengths associated with the one or more small cells; identifying a cellular device within signal range of one or more small cells placed in the controlled area; determining whether the cellular device is an authorized device within the controlled area; and alerting security personnel in response to determination that the cellular device is not an authorized device within the controlled area.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method executed by a cellular monitoring system for managing cellular usage in a controlled area, the method comprising:
 identify a cellular device within signal range of one or more small cells placed in a controlled area, wherein a size of the controlled area is configurable by varying the signal strengths associated with the one or more small cells;   determining whether the cellular device is an authorized device within the controlled area; and   alerting security personnel in response to determination that the cellular device is not an authorized device within the controlled area.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein identify the cellular device within signal range of one or more small cells placed in the controlled area is performed using a control channel. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising updating a location status of the cellular device to provide an approximate location of the cellular device in response to a determination that the cellular device is an authorized device within the controlled area. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving user configurations for alerting the security personnel from a user via a Web portal associated with the cellular monitoring system, wherein an alert message includes information about an unauthorized cellular device including a mobile identification number associated with the unauthorized cellular device and an approximate location of the unauthorized cellular device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the small cells support 4G LTE standard for wireless communications. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising recording an incoming or outgoing call associated with the cellular device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the small cells support Wi-Fi standard for wireless communications. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising disconnecting a call associated with the cellular device in response to a determination that the call has exceeded a predetermined amount of time. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising communicating with a cellular service provider subscriber database to determine a subscriber name associated with the cellular device in response to a determination that the cellular device is an unauthorized device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving an incoming or outgoing call associated with the cellular device;   determining whether the incoming or outgoing call occurs during an authorized time; and   blocking the incoming or outgoing call in response to a determination that the incoming or outgoing call occurs during an unauthorized time.   
     
     
         11 . A cellular monitoring system for managing cellular usage in a controlled area, the cellular monitoring system comprising:
 a network interface for communicating with one or more small cells placed in a controlled area for identifying cellular devices in the controlled area;   a data storage unit for storing identification data associated with authorized cellular devices within the controlled area; memory for storing computer executable instructions;   a processor configured to execute the computer executable instructions to perform operations comprising:
 configuring a size of the controlled area by varying the signal strengths associated with the one or more small cells; 
 identifying a cellular device within signal range of one or more small cells placed in the controlled area; 
 determining whether the cellular device is an authorized device within the controlled area; and 
 alerting security personnel in response to determination that the cellular device is not an authorized device within the controlled area. 
   
     
     
         12 . The cellular monitoring system of  claim 11 , wherein the small cells support 4G LTE standard for wireless communications. 
     
     
         13 . The cellular monitoring system of  claim 11 , wherein the alert includes location information for assisting the security personnel in determining an approximation location of the cellular device within the controlled area. 
     
     
         14 . The cellular monitoring system of  claim 11 , wherein the operations further include blocking cellular communications associated with the cellular device during specified times. 
     
     
         15 . The cellular monitoring system of  claim 11 , wherein the operations further include recording cellular communications associated with the cellular device. 
     
     
         16 . The cellular monitoring system of  claim 11 , wherein the small cells support Wi-Fi standard for wireless communications. 
     
     
         17 . The cellular monitoring system of  claim 11 , wherein the network interface is further configured to receive user specified configuration parameters from a user via a web portal interface. 
     
     
         18 . The cellular monitoring system of  claim 11 , wherein the operations further include monitoring a duration of a call associated with the cellular device and terminating the call in response the call exceeding a prespecified duration. 
     
     
         19 . The cellular monitoring system of  claim 10 , wherein the operations further include blocking all cellular communications within the controlled area. 
     
     
         20 . A non-transitory computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein, said computer readable program code comprising instructions that when executed causes one or more machines to perform operations comprising:
 configuring a size of the controlled area by varying the signal strengths associated with the one or more small cells;   identifying a cellular device within signal range of one or more small cells placed in the controlled area;   determining whether the cellular device is an authorized device within the controlled area; and   alerting security personnel in response to determination that the cellular device is not an authorized device within the controlled area.