U.S. patent application number 11/832432 was filed with the patent office on 2007-11-22 for apparatus, system, and method for disabling a mobile communicator.
Invention is credited to Robert C. JR. Ewell.
Application Number | 20070270122 11/832432 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46328158 |
Filed Date | 2007-11-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070270122 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ewell; Robert C. JR. |
November 22, 2007 |
APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR DISABLING A MOBILE
COMMUNICATOR
Abstract
Provided is a mobile communicator apparatus comprising a
locational tracking unit and a disabling circuit. The locational
tracking unit determines the location of the mobile communicator.
The disabling circuit is configured to change the state of the
mobile communicator from an enabled state, wherein the audible
receiving and transmitting functions of the mobile communicator are
enabled, to a disabled state, wherein the audible receiving and
transmitting functions of the mobile communicator are disabled when
the location of the mobile communicator as determined by the
locational tracking unit satisfies the at least one condition. Also
provided is a corresponding mobile communicator disabling system
comprised of a mobile communicator apparatus and a network of
signal transceivers and a corresponding method for disabling a
mobile communicator apparatus.
Inventors: |
Ewell; Robert C. JR.;
(Ballston Spa, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SCHMEISER, OLSEN & WATTS
22 CENTURY HILL DRIVE
SUITE 302
LATHAM
NY
12110
US
|
Family ID: |
46328158 |
Appl. No.: |
11/832432 |
Filed: |
August 1, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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10908377 |
May 10, 2005 |
|
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11832432 |
Aug 1, 2007 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
455/404.2 ;
455/456.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M 1/72421 20210101;
H04M 11/04 20130101; H04M 11/045 20130101; H04M 2250/06 20130101;
H04W 88/02 20130101; H04M 2250/74 20130101; H04W 4/90 20180201;
H04M 1/66 20130101; H04M 2250/12 20130101; H04W 76/50 20180201;
H04M 2250/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
455/404.2 ;
455/456.1 |
International
Class: |
H04M 11/04 20060101
H04M011/04; H04Q 7/20 20060101 H04Q007/20 |
Claims
1. A mobile communicator, comprising: a locational tracking unit
for determining the location of the mobile communicator; and a
disabling circuit configured to change the state of the mobile
communicator from an enabled state, wherein the audible receiving
and transmitting functions of the mobile communicator are enabled,
to a disabled state, wherein the audible receiving and transmitting
functions of the mobile communicator are disabled when the location
of the mobile communicator as determined by the locational tracking
unit satisfies the at least one condition.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the locational tracking unit
uses a network of signal transceivers to determine the location of
the mobile communicator.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one condition
further comprises one of: receiving a privacy signal; or
determining the speed of the mobile communicator to be greater than
a setpoint.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mobile communicator
further comprises a microphone for inputting any of a voice, sound,
or audible password, and wherein the mobile communicator further
comprises a keypad for entering alphanumeric inputs.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the mobile communicator
further comprises a voice recognition system and a memory storage
device, wherein the voice, sound(s), or password inputted into the
microphone are authenticated by the voice recognition system by
determining each sound(s) provide by a user match a pre-programmed
or user-recorded identifying sound in the memory storage
device.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the locational tracking unit
is configured to determine the location of the mobile communicator
by using at least one of triangulation, trilateration,
multilateration, or GPS positioning.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mobile communicator
comprises an emergency service system, further comprising: a
location transmitter configured to transmit the location of the
mobile communicator; and a locator beacon configured to emit a
locator signal, such as an alarm, a flashing light, or an audible
sound, as to the geographic location of the mobile
communicator.
8. A mobile communicator disabling system, comprising: a mobile
communicator, wherein the mobile communicator includes: a
locational tracking unit configured to determine the location of
the mobile communicator; and a disabling circuit configured to
change the state of the mobile communicator from an enabled state,
wherein the audible receiving and transmitting functions of the
mobile communicator are enabled, to a disabled state, wherein the
audible receiving and transmitting functions of the mobile
communicator are disabled; and a network of signal transceivers
located in specific and known locations, wherein said network of
signal transceivers is configured to communicate with the
locational tracking unit to determine the location of the mobile
communicator and the mobile communicator is disabled by the
disabling circuit when an at least one condition is satisfied.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein said at least one condition
comprises one of: retrieval of a privacy signal; or speed of the
mobile communicator being greater than a setpoint.
10. The system of claim 8, wherein said locational tracking unit
uses a network of signal transceivers to determine the location of
the mobile communicator.
11. The system of claim 8, wherein said disabling circuit is
configured to re-enable the mobile communicator if one of: the at
least one condition is no longer satisfied; or there is an
emergency.
12. A method for disabling a mobile communicator, comprising:
providing a locational tracking unit and a disabling circuit to a
mobile communicator, wherein the mobile communicator is in an
initial enabled state; determining the location of the mobile
communicator; determining that at least one condition for
disablement of the mobile communicator is satisfied; and disabling
the mobile communicator.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein determining that at least one
condition for disablement of the mobile communicator is satisfied
includes one of either: receiving a privacy signal; or determining
the speed of the mobile communicator to be greater than a set
point.
14. The method of claim 12, wherein the initial enablement of the
mobile communicator further comprises: authenticating a user's
voice and/or password with a voice recognition system; or
determining the location of the mobile communicator with the
locational tracking unit.
15. The method of claim 12, wherein determining the location of the
mobile communicator with the locational tracking unit further
comprises triangulation, trilateration, multilateration, or any
other method of determining the location of the mobile communicator
with a network of signal transceivers.
16. The method of claim 12, wherein the disabling circuit will
change the state of the mobile communicator to the enabled state if
either: the at least one condition is no longer satisfied; or there
is an emergency.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the mobile communicator will
remain in the disabled state for 30 seconds before the locational
tracking unit will determine if disabling circuit will change the
state of the mobile communicator to an enabled state.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein enabling the mobile
communicator in an emergency further comprises speaking or
verbalizing a word, e.g. "help," into a microphone or inputting
"help" via a keyboard to make the mobile communicator operational
to call an emergency service provider and/or notify a location
transmitter to trigger a locator beacon.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein an authorized user of the
mobile communicator is identified to said emergency service
provider.
20. The method of claim 18, wherein enabling the mobile
communicator in an emergency further comprises said emergency
service provider activating said locator beacon and a locator
signal is emitted.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present invention is a continuation-in-part of
co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/908,377, filed May
10, 2005 and entitled "Apparatus for Enabling a Mobile Communicator
and Methods of Using the Same" and is incorporated herein by
reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to an apparatus and
method for using a mobile communication device, and more
specifically to an apparatus and method for controlling the mobile
communication device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Mobile or wireless cell phones or other wireless mobile
communication devices such as two way radios have become popular
devices for communicating when away from home or the office. Some
people rely exclusively on wireless mobile communication devices
because they may be carried on their persons, so their mobile
communicator may always be accessible. This ubiquitous nature of
wireless cell phones may be a disadvantage because cell phones may
not be bound by use restrictions that may be placed on wired
phones, when conditions arise in which cell phone use may need to
be limited.
[0004] Therefore there is a need for controlling cell phone use
when conditions arise in which cell phone use may need to be
limited.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] A first aspect of the present invention provides a Mobile
Communicator, comprising: an Enabling System, wherein the Enabling
System includes a Global Positioning System (GPS) Receiver and an
Enabling Circuit, wherein a logic of the Enabling Circuit has
changed a Default Disabled State of the Mobile Communicator to an
Enabled State because an at least one condition has been
satisfied.
[0006] A second aspect of the present invention provides a kit for
enabling a Mobile Communicator, comprising: a Mobile Communicator
having an initial Default Disabled State; and an Enabling System,
wherein the Enabling System includes a Global Positioning System
(GPS) Receiver and an Enabling Circuit, and wherein a logic of the
Enabling Circuit has enabled the Mobile Communicator because an at
least one condition has been satisfied.
[0007] A third aspect of the present invention provides a method
for enabling a Mobile Communicator, comprising: providing a Global
Positioning System (GPS) and an Enabling System in the Mobile
Communicator, wherein the Mobile Communicator is in a Default
Disabled State; satisfying an at least one condition for enablement
of the Mobile Communicator; and enabling the Mobile
Communicator.
[0008] A fourth aspect of the present invention provides an
apparatus for a mobile communicator, comprising: a locational
tracking for determining the location of the mobile communicator;
and a disabling circuit for changing the state of the mobile
communicator from an enabled state, wherein the audible receiving
and transmitting functions of the mobile communicator are enabled,
to a disabled state, wherein the audible receiving and transmitting
functions of the mobile communicator are disabled when the location
of the mobile communicator as determined by the locational tracking
unit satisfies at least one condition.
[0009] A fifth aspect of the present invention provides a mobile
communicator disabling system, comprising: a mobile communicator,
wherein the mobile communicator includes a locational tracking unit
configured to determine the location of the mobile communicator;
and a disabling circuit configured to change the state of the
mobile communicator from an enabled state, wherein the audible
receiving and transmitting functions of the mobile communicator are
enabled, to a disabled state, wherein the audible receiving and
transmitting functions of the mobile communicator are disabled; and
a network of signal transceivers located in specific and known
locations, wherein said network of signal transceivers is
configured to communicate with the locational tracking unit to
determine the location of the mobile communicator and the mobile
communicator is disabled by the disabling circuit when an at least
one condition is satisfied.
[0010] A sixth aspect of the present invention provides a method
for disabling a mobile communicator, comprising: providing a
locational tracking unit and a disabling circuit to the mobile
communicator, wherein the mobile communicator is in an initial
enabled state; determining the location of the mobile communicator;
determining that at least one condition for disablement of the
mobile communicator is satisfied; and disabling the mobile
communicator.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 depicts a kit and a Mobile Communicator, in
accordance with embodiments of the present invention; and
[0012] FIGS. 2-7 depict embodiments of method(s) for using the kit
and the Mobile Communicator, in accordance with embodiments of the
present invention.
[0013] FIG. 8 is a view of an embodiment of the mobile communicator
apparatus of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 9 is a view of an embodiment of the mobile communicator
disabling system, in accordance with the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 10 is a view of a method of determining the location of
the mobile communicator, in accordance with the present
invention;
[0016] FIG. 11 is a view of an alternative method of determining
the location of the mobile communicator, in accordance with the
present invention;
[0017] FIG. 11 is a diagram of logic within the mobile communicator
apparatus, in accordance with the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 12 is a diagram of the method for disabling a mobile
communicator, in accordance with the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] Mobile cell phones or other mobile communication devices
such as two way radios have become popular devices for
communicating when away from home or the office. Some people rely
exclusively on mobile communication devices because they may be
carried on their persons, so they can always be near their mobile
communicator.
[0020] Firstly, this ubiquitous nature of cell phones may be a
disadvantage when a user receives or transmits a call from a cell
phone within a proximity of other people because it may interfere
with their enjoyment of their quiet and solitude. Hereinafter,
"proximity of other people" is defined as within a listening
distance of the other people.
[0021] Secondly, the ubiquitous nature of cell phones may also be
disadvantageous for companies that wish to prevent their trade
secrets or other proprietary information from being communicated to
the outside world via a cell phone, or by a camera accessory of a
cell phone, by an employee or other visitor having access to the
trade secrets or other proprietary information.
[0022] Thirdly, the ubiquitous nature of cell phones may also be
disadvantageous because of safety concerns. Many states such as New
York State have enacted laws prohibiting an operator of a moving
vehicle from holding a mobile communication device while operating
the vehicle in order to reduce the number of moving vehicle
accidents that may occur as a result of operators of moving
vehicles using mobile communication devices during operation of the
vehicle.
[0023] Therefore, there is a need for providing safeguards to avoid
safety hazards or interference with the quiet and solitude of
others resulting from use of cell phones or other mobile
communication devices.
[0024] Many states such as New York State have enacted laws
prohibiting an operator of a moving vehicle from holding a mobile
communication device while operating the vehicle in order to reduce
the number of moving vehicle accidents that may occur as a result
of operators of moving vehicles using mobile communication devices
during operation of the vehicle.
[0025] Therefore there is a need for equipping a Mobile
Communicator such as a cell phone so that some or all of its
transmitting and audible receiving functions 680 may remain in a
Disabled State unless certain conditions for Enabling the
transmitting and audible receiving functions 680 are satisfied.
Non-limiting examples of the transmitting and audible receiving
functions 680 include ringer notification of messages or incoming
calls, calling in/out, e.g., making incoming and outgoing calls
from the Mobile Communicator 370, use of photocopying accessories
such as a camera, use of microcomputer accessories, such as palm
pilots, as user interfaces for text messaging or email, electronic
communicators and combinations thereof.
[0026] FIG. 1 depicts a kit 205 or a Mobile Communicator 370,
comprising: an Enabling System 360, wherein the Enabling System 360
includes a "Start Switch" 203 for activating the kit 205 or the
Mobile Communicator 370 if an at least one condition is satisfied,
and wherein an outgoing call to an Emergency Service Provider 180
may always be enabled by the Enabling System 360. Alternatively,
the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 may remain in a Default
Disabled State 410 if the at least one condition is not satisfied,
even if the Start Switch 203 may be activated. The Enabling System
360 may include a keypad 240 for inputting information into the
Communicator Controller 350, such as passwords for user
identification by the Communicator Controller 350, a Location
Transmitter 270 for transmitting a location of the kit 205 or the
Mobile Communicator 370, a Locator Beacon 213, for giving notice,
such as an alarm, such as a flashing light or an audible sound, as
to a geographical location of the kit 205 or the Mobile
Communicator 370, an Emergency Dialer 260, for calling an emergency
service provider such as the Emergency Service Provider 180, a
Global Positioning System (GPS) Receiver 210, a Privacy Receiver
System 273, having a privacy signal antenna 269, a Voice
Recognition System 230, a Motion Detector 228, a Microphone 275 and
an Enabling Circuit 250. Although the Microphone 275 may by any
device able to convert sound(s) wave(s) into an electrical signal,
the Microphone 275 may have the following specifications: 100-10
KHz frequency response; low impedance; normal and zoom settings; an
effective output level from about -66 dB.+-.3 dB unbalanced
(normal); -79 dB.+-.3 dB unbalanced (zoom); and a Microphone 275
range to 80 dB.
[0027] The Microphone 275 may provide received sound(s) to the
Voice Recognition System 230 via the wire 285, or wirelessly, or to
the Privacy Receiver System 273 via the wire 277, or wirelessly. A
Privacy Signal Generator 278 may provide a privacy signal to the
Microphone 275 wirelessly by transmitting from the antenna 274. The
Microphone 275 may provide the privacy signal received wirelessly
from the antenna 274 to the Privacy Receiver System 273 via a wire
277, or wirelessly. The Privacy Signal Generator 278 may provide
the privacy signal to the Privacy Receiver System 273 wirelessly,
wherein the antenna 274 of the Privacy Signal Generator 278 may
transmit and the antenna 269 of the Privacy Signal Receiver 273 may
receive the privacy signal. Alternatively, the Privacy Signal
Generator 278 may provide the privacy signal to the Privacy
Receiver 273 via a wire 268, or wirelessly. The Enabling Circuit
250 may include a logic that enables the Mobile Communicator 370 if
at least one of a number of conditions may be satisfied, and
wherein outgoing calls to an Emergency Service Provider 180 may
always be enabled by the Enabling System 360. Hereinafter "enabling
the Mobile Communicator 370" is defined as making the Mobile
Communicator's 370 transmitting and audible receiving functions 680
operational; to activate the Mobile Communicator's 370 transmitting
and audible receiving functions 680. Hereinafter, "logic" is
defined as non-arithmetic operations performed by a logic circuit
(not shown) in the Enabling Circuit 250 or in a computer (not
shown), such as sorting, comparing, and matching, that involve
yes-no decisions, wherein the logic may be provided by computer
software or the computer circuit that may be located in the
Enabling Circuit 250 or in the computer (not shown).
[0028] The "Start Switch" 203 may be any appropriate means of
opening or closing an electrical circuit in the Communicator
Controller 350 via a wire 201, or wirelessly, such as a contact
closure. Hereinafter, a contact closure may be a variety of
electrical switches in an electrical circuit that may be open,
i.e., having infinite electrical resistance, or closed, i.e., being
electrically conducting. The contact closure may be the Start
Switch 203 providing a contact closure to the Communicator
Controller 350, via the wire 201, or wirelessly, and the electrical
circuit may include the Communicator Controller 350 and at least
one other component of the Enabling System 360, such as the
Enabling Circuit 250, via the wire 225, or wirelessly, the
Emergency Dialer 260, via the wire 235, or wirelessly, or the
Location Transmitter 270, via the wire 255, or wirelessly.
Alternatively, the contact closure may be in the Enabling Circuit
250 providing a contact closure for the Communicator Controller
350, via the wire 225, or wirelessly, and the electrical circuit
may include the Communicator Controller 350, the Enabling Circuit
250, via the wire 225, or wirelessly, and the Enabling Circuit 250
and at least one other component of the Enabling System 360, such
as the GPS Receiver 210, via the wires 200, 243, 247, or
wirelessly, and the Voice Recognition System 230, via the wire 223,
or wirelessly, and the Motion Detector 228, via the wire 229, or
wirelessly, and the Privacy Receiver System 273, via the wire 241,
or wirelessly. When the contact closure is closed, the electrical
circuit that may include the Communicator Controller 350 and the
Enabling Circuit 250 may be complete and functional. Alternatively,
when the contact closure is open, the electrical circuit that may
include the Communicator Controller 350 and the Enabling Circuit
250 is open and non-functional. When the electrical circuit is open
and non-functional the transmitting and audible receiving functions
680 of the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 may remain in the
Default Disabled State 410.
[0029] In embodiments of the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370
and of the methods 400, 450 and 465 described herein, Data
Retrieval & Inaudible Receiving Functions 685 may remain
enabled if the at least one condition (420-480) may not be
satisfied. Non-limiting examples of Data Retrieval & Inaudible
Receiving Functions 685 include ability to receive incoming calls
as messages, vibrator or optical notification of incoming messages,
visual page, accessing phone numbers or other stored information,
personal schedules, and combinations thereof.
[0030] Alternatively, when the electrical circuit is closed and
functional the transmitting and audible receiving functions 680 of
the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 may be changed from the
Default Disabled State 410 to the Enabled State 510 if an at least
one condition (420-480) may be satisfied, as in the methods 400,
450, and 465 described herein, because the Communicator Controller
350 may drive the Enabled State 510 transmitting and audible
receiving functions 680 of the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator
370 if the Communicator Controller 350 has received a contact
closure from either the Start Switch 203 or the Enabling Circuit
250. The Communicator Controller 350 may drive the transmitting and
audible receiving functions 680 via the wire 690, or
wirelessly.
[0031] The at least one condition for what conditions must be met
so that the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 may be enabled
may be that there is an emergency, wherein calling an Emergency
Service Provider 180 and/or triggering a Location Transmitter 270
may be enabled if there has been an emergency. Alternatively, the
at least one condition may be that the GPS Receiver 210 receives a
GPS Signal, wherein transmitting and audible receiving functions
680 of the Mobile Communicator 370 may be enabled if a GPS signal
is received.
[0032] Hereinafter, the GPS signal received by the GPS Receiver 210
is defined as any signal that provides geographic location
information in the signal as to a longitude and latitude location
of the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 on the Earth. Such
signals and information may be obtained from a source such as a GPS
satellite, a cell phone provider, or any other provider of the
signal having longitude and latitude information about the location
of the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 on the Earth.
[0033] Alternatively, the at least one condition may be that the
Mobile Communicator 370 has a speed .ltoreq. a setpoint, wherein
audible receiving and transmitting functions 680 of the Mobile
Communicator 370 may be enabled if the speed of the Mobile
Communicator is .ltoreq. the setpoint. Alternatively, the at least
one condition may be that a user's voice or password is
authenticated, wherein transmitting and audible receiving functions
680 of the Mobile Communicator 370 may be enabled if the user's
voice or identifying sound(s) or password are authenticated. The
Voice Recognition System 230 may authenticate a user by determining
that each sound(s) provided by the user essentially matches a
preprogrammed or recorded user identifying sound(s). Alternatively,
the at least one condition may be that the Mobile Communicator 370
receives a privacy signal, wherein transmitting and audible
receiving functions 680 of the Mobile Communicator 370 may be
enabled if the Mobile Communicator 370 receives the privacy signal.
The privacy signal may include signals from broadcast and pager
systems, signals from optical/infrared system, signals from
acoustic/ultrasonic systems, 2.4 GHz, audible sounds, inaudible
sounds and combinations thereof.
[0034] The Enabling System 360 of the kit 205 may include a Global
Positioning System (GPS) Receiver 210, a Privacy Signal Receiver
273, and a Communicator Controller 350. The GPS Receiver 210 may
include a GPS Signal Amplifier 190 for amplifying a GPS signal and
a GPS Processor 220. The GPS Signal Amplifier 190 may include a GPS
Antenna 271. The GPS Signal Amplifier 190 may communicate the
amplified GPS signal to the GPS Processor 220 via a wire 200, or
wirelessly. Alternatively, the amplified GPS signal may be
transmitted to the GPS Processor 220 by the GPS Signal Amplifier
190 wirelessly using, for example, Wi-Fi protocol. The Privacy
Signal Receiver 273 may receive a privacy signal from Microphone
275, via a communicating wire 277, or wirelessly. The Privacy
Signal Generator 278 may generate the privacy signal wirelessly
using, for example, Wi-Fi protocol. The GPS Processor 220 may
process the information from the GPS Signal Amplifier 190 to
determine a speed and/or a geographic location of the Mobile
Communicator 370. Hereinafter "geographic location" includes a
longitude and latitude from which a position on the earth's surface
may be determined. The GPS Processor 220 may provide said speed and
geographic location information to the Enabling Circuit 250 via
wire 247, or wirelessly. The Privacy Receiver System 273 may
provide a privacy signal to the Enabling Circuit 250 via the wire
243, or wirelessly. Different types of privacy signals employed may
be signals from broadcast and pager systems, optical/infrared
system, and acoustic/ultrasonic systems. Alternatively, the privacy
signal may operate at 2.4 GHz.
[0035] In one embodiment of the Mobile Communicator 370 and the kit
205, not receiving the privacy signal enables transmitting and
audible receiving functions 680 of the Mobile Communicator 370 in a
restricted use area. The restricted use area may include a theater,
a sports tournament, a hospital, a church, a waiting room, a locker
room, a library, a spa, a vehicle, a business area housing trade
secrets or confidential information, a conference room in which
trade secrets or confidential proprietary information are discussed
and combinations thereof. A vehicle may be any transportation
vehicle that carries passengers, such as an airplane, an
automobile, a coach in a train. However, the restricted use area
may be any area in which privacy, quiet or enjoyment of solitude
may be desired and in which transmitting and audible receiving
functions 680 of the kit 205 of the Mobile Communicator 370 may
interfere. The Microphone 275 of the kit 205 or the Mobile
Communicator 370 that is used for receiving the Privacy Signal and
for voice recognition may be the same Microphone 275 a user may
speak into to make outgoing calls and for receiving and
transmitting function of the kit 205 and the Mobile Communicator
370.
[0036] The GPS Receiver 210 may use National Marine Electronics
Association (NEMA) standards for data communication between marine
instruments GPS protocol (as used between a GPS and Autopilot, for
example). The GPS Receiver 210 may be designed to provide a low
cost alternative to other geographic location devices that require
high precision and/or accuracy. The GPS Receiver 210 may have a GPS
Signal Amplifier 190 having an active GPS Antenna 271. The GPS
Receiver 210 may have a RS-232 output for connection to a PC or
navigation system and may be enclosed in an essentially 100%
waterproof, pole mount case. The NMEA RS-232 output may provide an
easy connection to a PC to translate and process the GPS Receiver
210 data strings. The GPS 213 may be accurate: position horizontal,
.+-.15 m 2D RMS (SA off), velocity, 0.1 m/sec 95% (SA off), 1
micro-second synchronized to GPS time, WASS, .+-.10 m 2D RMS.
[0037] The Enabling System 360 may include a Voice Recognition
System 230, and a Microphone 275, for inputting an identifiable or
distinguishable sound(s). The user identifying sound(s) may be the
voice of a user or a user identifying tone or frequency, such as a
tone from a tuning fork, a musical note or clip, an animal sound,
or any sound by which a user may wish to be identified. The user
identifying sound(s) may be inaudible to the human ear such as high
frequency or low frequency sounds that are outside of a range of
the human ear, such as a dog whistle, having a tone that has been
recorded by the Voice Recognition System 230 and may be compared to
the identifying sound provided by a user to be authenticated by the
Voice Recognition System 230. Hereinafter, comparing the
identifying sound(s) provided by a user to be authenticated by the
Voice Recognition System 230 to the recorded user identifying
sound(s) is a first step in a process by which the Voice
Recognition System 230 may "recognize" or "authenticate" a user of
the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370. A second step in the
process may be determining if the identifying sound(s) may match or
be essentially identical to the preprogrammed or pre-recorded
identifying sound(s). The comparing and matching steps may compare
and match features of the identifying sound(s) that include
frequency, pitch, volume, and interval between musical notes,
syllables of words and the like. The at least one condition to be
satisfied for enablement of the transmitting and audible receiving
functions 680 of the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 may be
that the comparison of the identifying sound(s) provided by the
user to be authenticated is determined by the Voice Recognition
System 230 to be essentially identical or essentially matches the
preprogrammed or recorded identifying sound(s) in the Voice
Recognition System 230. Hereinafter, user identifying sound(s)
include the voice of a user or an identifying tone or frequency,
such as a tone from a tuning fork or inaudible sounds such as a dog
whistle, having a tone recognizable by the Voice Recognition System
230. The Microphone 275 may provide the user identifying sound(s)
or password to the Voice Recognition System 230 via a wire 285, or
wirelessly, and the Voice Recognition System 230 may provide or
signal that the user's voice has been recognized or authenticated
to the Enabling Circuit 250 via a wire 223, or wirelessly.
[0038] The Voice Recognition System 230 may determine that the user
authorization condition has been satisfied by authenticating the
user identifying sound(s) that the user provides into the
Microphone 275. "Authenticating" or "authentication" is defined as
determining the authenticity or identity of the user identifying
sound(s) that the user provides into the Microphone 275 by
comparing the user identifying sound(s) to authentic or actual user
identifying sound(s) that have been recorded or preprogrammed into
the Voice Recognition System 230 so that the Voice Recognition
System 230 may recognize the user's voice or sound(s) to identify
them, i.e., authenticate them to the Enabling System 360 of the kit
205 or the Mobile Communicator 370. The at least one condition to
be satisfied for enablement of the transmitting and audible
receiving functions 680 of the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator
370 may be that a user's voice is authenticated. The at least one
condition to be satisfied for providing identification of the user
to the Emergency Service Provider and triggering a Locator Beacon
may be entry of an authenticated password or authenticated
voice.
[0039] The Enabling Circuit 250 may receive a signal indicating
authentication from the Voice Recognition System 230 via wire 223,
or wirelessly. The Voice Recognition System 230 may receive the
user-identifying voice or the frequency of the user-identifying
sound(s) from the Microphone 275 through the wire 285, or
wirelessly.
[0040] A user placing or originating an outgoing call from the
Mobile Communicator 370 may be authenticated by the Voice
Recognition System 230. The Voice Recognition System 230 may
authenticate the user by determining that a pattern of frequencies
of the sound(s) provided by the user include sounds audible to a
human ear or sounds inaudible to a human ear matches or may be
essentially identical to a preprogrammed or recorded pattern of the
frequencies of the user identifying sound(s) that may be
preprogrammed or recorded in the Voice Recognition System 230.
[0041] Once having been authenticated by the Voice Recognition
System 273, a user may enable the transmitting and audible
receiving functions 680 of the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator
370 by speaking or verbalizing a name of a person to be called that
has been preprogrammed or recorded in the Enabling System 360, such
as in an address book 483. Thus, the user may place a call to a
telephone number of a person in the address book 483 by speaking or
verbalizing the person's name or any other preprogrammed or
recorded tag attached to the person's name, such as nicknames. The
address book 483 may provide preprogrammed or recorded names for
recall from the address book 483 by the authenticated user via a
wire 485, or wirelessly.
[0042] Embodiments of the present invention may be used to
communicate an identity of a user who places a call for emergency
services to the Emergency Services Provider 180. For example, an
authorized user may identify himself to the Emergency Services
Provider 180 by providing an authenticated password or
authenticated voice to the Enabling System 360 of the kit 205 or
the Mobile Communicator 370. Providing an authenticated password or
authenticated voice or authenticated sound(s) to the Enabling
System 360 of the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 may
trigger an Emergency Dialer 260 and Locator Beacon 213. The
Microphone 275 of the Mobile Communicator 370 that is used to input
the user identifying sound(s) or verbal password for authentication
by the Voice Recognition System 230 and to input a privacy signal
may be the same Microphone used for making outgoing calls. The
inventor has found use of the same Microphone 275 for making
outgoing calls and for inputting the user identifying sound(s) or
verbal password for authentication by the Voice Recognition System
230, or for inputting the privacy signal for satisfying the Privacy
Receiver System 273, may render methods of bypassing the Voice
Recognition System 230 or the Privacy Receiver System 273
impossible. For example, shielding the Voice Recognition System 273
or the Privacy Receiver System 273 so that it may not receive the
user identifying sound(s) or verbal password for authentication by
the Voice Recognition System 230, or the privacy signal for
satisfying the Privacy Receiver System 273 would also shield the
Microphone 275 from receiving the user's voice message that would
interfere or prohibit the Microphone 275 from being used to make
outgoing calls.
[0043] The Enabling Circuit 250 may provide go/no go logic such
that an authenticated voice may activate the Communicator
Controller 350, resulting in enablement of the Mobile
Communicator's 370 incoming/outgoing calls and other transmitting
and audible receiving functions 680, including calling the
Emergency Service Provider 180, other emergency numbers such as 911
and/or triggering the Locator Beacon 213. Alternatively, the
Communicator Controller 370 may be activated by providing a
password or Personal Identification Number (PIN) or alphanumeric
combination of numbers and letters using the keypad 240.
[0044] Alternatively, the Voice Recognition System 230 may be
equipped with a Wi-Fi receiver that may enable the Voice
Recognition System 230 to receive the user-identifying voice or the
frequency of the user-identifying sound from the microphone 275 via
wireless transmission using Wi-Fi protocol and a Wi-Fi transmitter.
Hereinafter "Wi-Fi" refers to wireless fidelity and is meant to be
used generically when referring of any type of 802.11 network, that
802.11b, 802.11a, dual-band, etc. The term is promulgated by the
Wi-Fi Alliance.
[0045] Any products tested and approved as "Wi-Fi Certified" (a
registered trademark) by the Wi-Fi Alliance are certified as
interoperable with each other, even if they are from different
manufacturers. A user with a "Wi-Fi Certified" product can use any
brand of access point with any other brand of client hardware that
also is certified. Typically, however, any Wi-Fi product using the
same radio frequency (for example, 2.4 GHz for 802.12b or 11 g, 5
GHz for 802.11a) will work with any other, even if not "Wi-Fi
Certified."
[0046] Formerly, the term "Wi-Fi" was used only in place of the 2.4
GHz 802.11b standard, in the same way that "Ethernet" is used in
place of IEEE 802.3. The Alliance expanded the generic use of the
term in an attempt to stop confusion about wireless LAN
interoperability.
[0047] The Enabling Circuit 250 may contain logic that queries that
certain conditions have been satisfied so that the Enabling System
360 may enable the Mobile Communicator 370. The Enabling Circuit
250 may provide a contact closure via a wire 225, or wirelessly,
that completes an electrical circuit between the Enabling Circuit
250 and the Communicator Controller 350, enabling the Communicator
Controller 350 to drive Enabled State 510 transmitting and audible
receiving functions 680 of the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator
370 when an answer to the query as to that the certain condition
has been satisfied is "yes." However, the contact closure may not
be provided to the Communicator Controller 350 when the answer to
the query as to that the certain condition has been satisfied is
"no." The Communicator Controller 350 may drive certain Enabled
State 510 transmitting and audible receiving functions 680 via a
wire 690, or wirelessly, or inaudible or suppressed receiving and
transmitting functions 685 of the Mobile Communicator 370 via a
wire 687, or wirelessly, when the Communicator Controller 350 may
receive the contact closure from the Enabling Circuit 250, i.e.,
when the certain condition has been satisfied. The Enabled State
510 transmitting and audible receiving functions 680 include ringer
notification of messages or incoming calls, calling in/out, e.g.,
making incoming and outgoing calls from the Mobile Communicator
370, and combinations thereof. The Enabled State 510 inaudible or
suppressed receiving and transmitting functions 685 include a
vibrator notification, a camera, a palm pilot, text messaging,
message receipt and storage, internet connectivity, silent mode,
selective suppression or damping of portions of frequencies of
transmissions such as high frequency portion, substitution of video
or audio output for suppressed output, and combinations
thereof.
[0048] The Enabling System 360 may include a Keypad 240, for
inputting information to the Communicator Controller 350 via a wire
245. Alternatively, the keypad 240 may input information to the
Communicator Controller 350 wirelessly.
[0049] The kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 may be enabled
for hands-free calling when the at least one condition for
enablement of the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 has been
satisfied. A purpose of hands-free calling is to enable use of the
kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 when a user's hands are not
available to operate the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370,
such as for activating the Start Switch 203. Hereinafter,
"hands-free calling" or "hands-free operation" is defined as
allowing a user to retrieve a preprogrammed name and phone number
of the person to be called from an address book 483. A user may
enable the transmitting and audible receiving functions 680 of the
kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 by speaking or verbalizing
the name that has been preprogrammed or recorded in the Enabling
System 360, such as in the address book 483. Thus, the user may
place a call to a telephone number of a person whose name and
number may have been stored in the address book 483 by speaking or
verbalizing the person's name or any other preprogrammed or
recorded tag attached to the person's name, such as nicknames. The
address book 483 may provide preprogrammed or recorded names for
recall from the address book 483 by the authenticated user via a
wire 485, or wirelessly.
[0050] The Communicator Controller 350 may also drive a voice
activated Emergency Dialer 260 and/or a Location Transmitter 270. A
user may simply speak or verbalize a predetermined call for
assistance, such as a word or phrase, e.g., "help" into the
Microphone 275, or input the word "help" into the Communicator
Controller 350 via the keypad 240 to make the Emergency Dialer 260
and/or a Location Transmitter 270 operational. Simply speaking or
verbalizing the predetermined call for assistance, such as a word
or phrase, e.g., "help" into the Microphone 275, such that the
Communicator Controller 350 may drive the kit 205 or the Mobile
Communicator 370 to call the Emergency Service Provider 180 and/or
notify the Location Transmitter 270 when the user speaks the
predetermined word or phrase into the Microphone 275 or inputs the
word or phrase into the Communicator Controller 350 via the keypad
240.
[0051] Causes for such a call to the Emergency Service Provider 180
for help may include calls for any assistance, such as when hiking
if the user may be lost and may need directions to find a safe
resting place, or to be rescued because of unexpected weather or
that there isn't time to return to safety before nightfall.
Alternatively the user may be experiencing an emergency, such as a
medical emergency or because of a threat against the user's
safety.
[0052] The Communicator Controller 350 may drive an Emergency
Dialer 260 and a Location Transmitter 270 for automatically dialing
for example, 911, in the United States, and transmitting a location
of the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 to an Emergency
Service Provider 180. The Emergency Dialer 260 may communicate with
the Emergency Service Provider 180 via a wire 270 or wirelessly.
The Location Transmitter 270 may communicate with the Emergency
Service Provider 180 via a wire 265 or wirelessly. The outgoing
call to the Emergency Service Provider 180 may trigger the Location
Transmitter 270. The Location Transmitter 270 may be activated by a
cell phone signal provider, such as the Emergency Service Provider
180, resulting in a Locator Beacon 213 emitting a locator signal.
Alternatively, the Enabling System 360 may contain preprogrammed
commands and appropriately designated telephone numbers, e.g.,
"help, 911," or "call home, XXX-XXXX," or "call Emergency Service
Provider, 911," or "police, XXX-XXXX, " or "emergency, 911," so
that the Enabling System 360 may enable all functions of the Mobile
Communicator 370 including audible receiving and transmitting
functions 680 and data retrieval and inaudible receiving functions
685 for communicating with the designated telephone number holders
and trigger the Location Transmitter 270, so that a user may
override the need to determine whether the conditions 420-480 have
been satisfied by applying the yes/no logic of the Enabling Circuit
250 if they utter the command into the Microphone 275. The command
may be a user identifying sound(s) or a verbal password that may be
recognized by the Voice Recognition System 273, or a written
command or password inputted into the Communicator Controller 350
via the keypad 240, and if the command has been determined to be
essentially identical to or matches the preprogrammed or recorded
command, the Enabling Circuit 250 may activate the Communication
Controller 350 to enable the transmitting and audible receiving
functions 680 of the Mobile Communicator 370, including triggering
the Emergency Dialer 260 and/or the Location Transmitter 270. The
Location Transmitter 270 may communicate with the Locator Beacon
213 via a wire 276 or wirelessly.
[0053] The Communicator Controller 350 may also drive the Emergency
Dialer 260 and a Location Transmitter 270 when the user's voice or
identifying sound(s) making the outgoing call to the Emergency
Service Provider 180 has been authenticated by the Voice
Recognition System 230. The voice recognition system 230 may
recognize user identifying sound(s) described herein. Satisfaction
of the at least one condition for enabling the Mobile
Communicator's 370 audible receiving and transmitting functions 680
may require authentication of a user's voice by voice recognition
or sound(s) recognition or password recognition. Entry of a
password via a keypad 240 or authentication by the Voice
Recognition System 230 may provide identification of the user to
the Emergency Service Provider 180 and enabling of the Locator
Beacon 213.
[0054] Referring to the Communicator Controller 350 driving the
Location Transmitter 270, it may become necessary for a user to
activate the Locator Beacon 213 in order to find the Mobile
Communicator 370 if it may be lost or misplaced or obscured from
view. Alternatively, when the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator
370 may be lost or stolen a user may report this to any service
provider or to the Emergency Service Provider 180 and a specific
signal can be sent to the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 by
the service provider or the Emergency Service Provider 180 which
may activate the Location Transmitter 270 to transmit a location
provided by the GPS Receiver 210 so the phone may be recovered.
[0055] In one embodiment, the user may call in to the Mobile
Communicator 370 and instruct the Enabling Circuit 250 of the
Enabling System 360 to drive the Communicator Controller 250 to
trigger the Location Transmitter 270 and/or the Locator Beacon 213.
The Enabling System may require the user to be voice or sound or
password authenticated. If there is an interference from background
noise that may interfere with reception from the microphone 275
when voice or sound or password authentication is used to trigger
the Location Transmitter 270 and/or the Locator Beacon 213, the
Location Transmitter 270 and/or the Locator Beacon 213 may be
triggered by an input from the keypad 240, such as a password.
[0056] Adding the Enabling System 360 to a kit 205 or a Mobile
Communicator 370, such as commercially available cell phones, may
be an inexpensive improvement having improved functionality that
may be easily implemented. The issue today is not does something
need to be done to address the safety and privacy issues
inappropriate cell phone use represents, but how to do it. One
solution to these the safety and privacy issues is legislation
requiring cell phones to be disabled whenever they pose safety or
privacy risks. Communication devices disclosed in the prior art may
be complicated and expensive so that using them to implement these
legislative objectives would be politically impractical due to the
hardship it would place on the general population. The low cost and
simplicity of this device in conjunction with its improvements in
emergency use and owner protection from unauthorized use or misuses
if the Mobile Communicator 370 may be lost or stolen, makes such
needed legislation feasible.
[0057] The Enabling System 360 of the kit 205 or the Mobile
Communicator 370 may be designed so that the Enabling System 360
may enable a default state so that certain functions of the Mobile
Communicator 370 may be disabled when use of the Mobile
Communicator 370 may be unsafe or an intrusion upon the personal
privacy of bystanders. Enabling the default state and its operation
requires no generation of radio or other signal transmission that
could create health risks or impinge on other types of
communication.
[0058] The kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 having the
Enabling System 360 may be an improvement over cell phones that
depend on a disabling signal of some type to be received in order
for the phone to be disabled. Such cell phones may be subject to
blocking systems or other workarounds being developed which would
result in the cell phones remaining functional because they require
a disabling signal, and preventing that signal from getting through
may leave such cell phones enabled. In contrast, the Enabling
System 360 of the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 may enable
the Default Disabled State when certain required conditions, such
as receiving a global positioning system (GPS) signal or receiving
a privacy signal, may not be satisfied. Therefore, the Enabling
System 360 that enables the enabled state of the Mobile
Communicator 370 may not be subject to blocking systems or other
workarounds being developed, because blocking the GPS signal or
privacy signal in the Mobile Communicator 370 enables the Default
Disabled State.
[0059] At no time does the function of the Enabling System 360
interfere, or create a condition which could interfere with
receiving signals. On the contrary, the Enabling System 360 may
require that the GPS Receiver 210 receive a GPS signal. In
addition, the Enabling System 360 may also require voice, password
or sound(s) authentication for enablement of the Mobile
Communicator's 370 calling in/out and/or other functions. The
Enabling System 360 may disable certain functions deemed
inappropriate or unsafe if no GPS signal is received by the GPS
processor 220 and the Enabling Circuit 250. Therefore, the Enabling
System 360 that enables the enabled state of the Mobile
Communicator 370 may not be subject to blocking systems or other
workarounds being developed, such as disablement of the microphone
275, because blocking the microphone 275 in the Mobile Communicator
370 may enable the Default Disabled State.
[0060] At present the loss of communicators that rely on satisfying
a security requirement to be disabled may result in the owner being
exposed to the risks of unauthorized use delineated above. The
Mobile Communicator 370 of the present invention may eliminate that
risk without adversely impacting convenience or the ability to make
emergency calls immediately.
[0061] In emergency situations the Mobile Communicator 370 of the
present invention not only provides for less likelihood of operator
error due to emergency, but also provides for a way to locate where
the emergency call is coming from, since the GPS Receiver 210 may
provide a geographic location of the Mobile Communicator 370. The
kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 having the Enabling System
360 may be a major improvement over cell phones that do not have
the Enabling System 360 because the kit 205 or the Mobile
Communicator 370 having the Enabling System 360 may lower risk of
deploying emergency personnel to a wrong location, but it also
allows emergency personnel to be immediately deployed to where help
is required even if the person in need of help is only able to
initiate the call due to becoming physically incapacitated or
endangered. This approach offers significant improvements over cell
phones not equipped with the Enabling System 360 of the present
invention. Since at no time does the kit 205 or the Mobile
Communicator 370 remain in the Default Disabled State 410 due to
lack of GPS signal or inaudible sound(s). In emergency situations
the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 can have audible
receiving and transmitting functions 680 without concern of a stray
signal or occurrence unintentionally disabling it as is possible
with cell phones without the Enabling System 360 of the present
invention. In an emergency situation, where time is of the essence,
not having to try and push buttons will result not only in time
savings but eliminate mistakes due to panic.
[0062] FIG. 2 depicts embodiments of a method 400 for enabling the
Mobile Communicator 370 using the Enabling System 360 to enable the
kit 205, the Mobile Communicator 370 or similar communication
device. In a step 650 of the method 400, notice that a GPS signal
has been received by GPS Receiver 210 may be transmitted to the
Enabling Circuit 250 via connection wire 247, or wirelessly,
wherein the GPS Processor 220 may have received the GPS signal from
the GPS Signal Amplifier 190 via connection wire 200, or
wirelessly. Alternatively, notice that the GPS signal has been
received by GPS Signal Amplifier 190, may be transmitted to the
Enabling Circuit 250 by the GPS Signal Amplifier 190 via the wire
243, or wirelessly. The GPS signal from the GPS Processor 220 may
be digital or analog. In the step 650 of the method 400, said
receiving of the GPS signal may be an at least one condition 420
for enabling the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370, and
wherein outgoing calls to an Emergency Service Provider 180 are
always enabled by the Enabling System 360. The Enabling Circuit 250
may enable calls from the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 to
the Emergency Service Provider 180 by providing a contact closure
that completes an electrical circuit in the Enabling Circuit 250
that may notify the Communicator Controller 350 that the GPS signal
has been received, via a wire 225, or wirelessly, wherein the
Communicator Controller 350 may enable the Emergency Dialer 260 to
make the outgoing calls to the Emergency Service Provider 180.
[0063] In a step 660 of the method 400, a user may activate the
Start Switch 203 on the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 that
may enable the call to the Emergency Service Provider 180 and/or
the Location Transmitter 270 of the kit 205 or the Mobile
Communicator 370, if an at least one condition, e.g., that there is
an emergency, has been satisfied. In the step 660, a logic of the
Enabling Circuit 250 of the Enabling System 360 of the kit 205 or
the Mobile Communicator 370 asks "There is an Emergency?" 430. If
the emergency condition 430 has been satisfied, e.g., the user has
spoken a word or command such as "help" into the Microphone 275, or
input a message "emergency" via the Keypad 240, the user may be
able to change the state of the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator
370, from an initial Default Disabled State 410, as in step 660
"Start", to a 911 Enabled & Locator Triggered state 450 because
such a word or command or input satisfies the at least one
condition that there be an emergency, i.e. as in step 590 of the
method 400. Hereinafter, a user calling or speaking a preprogrammed
word, e.g., "help", or phrase, e.g., "this is an emergency", or
"get help", into the Microphone 275 or inputting the preprogrammed
word or phrase into the Communicator Controller 370 via the keypad
240 may signify there is an emergency and satisfies the condition
that there be an emergency. In the step 590, the Enabling Circuit
250 may provide a contact closure that completes an electrical
circuit in which the Enabling Circuit 250 notifies the Communicator
Controller 350 via a wire 225, or wirelessly, that there has been
an emergency. The Communicator Controller 350 may then trigger the
Emergency Dialer 260 to call 911 and the Location Transmitter 270
to trigger the Locator Beacon 213.
[0064] In the methods 400, 450, and 465 described infra, the Start
Switch 203 may be the contact closure, providing a contact closure
to the Communicator Controller 350, via the wire 201, or wireles
sly and completing an electrical circuit that may include the
Communicator Controller 350 and at least one other component of the
Enabling System 360, such as the Enabling Circuit 250, via the wire
225, or wirelessly, the Emergency Dialer 260, via the wire 235, or
wirelessly, or the Location Transmitter 270, via the wire 255, or
wirelessly. Completing the electrical circuit may enable the
Communicator Controller 350 to change the state of the kit 205 or
the Mobile Communicator 370 from a Default Disabled State 410 to an
Enabled State 510, and to drive the receiving or transmitting
functions of the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 depending
that certain conditions 420, 430, 440, 450, 460, and 480 (420-480)
may be satisfied. That the conditions 420-480 have been satisfied
for the Mobile Communicator 370 may be periodically ascertained by
a logic contained in the Enabling Circuit 250 of the Enabling
System 360 as "yes, the condition has been satisfied, as in 495,
515, 525, 570, 575, 580, 590, 600, 707, 775, 790, 795, 797, 807,
875, 895, and 897. Alternatively, not satisfying the conditions
420-480 for the Mobile Communicator 370 may be periodically
ascertained by a logic contained in the Enabling Circuit 250 of the
Enabling System 360 as "no, the condition has not been satisfied,
as in 490, 500, 510, 520, 530, 700, 730, 790, 800, 830, and 890.
The answers to questions 495, 515, 525, 570, 575, 580, 590, 600,
707, 775, 790, 795, 797, 807, 875, 895, and 897, and 490, 500, 510,
520, 530, 700, 730, 790, 800, 830, and 890 may be provided
periodically by the Enabling Circuit 250 via a connection wire 225,
or wirelessly, to the Communicator Controller 350. Hereinafter, the
process by which the Enabling Circuit 250 arrives at the answers to
questions 495, 515, 525, 570, 575, 580, 590, 600, 707, 775, 790,
795, 797, 807, 875, 895, and 897, and 490, 500, 510, 520, 530, 700,
730, 790, 800, 830, and 890 is the Enabling Circuit Logic. An
example of the Enabling Circuit Logic is periodically ascertaining
that the conditions 420-480 exist for the Mobile Communicator 370,
as in embodiments of the methods 400, 450 and 465, infra.
Hereinafter periodically means at a prescribed frequency. In
embodiments of the methods 400, 450 and 465, infra, if the answer
to questions querying the conditions 420-480 are "Yes," then the
state of the Mobile Communicator 370 may become the Enabled State
510, as in steps 495, 515, 525, 570, 575, 580, 590, 600, 707, 775,
790, 795, 797, 807, 875, 895, and 897. Alternatively, if the
answers to questions querying the conditions 420-480 are "No," then
the Mobile Communicator 370 may become a Default Disabled State
410, as in steps 490, 500, 510, 520, 530, 700, 730, 790, 800, 830,
and 890. Periodic querying that the conditions 420-480 have been
satisfied enables the Mobile Communicator 370 to alternate between
states 510 and 410, depending on the length of time of the period.
In embodiments of the methods 400, 450, and 465 the Enabling
Circuit 250 may perform periodic querying that the conditions
420-480 have been satisfied for periods from about a second to
about a minute. In the methods 400, 450, and 465, the Enabling
Circuit 250 may perform periodic querying that the conditions
420-480 have been satisfied for periods from about 0.01 seconds to
about 0.1 minutes. In the methods 400, 450, and 465, the Enabling
Circuit 250 may perform periodic querying that the conditions
420-480 have been satisfied for periods from about 0.001 seconds to
about 0.01 minutes.
[0065] In the method 400, if it may be ascertained, as in step 500
of the method 400, that there is no emergency, changing the kit 205
or the Mobile Communicator 370 from the initial Default Disabled
State 410 to the Enabled State 510 may depend on satisfying a
condition 420, i.e., "GPS signal has been received?". Hereinafter,
enabling the transmitting and audible receiving functions 680 of
the Mobile Communicator 370 is equivalent to changing the Mobile
Communicator 370 from a Default Disabled State to an Enabled State.
In a step 650, of the method 400, a GPS signal has been received by
the GPS Signal Amplifier 190. In the step 650, if the GPS Processor
220 receives the GPS signal from the GPS Signal Amplifier 190, the
GPS Receiver 210 may provide the GPS signal or a processed signal
to the Enabling Circuit 250. The Enabling Circuit 250 may provide a
contact closure that completes an electrical circuit in which the
Enabling Circuit 250 notifies the Communicator Controller 350 via a
wire 225, or wirelessly, that the GPS signal has been provided to
the Enabling Circuit 250. Receiving the GPS signal, as in the step
660 of the method 400, by the GPS Receiver 210 and/or notice that
the GPS signal has been received by the Communicator Controller 250
of the Mobile Communicator 370 may be an at least one condition for
enabling the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370, wherein
outgoing calls from the Emergency Dialer 260 to an Emergency
Service Provider 180 are always enabled by the Communication
Controller 350. Hereinafter, references in this discussion to
Mobile Communicator 370, mobile phone, cell phone, or mobile
communication device are intended to refer to the encompassing
meaning of a cell phone and/or mobile communication device under
certain enabling conditions, wherein the Mobile Communicator 370
may default to the Disabled State 410 unless the at least one
aforementioned conditions 420-480 are satisfied, and wherein that
outgoing calls from the Emergency Dialer 260 to an Emergency
Service Provider 180 and/or from the Location Transmitter 270 are
always enabled by the Communication Controller 350.
[0066] In the step 495 of the method 400, if the Enabling System
360 of the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 determines that
the condition 420 may be satisfied, i.e., that a GPS signal has
been received and/or the Communicator Controller 350 has been
notified that the GPS signal has been received by the Enabling
Circuit 250, then the Enabling System 360 may enable an Enabled
State 510 of the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370, as in the
step 495 of the method 400.
[0067] Alternatively, in the step 490 of the method 400, if the
Enabling Circuit 250 of the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370
determines, conversely, that the condition 420 has not been
satisfied, i.e., that no GPS signal has been received by the
Enabling Circuit 250, and/or the Communicator Controller 350 has
not been notified that the GPS signal has been received by the
Enabling Circuit 250, then the Enabling System 360 may enable a
Default Disabled State 410 of the Mobile Communicator 370, as in
the step 490 of the method 400.
[0068] FIG. 3 depicts a continuation of FIG. 2, depicting
embodiments of the method 400. If the Enabling System 360 has
ascertained, as in the step 500 of the method 400, as depicted in
FIG. 2 and described in associated text herein, that there is no
emergency, and that a GPS signal has been received, in the step
600, instead of enabling the Mobile Communicator 370, as in the
step 495, the Enabling System 360 may require that a condition 440,
i.e., that a speed, s.sub.f,i, of the Mobile Communicator 370, an
average speed, S.sub.avg, of the Mobile Communicator 370, or a
normalized speed, ns, of the Mobile Communicator 370, may be less
than or equal to (".ltoreq.") a setpoint speed. Hereinafter, "speed
of the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370" refers to each speed
selected from the group consisting of the speed, s.sub.f,i, of the
kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370, an average speed,
S.sub.avg, of the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370, or a
normalized speed, ns, of the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator
370.
[0069] A motion detector 228, such as a laser doppler non-contact
speed and length gauge (Proton Products, 10 Aylesbury End,
Beaconsfield, Bucks.HP9 LW1, England), may determine if the Mobile
Communicator 370 may be in motion. Photo radar systems usually
operate on the K-band at 24.15 GHz. The motion detector 228 may
measure a speed of a vehicle in which the kit 205, or the Mobile
Communicator 370 is used, using any appropriate speedometer
typically used to determine the speed of a vehicle. The output from
the speedometer may be provided to the Motion Detector 228 by the
vehicle's speedometer 279 via mechanical, electrical signal,
hydraulic or pneumatic means through a conduit or wire 272, or
wirelessly.
[0070] IR Pulsed Laser Diode, available from Ingram Technologies,
LLC, Rt 2, Box 2169, 6721 West, 4000 South Roosevelt, Utah 84066,
to measure speed, distance and direction is the new generation
replacement for the older Photo-Radar systems. By using beam width
of less than one-degree, an accuracy level is achieved that can not
be reached by the older radar systems. As the beam crosses the
traffic lanes, it can only target one vehicle at a time and
minimize the possibility of false readings. The beam can also be
"gated" so that only vehicles within a set of distances will be
read. The other feature of IR Pulsed Laser Diode is that a vehicle
traveling in only one direction can be captured by the system, if
desired.
[0071] The speed, s.sub.f,i, of the kit 205 or the Mobile
Communicator 370 may be determined by the GPS processor 220, such
as a GPSTran (available from 5 Little Balmer, Buckingham Industrial
Park, Buckingham MK18 1TF, United Kingdom), designed to provide a
digital speed pulse output for use by other equipment. Because
satellite GPS is used to measure speed, the GPSTran is suitable for
use in many applications where normal speed sensing methods will
not work. The update rate of the pulse output is 5 Hz with an
accuracy of .+-.0.1 kmh. The pulse per meter setting is
configurable to suit most applications.
[0072] The GPS Processor 220 may provide an initial p.sub.i and a
final p.sub.f geographical position of the GPS Processor 220 for an
initial time t.sub.i and a final time t.sub.f, wherein a difference
(t.sub.f-t.sub.i) between the initial and final times t.sub.i,
t.sub.f, represent a time interval, x.sub.f,i, wherein x.sub.f,i
may be any positive integer. Alternatively, the time interval
x.sub.f,i may be from about 1 mili second to about 1.times.10.sup.3
mili seconds. Alternatively, the time interval, x.sub.f,i, may be
from about 1 micro second to about 1.times.10.sup.6 micro seconds.
Alternatively, the time interval, x.sub.f,i, may be from about 1
nano second to about 1.times.10.sup.9 nano seconds. The time
interval, x.sub.f,i, may be from about 1 minute to about 5 minutes
and a difference between the initial geographical position p.sub.i
of the GPS Processor 220 and the final geographical position
p.sub.f of the GPS Processor 220 may be from about 0.016 miles to
about 2.5 miles. The speed, s.sub.f,i, of the Mobile Communicator
370 may be represented by formula 1, as follows:
s.sub.f,i=(p.sub.f-p.sub.i)/x.sub.f,i Formula 1:
[0073] The average speed, s.sub.avg, of the Mobile Communicator
370, for a time interval, x.sub.j, wherein j=1,2,3, . . . j, may be
determined by the GPS processor 220, wherein the GPS Processor 220
may provide an initial geographical position, p.sub.i, and a final
geographical position, p.sub.f, of the GPS Processor 220 for each
time interval, x.sub.j, and an initial time t.sub.i and a final
time t.sub.f for each time interval, x.sub.j, wherein a sum of the
differences .SIGMA.(t.sub.f-t.sub.i).sub.j for each initial and
final time, t.sub.i, t.sub.f, for each time interval, x.sub.j, may
be represented as a sum of the time intervals, .SIGMA.x.sub.j. A
sum of the differences .SIGMA.(p.sub.f-p.sub.i).sub.k, where
k=1,2,3, . . . k, between the initial and final geographical
positions p.sub.i, p.sub.f, may represent a total distance that the
kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 may have traveled in each
time interval x.sub.j. The average speed, s.sub.avg, of the Mobile
Communicator 370 may be represented by formula 2, as follows:
s.sub.avg=.SIGMA.(p.sub.i-p.sub.f).sub.j/.SIGMA.x.sub.j Formula
2:
[0074] The normalized speed, ns of the Mobile Communicator 370, for
a time interval, x.sub.m, where m=1, 2, . . . m, determined by the
GPS processor 220, wherein the GPS Processor 220 may provide an
initial speed s.sub.i of the Mobile Communicator 370, and a
fraction of time at the initial speed s.sub.i, and a final speed,
s.sub.f, of the Mobile Communicator 370, and fraction of time at
the final speed, s.sub.f. The time, t.sub.s,i, may be the time at
speed s.sub.i and the time t.sub.sf may be the time at speed
s.sub.f. Therefore, the fraction of time at the first speed s.sub.i
may be represented as t.sub.si/(t.sub.si+t.sub.sf). In like manner,
the fraction of time at the second speed s.sub.f may be represented
as t.sub.sf/(t.sub.si+t.sub.sf). The GPS processor 220 may
calculate the normalized speed, ns, of the Mobile Communicator 370
as in the following Formula 3: ns=s.sub.i.times.fraction of time at
s.sub.i+s.sub.f.times.fraction of time at s.sub.f Formula 3
[0075] A logic of the Enabling Circuit 250 may provide a contact
closure that completes an electrical circuit in which the Enabling
Circuit 250 notifies the Communicator Controller 350 via a wire
225, or wirelessly, that the Motion Detector 228 has provided
confirmation that the speed of the kit 205 or the Mobile
Communicator 370 is .ltoreq. the setpoint speed to the Enabling
Circuit 250 via wire 229, or wirelessly, based on the Motion
Detector 228 receiving a speed of the kit 205 or the Mobile
Communicator 370 from the speedometer 279 via a wire 272, or
wirelessly. Said completion of the electrical circuit and
confirmation that the speed of the kit 205 or the Mobile
Communicator 370 is .ltoreq. the setpoint speed to the Enabling
Circuit 250 via a wire 223, or wirelessly, may be the at least one
condition for enabling the Enabling System 360 of the kit 205 or
the Mobile Communicator 370, and wherein outgoing calls from the
Emergency Dialer 260 to an Emergency Service Provider 180 may
always be enabled by the Communication Controller 350.
[0076] In the step 515 of the method 400, if the Enabling System
360 of the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 determines that
the condition 440 may be satisfied, i.e., that the Mobile
Communicator 370 speed may be .ltoreq. the setpoint, then the
Enabling System 360 may enable an Enabled State 510 of the Mobile
Communicator 370, as in the step 515 of the method 400.
[0077] Alternatively, in the step 510 of the method 400, if the
Enabling System 360 of the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370
determines, conversely, that the condition 440 may not be
satisfied, i.e., that the Mobile Communicator 370 speed not be
.ltoreq. the setpoint speed, then the Enabling System 360 may
enable a Default Disabled State 410 of the Mobile Communicator 370,
as in the step 510 of the method 400.
[0078] FIG. 4 depicts a continuation of FIG. 3, depicting
embodiments of the method 400. If the Enabling System 360 has
ascertained as in the step 500 of the method 400, as depicted in
FIG. 2 and described in associated text herein, that there is no
emergency, and that the GPS signal has been received, in the step
580, instead of enabling the Mobile Communicator 370, as in the
step 515, the Enabling System 360 may require that a condition 460,
i.e. that a user of the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 be
authorized. In the step 580, if the voice recognition system 230
receives a user identifying sound(s) such as a user's identifying
voice or identifying frequency or tone (hereinafter
user-identifying sound(s) from the microphone 275. If the user
identifying sound(s) match or have the same frequencies as a
preprogrammed voice or preprogrammed frequency, the voice
recognition system 230 may provide confirmation of voice
recognition to the Enabling Circuit 250. The preprogrammed user
identifying sound(s) may be in a frequency range that may be
audible or inaudible to humans. For example, a dog whistle may emit
sound(s) that may be inaudible to humans. Humans hear frequencies
between about 20 cycles/sec to 20,000 cycles/sec at 130 db (very
loud). This shrinks to a range of about 700 cycles/sec to 6000
cycles/sec at 0 db (very faint).
[0079] Alternatively, the user identifying sound(s) may be a tone
from a tuning fork that naturally resonates at an established
frequency or set of frequencies, i.e., sound(s), such as the note C
in the key of C major that is equivalent to middle C on a standard
piano, may be audible to humans.
[0080] A logic of the Enabling Circuit 250 may provide a contact
closure that completes an electrical circuit in which the Enabling
Circuit 250 notifies the Communicator Controller 350 via a wire
225, or wirelessly, that the Voice Recognition System 230 has
provided confirmation of the voice recognition to the Enabling
Circuit 250 via wire 223, or wirelessly. Said completion of the
electrical circuit and confirmation of the voice recognition to the
Enabling Circuit 250 via a wire 223, or wirelessly, may be the at
least one condition for enabling the Enabling System 360 of the kit
205 or the Mobile Communicator 370, and wherein that outgoing calls
from the Emergency Dialer 260 to an Emergency Service Provider 180
may always be enabled by the Communication Controller 350.
[0081] In the step 525 of the method 400, if the Enabling System
360 of the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 determines that
the condition 460 may be satisfied, i.e., that the user has been
authorized, then the Enabling System 360 may enable the Enabled
State 510 of the Mobile Communicator 370, as in the step 525 of the
method 400.
[0082] Alternatively, in the step 520 of the method 400, if the
Enabling System 360 of the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370
determines, conversely, that the condition 460 may not be
satisfied, i.e., that the user has not been authorized, then the
Enabling System 360 may enable a Default Disabled State 410 of the
Mobile Communicator 370, as in the step 520 of the method 400.
[0083] FIG. 5 depicts embodiments of a method 400 for enabling the
Mobile Communicator 370 using the Enabling System 360 to enable the
kit 205, the Mobile Communicator 370 or similar communication
device. If the Enabling System 360 has ascertained as in the step
500 of the method 400, as depicted in FIG. 2 and described in
associated text herein, that there is no emergency and that the GPS
signal has been received, in the step 570, instead of enabling the
Mobile Communicator 370, as in the step 525, the Enabling System
360 may require that a condition 480, i.e. "No Privacy Signal Has
Been Received", be satisfied, so that the Enabling Circuit 250 may
communicate to the Communicator Controller 350 to drive audible
receiving and transmitting functions 680, thereby enabling the
Enabled State 510 of the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator
370.
[0084] In the step 570, if the Privacy Receiver System 273 receives
a privacy signal from the Privacy Signal Generator 271, the Privacy
Receiver System 273 may provide the privacy signal or a processed
signal to the Enabling Circuit 250. In the step 570, the Enabling
System 360 may or may not receive a privacy signal. A logic of the
Enabling Circuit 250 may determine that the condition 480, i.e.,
"No Privacy Signal Has Been Received?", has been satisfied, as in
step 575 or is not satisfied, as in the step 530. If the condition
480 has not been satisfied, as in the step 530, i.e., a privacy
signal has been received, e.g., when privacy is desirable or when
piracy of trade secrets, for example, is to be discouraged, the
Enabling Circuit 250 communicates that the condition 480 has not
been satisfied to the Communicator Controller 350. Alternatively,
if the condition 480 has been satisfied, i.e. no privacy signal may
have been detected by the Privacy Signal Receive System 273, as in
the step 575, the Communicator Controller 350 may enable the
Enabled State 510 and the phone becomes enabled.
[0085] A purpose of defeating or working around the privacy signal
condition 480 may be to make an outgoing phone call. Embodiments in
which enabling the Enabled State 510 of the kit 205 or the Mobile
Communicator 370 may be conditioned on satisfying the condition
480, i.e. that No Privacy Signal Has Been Received, may be an
improvement over cell phones that require a privacy signal for
enablement because no privacy signal may be needed to enable the
Enabled State 510 of the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370.
Conditioning enablement of the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator
370 on satisfying the condition 480, i.e. that No Privacy Signal
Has Been Received, may be an improvement over cell phones that
require a privacy signal for enablement because a user seeking to
block the privacy signal that disables the kit 205 or Mobile
Communicator 370 must also block the Microphone 275, thus defeating
the ability to make the outgoing call because both the user's voice
and the privacy signal may be received by the Microphone 275 in
order for the user to make the outgoing call.
[0086] In the enabled Default Disabled State 410, the receiving or
transmitting functions of the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator
370 may remain disabled, even though the Start Switch 203 has been
activated in the step 660 of the method 400, as depicted in FIG. 2,
and described in associated text, herein. Conditioning disablement
of the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 on receiving the
privacy signal through the Microphone 275 instead of through wire
268 or wirelessly from the antenna 274 of the Privacy Signal
Generator 278 may avoid the majority of the privacy and piracy
(theft of trade secrets or business confidential information)
issues because audible receiving and transmitting functions 680 of
the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 may remain in the
Default Disabled State 410 unless the Enabling System 360 of the
kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 does not receive the privacy
signal. Alternatively, privacy and piracy incidents may be avoided
during indoor usage of the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370
since the GPS signal also may not be available due to indoor
blocking of the line of sight to the source of the GPS signal, such
as a GPS satellite. Transmitting and receiving functions of the kit
205 and the Mobile Communicator 370 my remain disabled because the
at least one condition for enabling the Enabling System 360 of the
kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370, i.e., receiving a GPS
signal, has not been satisfied, and wherein that outgoing calls
from the Emergency Dialer 260 to an Emergency Service Provider 180
may always be enabled by the Communication Controller 350. During
indoor usage, if a GPS signal has not been received by the GPS
Receiver 210, the Default Disabled State 410 of the kit 205 or the
Mobile Communicator 370 may be enabled as in the step 490 of the
method 400. In the unlikely situation a GPS signal is available in
a building (GPS typically requires line of sight to work) and the
owner/occupants wish to disable phones in this area this can be
done by the installation of a wide range of inexpensive and readily
available blocking devices that will allow them to create a no GPS
signal area. For example, a Cell-Block-R Control Unit, available
from Quiet Cell Technologies Inc., 57 Waterford Drive, Ottawa ON
K2E 7V4: CANADA, may act as a kind of decoy cellular tower. Where
its use may no be prohibited, the Cell-Block-R Control Unit may
remove the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 from a regular
cell phone service provider by supplying a decoy communication
signal. Any incoming calls may be referred to voice mail.
[0087] In the method 400 for using the kit 205 or the Mobile
Communicator 370, a logic of the Enabling Circuit 250 may condition
enablement of the Enabled State 510 on the Enabled Circuit 250 not
receiving the privacy signal or processed privacy signal from the
Privacy Signal Receiver 273 via Microphone 275. Conditioning
enabling the Enabled State 510 on the Enabled Circuit 250 on not
receiving the privacy signal or processed privacy signal from the
Privacy Signal Receiver 273 via the Microphone 275 will also
prevent most usage of the Mobile Communicator 370 in ground
passenger vehicles or carriers such as cars, trucks, trains, buses
and the like, or in airplanes if use of the kit 205 or the Mobile
Communicator 370 may interfere with the passengers enjoyment of
their quiet and solitude or if trade secrets, confidential or
proprietary information may be improperly disclosed because the
privacy signal could be provided when it may be improper to use the
Mobile Communicator 370 in such vehicles or carriers. When
prevention of indoor use of the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator
370 is desired, and the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 has
received a GPS signal from, for example, the antenna 271 being in
the line of sight of the GPS signal from the GPS satellite, a
Privacy Signal Generator 278 may provide a privacy signal to the
Privacy Receiver System 273 for indoor enablement of the Default
Disabled State 410 of the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370,
as in the step 530 of the method 400. Any appropriate system for
enhancing the GPS signal may be used to provide the GPS signal to
the GPS Receiver 210 during indoor or other applications where the
GPS antenna 271 may not be in the line of sight of the GPS signal
from the GPS Satellite.
[0088] In the method 400 for using the kit 205 or the Mobile
Communicator 370, a logic of the Enabling Circuit 250 may provide a
contact closure that completes an electrical circuit in which the
Enabling Circuit 250 notifies the Communicator Controller 350 via a
wire 225, or wirelessly, that the Enabling Circuit 250 may not have
received the privacy signal or a processed privacy signal from the
Privacy Receiver System 273 via the wire 241, or wirelessly. Said
completion of the electrical circuit and confirmation of notice to
the Communicator Controller 350 by the Enabling Circuit 250 via a
wire 225, or wirelessly, may be the at least one condition for
enabling the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370, and wherein
outgoing calls from the Emergency Dialer 260 to an Emergency
Service Provider 180 may always be enabled by the Communication
Controller 350.
[0089] It has been stated that the Enabling System 360 of the kit
205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 may be an improvement over
mobile communicators that may be disabled by receiving a disabling
signal because the disabling signal of such devices may be blocked
or interfered with or they may fail, leaving the mobile
communicator in an Enabled State because that is the default state
when the disabling signal is not received. Conversely, the Enabling
System 360 may be an improvement because the default state of the
Mobile Communicator 370 may be a Default Disabled State 410 because
the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 may be disabled if the
GPS Signal Amplifier 190 does not receive a GPS signal, as in the
step 490 of the method 400, as described in FIG. 2 and associated
text, supra.
[0090] The GPS signal may be any standard GPS signal. GPS
satellites transmit two low power radio signals, designated L1 and
L2. Civilian GPS uses the L1 frequency of 1575.42 MHz in the UHF
band. The signals travel by line of sight, meaning they will pass
through clouds, glass and plastic but will not go through most
solid objects such as buildings and mountains. In the step 650, the
Enabling System 360 may or may not receive a GPS signal. The logic
of the Enabling Circuit 250 may determine that the condition 420,
i.e., "GPS signal has been received?", is satisfied, as in step 495
or is not satisfied, as in the step 490. If no GPS signal is
available (typically indoors or in most vehicles), the Enabling
Circuit 250 communicates that the condition 420 is satisfied to the
Communicator Controller 350. If the GPS signal is not detected, as
in the step 490, the Communicator Controller 350 may enable the
Default Disabled State 410 and the Mobile Communicator 370 remains
disabled. This embodiment is an improvement over cell phones not
having the Enabling System 360 in that if for any reason
(intentional or unintentional) the GPS signal is not available in
the step 650, the Mobile Communicator 370 stays in its default
disabled mode 410.
[0091] Conditioning enablement of the Mobile Communicator 370 on
receiving the GPS signal, instead of conditioning disablement on
receiving a disabling signal, as in cell phones not having the
Enabling System 360, may avoid the majority of the privacy and
piracy (theft of trade secrets or business confidential
information) issues, since privacy and piracy issues arise mostly
in indoor usage of the Mobile Communicator 370, where the GPS
signal usually is not available. In the unlikely situation a GPS
signal is available in a building (GPS typically requires line of
sight to work) and the owner/occupants wish to disable phones in
this area this can be done by the installation of a wide range of
cheap and readily available blocking materials that will allow them
to create a privacy area. This feature will also prevent most usage
in cars and airplanes where it would be a safety hazard because a
GPS signal is most often not available in cars or airplanes. When
indoor use of the Mobile Communicator 370 is desired, an antenna
271 may provide a GPS signal to the GPS Signal Amplifier 190 for
indoor enablement of the Mobile Communicator 370. Alternatively,
the antenna 271 may provide better reception for the GPS Signal
Amplifier 190 than an internal antenna with which most GPS
Receivers 210 may be equipped.
[0092] Referring to FIG. 2, although there are unlimited
applications for the Enabling System 360, the inventor of the
present invention submits the following three embodiments for
employing the method 400 and the Enabling System 360, as depicted
in FIG. 1, supra, to enable the states 410, 450, and/or 510 of the
Mobile Communicator 370.
[0093] In Example 1, if the Enabling System 360 of the kit 205 or
the Mobile Communicator 370 determines that the condition 440 may
be satisfied, i.e., that the Mobile Communicator 370 speed may be
.ltoreq. the setpoint, then transmitting and audible receiving
functions 680 of the Mobile Communicator 370 may be enabled, as
described in Example 1, as follows.
EXAMPLE 1
Enabling the Kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 in a Moving
Vehicle
[0094] Referring to FIG. 2, and associated text, herein, in a step
650 of the method 400 for enabling the kit 205, the Mobile
Communicator 370 or similar communication device, notice that a GPS
signal has been received by GPS Receiver 210 may be transmitted to
the Enabling Circuit 250 via connection wire 247, or wirelessly,
wherein the GPS Processor 220 may have received the GPS signal from
the GPS Signal Amplifier 190 via connection wire 200, or
wirelessly. Alternatively, notice that a GPS signal has been
received by GPS Signal Amplifier 190 may be transmitted by the GPS
Signal Amplifier 190 to the Enabling Circuit 250 via connection
wire 243, or wirelessly. The GPS signal from the GPS Processor 220
may be digital or analog. In the step 650 of the method 400, said
receiving of the GPS signal may be an at least one condition 420
for enabling the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370, and
wherein outgoing calls to an Emergency Service Provider 180 may
always be enabled by the Enabling System 360. The Enabling Circuit
250 may enable calls from the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator
370 to the Emergency Service Provider 180 by providing a contact
closure that completes an electrical circuit in which the Enabling
Circuit 250 notifies the Communicator Controller 350 that the GPS
signal has been received, via a wire 225, or wirelessly, wherein
the Communicator Controller 350 may enable the Emergency Dialer 260
to make the outgoing calls to the Emergency Service Provider
180.
[0095] In a step 660 of the method 400, a user may activate the
"Start Switch" 203 on the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370
that may enable the call to the Emergency Service Provider 180
and/or the Location Transmitter 270 of the kit 205 or the Mobile
Communicator 370, if an at least one condition, e.g., that there is
an emergency, has been satisfied. In the step 660, a logic of the
Enabling Circuit 250 of the Enabling System 360 of the kit 205 or
the Mobile Communicator 370 asks "There Is an Emergency?" 430. If
the emergency condition 430 has been satisfied, e.g., the user has
spoken a word or command such as "help" into the Microphone 275, or
input a message "emergency" via the Keypad 240, the user may be
able to change the state of the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator
370, from an initial Default Disabled State 410, as in step 660
"Start", to a 911 Enabled & Locator Triggered state 450 because
such a word or command or input satisfies the at least one
condition that there be an emergency, i.e. as in step 590 of the
method 400. In the step 590, the Enabling Circuit 250 may provide a
contact closure that completes an electrical circuit in which the
Enabling Circuit 250 notifies the Communicator Controller 350 via a
wire 225, or wirelessly that may trigger the Emergency Dialer 260
to call 911 and the Location Transmitter 270 to trigger the Locator
Beacon 213.
[0096] Referring to FIG. 3 and described in associated text herein,
if the Enabling System 360 has ascertained as in the step 500 of
the method 400, as depicted in FIG. 2 and described in associated
text herein, that there is no emergency, and that a GPS signal has
been received, in the step 600, instead of enabling the Mobile
Communicator 370, as in the step 495, the Enabling System 360 may
enable audible receiving and transmitting functions 680 of the kit
205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 if a condition 440, i.e., that a
speed, s.sub.f,i, of the Mobile Communicator 370, an average speed,
s.sub.avg, of the Mobile Communicator 370, or a normalized speed,
ns, of the Mobile Communicator 370, may be less than or equal to
(".ltoreq.") a setpoint speed, wherein the setpoint may be a
maximum speed such as any speed from about 0 to about 10 mph.
Alternatively, the setpoint may be from about 0 to about 30 mph. It
has been found that only enabling Mobile Communicator 370, e.g.,
cell phone, use in moving vehicles when the vehicles are moving at
a speed .ltoreq. the setpoint may be a major public safety need
that may be advanced by use of the kit 205 or the Mobile
Communicator 370 and the Enabling System 360, in accordance with
the method 400.
[0097] Transmitting and audible receiving functions 680 of the Kit
205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 may be enabled when the
condition 480, i.e., that no privacy signal has been received by
the Privacy Receiver System 273 has been satisfied, as described in
Example 2, as follows.
EXAMPLE 2
Enabling the Kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 When Privacy or
Security May be an Issue
[0098] When Privacy or Security May be an Issue a method 450 for
enabling the Mobile Communicator 370 using the Enabling System 360
to enable the kit 205, the Mobile Communicator 370 or similar
communication device. In a step 750 of the method 450 for enabling
the kit 205, the Mobile Communicator 370 or similar communication
device, notice that a GPS signal has been received by GPS Receiver
210 may be transmitted to the Enabling Circuit 250 via connection
wire 247, or wirelessly, wherein the GPS Processor 220 may have
received the GPS signal from the GPS Signal Amplifier 190 via
connection wire 200, or wirelessly. Alternatively, notice that the
GPS signal has been received by GPS Signal Amplifier 190, may be
transmitted to the Enabling Circuit 250 by the GPS Signal Amplifier
190 via the wire 243, or wirelessly. The GPS signal from the GPS
Processor 220 may be digital or analog. In the step 750 of the
method 450, said receiving of the GPS signal may be an at least one
condition 420 for enabling the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator
370, and wherein outgoing calls to an Emergency Service Provider
180 may always be enabled by the Enabling System 360.
[0099] The Enabling Circuit 250 may enable calls from the kit 205
or the Mobile Communicator 370 to the Emergency Service Provider
180 by providing a contact closure that completes an electrical
circuit in which the Enabling Circuit 250 notifies the Communicator
Controller 350 that the GPS signal has been received, via a wire
225, or wirelessly, wherein the Communicator Controller 350 may
enable the Emergency Dialer 260 to make the outgoing calls to the
Emergency Service Provider 180.
[0100] In a step 760 of the method 450, a user may activate the
"Start Switch" 203 on the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370
that may enable the transmitting and receiving functions of the kit
205 or the Mobile Communicator 370, if an at least one condition,
e.g., that there is an emergency, has been satisfied. In the step
760, a logic of the Enabling Circuit 250 of the Enabling System 360
of the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 asks "There is an
Emergency?" 430. In the step 797, if the emergency condition 430
has been satisfied, e.g., the user has spoken a word or command
such as "help" into the Microphone 275, or input a message
"emergency" via the Keypad 240, the user may be able to change the
state of the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370, from an
initial Default Disabled State 410, as in step 760 "Start", to a
911 Enabled & Locator Triggered state 450 because such a word
or command or input satisfies the at least one condition that there
be an emergency, i.e. as in step 790 of the method 450. In the step
797, the Enabling Circuit 250 may provide a contact closure that
completes an electrical circuit in which the Enabling Circuit 250
notifies the Communicator Controller 350, via a wire 225, or
wirelessly, that may trigger the Emergency Dialer 260 to call 911
and the Location Transmitter 270 to trigger the Locator Beacon
213.
[0101] Alternatively, if there is no emergency, as in the step 700
of the method 450, the audible receiving and transmitting functions
680 of the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 may be enabled,
as in the step 795, if the Enabling System 360 of the kit 205 or
the Mobile Communicator 370 determines that the condition 420 may
be satisfied, i.e., that a GPS signal has been received. In the
step 795, the Enabling Circuit 250 notifies the Communicator
Controller 350 that the GPS signal has been received from the GPS
Receiver 210. The Enabling Circuit 250 may provide a contact
closure that completes an electrical circuit in which the Enabling
Circuit 250 notifies the Communicator Controller 350, via a wire
225, or wirelessly, that the GPS signal has been provided to the
Enabling Circuit 250. In the step 795, the Enabling System 360 may
enable the audible receiving and transmitting functions 680 of the
kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 by changing the state of the
kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 from the Default Disabled
State 410 to the Enabled State 510.
[0102] Alternatively, in the step 790 of the method 450, the
Enabling Circuit 250 of the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370
has determined, conversely, that the condition 420 has not been
satisfied, i.e., that no GPS signal has been received by the
Enabling Circuit 250. In the step 790, the state of the kit 205 or
the Mobile Communicator 370 remains in the Default Disabled State
410 so audible audible receiving and transmitting functions 680 of
the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 may not be enabled.
[0103] In the steps 795 and 790, a logic of the Enabling Circuit
250 may determine that the condition 420, i.e., "GPS signal has
been received?", has been satisfied, as in step 795 or is not
satisfied, as in the step 790. In the step 790, if no GPS signal
has been received, e.g., when the GPS signal is not in line of
sight of the GPS Signal Amplifier 190, e.g., when the GPS Signal
Amplifier 190 may be indoors in a building, automobile, or
airplane, the Enabling Circuit 250 communicates that the condition
420 has not been satisfied to the Communicator Controller 350. If
no GPS signal may be detected, as in the step 790, the Communicator
Controller 350 may enable the Default Disabled State 410 and the
Mobile Communicator 370, e.g., the cell phone, remains
disabled.
[0104] Referring to FIG. 6, if the Enabling System 360 has
ascertained as in the step 700 of the method 450, that there is no
emergency, and that the GPS signal has been received, in the step
707, instead of enabling the Mobile Communicator 370, as in the
step 795, the Enabling System 360 may require that a condition 480,
i.e. that the Privacy Receiver System 273 of the kit 205 or the
Mobile Communicator 370 has not received a privacy signal.
[0105] In the step 707 of the method 450, the Enabling System 360
may or may not receive a privacy signal. In the step 707, if the
Privacy Receiver System 273 receives a privacy signal from the
Privacy Signal Generator 271, the Privacy Receiver System 273 may
provide the privacy signal or a processed signal to the Enabling
Circuit 250. A logic of the Enabling Circuit 250 may determine that
the condition 480, i.e., "No Privacy Signal Has Been Received?",
has not been satisfied, as in step 730 of the method 450. If a
privacy signal has been received, e.g., when privacy is desirable
or when piracy of trade secrets, for example, is to be discouraged,
the Enabling Circuit 250 communicates that the condition 480 has
not been satisfied to the Communicator Controller 350.
[0106] Alternatively, if no privacy signal may be detected, as in
the step 775 of the method 450, the Communicator Controller 350 may
enable the Enabled State 510 and the audible receiving and
transmitting functions 680 of the Mobile Communicator 370, e.g., a
cell phone, may be enabled. Examples of areas where kit 205 or the
Mobile Communicator 370 use may be appropriate, safe, or not a
security risk include airplanes before takeoff, non-private places
outside doctor's offices, outside locker rooms, outside sensitive
corporate or private public buildings, outside theatres, and the
like. Examples of areas where kit 205 or Mobile Communicator 370
use may be appropriate, safe, or not a security risk include any
public or private place that for privacy or safety reasons needs to
have kit 205 or Mobile Communicator 370, e.g., cell phone, usage
controlled.
[0107] Alternatively, if a privacy signal has been not been
received, e.g., when privacy is not needed or when use of the kit
205 or the Mobile Communicator 370, for example, may be encouraged,
the Enabling Circuit 250 communicates that the condition 480 has
been satisfied to the Communicator Controller 350. If the privacy
signal may not be detected, as in the step 775, the Communicator
Controller 350 may enable the Enabled State 510 and the audible
receiving and transmitting functions 680 of the Mobile Communicator
370, e.g., the cell phone, may be enabled.
[0108] Transmitting and audible receiving functions 680 of the Kit
205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 may be enabled when the
condition 460, i.e., that the user has been confirmed by the Voice
Recognition System 230 has been satisfied, as described in Example
3, as follows.
EXAMPLE 3
Enabling the Kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 When User
Authorization May be an Issue
[0109] FIG. 7 depicts embodiments of a method 465 for enabling the
Mobile Communicator 370 using the Enabling System 360 to enable the
kit 205, the Mobile Communicator 370 or similar communication
device. In a step 850 of the method 465 for enabling the kit 205,
the Mobile Communicator 370 or similar communication device, notice
that a GPS signal has been received by GPS Receiver 210 may be
transmitted to the Enabling Circuit 250 via connection wire 247, or
wirelessly, wherein the GPS Processor 220 may have received the GPS
signal from the GPS Signal Amplifier 190 via connection wire 200,
or wirelessly. Alternatively, notice that the GPS signal has been
received by GPS Signal Amplifier 190, may be transmitted to the
Enabling Circuit 250 by the GPS Signal Amplifier 190 via the wire
243, or wirelessly. The GPS signal from the GPS Processor 220 may
be digital or analog. In the step 850 of the method 465, said
receiving of the GPS signal may be an at least one condition 420
for enabling the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370, and
wherein outgoing calls to an Emergency Service Provider 180 may
always be enabled by the Enabling System 360.
[0110] The Enabling Circuit 250 may enable calls from the kit 205
or the Mobile Communicator 370 to the Emergency Service Provider
180 by providing a contact closure that completes an electrical
circuit in which the Enabling Circuit 250 notifies the Communicator
Controller 350 that the GPS signal has been received, via a wire
225, or wirelessly, wherein the Communicator Controller 350 may
enable the Emergency Dialer 260 to make the outgoing calls to the
Emergency Service Provider 180.
[0111] In a step 860 of the method 465, a user may activate the
"Start Switch" 203 on the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370
that may enable the transmitting and receiving functions of the kit
205 or the Mobile Communicator 370, if an at least one condition,
e.g., that there is an emergency, has been satisfied. In the step
860, a logic of the Enabling Circuit 250 of the Enabling System 360
of the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 asks "Is There an
Emergency" 430. If the emergency condition 430 has been satisfied,
e.g., the user has spoken a word or command such as "help" into the
Microphone 275, or input a message "emergency" via the Keypad 240,
the user may be able to change the state of the kit 205 or the
Mobile Communicator 370, from an initial Default Disabled State
410, as in step 860 "Start", to a 911 Enabled & Locator
Triggered state 450 because such a word or command or input
satisfies the at least one condition that there be an emergency,
i.e. as in step 797 of the method 465. In the step 797, the
Enabling Circuit 250 may provide a contact closure that completes
an electrical circuit in which the Enabling Circuit 250 notifies
the Communicator Controller 350, via a wire 225, or wireles sly,
that may trigger the Emergency Dialer 260 to call 911 and the
Location Transmitter 270 to trigger the Locator Beacon 213.
[0112] Alternatively, if there is no emergency, as in the step 800
of the method 465, the audible receiving and transmitting functions
680 of the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 may be enabled,
as in the step 895, if the Enabling System 360 of the kit 205 or
the Mobile Communicator 370 determines that the condition 420 may
be satisfied, i.e., that a GPS signal has been received. In the
step 895, the Enabling Circuit 250 notifies the Communicator
Controller 350 that the GPS signal has been received from the GPS
Receiver 210. The Enabling Circuit 250 may provide a contact
closure that completes an electrical circuit in which the Enabling
Circuit 250 notifies the Communicator Controller 350, via a wire
225, or wirelessly, that the GPS signal has been provided to the
Enabling Circuit 250. In the step 895, the Enabling System 360 may
enable the audible receiving and transmitting functions 680 of the
kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 by changing the state of the
kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 from the Default Disabled
State 410 to the Enabled State 510.
[0113] Alternatively, in the step 890 of the method 465, the
Enabling Circuit 250 of the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370
has determined, conversely, that the condition 420 has not been
satisfied, i.e., that no GPS signal has been received by the
Enabling Circuit 250. In the step 890, the state of the kit 205 or
the Mobile Communicator 370 remains in the Default Disabled State
410 so audible receiving and transmitting functions 680 of the kit
205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 may not be enabled.
[0114] In the steps 895 and 890, a logic of the Enabling Circuit
250 may determine that the condition 420, i.e., "GPS signal has
been received?", has been satisfied, as in step 895 or is not
satisfied, as in the step 890. In the step 890, if no GPS signal
has been received, e.g., when the GPS signal is not in line of
sight of the GPS Signal Amplifier 190, e.g., when the GPS Signal
Amplifier 190 may be indoors in a building, automobile, or
airplane, the Enabling Circuit 250 communicates that the condition
420 has not been satisfied to the Communicator Controller 350. If
no GPS signal may be detected, as in the step 890, the Communicator
Controller 350 may enable the Default Disabled State 410 and the
Mobile Communicator 370, e.g., the cell phone, remains
disabled.
[0115] Referring to FIG. 7, if the Enabling System 360 has
ascertained as in the step 800 of the method 465, that there is no
emergency, and that the GPS signal has been received, in the step
807, instead of enabling the Mobile Communicator 370, as in the
step 895, the Enabling System 360 may require that a condition 460,
i.e. that a user of the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 be
authorized or authenticated. In the step 807, if the voice
recognition system 230 receives a user's identifying voice or
identifying frequency or tone (hereinafter user-identifying
sound(s)) from the microphone 275, that matches a preprogrammed
voice or preprogrammed frequency that has been preprogrammed into
the Enabling System 360, the voice recognition system 230 may
provide confirmation of voice recognition to the Enabling Circuit
250. Hereinafter, "authorizing a user" or "authenticating a user"
describes a designed property or function of the Voice Recognition
System's 230 to determine (ascertain) that a user's identifying
voice or identifying frequency or tone (hereinafter
user-identifying sound(s) from the microphone 275), matches the
preprogrammed voice or preprogrammed frequency or sound(s) or
passwords that have been preprogrammed into the Enabling System
360. The preprogrammed sound(s) may be in a frequency range that
may be audible or inaudible to humans. For example, a dog whistle
may emit sound(s) that may be inaudible to humans. Humans hear
frequencies between about 20 cycles/sec to 20,000 cycles/sec at 130
db (very loud). This shrinks to a range of about 700 cycles/sec to
6000 cycles/sec at 0 db (very faint).
[0116] Alternatively, a tone from a tuning fork that naturally
resonates at an established frequency or set of frequencies, i.e.,
sound(s), such as the note C in the key of C major that is
equivalent to middle C on a standard piano, may be audible to
humans. In the step 807, a logic of the Enabling Circuit 250 may
provide a contact closure that completes an electrical circuit in
which the Enabling Circuit 250 notifies the Communicator Controller
350, via a wire 225, or wirelessly, that the Voice Recognition
System 230 has provided confirmation of the voice recognition to
the Enabling Circuit 250 via wire 223, or wirelessly. Said
completion of the electrical circuit and confirmation of the voice
recognition to the Enabling Circuit 250 via a wire 223, or
wirelessly, may be the at least one condition for enabling the
Enabling System 360 of the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370,
and wherein that outgoing calls from the Emergency Dialer 260 to an
Emergency Service Provider 180 may always be enabled by the
Communication Controller 350. In the step 807, the Enabling System
360 may or may not receive a privacy signal. The logic of the
Enabling Circuit 250 may determine that the condition 460, i.e.
that a user of the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 be
authorized, has been satisfied, as in step 875 or is not satisfied,
as in the step 830. If no confirmation from the Voice Recognition
System 230 has been received by the Enabling Circuit 250, e.g.,
when the user is not authorized, such as when the user is using the
kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 without permission or when
the user's voice, sound(s) or password may not be authenticated,
the Enabling Circuit 250 communicates that the condition 460 has
not been satisfied to the Communicator Controller 350. If no
confirmation from the Voice Recognition System 230 may be received
by the Enabling Circuit 250, as in the step 830, the Communicator
Controller 350 may enable the Default Disabled State 410 and the
Mobile Communicator 370, e.g., the cell phone, remains
disabled.
[0117] Alternatively, if confirmation from the Voice Recognition
System 360 has been received, e.g., when audible receiving and
transmitting functions 680 of the kit 205 or the Mobile
Communicator 370, for example, may be authorized, the Enabling
Circuit 250 communicates that the condition 480 has been satisfied
to the Communicator Controller 350. If the confirmation from the
Voice Recognition System 360 has been received, as in the step 875,
the Communicator Controller 350 may enable the Enabled State 510
and the audible receiving and transmitting functions 680 of the
Mobile Communicator 370, e.g., the cell phone, may be enabled.
[0118] In the method 465, in the step 875, outgoing call to the
Emergency Service Provider may be authenticated by the Voice
Recognition System 230. In the method 465, in the step 875, the
Voice Recognition System 230 may recognize each sound selected from
the group of sounds consisting of sounds audible to a human ear and
sounds inaudible to a human ear. In the method 465, in the step
875, entry of a password or authentication by voice recognition may
provide identification of the user to the Emergency Service
Provider and triggering the Locator Beacon.
[0119] Unauthorized use of the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator
370, e.g., the cell phone, may be undesirable for two reasons: A)
unauthorized use may result in unauthorized charges to an
authorized user's charge account with a provider of the kit 205 or
the Mobile Communicator 370, e.g., the provider of the cell phone;
and B) unauthorized use may result in unauthorized access to the
authorized user's personal calling lists, that may include
respective names and phone numbers of persons on the list who may
want to limit access by others to their names and phone numbers,
such as by the unauthorized user. Unauthorized use of the kit 205
or the Mobile Communicator 370, e.g., the cell phone, may result in
unauthorized access to the authorized user's secured information,
such as, for example, passwords, personal identification numbers
(PIN) and the like. As a number of types of secured information
stored in the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370, e.g., the
cell phone increases, unauthorized access to the secured
information stored in the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370,
e.g., the cell phone may become a concern. An example of the
increased number of secured information types may be a politician's
or corporate executive's stored confidential phone numbers and
other like secured information. A purpose of embodiments of the
present invention may be to protect the owner of the kit 205 or the
Mobile Communicator 370, e.g., the cell phone from an unauthorized
user accessing the secured information if their phone were lost or
stolen as well as providing features that would aid in recovering
the kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370.
[0120] Referring to FIG. 8. and FIG. 9, an embodiment of the
present invention may comprise a mobile communicator apparatus 470,
wherein the mobile communicator 470 may include a locational
tracking unit 610, a disabling circuit 550, a microphone 375, a
voice recognition system 630, a memory storage device 620, a keypad
340, and an emergency service system 290. The emergency service
system 290 may further include a location transmitter 570 and a
locator beacon 313. The locational tracking unit 610 of the mobile
communicator apparatus 470 may utilize a network of signal
transceivers 310 to determine the location of the mobile
communicator 470.
[0121] Referring to FIG. 9, the network of signal transceivers 310
may comprise of a number of signal transceivers, such as cell
towers 320a-c. A cell tower 320a-c is a wireless communications
station installed at a fixed and known location that transmits and
receives signals to and from mobile communicators 470. Those of
ordinary skill in the art may interpret a base station, a cell
site, a mobile phone mast, or various other terms to mean a cell
tower 320a-c for these purposes. The cell towers 320a-c may
transmit signals 330a-c in a radially outward direction to the
mobile communicator 470. Moreover, the cell towers 320a-c may
receive signal 335 transmitted from the mobile communicator 470.
The location of the mobile communicator 470 may be tracked by the
intersection cell tower signals 330a-c.
[0122] Although FIG. 9 provides three cell towers 320a-c in the
network of signal transceivers, the network of signal transceivers
310 may comprise additional cell towers 320a-c. The more cell
towers 320a-c the network 310 is comprised of, the more accurate
the tracking of the location of the mobile communicator 470.
[0123] As in FIG. 8, the mobile communicator apparatus may contain
a locational tracking unit 610 that utilizes the surrounding
network of signal transceivers 310 to determine the location of the
mobile communicator 470. The locational tracking unit 610 may be
positioned within the mobile communicator 470. The locational
tracking unit 610 may be connected to the disabling circuit 550.
The disabling circuit 550 may comprise a logic circuit that
performs non-arithmetic operations including, but not limited to:
OR, AND, NOR, NAND, and NOT. The disabling circuit 550 may disable
the mobile communicator apparatus if the at least one condition is
satisfied. In this embodiment, the at least one condition may
comprise either: 1) receiving a privacy signal; or 2) determining
speed of the mobile communicator 470 to be greater than a
pre-determined setpoint. The setpoint may be a speed determined by
state or federal law.
[0124] A privacy signal may be received by the mobile communicator
470 in certain locations that prohibit the transmission and
retrieval of signals through the mobile communicator 470 for
specific reasons. Some locations that may require the disablement
of a mobile communicator 470 may include a theater, a sports
tournament, a hospital, a church, a waiting room, a library, a
locker room, a classroom, a vehicle, a business area that houses
trade secrets and/or confidential information, or a conference room
in which trade secrets or confidential proprietary information are
discussed. A vehicle may be any transportation device that carries
passengers, such as, but not limited to, an airplane, an
automobile, or a seat on a train. Also, in the case of a terrorist
situation or any other situation dealing with national defense, a
privacy signal may be executed according to protocol dependent upon
security levels ascertained by an entity. Regardless, a location
that may require the disablement of a mobile communicator 470 may
be any area in which privacy and/or silence may be desired
[0125] Referring further to FIG. 8, the mobile communicator
apparatus 470 may contain a microphone 375 for inputting a voice,
sound(s), and/or passwords into the mobile communicator 470. The
microphone 375 may be any device that operates as an acoustic to
electric transducer or sensor. That is, the microphone 375 may be
any device that converts sound signals into electrical signals. The
mobile communicator apparatus 470 may also contain a voice
recognition system 630 and a memory storage device 620. The voice
recognition system 630 may be configured to be connected to the
microphone 375 so that the voice, sound(s), and/or password
inputted into the microphone 375 can be authenticated by the voice
recognition system 630 by determining each sound(s) provided by the
user match a pre-programmed or user-recorded identifying sound
stored in the memory storage device 620. The mobile communicator
apparatus 470 may further contain a keypad 340 configured to allow
a user to input alphanumeric combinations such as, but not limited
to, passwords, names, phone numbers, and text messages into the
mobile communicator 470.
[0126] The mobile communicator apparatus 470 may also comprise an
emergency service system 290. The emergency service system 290 may
include a location transmitter 570 and a locator beacon 313. The
location transmitter 570 may be configured to transmit the location
of the mobile communicator 470 to the emergency service provider
280, while the locator beacon 313 is connected to the location
transmitter 570 and is configured to emit a locator signal, such as
an alarm, a flashing light, or an audible sound, as to the
geographic location of the mobile communicator. The locational
tracking unit 610 may be connected to the location transmitter 570
and the locator beacon 313 in order to provide the components of
the emergency service system 290 with the location of the mobile
communicator 470. The location transmitter 570 and the locator
beacon 313 may further be connected to an emergency service
provider 280. Therefore, the location of the mobile communicator
470 may be transmitted to the emergency service provider 280 in an
emergency and a locator beacon 313 may be emitted to aid the
emergency service provider 280 in locating the user in an
emergency.
[0127] Another embodiment of the present invention is related to a
mobile communicator disabling system 300, as illustrated in FIG. 9.
The mobile communicator disabling system 300 may comprise a mobile
communicator 470 and a network of signal transceivers 310. The
mobile communicator 470 may further include a locational tracking
unit 610 and a disabling circuit 550. The locational tracking unit
610 may be configured to determine the location of the mobile
communicator 470. Moreover, the disabling circuit 550 may be
configured to change the state of the mobile communicator 470 from
an enabled state, wherein the audible receiving and transmitting
functions of the mobile communicator 470 are enabled, to a disabled
state, wherein the audible receiving and transmitting functions of
the mobile communicator 470 are disabled. The locational tracking
unit 610 may use a network of signal transceivers 310 to determine
the location of the mobile communicator 470.
[0128] As shown in FIG. 10, the locational tracking unit 610 (FIG.
8) of the mobile communicator 470 may communicate with signal
transceivers, such as the cell towers 320 a,b, to determine the
location of the mobile communicator 470 using triangulation. The
locational tracking unit 610, of the mobile communicator 470, may
determine the incident angle .theta..sub.1, .theta..sub.2 with cell
towers 320a, b, respectively. The angles .theta..sub.1 and
.theta..sub.2 may be determined by the known technique of Angle of
Arrival (AoA). This technique uses the multiple antennas of a cell
tower to determine the incident angle of an arriving signal. A
second cell tower with the same technology may then also determine
the direction of the signal and the incident angle of an arriving
signal. AoA systems must be designed to account for multipath
signals. Multipath signals occur when a signal bounces off other
objects and may confuse the cell tower as to the location of the
mobile communicator. The distance d between the cell towers 320a,b
is a known distance since the locations of the cell towers 320a,b
are fixed and known. The method of triangulation is the process of
finding the location of a point, given measurements of various
angles and sides of a triangle formed by that point and two other
known reference points.
[0129] In this example, the point and the two other known reference
points are the mobile communicator 470 and the cell towers 320a,b,
correspondingly. Further, the distance d and the angles
.theta..sub.1, .theta..sub.2 are known. Those with ordinary skill
in the art would know that the sum of the three angles in any
triangle is 180 degrees. Therefore, since the points of the mobile
communicator 470 and the cell towers 320a,b form a triangle, the
third angle .theta..sub.3 may be 180-.theta..sub.1-.theta..sub.2.
Using various trigonometric identities, the distance I.sub.a,
I.sub.b between the mobile communicator 470 and the cell towers
320a,b may be determined. Given either of these lengths, the sine
and cosine can be used to calculate the offsets in both the
north/south and east/west axes from the corresponding observation
points at the cell towers 320a,b to the unknown point at the mobile
communicator 470. Hence, the location of the mobile communicator
470 will be determined. Further, since the locational tracking unit
610, of the mobile communicator 470, is continually and dynamically
tracking the location of the mobile communicator 470 in substantial
real time, the speed of the mobile communicator 470 may also be
determined by analyzing the change of position over time.
[0130] In another embodiment of the system 300, the locational
tracking unit 610 (FIG. 8) may use the trilateration method as
depicted in FIG. 11 to determine the location of the mobile
communicator 470. Trilateration is a method of determining the
relative position of an object using the geometry of triangles in a
similar fashion as triangulation. However, unlike triangulation,
which uses angle measurements to calculate an object's location,
trilateration uses the known locations of two or more reference
points, and the measured distance between the object and each
reference point. As shown in FIG. 11, there is a coordinate system
of the X and Y axes. The Z axis is not shown as the height in the Z
direction is so minimal that it may be approximated to be zero. The
location of the mobile communicator 470 is where the cell tower
signals 330a-c intersect.
[0131] Referring further to FIG. 11, the cell tower 320a is located
at the origin of the coordinate system. The cell tower 320b is
located on the X-axis at a distance p away from the origin at cell
tower 320a. Therefore, cell tower 320b has the same y-coordinate as
cell tower 320a. The cell tower 320c is located in the fourth
quadrant of the coordinate system, wherein the cell tower 320c is a
distance i to the right of the Y-axis and a distance j below the
X-axis. Although FIG. 11 depicts the mobile communicator system 300
in a specific configuration, the system 300 may comprise many
different configurations of the cell towers 320a-c and the mobile
communicator 470. Moreover, the mobile communicator disabling
system 300 may further comprise additional cell towers 320a-c to
provide a more accurate calculation of the mobile communicator 470
location.
[0132] As shown in FIG. 11, each cell tower 320a-c emits a signal
330a-c in the shape of a sphere. For purposes of simplicity, FIG.
11 depicts the signals 330a-c as circles, rather than sphere;
however, the derivation for the location of the mobile communicator
470 will assume the signals 330a-c are spheres. Since signals
330a-c travel with a known velocity, the distances r.sub.1,
r.sub.2, and r.sub.3 from each cell tower 320a-c to the mobile
communicator 470 may be directly calculated from the time of
arrival. The formula for the distance is: d=v*t.
[0133] With further reference to FIG. 11, in order to derive the
location of the mobile communicator 470, the equations for each
signal 330a-c sphere may be determined and set equal to one another
to calculate the point at which all the signals 330a-c intersect.
This intersection point is the location of the mobile communicator
470. As previously mentioned, the z-coordinate of the signals
330a-c are approximated to be zero. The derivation for the location
of the mobile communicator 470 is as followed:
[0134] The equation for signal 330a is:
r.sub.1.sup.2=x.sup.2+y.sup.2+z.sup.2
[0135] The equation for signal 330b is:
r.sub.2.sup.2=(x-p).sup.2+y.sup.2+z.sup.2
[0136] The equation for signal 330c is:
r.sub.3.sup.2=(x-i).sup.2+(y-j).sup.2+z.sup.2
[0137] Subtract the equation for signal 330b from the equation for
signal 330a:
r.sub.1.sup.2-r.sub.2.sup.2=x.sup.2-(-p).sup.2=2*x*p-p.sup.2
[0138] Solve for x: x = r 1 2 - r 2 2 + p 2 2 * P ##EQU1##
[0139] Substitute x into the equation for signal 330a: r 1 2 = ( r
1 2 - r 2 2 + p 2 ) 2 4 * p 2 + y 2 .times. + z 2 ##EQU2##
[0140] Solving for y.sup.2+z.sup.2 and substituting for x: y 2 + z
2 = r 1 2 - ( r 1 2 - r 2 2 + p 2 ) 2 4 * p 2 = r 1 2 - x 2
##EQU3##
[0141] Solving for y.sup.2+z.sup.2 for signal 330c and setting it
equal to the previous equation:
y.sup.2+z.sup.2=r.sub.3.sup.2-(x-i).sup.2+2*y*j-j.sup.2=r.sub.1.sup.2-x.s-
up.2
[0142] Solving for y: y = r 1 2 - r 3 2 + i 2 + j 2 - 2 * x * i 2 *
j ##EQU4##
[0143] Solving the equation for signal 330a for z with equation for
x and y: z .times. r 1 2 - x 2 - y 2 ##EQU5##
[0144] Therefore, from the derivation above and reference to FIG.
11, the location of the mobile communicator 470 may be determined
by the method of trilateration.
[0145] With further reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, the mobile
communicator system 300 may operate as depicted in FIG. 12. As
provided in FIG. 12, the mobile communicator 470 may be in an
initial enabled state 100. In this example of the mobile
communicator disabling system 300, the network of signal
transceivers 310 may communicate with the locational tracking unit
610 of the mobile communicator 470 in order to determine the
location of the mobile communicator 470. Referring to FIG. 12, if
the at least one condition is not satisfied, the mobile
communicator may remain enabled 160. The locational tracking unit
610 may continually communicate with the network of signal
transceivers 310 to determine if the at least one condition is
satisfied. However, if the at least one condition is satisfied, the
disabling circuit may disable the mobile communicator 110. The at
least one condition may comprise either of the retrieval of a
privacy signal; or the present speed of the mobile communicator 470
may be greater than a pre-determined setpoint. As depicted in FIG.
12, the mobile communicator may remain disabled for 30 seconds or
any period of time 120. Since the locational tracking unit 610 may
continually determine the location of the mobile communicator 470
after the time period 120, such as 30 seconds, has elapsed, if the
at least one condition is still satisfied, the mobile communicator
may remain disabled 130 and may remain disabled for an additional
time period 120, such as 30 seconds. However, if the at least one
condition is not longer satisfied, the disabling circuit may
re-enable the mobile communicator 140. Additionally, if there is an
emergency, the disabling circuit may enable the mobile communicator
150.
[0146] A mobile communicator 470 disabling method 900, as described
with reference to FIGS. 8 and 13, may comprise: providing a
locational tracking unit 610 and a disabling circuit 550 to a
mobile communicator 470, wherein the mobile communicator 470 is in
an initial enabled state 910; determining the location 920 of the
mobile communicator 470; determining that at least one condition
for disablement of the mobile communicator 470 is satisfied 930;
and disabling 940 the mobile communicator 470.
[0147] With continued reference to FIGS. 8 and 13, and with further
reference to FIG. 9, determining the location 920 of the mobile
communicator 470 may comprise of the locational tracking unit 610
communicating with a network of signal transceivers 310. The
determination of the location 920 may further include
triangulation, trilateration, multilateration, GPS positioning,
cell identification, enhanced cell identification, etc.
[0148] Multilateration is a process of locating an object by
accurately computing the Time Difference of Arrival (TDoA) of a
signal emitted from the object to three or more receivers. TDoA
uses the time it takes for a signal to travel as an indirect method
of calculating distance. With a minimum of three base stations of
signal transceivers, such as cell towers 320a-c, receiving a signal
from a mobile communicator 470, the difference in time it takes for
the signal 335 to reach each tower 320a-c can be used to determine
the position of the mobile communicator 470.
[0149] Cell identification is a method that determines the position
of a mobile communicator 470, based on signal strength. This is a
simple method that provides a rough estimate of the location of the
mobile communicator 470. The location of a cell tower 320a-c that
is in communication with a mobile communicator 470 and is closest
to the mobile communicator 470 is determined to be the rough
location of the mobile communicator. The cell tower 320a-c that
receives the strongest signal 335 from the mobile communicator 470
is closest to the mobile communicator 470.
[0150] This simple method is often used in conjunction with other
techniques in order to increase the precision of the mobile
positioning, such as the Global Positioning System (GPS) or Time of
Arrival (ToA). ToA is similar to the TDoA technique, but differs in
that it uses the absolute time of arrival at a certain base
station, rather than the difference between stations.
[0151] Determining that at least one condition for disablement of
the mobile communicator 470 is satisfied 930 may include the at
least one condition for disablement to be either the retrieval of a
privacy signal or the determination that the speed of the mobile
communicator 470 is greater than a pre-determined setpoint.
[0152] Moreover, the initial enablement of the mobile communicator
910 may further comprise authenticating a user's voice and/or
password with a voice recognition system 630 or determining the
location of the mobile communicator 470 with the locational
tracking unit 610.
[0153] The method for disabling a mobile communicator 900 may also
comprise re-enabling the mobile communicator 470 as depicted in
FIG. 12. The mobile communicator 470 may be enabled if the at least
one condition is no longer satisfied 140. Further, if there is an
emergency, the disabling circuit enables the mobile communicator
150. In one example, the method for disabling a mobile communicator
900 may also comprise enabling the mobile communicator in an
emergency by speaking or verbalizing a word, e.g. "help," into a
microphone 375 or inputting "help" via a keypad 340. In another
example, this may also notify the location transmitter 570 to
trigger the locator beacon 313. Moreover, an example may include
enabling the mobile communicator 470 in an emergency in order for a
user to call an emergency service provider 280 and the emergency
service provider 280 may activate the locator beacon 313.
Additionally, the emergency service provider 280 may be notified of
the authorized user of the mobile communicator 470.
[0154] The foregoing description of the embodiments of this
invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and
description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the
invention to the precise form disclosed, and obviously, many
modifications and variations are possible. Such modifications and
variations that may be apparent to a person skilled in the art are
intended to be included within the scope of this invention as
defined by the accompanying claims.
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