Method and apparatus for disabling mobile telephones
First Claim
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1. A method of disabling and enabling a mobile phone in a mobile phone-controlled zone, comprising the steps of:
- in the region of an entrance to the zone, transmitting to the phone a first wireless signal and then a second wireless signal;
in response to the first and second wireless signals, automatically disabling the phone from a fully operational mode to a standby mode, in which the phone is still receptive to the first and second wireless signals;
in the region of an exit to the zone, transmitting to the phone the second wireless signal and then the first wireless signal;
in response to the second and first wireless signals, automatically switching the phone from standby back to a fully operational mode.
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Abstract
A system for disabling mobile telephones in circumstances where their use would prejudice the operation of critical systems (e.g. on an aeroplane, or in a hospital), or would irritate others includes a pair of RF beacons situated at the entrance to the controlled zone. The phone has receivers sensitive to the beacon outputs, and is adapted automatically to shut down into a standby state when passing in one direction through the beacons, and to re-activate when passing in the other direction.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method of disabling and enabling a mobile phone in a mobile phone-controlled zone, comprising the steps of:
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in the region of an entrance to the zone, transmitting to the phone a first wireless signal and then a second wireless signal;
in response to the first and second wireless signals, automatically disabling the phone from a fully operational mode to a standby mode, in which the phone is still receptive to the first and second wireless signals;
in the region of an exit to the zone, transmitting to the phone the second wireless signal and then the first wireless signal;
in response to the second and first wireless signals, automatically switching the phone from standby back to a fully operational mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for enabling and disabling mobile phones in a phone controlled zone comprising:
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transmitting means located in the region of an entrance to the zone, which transmits to the phone a first wireless signal and then a second wireless signal to disable the mobile phone into a standby state, and the second wireless signal then the first wireless signal to actuate the mobile phone from a standby state to a fully operational state;
receiving means provided on the mobile phone for receiving the first and second signals;
whereinthe phone further comprises means for determining an order in which the first and second signals are received, and for actuating operation of the phone accordingly. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification