Automatic electronic device detection

• US 20040246139A1
• Filed: 06/08/2004
• Published: 12/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scott C Harris
• Original Assignee: Scott C Harris
• Inventors: Harris, Scott C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,202,798 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/686.6
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/3236 relating to electrostatic charges
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/16 Combustible gas alarms
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/16 for telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/22 including jamming detection and monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/43 characterized by the control of the jamming power, signal-to-noise ratio or geographic coverage area
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/68 using passive jamming, e.g. by shielding or reflection shielding of apparatus or components against electric or magnetic field H05K9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/84 related to preventing electromagnetic interference in petrol station, hospital, plane or cinema
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/90 related to allowing or preventing navigation or positioning, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

A system that detects cellular telephone and other electronic use within an unauthorized locations. The location can be detected by GPS or triangulation, and once detected can automatically produce certain operations.

Claims

1. A detection system, comprising:

a cell phone detection system, automatically detecting a cell phone, and producing an output signal indicative thereof; and

a fuel controlling part, responsive to said output signal, controlling dispensing of fuel responsive to said output signal.

2. A system as in claim 1, wherein said cell phone detection system detects operation of electronic components within the cell phone.

3. A system as in claim 2, wherein said cell phone detection system is a system which detects a local oscillator within the cell phone.

4. A system as in claim 1, wherein said cell phone detection system detects a wireless protocol used by the cell phone.

5. A system as in claim 4, wherein said cell phone detection system detects address signals used by the cell phone as part of said wireless protocol.

6. A system as in claim 5, wherein said wireless protocol is Bluetooth.

7. A system as in claim 1, wherein said cell phone detection system operates to send a page to each discovered cell phone which requests an answer from said each cell phone, and to determine a status of the cell phone based on said page.

8. A system as in claim 1, wherein said fuel controlling part operates to prevent fuel from being dispensed while a cell phone is in use.

9. A method, comprising:

automatically detecting use of a cell phone within a gas station, and producing an indication of said detecting; and

controlling dispensing of fuel based on said indication.

10. A method as in claim 9, wherein said automatically detecting comprises detecting operation of an electronic components within the cell phone.

11. A method as in claim 10, wherein said electronic components includes a local oscillator part.

12. A method as in claim 10, wherein said electronic components includes a component which operates a wireless protocol.

13. A method as in claim 9, wherein said automatically detecting comprises detecting an addressed protocol, communicating with the cell phone using said addressed protocol, and producing said indication based on said communicating.

14. A method as in claim 13, wherein said addressed protocol includes Bluetooth.

15. A method as in claim 9, wherein said automatically detecting comprises passively detecting signals from the cell phone, without communicating with the cell phone.

16. A system, comprising:

a cell phone detection system, which detects use of the cell phone within a station for dispensing of hazardous materials; and

a controller, which produces an output signal that commands the cell phone to automatically shut off, when detected.

17. A system as in claim 16, wherein said output signal is in Bluetooth format.

18. A system as in claim 16, wherein said station for hazardous materials is a gas station.