Location-based control of functions of electronic devices
First Claim
1. A method of controlling a function of a personal communication device, the method comprising the steps of:
- defining a geographic region, determining the location of a personal communication device, and modifying an operation of the function of the personal communication device upon the personal communication device being determined to be within the defined geographic region.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A mobile personal communication device, such as a mobile telephone (cellular, satellite, or the like), that is capable of determining its geographic location, through an on-board GPS unit or other geographic locating mechanism, has a function that is disabled, enabled, modified or otherwise controlled when the personal communication device is determined to be within a defined area. The function controlled based on geographic region may include: the transmission of a data stream, such as a video or audio data stream, from or to the personal communication device; the disamblement or modification of ringers or other mechanism for audible notification of an event, for example, an incoming call or message from an external caller; the disablement or modification of an on-board camera or other on-board recording mechanism; and/or the disablement or modification of screen savers, disabling or modification of display lighting or backlighting or other functions of the personal communication device.
-
Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A method of controlling a function of a personal communication device, the method comprising the steps of:
-
defining a geographic region, determining the location of a personal communication device, and modifying an operation of the function of the personal communication device upon the personal communication device being determined to be within the defined geographic region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A system for controlling a function of a personal communication device, the system comprising:
-
means for determining the location of a personal communication device, and means for modifying an operation of the function of the personal communication device upon the personal communication device being determined to be within a defined geographic region. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A method of transmitting a data stream to a cellular telephone, the method comprising the steps of:
-
a) defining a geographic area, b) determining the location of a cellular telephone, and c) transmitting a data stream to the cellular telephone when the location of the cellular telephone is within the defined geographic area. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
-
Specification