METHOD OF GENERATING CONTROL SIGNALS BASED ON LOCATION OF RADIO TERMINALS

• US 20060058039A1
• Filed: 10/21/2005
• Published: 03/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ali S. Khayrallah, David R. Irvin
• Original Assignee: Ali S. Khayrallah, David R. Irvin
• Inventors: Khayrallah, Ali S., Irvin, David R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,606,578 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/12 Detection or prevention of fraud
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/30 Security of mobile devices; Security of mobile applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/63 Location-dependent; Proximity-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

A method of generating a control signal to enable or inhibit a wide variety of applications is provided. The method generally includes the steps of determining the location of a first mobile radio terminal, determining the location of a second mobile radio terminal, comparing the locations of the terminals, and generating a control signal based upon the comparison. The control signal may be generated if the first and second mobile radio terminals are within a specified distance of one another. Alternatively, the control signal may be generated if the first and second mobile radio terminals are separated by at least a specified distance from one another. Additionally, the control signal may be generated if it is determined that the first mobile radio terminal is at a first specified location and the second mobile radio terminal is at a second specified location spacially separated from the first specified location. Further, the control signal may be generated if the first and second mobile radio terminals are at specified locations at a preselect time.

Claims

1. A method of generating a control signal comprising:

determining the location of a first mobile radio terminal;

determining the location of a second mobile radio terminal;

comparing the locations of the first mobile radio terminal and the second mobile radio terminal; and

generating a control signal in response to comparing the locations of the first mobile radio terminal and the second mobile radio terminal, wherein the control signal activates the first mobile radio terminal if the locations of the first mobile radio terminal and the second mobile radio terminal are within a specified distance.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of determining the location of a first mobile radio terminal, determining the location of a second mobile radio terminal, comparing the locations of the first mobile radio terminal and the second mobile radio terminal, and generating a control signal in response to comparing the locations of the first mobile radio terminal and the second mobile radio terminal is performed by the first mobile radio terminal.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the location of a first mobile radio terminal and determining the location of a second mobile radio terminal is performed by using at least one of a global positioning system and a cellular positioning system.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising comparing a current time with a preselect time, and wherein generating a control signal further comprises generating said control signal if the locations of the first mobile radio terminal and the second mobile radio terminal are within a specified distance and the current time matches the preselect time.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of determining the location of a first mobile radio terminal, determining the location of a second mobile radio terminal, comparing the locations of the first mobile radio terminal and the second mobile radio terminal, and generating a control signal in response to comparing the locations of the first mobile radio terminal and the second mobile radio terminal is performed by the second mobile radio terminal.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of determining the location of a first mobile radio terminal, determining the location of a second mobile radio terminal, comparing the locations of the first mobile radio terminal and the second mobile radio terminal, and generating a control signal in response to comparing the locations of the first mobile radio terminal and the second mobile radio terminal is performed by a location server.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the second mobile radio terminal comprises a smart card that serves as a key to alternatively activate and unlock the first mobile radio terminal.

5. A method of generating a control signal comprising:

determining the location of at least two mobile radio terminals;

comparing at least one of;

the specific location of the at least two mobile radio terminals to at least one predetermined location, and the specific location of the at least two mobile radio terminals and time to at least one predetermined location and time; and

generating a control signal in response to comparing at least one of;

the specific location of the at least two mobile radio terminals to at least one predetermined location, and the specific location of the at least two mobile radio terminals and time to at least one predetermined location and time, wherein said control signal enables or disables at least one application in at least one of said at least two mobile radio terminals.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the at least two mobile radio terminals comprise N mobile radio terminals, wherein N≧

2, wherein comparing at least one of;

the specific location of the at least two mobile radio terminals to at least one predetermined location, and the specific location of the at least two mobile radio terminals and time to at least one predetermined location and time further comprises comparing the locations of the N mobile radio terminals with M different specified locations, wherein M≦

N, and wherein generating a control signal further comprises generating said control signal if at least one of the N mobile radio terminals is located at each of the M different specified locations.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the at least two mobile radio terminals comprise N mobile radio terminals, wherein N≧

2, and wherein comparing at least one of;

the specific location of the at least two mobile radio terminals to at least one predetermined location, and the specific location of the at least two mobile radio terminals and time to at least one predetermined location and time further comprises comparing the locations of the N mobile radio terminals with N specified locations assigned to each of the N mobile radio terminals, and wherein generating a control signal further comprises generating said control signal if each of the N mobile radio terminals is located at its assigned location.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the N specified locations include N different specified locations.

16. The method of claim 5 wherein the at least two mobile radio terminals comprise a first mobile radio terminal and a second mobile radio terminal, and wherein comparing the locations of the first mobile radio terminal and the second mobile radio terminal further comprises comparing the location of the first mobile radio terminal to a first specified location and the location of the second mobile radio terminal to a second specified location, and wherein generating a control signal further comprises generating said control signal if the first mobile radio terminal is at the first specified location and the second mobile radio terminal is at the second specified location.

17. The method of claim 5 wherein determining the location of at least two mobile radio terminals is performed by using at least one of a global positioning system and a cellular positioning system.

18. The method of claim 5 wherein at least one of determining the location of at least two mobile radio terminals, comparing at least one of:

the specific location of the at least two mobile radio terminals to at least one predetermined location, and the specific location of the at least two mobile radio terminals and time to at least one predetermined location and time, and generating a control signal in response to comparing at least one of;

the specific location of the at least two mobile radio terminals to at least one predetermined location, and the specific location of the at least two mobile radio terminals and time to at least one predetermined location and time is performed by at least one of the at least two mobile radio terminals.

19. The method of claim 5 wherein at least one of determining the location of at least two mobile radio terminals, comparing at least one of:

the specific location of the at least two mobile radio terminals to at least one predetermined location, and the specific location of the at least two mobile radio terminals and time to at least one predetermined location and time, and generating a control signal in response to comparing at least one of;

the specific location of the at least two mobile radio terminals to at least one predetermined location, and the specific location of the at least two mobile radio terminals and time to at least one predetermined location and time is performed by a location server.

20. The method of claim 5 wherein determining the location of at least two mobile radio terminals comprises monitoring the location of the at least two mobile radio terminals.

21. The method of claim 5 wherein the comparing at least one of:

the specific location of the at least two mobile radio terminals to at least one predetermined location, and the specific location of the at least two mobile radio terminals and time to at least one predetermined location and time further comprises comparing the locations of the at least two mobile radio terminals with at least one specified location and a current time with a preselect time, and wherein generating a control signal further comprises generating said control signal if the at least two mobile radio terminals are located in the at least one specified location at the preselect time.

22. The method of claim 5 wherein the at least two mobile radio terminals comprise a first mobile radio terminal and a second mobile radio terminal, and the determining the location of at least two mobile radio terminals further comprises:

receiving an initiation signal that includes the location of the first mobile radio terminal;

transmitting a location query to the second mobile radio terminal; and

receiving the location of the second mobile radio terminal in response to the location query.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein comparing at least one of:

the specific location of the at least two mobile radio terminals to at least one predetermined location, and the specific location of the at least two mobile radio terminals and time to at least one predetermined location and time further comprises comparing the location of the first mobile radio terminal to a first specified location and the location of the second mobile radio terminal to a second specified location that is spacially separated from the first specified location, and wherein generating a control signal further comprises generating said control signal if the first mobile radio terminal is at the first specified location and the second mobile radio terminal is at the second specified location.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein comparing at least one of:

the specific location of the at least two mobile radio terminals to at least one predetermined location, and the specific location of the at least two mobile radio terminals and time to at least one predetermined location and time further comprises comparing the location of the first mobile radio terminal to a first specified location, the location of the second mobile radio terminal to a second specified location that is spacially separated from the first specified location, and a current time with a preselect time, and wherein generating a control signal further comprises generating said control signal if the first mobile radio terminal is at the first specified location, the second mobile radio terminal is at the second specified location, and the current time matches the preselect time.

25. The method of claim 5 wherein the at least two mobile radio terminals comprise a first mobile radio terminal and a second mobile radio terminal, and the determining the location of at least two mobile radio terminals further comprises:

receiving an initiation signal from the first mobile radio terminal;

transmitting a location query to the first mobile radio terminal and the second mobile radio terminal; and

receiving the location of the first mobile radio terminal and the second mobile radio terminal in response to the location queries.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein comparing at least one of:

the specific location of the at least two mobile radio terminals to at least one predetermined location, and the specific location of the at least two mobile radio terminals and time to at least one predetermined location and time further comprises comparing the location of the first mobile radio terminal to a first specified location and the location of the second mobile radio terminal to a second specified location that is spacially separated from the first specified location, and wherein generating a control signal further comprises generating said control signal if the first mobile radio terminal is at the first specified location and the second mobile radio terminal is at the second specified location.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein comparing at least one of:

the specific location of the at least two mobile radio terminals to at least one predetermined location, and the specific location of the at least two mobile radio terminals and time to at least one predetermined location and time further comprises comparing the location of the first mobile radio terminal to a first specified location, the location of the second mobile radio terminal to a second specified location that is spacially separated from the first specified location, and a current time with a preselect time, and wherein generating a control signal further comprises generating said control signal if the first mobile radio terminal is at the first specified location, the second mobile radio terminal is at the second specified location, and the current time matches the preselect time.

28. The method of claim 5 wherein the control signal may alternatively activate, deactivate, lock, and unlock the at least two mobile radio terminals.

9. A method of generating a control signal comprising:

receiving an initiation signal from a first mobile radio terminal, said initiation signal including the location of the first mobile radio terminal;

transmitting a location query to a second mobile radio terminal;

receiving the location of the second mobile radio terminal in response to the location query;

comparing the locations of the first and second mobile radio terminals; and

generating a control signal based upon comparing the locations of the first and second mobile radio terminals and transmitting the control signal to the first mobile radio terminal to activate the first mobile radio terminal for use if the locations of the first and second mobile radio terminals are within a specified distance.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the first mobile radio terminal comprises a mobile communication device, and wherein the second mobile radio terminal comprises a key that may alternatively activate, deactivate, lock, and unlock the mobile communication device only when the locations of the mobile communication device and the key are within the specified distance.

11. A method of generating a control signal comprising:

receiving an initiation signal from a first mobile radio terminal;

transmitting a location query to the first mobile radio terminal and a second mobile radio terminal;

receiving the locations of the first and second mobile radio terminals in response to the location query;

comparing the received locations of the first and second mobile radio terminals; and

generating a control signal based upon comparing the received locations of the first and second mobile radio terminals and transmitting the control signal to the first mobile radio terminal to activate the first mobile radio terminal for use if the locations of the first and second mobile radio terminals are within a specified distance.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the first mobile radio terminal comprises a mobile communication device, and wherein the second mobile radio terminal comprises a key that may alternatively activate, deactivate, lock, and unlock the mobile communication device only when the locations of the mobile communication device and the key are within the specified distance.

29. A first mobile radio terminal comprising:

an RF transceiver; and

a microprocessor logic circuit operable to control the operation of the first mobile radio terminal, said microprocessor logic circuit programmed to;

determine the location of the first mobile radio terminal;

determine the location of a second mobile radio terminal;

compare the locations of the first mobile radio terminal and the second mobile radio terminal; and

generate a control signal in response to the compared locations of the first mobile radio terminal and the second mobile radio terminal, wherein the control signal activates the first mobile radio terminal if the locations of the first mobile radio terminal and the second mobile radio terminal are within a specified distance.

30. The first mobile radio terminal of claim 29 wherein said microprocessor logic circuit is further programmed to generate said control signal in response to an activation signal received from said second mobile radio terminal permitting operation of said first mobile radio terminal.

31. The first mobile radio terminal of claim 29 wherein the microprocessor logic circuit is further programmed to compare a current time with a preselect time and to generate said control signal if the locations of the first mobile radio terminal and the second mobile radio terminal are within a specified distance and the current time matches the preselect time.

58. The first mobile radio terminal of claim 30 wherein the activation signal is transmitted by the second mobile radio terminal to the first mobile radio terminal using a short-range radio frequency link.

59. The first mobile radio terminal of claim 58 wherein the short-range radio frequency link comprises a Bluetooth link.

64. The first mobile radio terminal of claim 29 wherein the first mobile radio terminal comprises a locating device.

65. The first mobile radio terminal of claim 64 wherein the locating device comprises a global positioning system receiver.

32. A second mobile radio terminal comprising:

an RF transceiver; and

a microprocessor logic circuit operable to control the operation of the second mobile radio terminal, said microprocessor logic circuit programmed to perform at least two of the following instructions;

determine the location of a first mobile radio terminal;

determine the location of the second mobile radio terminal;

compare the locations of the first mobile radio terminal and the second mobile radio terminal; and

generate a control signal in response to the compared locations of the first mobile radio terminal and the second mobile radio terminal, wherein said second mobile radio terminal transmits and activation signal in response to said control signal to said first mobile radio terminal to activate the first mobile radio terminal if the locations of the first mobile radio terminal and the second mobile radio terminal are within a specified distance.

33. The second mobile radio terminal of claim 32 wherein said microprocessor logic circuit is programmed to perform of all of said instructions.

34. The second mobile radio terminal of claim 32 wherein the microprocessor logic circuit is further programmed to compare a current time with a preselect time.

35. The second mobile radio terminal of claim 32 wherein the second mobile radio terminal comprises a smart card that serves as a key to alternatively activate and unlock the first mobile radio terminal.

60. The second mobile radio terminal of claim 32 wherein the activation signal is transmitted by the second mobile radio terminal to the first mobile radio terminal using a short-range radio frequency link.

61. The second mobile radio terminal of claim 60 wherein the short-range radio frequency link comprises a Bluetooth link.

62. The second mobile radio terminal of claim 32 wherein the second mobile radio terminal comprises one of a mobile phone and a smart card.

68. The second mobile radio terminal of claim 32 wherein the second mobile radio terminal comprises a locating device.

69. The second mobile radio terminal of claim 68 wherein the locating device comprises a global positioning system receiver.

36. A first mobile radio terminal comprising:

an RF transceiver; and

a microprocessor logic circuit operable to control the operation of the first mobile radio terminal, said microprocessor logic circuit programmed to perform at least two of the following instructions;

determine the location of at least two mobile radio terminals;

compare at least one of;

the specific location of the at least two mobile radio terminals to at least one predetermined location, and the specific location of the at least two mobile radio terminals and time to at least one predetermined location and time; and

generate a control signal in response to the compare instruction, wherein said control signal enables or disables at least one application in at least one of said at least two mobile radio terminals.

37. The first mobile radio terminal of claim 36 wherein the at least two mobile radio terminals comprise N mobile radio terminals, wherein N≧

2, and wherein the microprocessor logic circuit is further programmed to compare the locations of the N mobile radio terminals with M different specified locations, wherein M≦

N, and to generate said control signal if at least one of the N mobile radio terminals is located at each of the M different specified locations.

38. The first mobile radio terminal of claim 36 wherein the at least two mobile radio terminals comprise N mobile radio terminals, wherein N≧

2, and wherein the microprocessor logic circuit is further programmed to compare the locations of the N mobile radio terminals with N specified locations assigned to each of the N mobile radio terminals, and to generate said control signal if each of the N mobile radio terminals is located at its assigned location.

39. The first mobile radio terminal of claim 38 wherein the N specified locations include N different specified locations.

40. The first mobile radio terminal of claim 36 wherein the microprocessor logic circuit is further programmed to compare the locations of the at least two mobile radio terminals with at least one specified location and a current time with a preselect time, and generate said control signal if the at least two mobile radio terminals are located in the at least one specified location at the preselect time.

41. The first mobile radio terminal of claim 36 wherein the at least two mobile radio terminals comprise the first mobile radio terminal and a second mobile radio terminal, and wherein the microprocessor logic circuit is further programmed to compare the location of the first mobile radio terminal to a first specified location and the location of the second mobile radio terminal to a second specified location that is spacially separated from the first specified location, and to generate said control signal if the first mobile radio terminal is at the first specified location and the second mobile radio terminal is at the second specified location.

42. The first mobile radio terminal of claim 36 wherein the at least two mobile radio terminals comprise the first mobile radio terminal and a second mobile radio terminal, and wherein the microprocessor logic circuit is further programmed to compare the location of the first mobile radio terminal to a first specified location, the location of the second mobile radio terminal to a second specified location that is spacially separated from the first specified location, and a current time with a preselect time, and to generate said control signal if the first mobile radio terminal is at the first specified location, the second mobile radio terminal is at the second specified location, and the current time matches the preselect time.

43. The first mobile radio terminal of claim 36 wherein the at least two mobile radio terminals comprise the first mobile radio terminal and a second mobile radio terminal, and wherein the microprocessor logic circuit is further programmed to:

transmit an initiation signal from the first mobile radio terminal to a location server;

receive a location query from the location server; and

transmit the location of the first mobile radio terminal to the location server in response to the location query.

44. The first mobile radio terminal of claim 36 wherein said microprocessor logic circuit is programmed to activate, deactivate, lock, and unlock the at least two mobile radio terminals in response to said control signal.

66. The first mobile radio terminal of claim 36 wherein the first mobile radio terminal comprises a locating device.

67. The first mobile radio terminal of claim 66 wherein the locating device comprises a global positioning system receiver.

45. A second mobile radio terminal comprising:

an RF transceiver; and

a microprocessor logic circuit operable to control the operation of the second mobile radio terminal, said microprocessor logic circuit programmed to perform at least two of the following;

determine the location of at least two mobile radio terminals;

compare at least one of;

the specific location of the at least two mobile radio terminals to at least one predetermined location, and the specific location of the at least two mobile radio terminals and time to at least one predetermined location and time; and

generate a control signal in response to the compare instruction, wherein said control signal enables or disables at least one application in at least one of said at least two mobile radio terminals.

46. The second mobile radio terminal of claim 45 wherein the at least two mobile radio terminals comprise N mobile radio terminals, wherein N≧

2, and wherein the microprocessor logic circuit is further programmed to compare the locations of the N mobile radio terminals with M different specified locations, wherein M≦

N, and to generate said control signal if at least one of the N mobile radio terminals is located at each of the M different specified locations.

47. The second mobile radio terminal of claim 45 wherein the at least two mobile radio terminals comprise N mobile radio terminals, wherein N≧

2, and wherein the microprocessor logic circuit is further programmed to compare the locations of the N mobile radio terminals with N specified locations assigned to each of the N mobile radio terminals, and to generate said control signal if each of the N mobile radio terminals is located at its assigned location.

48. The second mobile radio terminal of claim 47 wherein the N specified locations include N different specified locations.

49. The second mobile radio terminal of claim 45 wherein the microprocessor logic circuit is further programmed to compare the locations of the at least two mobile radio terminals with at least one specified location and a current time with a preselect time, and to generate said control signal if the at least two mobile radio terminals are located in the at least one specified location at the preselect time.

50. The second mobile radio terminal of claim 45 wherein the at least two mobile radio terminals comprise a first mobile radio terminal and the second mobile radio terminal, and wherein the microprocessor logic circuit is further programmed to compare the location of the first mobile radio terminal to a first specified location and the location of the second mobile radio terminal to a second specified location that is spacially separated from the first specified location, and to generate said control signal if the first mobile radio terminal is at the first specified location and the second mobile radio terminal is at the second specified location.

51. The second mobile radio terminal of claim 45 wherein the at least two mobile radio terminals comprise a first mobile radio terminal and the second mobile radio terminal, and wherein the microprocessor logic circuit is further programmed to compare the location of the first mobile radio terminal to a first specified location, the location of the second mobile radio terminal to a second specified location that is spacially separated from the first specified location, and a current time with a preselect time, and to generate said control signal if the first mobile radio terminal is at the first specified location, the second mobile radio terminal is at the second specified location, and the current time matches the preselect time.

52. The second mobile radio terminal of claim 45 wherein the at least two mobile radio terminals comprise a first mobile radio terminal and the second mobile radio terminal, and wherein the microprocessor logic circuit is further programmed to:

receive a location query from a location server; and

transmit the location of the second mobile radio terminal to the location server in response to the location query.

53. The second mobile radio terminal of claim 45 wherein said microprocessor logic circuit is programmed to activate, deactivate, lock, and unlock the at least two mobile radio terminals in response to said control signal.

63. The second mobile radio terminal of claim 45 wherein the second mobile radio terminal comprises one of a mobile phone and a smart card.

70. The second mobile radio terminal of claim 45 wherein the second mobile radio terminal comprises a locating device.

71. The second mobile radio terminal of claim 70 wherein the locating device comprises a global positioning system receiver.

54. A location server for generating a control signal comprising:

a microprocessor logic circuit programmed to;

receive an initiation signal from a first mobile radio terminal, said initiation signal including the location of the first mobile radio terminal;

transmit a location query to a second mobile radio terminal;

receive a report from the second mobile radio terminal in response to the location query, wherein the report includes the location of the second mobile radio terminal;

compare the locations of the first and second mobile radio terminals;

generate a control signal based upon the comparison of the locations of the first and second mobile radio terminals; and

transmit the control signal to the first mobile radio terminal, said control signal causing activation of the first mobile radio terminal if the locations of the first and second mobile radio terminals are either within, or separated by, a specified distance.

55. The location server of claim 54 wherein the first mobile radio terminal comprises a mobile communication device, and wherein the second mobile radio terminal comprises a key that results in the activation, deactivation, locking, and unlocking of the mobile communication device only when the locations of the mobile communication device and the key are within the specified distance.

56. A location server for generating a control signal comprising:

a microprocessor logic circuit programmed to;

receive an initiation signal from a first mobile radio terminal;

transmit a location query to the first mobile radio terminal and a second mobile radio terminal;

receive a report from the first mobile radio terminal in response to said location query, wherein the report includes the location of the first mobile radio terminal;

receive a report from the second mobile radio terminal in response to said location query, wherein the report includes the location of the second mobile radio terminal;

compare the locations of the first and second mobile radio terminals;

generate a control signal based upon the comparison of the locations of the first and second mobile radio terminals; and

transmit the control signal to the first mobile radio terminal causing activation of the first mobile radio terminal for use if the locations of the first and second mobile radio terminals are either within, or separated by, a specified distance.

57. The location server of claim 56 wherein the first mobile radio terminal comprises a mobile communication device, and wherein the second mobile radio terminal comprises a key that causes activation, deactivation, locking, and unlocking of the mobile communication device only when the locations of the mobile communication device and the key are within the specified distance.