Automatic electronic device detection

• US 20060099968A1
• Filed: 06/06/2005
• Published: 05/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Scott C Harris
• Original Assignee: Scott C Harris
• Inventors: Harris, Scott C.
• Application Number:
  US11/146,491
• Publication Number:
  US 20060099968A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.4
• 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 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems

Abstract

A cellular telephone and method that detects that it is present within a station for deliver of combustible material, e.g., a gas station. The station sends a wireless “beacon”, which is received by the telephone to indicate to the telephone that it is within the range of a station. The phone can then shut off, or restrict further calls.

Claims

1. A portable telephone, comprising:

a receiving part, which operates to receive a wireless signal that indicates that a portable telephone is within range of a station for delivery of hazardous materials; and

a controller, responsive to receiving said wireless signal, and operating to take an action to warn the user of the portable telephone.

2. A telephone as in claim 1, wherein said action comprises an alarm sound.

3. A telephone as in claim 1, wherein said action comprises preventing certain actions on the telephone from being taken.

4. A telephone as in claim 1, wherein said wireless signal is a wireless RF signal.

5. A telephone as in claim 1, wherein said wireless signal is a sound signal.

6. A telephone as in claim 1, wherein said controller detects said wireless signal, determines if the wireless signal has been present for more than a predetermined specified time, and takes said action only after the wireless signal has been detected for the specified amount of time.

7. A telephone as in claim 1, wherein said wireless signal is a beacon that is transmitted by the station.

8. A method, comprising:

receiving a wireless signal in a portable phone; and

taking an action to warn the user of the portable phone about the wireless signal.

9. A method as in claim 8, wherein said wireless signal is a signal that indicates proximity to a station for delivery of hazardous materials.

10. A method as in claim 9, wherein said wireless signal is a wireless RF signal.

11. A method as in claim 9, wherein said wireless signal is a sound signal.

12. A method as in claim 9, wherein said taking an action comprises forming an alarm indicating the proximity to said station.

13. A method as in claim 9, wherein said taking an action comprises preventing certain operations from being carried out on the portable telephone.

14. A method as in claim 9, further comprising taking said action only after the signal has been detected for a specified amount of time.

15. A communicating device, comprising:

a transceiver, which receives and transmits communication information;

a signal detector, which detects a signal which indicates that the communicating device is within range of a station for delivery of hazardous materials; and

a communicating device controller, which restricts at least one aspect of communication based on said signal detector.

16. A device as in claim 15, wherein the communicating device includes a portable telephone.

17. A device as in claim 15, wherein the communicating device controller prevents new communications from being initiated when the signal detector detects that the device is within range of the station.

18. A device as in claim 15, wherein said signal is a Bluetooth signal.