Prohibiting radio frequency transmissions in a restricted environment

• US 20070037566A1
• Filed: 08/15/2005
• Published: 02/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: D'Agostino, Anthony, Meyer, David, DellaRatta, George
• Application Number:
  US11/204,142
• Publication Number:
  US 20070037566A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/421
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

According to an embodiment is a system that selectively permits or denies access to a restricted environment. Access can be based at least in part on the status of wireless transmitters of a mobile device, the status is one of active or inactive wireless communication. The system can automatically inactivate or disable a transmitter through a wireless command and thereafter permit access to the restricted environment. The mobile device can communicate wirelessly through one of a wireless local-area networks (WLAN), wireless wide-area network (WWAN), wireless personal-area network (WPAN).

Claims

1. A system for prohibiting radio frequency transmissions in a restricted environment, comprising

an electronic lock that limits user access to a restricted area;

and

a host computer that maintains a register of users and associated mobile devices and selectively allows access to the restricted area based at least in part on a status of a mobile device.

2. The system of claim 1, the host computer allows access to the restricted area if the user is registered and there are no transmitters active on the mobile device.

3. The system of claim 1, the host computer denies access to the restricted area if at least one transmitter of the mobile device is active or the user is not registered.

4. The system of claim 3, the host computer automatically disables one or more transmitters in the device.

5. The system of claim 3, the host computer provides a notification to the user to disable the at least one active transmitter.

6. The system of claim 1, the mobile device communicates wirelessly through one of a wireless local-area networks (WLAN), wireless wide-area network (WWAN), and wireless personal-area network (WPAN).

7. The system of claim 1, the host computer selectively allows access utilizing the electronic lock.

8. A computer readable medium having stored thereon the components of the system of claim 1.

9. A method for selectively allowing access to a restricted area, comprising:

maintaining an authorized user list that includes a mobile device registered to each authorized user;

receiving a request to access a restricted area; and

allowing access to the restricted area based at least in part on the authorized user list and a status of the registered mobile device.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

ascertaining if the mobile device is actively connected to the network; and

allowing access to the restricted area if the device is not actively connected to the network.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

denying access to the restricted area if the device is actively connected to the network.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

automatically disconnecting the device from the network; and

allowing access to the restricted area.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

notifying the user to disconnect the device from the network; and

allowing access to the restricted area when the device is disconnected from the network.

14. A system that selectively prohibits access to restricted environments, comprising:

means for receiving a user request to access a restricted environment,

means for ascertaining if the user has the proper authorization level;

means for associating a portable communication device with the user; and

means for selectively prohibiting access to the restricted environment.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

means for ascertaining if the portable communication device is actively communicating wireless data.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

means for automatically disabling a transmitter of the portable device if there is active wireless communication.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

means for allowing access to the restricted environment once the transmitter is disabled.

18. A computer readable medium having stored thereon the components of the system of claim 14.

19. A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions for:

receiving an access request;

associating the received access request with a user and a portable device;

making a determination whether the portable device is transmitting information wirelessly; and

permitting access if there is there is no transmission of wireless information.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, further comprising computer-executable instructions for:

temporarily denying the access request if the portable device is transmitting information wirelessly using at least one transmitter; and

automatically disabling the at least one transmitter on the portable device.