Cell phone muting override system

• US 20070049264A1
• Filed: 08/29/2006
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Courteouscellphones, LLC
• Original Assignee: Lipovski G. Jack
• Inventors: Lipovski, G. Jack
• Granted Patent: US 7,363,042 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/421
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/044 according to the level of ambient noise
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections

Abstract

The disclosed invention relates to a system for restricting radio frequency transmissions within a restricted area and more particularly to a mechanism for overriding the restriction of radio frequency transmissions within a restricted area using an override mechanism. A restricted area is defined wherein all radio frequency transmissions are restricted. Within the restricted a plurality of cellular telephones is disposed, each with a radio frequency transmitter and a radio frequency receiver. An emergency override is also disposed within the restricted area, the emergency override capable of selectively enabling communications of a selected subset of the cellular telephones disposed within the restricted area.

Claims

1. A system for restricting radio frequency transmissions of a cellular telephone within a restricted area comprising:

i) a restricted area wherein all radio transmissions are restricted;

ii) a plurality of cellular telephones disposed within the restricted area, each cellular telephone including a radio frequency transmitter and a radio frequency receiver for receiving radio-frequency signals;

iii) a radio frequency transmissions inhibitor, the radio frequency transmissions inhibitor capable of selectively disabling the radio frequency transmissions of a first selected subset of the plurality of cellular telephones; and

iv) an emergency override, the emergency override capable of selectively enabling the radio frequency transmissions of a second selected subset of the plurality of cellular telephones,

wherein if a cellular telephone is a member of the first selected subset and a member of the second selected subset, the cellular telephone'"'"'s radio frequency transmissions are enabled.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the emergency override comprises:

i) a transmitter disposed within the restricted area;

ii) a receiver disposed within the plurality of cellular telephones; and

iii) a signal generated by the transmitter and received by the receiver, the signal allowing radio frequency transmissions from a subset of the plurality of cellular telephones.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the receiver is separate from the radio frequency receiver.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the receiver is selected from the group of an ultrasonic receiver and an infrared receiver.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the transmitter is selected from the group of an ultrasonic transmitter and an infrared transmitter.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the signal is received by all of the plurality of cellular telephones, and wherein each of the plurality of cellular telephones further comprises decoding circuitry for decoding an address stored within the signal to determine whether the particular cellular telephone is allowed to transmit radio frequency transmissions.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency transmissions inhibitor is disposed within the restricted area.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the restricted area has at least one entrance and wherein the radio frequency transmissions is disposed at the least one entrance.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of cellular telephones further comprises emergency override circuitry coupled to the radio-frequency receiver and the radio frequency transmitter, and wherein an emergency override command is received at least in part by the radio-frequency receiver, and wherein the emergency override circuitry activates the radio frequency transmitter.

10. A system for restricting the ringing of a cellular telephone within a restricted area comprising:

i) a restricted area wherein ringing of all cellular telephones disposed within the restricted area is muted;

ii) a plurality of cellular telephones disposed within the restricted area, each cellular telephone including a radio frequency receiver for receiving radio-frequency signals and a ringer;

iii) a ring inhibitor, the ring inhibitor capable of selectively disabling a first selected subset of the plurality of cellular telephones; and

iv) an emergency override, the emergency override capable of selectively enabling ringing of a second selected subset of the plurality of cellular telephones,

wherein if a cellular telephone is a member of the first selected subset and a member of the second selected subset, the cellular telephone'"'"'s ringing is enabled.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the emergency override comprises:

i) a transmitter disposed within the restricted area;

ii) a receiver disposed within the plurality of cellular telephones; and

iii) a signal generated by the transmitter and received by the receiver, the signal allowing ringing from a subset of the plurality of cellular telephones.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the receiver is separate from the radio frequency receiver.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the receiver is selected from the group of an ultrasonic receiver and an infrared receiver.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the transmitter is selected from the group of an ultrasonic transmitter and an infrared transmitter.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the signal is received by all of the plurality of cellular telephones, and wherein each of the plurality of cellular telephones further comprises decoding circuitry for decoding an address stored within the signal to determine whether the particular cellular telephone is allowed to ring.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the ring inhibitor is disposed within the restricted area.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the restricted area has at least one entrance and wherein the ring inhibitor is disposed at the least one entrance.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of cellular telephones further comprises emergency override circuitry coupled to the radio-frequency receiver and the ringer, and wherein an emergency override command is received at least in part by the radio-frequency receiver, and wherein the emergency override circuitry activates the ringer.