FM TRANSMITTER CONTROL

• US 20090017800A1
• Filed: 05/03/2006
• Published: 01/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Middleton, Don
• Application Number:
  US11/913,764
• Publication Number:
  US 20090017800A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/61 for local area broadcast, e.g. instore broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/50 of broadcast or relay stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for adaptively controlling transmission of FM signals from an electronic device such as a mobile phone handset. In one embodiment, the geographical location of the handset is determined. Based on the location of the handset, it is checked whether in this location, the FM transmissions are allowed or not. If the FM transmissions are allowed, the handset can start an FM transmission. However, if in this location the FM transmissions are not permitted, then the processing unit of the handset is informed that FM transmissions are not allowed and the FM transmissions are disabled. Also a specific message can be shown on the display of the handset.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting FM radio signals from a portable device the method comprising:

detecting the geographical location of the portable device; and

determining if FM transmissions are allowed or not in the detected geographical location.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising alerting the user whether FM transmissions are allowed or not in the detected geographical location.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising disabling FM transmissions if FM transmissions are not allowed in the detected geographical location.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said geographical location is detected by using one of the following positioning systems:

GPS, Galileo, Glonass, and WLAN based.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said geographical location is detected by determining the identity of a cell of a cellular network in which the portable device is operating.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said geographical location is detected by determining a carrier code of cellular transmissions in a cellular network in which the portable device is operating.

7. A module for detecting whether FM transmissions are allowed, comprising:

means for detecting a geographical location of the portable device; and

a look-up table containing information on the allowability of FM transmissions in different geographical locations.

8. The module according to claim 7, further being incorporated in a portable device.

9. The portable device according to claim 8, further comprising an FM transmitter adapted to transmit FM signals.

10. The portable device according to claim 8, further comprising a processor for handling signals from at least one of the following:

cellular communication network, satellite communication network.

11. The portable device according to claim 8, wherein said portable device is a mobile phone of a cellular communication system.

12. A system comprising:

a terminal operable to transmit FM signals, said terminal operable to detect the geographical location of the FM transmitter and determine whether FM transmissions are allowed in the current geographical location; and

a device operable to receive FM signals.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein a country database for defining whether FM transmissions are allowed in the current location is located in a communication network.

14. The system according to claim 12, wherein a country database for defining whether FM transmissions are allowed in the current location is located in a terminal unit.

15. A computer-readable medium having encoded thereon a method comprising:

detecting the geographical location of the portable device; and

determining whether FM transmissions are allowed in the detected geographical location.

16. The computer-readable medium according to claim 15 wherein the method further comprises alerting the user whether FM transmissions are allowed in the detected geo graphical location.

17. The computer-readable medium according to claim 15, wherein the method further comprises disabling FM transmissions if FM transmissions are not allowed in the detected geographical location.