System, Method and Apparatus for Automatic Location-Based Silencing of Wireless Transceivers

• US 20110053572A1
• Filed: 09/01/2009
• Published: 03/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cook, Charles, Cho, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 8,594,738 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.2
• 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: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• 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 76/50 for emergency connections

Abstract

A wireless telecommunication system that automatically enforces a quiet mode of operation for a wireless handset comprises a cellular telecommunication network, and a wireless handset configured to transmit voice and data information to, and configured to receive voice and data information from the cellular telecommunication network. The wireless handset comprises a quiet mode controller configured to disable the wireless handset from issuing the audible notification when the wireless handset is in a designated quiet zone location.

Claims

1. A wireless telecommunication system adapted to implement a quiet mode of operation, the system comprising:

a cellular telecommunication network;

a quiet zone signal transmitter configured to issue a quiet zone signal receivable in a physical environment of a quiet zone; and

a wireless handset configured to transmit voice and data information to, and configured to receive voice and data information from, the cellular telecommunication network, the wireless handset also configured to receive the quiet zone signal when the wireless handset is located within the physical environment of the quiet zone, wherein the wireless handset comprises a quiet mode controller configured to set the wireless handset to operate in a quiet mode when the wireless handset receives the quiet zone signal.

2. The wireless telecommunication system of claim 1 wherein the wireless handset is configurable to selectively issue an audible notification upon the occurrence of one or more of a plurality of events.

3. The wireless telecommunication system of claim 2 wherein the one or more of a plurality of events upon the occurrence of which the wireless handset is configurable to issue an audible notification, is selected from the group consisting of:

a phone call;

a voice mail message;

an e-mail message;

a short message service (SMS) message;

a received real-time text-based communication;

a messaging (IM) communication;

a scheduled event;

establishment of a connection with the cellular telecommunication network;

loss of connection with the cellular telecommunication network;

a past-due notice of a scheduled event;

a low-power notice; and

a reminder notification.

4. The wireless telecommunication system of claim 1 wherein the quiet zone signal transmitter comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) transceiver.

5. The wireless telecommunication system of claim 1 wherein the quiet zone signal transmitter comprises a portal tower.

6. The wireless telecommunication system of claim 1 wherein the quiet zone signal transmitter comprises a description of a plurality of metes and bounds of the quiet zone location.

7. The wireless telecommunication system of claim 1 wherein the quiet zone signal transmitter comprises a description of the global positioning system (GPS) coordinates of the quiet zone location.

8. The wireless telecommunication system of claim 1 wherein the quiet zone signal transmitter comprises a base station positioned centrally within the quiet zone, the base station configured to transmit the quiet zone signal.

9. The wireless telecommunication system of claim 8 wherein the base station transmits a radio frequency quiet zone signal.

10. The wireless telecommunication system of claim 8 wherein the base station transmits a ultra high frequency quiet zone signal.

11. The wireless telecommunication system of claim 8 wherein the base station transmits a quiet zone signal selected from the group consisting of a visible light signal, a non-visible light signal, and an LED light signal.

12. The wireless telecommunication system of claim 2 wherein the quiet mode controller is further configured to enable the wireless handset to issue the audible notification when the wireless handset is not receiving a quiet zone signal.

13. The wireless telecommunication system of claim 1 wherein the quiet mode comprises a silent notification mode.

14. The wireless telecommunication system of claim 1 wherein the quiet mode comprises a visual-only notification mode.

15. The wireless telecommunication system of claim 1 wherein the quiet mode comprises a disablement of the wireless handset from receiving incoming calls.

16. The wireless telecommunication system of claim 15 wherein the quiet mode further comprises an enablement of the wireless handset to receive an incoming emergency call.

17. The wireless telecommunication system of claim 16 wherein the quiet mode further comprises an enablement of the wireless handset to redirect the incoming emergency call to a public safety answering point (PSAP) by way of the cellular telecommunication network.

18. The wireless telecommunication system of claim 1 wherein the quiet mode comprises a disablement of the wireless handset from initiating outgoing calls.

19. The wireless telecommunication system of claim 18 wherein the quiet mode further comprises an enablement of the wireless handset to initiate outgoing emergency calls.

20. The wireless telecommunication system of claim 19 wherein the quiet mode further comprises an enablement of the wireless handset to direct the outgoing emergency call to a public safety answering point (PSAP) by way of the cellular telecommunication network.

21. The wireless telecommunication system of claim 1 wherein the quiet zone signal transmitter is further configured to transmit the quiet zone signal when the wireless handset is within a predefined distance of a steering wheel of a motor vehicle, and when the motor vehicle is in an operational mode.

22. The wireless telecommunication system of claim 21 wherein the quiet mode comprises:

a disablement of the wireless handset from receiving incoming calls; and

a disablement of the wireless handset from initiating outgoing calls.

23. The wireless telecommunication system of claim 1 wherein the wireless handset further comprises an override capability that permits a user of the wireless handset to override the quiet mode of operation.

24. The wireless telecommunication system of claim 1 wherein the quiet zone signal transmitter comprises a description of a plurality of metes and bounds of the quiet zone location, and wherein the plurality of metes and bounds are defined based on a combination of location information transmitted from a cellular network and location information transmitted from a global positioning system.

25. A computer-implemented method for automatically adjusting an operational mode of a wireless handset, the method comprising:

designating a quiet zone having a physical location in three-dimensional space;

transmitting a quiet zone signal to demark the quiet zone; and

defining an action for the wireless handset to automatically initiate when the wireless handset receives the transmitted quiet zone signal.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein defining an action for the wireless handset to automatically initiate when the wireless handset receives the transmitted quiet zone signal further comprises defining an action for the wireless handset to automatically initiate when the wireless handset no longer receives the transmitted quiet zone signal.