TERRESTIAL-SIGNAL BASED EXCLUSION ZONE COMPLIANCE

• US 20110081020A1
• Filed: 10/14/2010
• Published: 04/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Riter, Bruce, Janky, James M., Loomis, Peter Van Wyck
• Granted Patent: US 8,054,181 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 380/270
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/18 Military applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/1013 to locations

Abstract

An exclusion zone compliance circuit comprises a terrestrial radio signal reception component for receiving a terrestrial radio signal comprising a unique identification of a transmission source. A non-volatile memory component of the circuit stores an encrypted data set describing boundaries of an exclusion zone. A navigation data deriving component of the circuit accesses a data set and compares the unique identification with a station identification of the transmission source and the geographic position of the transmission source. The navigation data deriving component derives a geographic position of the exclusion zone compliance circuit and determines whether the exclusion zone compliance circuit is located within an exclusion zone. A data blocking component of the circuit accesses the encrypted data set. A data control component of the exclusion zone compliance circuit blocks output of a signal in response to an indication that the circuit is located within an exclusion zone.

Claims

1. An exclusion zone compliance circuit, said circuit comprising:

a terrestrial radio signal reception component configured for receiving a terrestrial radio signal, said terrestrial radio signal comprising a unique identification of a transmission source of said terrestrial radio signal;

a non-volatile memory component configured for storing an encrypted data set describing boundaries of an exclusion zone;

a navigation data deriving component communicatively coupled with said terrestrial radio signal reception component, said non-volatile memory, and with a data set and compares said unique identification of said transmission source with a station identification of said transmission source and a known geographic position of said transmission source, said navigation data deriving component configured for deriving a geographic position of said exclusion zone compliance circuit based upon said known geographic position of said transmission source and to determine whether said geographic position of said exclusion zone compliance circuit is located within said exclusion zone;

a data blocking component communicatively coupled with said non-volatile memory component and navigation data deriving component, said data blocking component configured for controlling access of said encrypted data set; and

a data control component configured for blocking output of a signal from said circuit in response to an indication that said exclusion zone compliance circuit is located within said exclusion zone.

2. The circuit of claim 1 wherein said non-volatile memory component is selected from the group consisting of a read-only memory component and a programmable memory component.

3. The circuit of claim 1 wherein said circuit comprises an integrated circuit.

4. The circuit of claim 1 wherein said data blocking component is configured to verify the authenticity of said encrypted data set.

5. The circuit of claim 1 wherein said data blocking component further comprises:

a verification data determining component configured for determining a verification data value based upon said encrypted data set; and

a verification data comparison component communicatively coupled with said verification data determining component, said verification data comparison component configured for comparing a second verification data value stored by said non-volatile memory component with said verification data value and wherein said data blocking component prevents said navigation data deriving component from accessing said encrypted data set when said verification data comparison component determines that said verification data value does not match said second verification data value.

6. The circuit of claim 5 further comprising:

an encrypted data set input communicatively coupled with said non-volatile memory component configured for receiving an updated encrypted data set.

7. The circuit of claim 6 wherein said data blocking component further comprises:

a date comparison component configured for comparing a date associated with said updated encrypted data set with a second date corresponding to a valid encrypted data set and wherein said data blocking component is further configured for preventing said navigation data deriving component from accessing said updated encrypted data set when said date comparison component determines that said date associated with said updated encrypted data set does not match said second date corresponding to a valid encrypted data set.

8. The circuit of claim 6 wherein said data blocking component further comprises:

a time comparison component configured for comparing a time associated with said updated encrypted data set with a second time corresponding to a valid encrypted data set and wherein said data blocking component is further configured for preventing said navigation data deriving component from accessing said updated encrypted data set when said time comparison component determines that said time associated with said updated encrypted data set does not match said second time corresponding to a valid encrypted data set.

9. The circuit of claim 6 further comprising:

a second encrypted data set input communicatively coupled with said data control component and configured for receiving a second encrypted data set; and

an encrypted data set output communicatively coupled with said data control component.

10. The circuit of claim 6 wherein said data blocking component further comprises:

an encryption key comparator configured for comparing a stored encryption key with an encryption key associated with said updated encrypted data set and wherein said data blocking component is further configured for preventing a loading of said updated encrypted data set into said non-volatile memory component when said stored encryption key does not match said encryption key associated with said updated encryption data set.

11. The circuit of claim 5, wherein said verification data value comprises a checksum value and wherein said second verification data value comprises a second checksum value.

12. The circuit of claim 1 further comprising:

a speed determining component configured to determine a speed of said circuit and wherein said signal generating component is further configured to generate a signal in response to an indication that a speed threshold of said circuit is exceeded; and

an altitude determining component configured for comparing an altitude of said circuit with an altitude threshold and for outputting an altitude exceeding signal when said altitude exceeds an altitude threshold and wherein said signal generating component is further configured to generate a signal in response to an indication that said altitude threshold of said circuit is exceeded.

13. The circuit of claim 1 wherein said circuit is disposed within a device further comprising a satellite-signal-based exclusion zone compliance device which is configured to generate a signal indicating that it cannot currently derive a geographic position within a specified parameter.

14. The circuit of claim 1 wherein said circuit is disposed within a cellular telephone and wherein said signal from said data control component controls a function of said cellular telephone.

15. The circuit of claim 14 wherein said signal from said data control component prevents said cellular telephone from receiving a radio transmission.

16. The circuit of claim 14 wherein said signal from said data control component prevents said cellular telephone from transmitting a radio signal.

17. The circuit of claim 1 wherein said data control component is configured to output a signal which disables said circuit in response to determining that said circuit is located within said exclusion zone.

18. The circuit of claim 1 wherein said data set comprising said unique identification of said transmission source and said known geographic position of said transmission source comprises a second encrypted data set which is stored on said non-volatile memory component.

19. A method for implementing exclusion zone compliance, said method comprising:

receiving a terrestrial radio signal with a terrestrial radio signal reception component of an exclusion zone compliance circuit, said terrestrial radio signal comprising a unique identification of a transmission source of said terrestrial radio signal;

accessing by a navigation data deriving component a data set disposed within said exclusion zone compliance circuit comprising a station identification of said transmission source and a known geographic position of said transmission source and comparing said received unique identification with said station identification of said transmission source stored in said data set;

deriving a geographic position of said exclusion zone compliance circuit based upon said known geographic position of said transmission source;

utilizing a non-volatile memory component of said exclusion zone compliance circuit to store an encrypted data set describing boundaries of an exclusion zone;

utilizing a data blocking component of said exclusion zone compliance circuit communicatively coupled with said non-volatile memory component to control access of said encrypted data set; and

utilizing a data control component of said circuit to block output of a signal from said exclusion zone compliance circuit in response to an indication that said exclusion zone compliance circuit is located within said exclusion zone.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

generating a signal by said data control component which causes said exclusion zone compliance circuit to become disabled in response to said indication.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

in response to said indication, selectively disabling operation of a portion of a cellular telephone in which said exclusion zone compliance circuit is disposed.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

blocking the reception by said cellular telephone of a radio transmission.

23. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

blocking the transmission by said cellular telephone of a radio signal.

24. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

generating a signal in response to an indication that a speed threshold of said circuit is exceeded; and

generating a second signal in response to an indication that an altitude threshold of said exclusion zone compliance circuit is exceeded.

25. The method of claim 19 wherein utilizing said non-volatile memory component further comprises:

utilizing a non-volatile memory component selected from the group consisting of a read-only memory component and a programmable memory component.

26. The method of claim 19 wherein utilizing said data blocking component further comprises:

verifying the authenticity of said encrypted data set.

27. The method of claim 19 wherein utilizing said data blocking component further comprises:

utilizing a verification data determining component for determining a verification data value based upon said encrypted data set; and

utilizing a verification data comparison component communicatively coupled with said verification data determining component for comparing a second verification data value stored by said non-volatile memory component with said verification data value; and

utilizing said data blocking component to prevent said navigation data deriving component from accessing said encrypted data set when said verification data comparison component determines that said verification data value does not match said second verification data value.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising:

receiving an updated encrypted data set via an encrypted data set input which is communicatively coupled with said non-volatile memory component.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprising:

utilizing a date comparison component to compare a date associated with said updated encrypted data set with a second date corresponding to a valid encrypted data set; and

using said data blocking component to prevent said navigation data deriving component from accessing said updated encrypted data set when said date comparison component determines that said date associated with said updated encrypted data set does not match said second date corresponding to a valid encrypted data set.

30. The method of claim 28 further comprising:

using a time comparison component to compare a time associated with said updated encrypted data set with a second time corresponding to a valid encrypted data set; and

using said data blocking component to prevent said navigation data deriving component from accessing said updated encrypted data set when said time comparison component determines that said time associated with said updated encrypted data set does not match said second time corresponding to a valid encrypted data set.

31. The method of claim 28 wherein utilizing said data blocking component further comprises:

utilizing an encryption key comparator for comparing a stored encryption key with an encryption key associated with said updated encrypted data set; and

using said data blocking component to prevent a loading of said updated encrypted data set into said non-volatile memory component when said stored encryption key does not match said encryption key associated with said updated encrypted data set.

32. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

storing said data set comprising said unique identification of said transmission source and said known geographic position of said transmission source on said non-volatile memory component as a second encrypted data set.

33. An electronic device comprising:

a satellite navigation component configured to determine a geographic position of said electronic device;

a control component configured to determine that said satellite navigation component is not able to derive said geographic position within a specified parameter; and

an exclusion zone compliance circuit, said circuit comprising;

a terrestrial radio signal reception component of said exclusion zone compliance circuit configured for receiving a terrestrial radio signal, said terrestrial radio signal comprising a unique identification of a transmission source of said terrestrial radio signal;

a non-volatile memory component of said exclusion zone compliance circuit configured for storing an encrypted data set describing boundaries of an exclusion zone;

a navigation data deriving component of said exclusion zone compliance circuit communicatively coupled with said terrestrial radio signal reception component, said non-volatile memory, and with a data set comprising a station identification of said transmission source and a known geographic position of said transmission source, said navigation data deriving component configured for comparing said received unique identification of said transmission source with said station identification stored in said data set and for deriving a geographic position of said exclusion zone compliance circuit based upon said known geographic position of said transmission source and to determine whether said geographic position of said exclusion zone compliance circuit is located within said exclusion zone;

a data blocking component of said exclusion zone compliance circuit communicatively coupled with said non-volatile memory component and navigation data deriving component, said data blocking component configured for controlling access of said encrypted data set; and

a data control component of said exclusion zone compliance circuit configured for blocking output of a signal from said exclusion zone compliance circuit in response to an indication that said exclusion zone compliance circuit is located within said exclusion zone.

34. The electronic device of claim 33 wherein said non-volatile memory component is selected from the group consisting of a read-only memory component and a programmable memory component.

35. The electronic device of claim 33 wherein said data blocking component is configured to verify the authenticity of said encrypted data set.

36. The electronic device of claim 33 wherein said data blocking component further comprises:

a verification data determining component configured for determining a verification data value based upon said encrypted data set; and

a verification data comparison component communicatively coupled with said verification data determining component, said verification data comparison component configured for comparing a second verification data value stored by said non-volatile memory component with said verification data value and wherein said data blocking component prevents said navigation data deriving component from accessing said encrypted data set when said verification data comparison component determines that said verification data value does not match said second verification data value.

37. The electronic device of claim 36 wherein said data blocking component further comprises:

a date comparison component configured for comparing a date associated with an updated encrypted data set with a second date corresponding to a valid encrypted data set and wherein said data blocking component is further configured for preventing said navigation data deriving component from accessing said updated encrypted data set when said date comparison component determines that said date associated with said updated encrypted data set does not match said second date corresponding to a valid encrypted data set; and

a time comparison component configured for comparing a time associated with said updated encrypted data set with a second time corresponding to a valid encrypted data set and wherein said data blocking component is further configured for preventing said navigation data deriving component from accessing said updated encrypted data set when said time comparison component determines that said time associated with said updated encrypted data set does not match said second time corresponding to a valid encrypted data set.

38. The electronic device of claim 33 wherein said data blocking component further comprises:

an encryption key comparator configured for comparing a stored encryption key with an encryption key associated with an updated encrypted data set and wherein said data blocking component is further configured for preventing a loading of said updated encrypted data set into said non-volatile memory component when said stored encryption key does not match said encryption key associated with said updated encrypted data set.

39. The electronic device of claim 33 wherein said electronic device comprises a cellular telephone and wherein said data control component controls a function of said cellular telephone.

40. The electronic device of claim 39 wherein said signal from said data control component prevents said cellular telephone from receiving a radio transmission.

41. The electronic device of claim 39 wherein said signal from said data control component prevents said cellular telephone from transmitting a radio signal.

42. The electronic device of claim 33 wherein said data control component is configured to output a signal which initiates disabling said circuit in response to determining that said circuit is located within said exclusion zone.

43. The electronic device of claim 33 wherein said data set comprising said unique identification of said transmission source and said known geographic position of said transmission source comprises a second encrypted data set which is stored on said non-volatile memory component.

44. A method for implementing exclusion zone compliance, said method comprising:

determining that a satellite navigation component disposed within an electronic device cannot derive a geographic position within a specified parameter;

in response to said determining, receiving a terrestrial radio signal with a terrestrial radio signal reception component of an exclusion zone compliance circuit, said terrestrial radio signal comprising a unique identification of a transmission source of said terrestrial radio signal;

accessing a data set disposed within said exclusion zone compliance circuit comprising a station identification of said transmission source and a known geographic position of said transmission source and comparing said received unique identification with said unique identification of said transmission source stored in said data set;

deriving a geographic position of said exclusion zone compliance circuit based upon said known geographic position of said transmission source;

utilizing a non-volatile memory component of said exclusion zone compliance circuit to store an encrypted data set describing boundaries of an exclusion zone;

utilizing a data blocking component of said exclusion zone compliance circuit communicatively coupled with said non-volatile memory component to control access of said encrypted data set; and

utilizing a data control component of said exclusion zone compliance circuit to block output of a signal from said exclusion zone compliance circuit in response to an indication that said exclusion zone compliance circuit is located within said exclusion zone.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein said receiving a terrestrial radio signal with a terrestrial radio signal reception component of an exclusion zone compliance circuit, said terrestrial radio signal comprising a unique identification of a transmission source of said terrestrial radio signal comprises:

receiving a plurality of different types of terrestrial radio signals.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein said deriving a geographic position of said exclusion zone compliance circuit based upon said known geographic position of said transmission source comprises:

deriving said geographic position of said exclusion zone compliance circuit via a hybrid position determining approach.

47. The method of claim 44 wherein utilizing said non-volatile memory component further comprises:

utilizing a non-volatile memory component selected from the group consisting of a read-only memory component and a programmable memory component.

48. The method of claim 44 further comprising:

verifying the authenticity of said encrypted data set.

49. The method of claim 44 wherein utilizing said data blocking component further comprises:

utilizing a verification data determining component for determining a verification data value based upon said encrypted data set;

utilizing a verification data comparison component communicatively coupled with said verification data determining component for comparing a second verification data value stored by said non-volatile memory component with said verification data value; and

utilizing said data blocking component to prevent a navigation data deriving component from accessing said encrypted data set when said verification data comparison component determines that said verification data value does not match said second verification data value.

50. The method of claim 49 wherein utilizing said data blocking component further comprises:

utilizing a date comparison component for comparing a date associated with an updated encrypted data set with a second date corresponding to a valid encrypted data set; and

using said data blocking component to prevent said navigation data deriving component from accessing said updated encrypted data set when said date comparison component determines that said date associated with said updated encrypted data set does not match said second date corresponding to a valid encrypted data set.

51. The method of claim 49 wherein utilizing said data blocking component further comprises:

using a time comparison component to compare a time associated with an updated encrypted data set with a second time corresponding to a valid encrypted data set; and

using said data blocking component to prevent said navigation data deriving component from accessing said updated encrypted data set when said time comparison component determines that said time associated with said updated encrypted data set does not match said second time corresponding to a valid encrypted data set.

52. The method of claim 49 wherein utilizing said data blocking component further comprises:

utilizing an encryption key comparator for comparing a stored encryption key with an encryption key associated with an updated encrypted data set; and

using said data blocking component to prevent a loading of said updated encrypted data set into said non-volatile memory component when said stored encryption key does not match said encryption key associated with said updated encrypted data set.

53. The method of claim 44 wherein said exclusion zone compliance circuit is disposed within a cellular telephone, said method further comprising:

controlling a function of said cellular telephone when said cellular telephone is within said exclusion zone.

54. The method of claim 53 further comprising:

blocking the reception by said cellular telephone of a radio transmission.

55. The method of claim 53 further comprising:

blocking the transmission by said cellular telephone of a radio signal.

56. The method of claim 44 further comprising:

storing said data set comprising said unique identification of said transmission source and said known geographic position of said transmission source on said non-volatile memory component as a second encrypted data set.

57. The method of claim 44, further comprising:

in response to said indication, selectively disabling operation of said exclusion zone compliance circuit.