Personal telecommunication device with target-based exposure control

• US 20110309940A1
• Filed: 06/18/2010
• Published: 12/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Hyde, Roderick A., Ishikawa, Muriel Y., Kare, Jordin T., Nugent, Thomas J. Jr., Tegreene, Clarence T., Weaver, Thomas A., Wood, Lowell L. Jr., Wood, Victoria Y.H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,462,002 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/600
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources

Abstract

Exemplary methods, systems and components enable detection and/or monitoring and/or control of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) exposure of target body-related portions of a user operating a telecommunication device. In some embodiments a risk-assessment output is provided based on a safety threshold or predetermined intrusion level of EMR exposure.

Claims

1. A method of facilitating irradiation protection for a specified target body region, comprising:

identifying the specified target body region of a user that is proximate to a particular communication device capable of generating electromagnetic emissions that subject the specified target body region to irradiation exposure;

establishing whether such irradiation exposure does exceed or is predicted to exceed a safety threshold correlated with the specified target body region; and

if such irradiation exposure has a dosage value above the safety threshold, providing a responsive output based on a possible risk relative to such irradiation exposure.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

enabling a user to choose the safety threshold correlated with the specified target body region.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

establishing an automatic or programmed safety threshold that is correlated with the specified target body region.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

enabling a user to choose the specified target body region correlated with the safety threshold.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said providing the responsive output based on the possible risk includes:

sending the responsive output to a recipient entity and/or other destination for a message or transmission from the particular communication device.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said providing the responsive output based on the possible risk includes:

sending the responsive output to a base station or cell tower or service provider or network node or other off-device destination.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said providing the responsive output based on the possible risk includes:

sending the responsive output to a third party for monitoring, and/or record keeping, and/or decision making regarding possible remedial action.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said sending the responsive output includes:

sending the responsive output to one or more of the following types of third party;

parent, family member, friend, insurance entity, physician, nurse, health care entity.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said providing the responsive output based on the possible risk includes:

sending the responsive output to an accessible record that maintains current and/or cumulative irradiation exposure data.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said providing the responsive output based on the possible risk includes:

sending the responsive output to the particular communication device, wherein the particular device suggests to the user a time limit for a call and/or a change in body location relative to the particular communication device and/or a change in orientation of the particular communication device.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said providing the responsive output based on the possible risk includes:

sending the responsive output to the user, wherein the responsive output includes a recognizable textual and/or visual and/or audio and/or sensory output indicative of a current and/or cumulative dosage value that exceeds the safety threshold.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

implementing user-selected remedial action to reduce irradiation exposure to a dosage value at or below the safety threshold.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

implementing user-selected remedial action to minimize exposure of the specified target body region to excessive irradiation.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said implementing user-selected remedial action includes:

causing the particular communication device to implement one or more of the following;

reduced power mode, dormant operation mode, intermittent active mode, temporary alternate mode, power off mode, conversation time limit, different cell tower, optional network carrier, alternate relay/retransmitter, new satellite link, different transmission destination.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein said implementing user-selected remedial action includes:

causing the particular communication device to change one or more of the following operation parameters to achieve a reduced level of irradiation exposure;

frequency, polarity, voltage, current, intensity, orientation, emission mode, transmission pattern, audio volume, voice sensitivity.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein said providing the responsive output indicative of the possible risk includes:

transmitting the responsive output to a local or remote control module, wherein the responsive output includes a recognizable output signal indicative of a current and/or cumulative dosage value that exceeds the safety threshold.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

implementing automatic or programmed remedial action to reduce the irradiation exposure to a dosage value at or below the safety threshold.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

implementing automatic or programmed remedial action to minimize exposure of the specified target body portion to excessive irradiation.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said implementing automatic or programmed remedial action includes:

causing the particular communication device to implement one or more of the following;

reduced power mode, dormant operation mode, intermittent active mode, temporary alternate mode, power off mode, conversation time limit, different cell tower, optional network carrier, alternate relay/retransmitter, new satellite link, different transmission destination.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein said implementing automatic or programmed remedial action includes:

causing the particular communication device to change one or more of the following operation parameters to achieve a reduced level of irradiation exposure;

frequency, polarity, voltage, current, intensity, orientation, emission mode, transmission pattern, pulse format, control channel, voice channel, audio volume, voice sensitivity.

21. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

making an accessible record indicating a risk assessment arising from such irradiation exposure that exceeds the safety threshold.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said making an accessible record indicating the risk assessment includes:

making the accessible record that includes the risk assessment arising from current irradiation exposure of the specified target body region, and/or cumulative irradiation exposure of the specified target body region during a given period of time.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein said establishing whether such irradiation exposure does exceed or is predicted to exceed the safety threshold includes:

establishing whether such irradiation exposure has a dosage value greater than a real-time safety threshold.

24. The method of claim 1 wherein said establishing whether such radiation exposure does exceed or is predicted to exceed the safety threshold includes:

establishing whether such irradiation exposure has a dosage value greater than a cumulative safety threshold for a given period of time.

25. The method of claim 1 wherein said establishing whether such irradiation exposure does exceed or is predicted to exceed the safety threshold includes:

comparing a transmission pattern of the particular communication device relative to a separation orientation between the particular communication device and the specified target region.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

determining whether a directional and/or non-uniform transmission pattern causes an increased or decreased irradiation exposure relative to the separation orientation between the particular communication device and the specified target region.

27. The method of claim 1 wherein said establishing whether such irradiation exposure does exceed or is predicted to exceed the safety threshold includes:

ascertaining an approximate distance between the particular communication device and the specified target body region.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein said ascertaining the approximate distance between the particular communication device and the specified target body region includes:

ascertaining the approximate distance by one or more of the following types of proximity measurement techniques;

ultrasound, infrared (IR), ultraviolet (UV), radio frequency (RF), radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, capacitive sensor, electromagnetic reflection, phase-change, charge-coupled device (CCD) light detection, thermal sensor, image recognition, audio time of flight.

29. The method of claim 27 further comprising:

processing the approximate distance in combination with a calibrated or detected radiation value of the generated electromagnetic emissions to provide a risk assessment for the specified target body region.

30. The method of claim 27 wherein said ascertaining the approximate distance includes:

confirming an estimated distance between an antenna of the particular communication device and the specified target body region.

31. The method of claim 1 wherein said establishing whether such irradiation exposure exceeds the safety threshold includes:

confirming location parameters for an identifiable receptacle holding or supporting or attaching the particular communication device at one or more of the following user-related sites;

vehicle, workspace, bailiwick, clothing section, apparel accessory, bodily part.

32. The method of claim 31 further comprising:

processing the location parameters for the identifiable receptacle in combination with a calibrated or detected radiation value of the generated electromagnetic emissions to provide a risk assessment for the specified target body region.

33. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

processing known location coordinates for the particular communication device in combination with a calibrated or detected radiation value of the generated electromatentic emissions to provide a risk assessment for the specified target body region that includes an implanted or attached or user-related body accessory device.

34. The method of claim 1 wherein said establishing whether such irradiation exposure exceeds the safety threshold includes:

confirming fixed or variable location coordinates for one or more of the following types of particular communication device;

mobile, hand-held, vehicle-mounted, desktop, head-attached, wrist-attached, hands-free, cell phone, transceiver, transmitter, receiver.

35. The method of claim 1 wherein said identifying the specified target body region that is proximate to the particular communication device includes:

identifying one or more of the following types of specified target body-related regions;

head, eye, ear, heart, chest, stomach, torso, abdomen, groin, reproductive organ, proximate body surface, vulnerable organ, sensitive body part, cerebral portion, cardio-vascular portion, bionic repair, bionic replacement, implanted medical appliance, therapeutic device, health monitoring apparatus, testing unit, diagnostic component, body accessory.

36. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

measuring a current irradiation dosage value with a sensor located at or near the specified target body region.

37. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining a current and/or cumulative irradiation dosage value based on data from a sensor proximate to the particular communication device or proximate to the specified target body region.

38. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining a current and/or cumulative irradiation dosage value at least partially based on calibrated or detected radiation emissions associated with the particular communication device.

39. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining a current and/or cumulative irradiation dosage value at least partially based on variable or fixed location coordinates for the particular communication device.

40. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining a current and/or cumulative irradiation dosage value at least partially based on an approximate ascertained distance between the particular communication device and the specified target body region.

41. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining a current and/or cumulative irradiation dosage value at least partially based on an approximate ascertained distance between an antenna for the particular communication device and the specified target body region.

42. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining a current and/or cumulative irradiation dosage value at least partially based on an approximate orientation of a transmission pattern of the particular communication device relative to the specified target body region.

43. The method of claim 1 wherein said providing the responsive output includes:

implementing a type of remedial action in accordance with a priority scheme configured to be at least partially dependent upon a type of specified target body region.

44. The method of claim 43 wherein said implementing the type of remedial action includes:

implementing the type of remedial action in accordance with the priority scheme configured to be at least partially dependent upon the type of specified target body region that includes a medical related or health related body accessory device.

45. The method of claim 1 wherein said providing the responsive output includes:

implementing a type of remedial action in accordance with a priority scheme configured to be at least partially dependent upon a cumulative irradiation exposure of the target body region during a given period of time.

46. The method of claim 1 wherein said providing the responsive output includes:

implementing a type of remedial action in accordance with a priority scheme configured to be at least partially dependent upon how much a currently determined irradiation dosage value and/or a cumulatively determined irradiation dosage value exceeds the safety threshold correlated with the specified target body region.

47. The method of claim 1 wherein said providing the responsive output includes:

implementing a type of remedial action in accordance with a priority scheme configured to be at least partially dependent upon a type of person having the specified target body region.

48. The method of claim 47 wherein said implementing the type of remedial action includes:

implementing the type of remedial action respectively dependent upon one or more of the following types of person having the specified target body region;

baby, child, teenager, adult, pregnant woman, hospital patient, senior citizen, organ transplant patient.

49. A computer program product comprising computer-readable media having encoded instructions for executing a method of facilitating irradiation protection for a specified target body region, comprising:

identifying the specified target body region that is proximate to a particular communication device capable of generating electromagnetic emissions that subject the specified target body region to radiation exposure;

establishing whether such radiation exposure does exceed or is predicted to exceed a safety threshold correlated with the specified target body region; and

if such radiation exposure has a dosage value above the safety threshold, providing a responsive output based on a possible risk relative to such radiation exposure.

50. The computer program product of claim 49 wherein said method further includes:

enabling a user to choose the safety threshold correlated with the specified target body region.

51. The computer program product of claim 49 wherein the method further includes:

enabling an automatic or programmed safety threshold that is correlated with the specified target body region.

52. The computer program product of claim 49 wherein the method further includes:

enabling a user to choose the specified target body region correlated with the safety threshold.

75. The computer program product of claim 49 wherein said method feature establishing whether such radiation exposure does exceed or is predicted to exceed the safety threshold includes:

ascertaining an approximate distance between the particular communication device and the specified target body region.

76. The computer program product of claim 75 wherein said method feature ascertaining the approximate distance between the particular communication device and the specified target body region includes:

ascertaining the approximate distance by one or more of the following types of proximity measurement techniques;

ultrasound, infrared (IR), ultraviolet (UV), radio frequency (RF), radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, capacitive sensor, electromagnetic reflection, phase-change, charge-coupled device (CCD) light detection, thermal sensor, image recognition, audio time of flight.

77. The computer program product of claim 75 wherein the method further includes:

processing the approximate distance in combination with a calibrated or detected radiation value of the generated electromagnetic emissions to provide a risk assessment arising for the specified target body region.

53-74. -74. (canceled)

78-96. -96. (canceled)

97. A system of facilitating irradiation protection for a specified target body region, comprising:

means for identifying the specified target body region of a user that is proximate to a particular communication device capable of generating electromagnetic emissions that subject the specified target body region to irradiation exposure;

means for establishing whether such irradiation exposure does exceed or is predicted to exceed a safety threshold correlated with the specified target body region; and

means that is activated based on such established irradiation exposure having a dosage value above the safety threshold, wherein said activated means is configured to provide a responsive output based on a possible risk relative to such irradiation exposure.

98. A system of facilitating irradiation protection for a specified target body region, comprising:

data record means for identifying the specified target body region of a user that is proximate to a particular communication device capable of generating electromagnetic emissions that subject the specified target body region to irradiation exposure;

monitoring and/or detection means for establishing whether such irradiation exposure does exceed or is predicted to exceed a safety threshold correlated with the specified target body region; and

control circuit means that is activated based on such established irradiation exposure having a dosage value above the safety threshold, wherein said control circuit means is configured to provide a responsive output based on a possible risk relative to such irradiation exposure.