Position privacy in an electronic device

• US 6,473,031 B1
• Filed: 10/16/2000
• Issued: 10/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NorthStar Systems LLC (Alpha Alpha Intellectual Partners LLC)
• Original Assignee: Scott C Harris
• Inventors: Harris, Scott C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Blum, Theodore M.
• Application Number:
  US09/690,001
• Time in Patent Office: 743 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.09, 342/357.1, 701/215, 455/456
• US Class Current: 342/357.51
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0036 of measured values, i.e. measurement on mobile and position calculation on base station
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0054 of actual mobile position, i.e. position calculation on base station
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal

Abstract

A privacy enhancement device for electronic device such as a cellular telephone. In one mode, the cellular telephone operates in its normal mode, whereby its position can be detected by either wap techniques or by GPS techniques. In a second mode of operation, the wap/GPS operation is overridden, so that the position cannot be detected.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

an electronic device having a position detection module therein which determines a position of said electronic device and reports information indicative of said position of said electronic device to a remote object; and

an override control, which is actuated to prevent said position detection module from reporting said information about its position, but which allows other parts of said electronic device to operate.

wherein said override control includes a passive blocking element which is attached to a portion of said electronic device to block reception of information by said position detection module.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said position detection module is a satellite positioning system module, and said passive blocking element is an element which blocks an antenna associated with said satellite positioning module from receiving said information.

3. An apparatus, comprising:

an electronic device having a position detection module therein which determines a position of said electronic device and reports information indicative of said position of said electronic device to a remote object;

an override control, which includes an actuating mechanism and which, in response to actuating of said actuating mechanism produces a signal state that prevents said position detection module from reporting said information about its position until a deactuation of said actuating mechanism, but which allows other parts of said electronic device to operate; and

wherein said override control includes a jamming element which produces information that interferes with operation of said position detection module responsive to said actuating, and stops producing said information responsive to said deactuation.

4. An apparatus as in claim 3, wherein said information includes false information that provides false data to said position detection module.

5. An apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said jamming element is connected to receive electrical power from said electronic device.

6. An apparatus, comprising:

an electronic device having a position detection module therein which determines a position of said electronic device and reports information indicative of said position of said electronic device to a remote object;

an override control, which is actuated to prevent said position detection module from reporting said information about its position, but which allows other parts of said electronic device to operate; and

a privacy detection element, which tests whether said position detection module will report unauthorized information when requested;

wherein said privacy detection element includes an update function which updates said privacy detection element to allow it to use different techniques to determine said report of unauthorized information.

7. A method of operating an electronic device, comprising:

allowing, in a first mode of operation, automatic reporting of a position of said electronic device;

allowing a second mode of operation which prevents said automatic reporting of said position of said electronic device; and

wherein said second mode of operation comprises attaching a passive reception blocking device to said electronic device.

8. A method of operating an electronic device, comprising:

enabling a first mode of operation in which automatic reporting of a position of said electronic device is allowed; and

responsive to a manual actuation of an actuating mechanism, disabling said automatic reporting of said position of said electronic device and thereby preventing reporting of said position, wherein said second mode of operation comprises actively jamming a position detection operation.

9. A method comprising:

operating a cellular phone in a first mode in which its position can be automatically reported to a remote location;

responsive to an action by a user of a specific type, operating said cellular phone in a second, privacy enhanced mode, in which cellular phone functions can be used to place and/or receive calls, but its position can not be automatically reported to said remote location;

testing said cellular phone while operating in said second, privacy enhanced mode, to determine whether privacy is actually enhanced; and

updating a way that said cellular phone carries out said testing.

10. An apparatus, comprising:

a portable telephone, including;

(1) telephone electronics enabling telephone communication;

(2) a position detection module therein which enables determining a position of said portable telephone as a determined position; and

(3) a reporting device which reports information indicative of said determined position of said portable telephone to a remote object; and

a manually operable override control, associated with said portable telephone, operating in response to a manual operation, to prevent said reporting device from reporting any information indicative of the determined position, but allowing said telephone electronics to continue to operate; and

wherein said override control includes a jamming element which produces a jamming signal, responsive to said override control, that prevents said reporting device from reporting said information indicative of said determined position.

11. A method of operating a cellular telephone, comprising:

allowing, in a first mode of operation, automatic reporting of a position of said cellular telephone, and allowing communication between said cellular telephone and a cellular telephone base station;

responsive to a manual actuation, allowing a second mode of operation which prevents any automatic reporting of said position of said cellular telephone, but which still allows communications between said cellular telephone and said cellular telephone base station;

wherein said automatic reporting in said first mode of operation comprises automatic detection of a position of said electronic device via satellite positioning;

wherein said second mode of operation prevents said position module from detecting the position via satellite positioning; and

wherein said second mode of operation interferes with operation of satellite positioning circuitry via jamming.

12. A method, comprising:

operating a cellular phone in a first mode in which its position can be automatically reported to a remote location; and

responsive to an action by a user of a specific type, operating said cellular phone in a second, privacy enhanced mode, in which cellular phone functions can be used to place and/or receive calls, but its position can not be automatically reported to said remote location; and

wherein said action by said user comprises attaching an external blocking device to said cellular phone.