Telephone system and method with background location response capability
First Claim
1. A portable communication device, comprising:
- a) a position locator which, in response to a location request signal, can determine the location of the portable device and generate a corresponding location signal;
b) a receiver to receive an incoming call signal and an incoming location request signal;
c) a user interface having;
an audio or visual user output device which can reproduce audio or visual information in an incoming call signal as a corresponding audio or visual display;
f) a transmitter to transmit a location signal generated by the position locator in response to a received location request signal; and
g) a switch which allows a user to select whether or not a location signal is provided in response to a location request signal during operation of the device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A portable telephone capable of background location transmission response, and methods which can be executed by such a telephone or a system using such a telephone. In one such portable telephone, a position locator which, in response to a location request signal, can determine the location of the portable telephone and generate a corresponding location signal. A receiver receives an incoming call signal and an incoming location request signal. A user interface has: an audio or visual user output device which can reproduce audio or visual information in an incoming call signal as a corresponding audio or visual display; and an audio user input device which generates an audio output signal corresponding to a user'"'"'s voice. An alert generator which, in response to a received incoming call signal, generates a first physical characteristic to indicate an incoming call to a user of the portable telephone. A location request detector which, in response to a received location request signal, can direct the location request signal to the position locator without activating the alert generator. A transmitter to transmit a location signal generated by the position locator in response to a received location request signal, and to transmit the audio output signal.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A portable communication device, comprising:
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a) a position locator which, in response to a location request signal, can determine the location of the portable device and generate a corresponding location signal;
b) a receiver to receive an incoming call signal and an incoming location request signal;
c) a user interface having;
an audio or visual user output device which can reproduce audio or visual information in an incoming call signal as a corresponding audio or visual display;
f) a transmitter to transmit a location signal generated by the position locator in response to a received location request signal; and
g) a switch which allows a user to select whether or not a location signal is provided in response to a location request signal during operation of the device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
an alert generator which, in response to a received incoming call signal, generates a first physical characteristic to indicate an incoming call to a user of the portable telephone and which, in response to a received location request signal, can generate a second physical characteristic which may be the same or different from the first physical characteristic, to indicate an incoming location request to a user.
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6. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the first physical characteristic generated by the alert generator is an audio, visual or tactile alarm.
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7. A method, using a portable communication device having:
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i) a position locator which, in response to a location request signal, can determine the location of the portable device and generate a corresponding location signal;
ii) a receiver to receive an incoming call signal and an incoming location request signal;
iii) a user interface having;
an audio or visual user output device which can reproduce audio or visual information in an incoming call signal as a corresponding audio or visual display;
iv) a transmitter to transmit a location signal generated by the position locator in response to a received location request signal; and
the method comprising the user selecting at the portable communication device whether or not a location signal is provided in response to a location request signal during operation of the device. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. A method, using a portable communication device having:
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i) a position locator which, in response to a location request signal, can determine the location of the portable device and generate a corresponding location signal;
ii) a receiver to receive an incoming call signal and an incoming location request signal;
iii) a user interface having;
an audio or visual user output device which can reproduce audio or visual information in an incoming call signal as a corresponding audio or visual display;
iv) a transmitter to transmit a location signal generated by the position locator in response to a received location request signal; and
the method comprising providing a location signal from the portable communication device to a first communication device in response to a location request signal from the first communication device, and automatically providing a further location signal from the portable communication device to the first communication device at a selected time interval or when the portable communication device reaches a selected location. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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Specification