Systems and methods for setting a mode of operation of electronic devices

• US 7,263,367 B1
• Filed: 04/28/2000
• Issued: 08/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: PayPal, Inc. (PayPal Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SABOT ASSOCIATES, INC.
• Inventors: Sabot, Gary Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson, Matthew
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRINH, TAN H
• Application Number:
  US09/564,369
• Time in Patent Office: 2,678 Days
• Field of Search: 455/1, 455/63, 455/456, 455/517, 455/422, 455/67.3, 455/414, 455/415, 455/436, 455/411, 455/456.3, 455/565, 455/41.2
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/66 with means for preventing unauthorised or fraudulent calling verifying user identity or authority in secret or secure digital communications H04L9/32
• 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 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed

Abstract

Systems and methods are presented to regulate the usage of electronic devices when the device is located within a predetermined region of space. The sound or light emitted from, or range of motion of the electronic device, for example, may be regulated in the predetermined region of space.

Claims

1. A system for defining a mode of operation of a device, the system comprising:

a) a locator for identifying a position of the device;

b) a conveyor to communicate the position of the device; and

,

c) a restrictor mounted on the device, the restrictor having a plurality of policies for operation of the device, each policy associated with one of a plurality of specified regions of space, the restrictor to receive the position and identify the position as being within a particular one of the specified regions of space, and based on the particular one of the specified regions of space and characteristics of the device, select a policy associated with the device to provide a selected policy, and, based on the selected policy, define the mode of operation of the device.

2. A system as in claim 1, further comprising a database for storing instructions associated with the mode of operation of the device, the database having associated entries for the plurality of policies, the plurality of specified regions of space and the characteristics of devices.

3. A system as in claim 1, wherein the restrictor regulates at least two of:

a volume of sound, frequencies of sound, intensity of light, frequencies of light emitted from the device, frequencies of light emitted to the device, and range of motion of the device.

4. A system as in claim 1, wherein the locator includes a global positioning system receiver.

5. A system as in claim 1, wherein the locator employs at least one of triangulation and location fingerprinting for identifying the position of the device.

6. A system as in claim 1, wherein the device includes a cell phone.

7. A system as in claim 6, wherein the conveyor includes a transmitter of electromagnetic radiation, said radiation including information associated with the position of the cell phone.

8. A system as in claim 6, wherein the cell phone emits an electromagnetic field having a signal strength capable of being utilized by the locator for identifying the position of the device.

9. A system according to claim 1, where the selected policy changes over time.

10. A system according to claim 1, where the selected policy is associated with at least one of:

at least one deterministic algorithm, a time, and a date.