Cell phone muting override system
First Claim
1. A system for restricting radio frequency transmissions of a cellular telephone within a restricted area comprising:
- i) a restricted area wherein all radio transmissions are restricted, that restricted area being either a fixed-location contiguous physical space, or a moving vehicle'"'"'s interior contiguous physical space, where a cellular telephone might be operable;
ii) a nonempty set of cellular telephones disposed within the restricted area, each cellular telephone including a radio frequency transmitter for transmitting, and a radio frequency receiver for receiving radiofrequency signals;
iii) a radio frequency transmissions inhibitor, the radio frequency transmissions inhibitor being capable of selectively disabling the radio frequency transmissions of a first selected subset of the plurality of cellular telephones, this selective disabling being directly responsive, at least in part, to whether or not the cellular telephone is in the restricted area; and
iv) an emergency override, the emergency override capable of selectively enabling the radio frequency transmissions of a second selected subset of the plurality of cellular telephones, wherein if a cellular telephone is a member of the first selected subset and a member of the second selected subset, the cellular telephone'"'"'s radio frequency transmissions are enabled.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The disclosed invention relates to a system for restricting radio frequency transmissions within a restricted area and more particularly to a mechanism for overriding the restriction of radio frequency transmissions within a restricted area using an override mechanism. A restricted area is defined wherein all radio frequency transmissions are restricted. Within the restricted a plurality of cellular telephones is disposed, each with a radio frequency transmitter and a radio frequency receiver. An emergency override is also disposed within the restricted area, the emergency override capable of selectively enabling communications of a selected subset of the cellular telephones disposed within the restricted area.
22 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A system for restricting radio frequency transmissions of a cellular telephone within a restricted area comprising:
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i) a restricted area wherein all radio transmissions are restricted, that restricted area being either a fixed-location contiguous physical space, or a moving vehicle'"'"'s interior contiguous physical space, where a cellular telephone might be operable; ii) a nonempty set of cellular telephones disposed within the restricted area, each cellular telephone including a radio frequency transmitter for transmitting, and a radio frequency receiver for receiving radiofrequency signals; iii) a radio frequency transmissions inhibitor, the radio frequency transmissions inhibitor being capable of selectively disabling the radio frequency transmissions of a first selected subset of the plurality of cellular telephones, this selective disabling being directly responsive, at least in part, to whether or not the cellular telephone is in the restricted area; and iv) an emergency override, the emergency override capable of selectively enabling the radio frequency transmissions of a second selected subset of the plurality of cellular telephones, wherein if a cellular telephone is a member of the first selected subset and a member of the second selected subset, the cellular telephone'"'"'s radio frequency transmissions are enabled. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for restricting the ringing of a cellular telephone within a restricted area comprising:
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i) a restricted area wherein ringing of all cellular telephones disposed within the restricted area is muted, that restricted area being either a fixed-location contiguous physical space, or a moving vehicle'"'"'s interior contiguous physical space, where a cellular telephone might be operable; ii) a a nonempty set of cellular telephones disposed within the restricted area, each cellular telephone including a radio frequency receiver for receiving radio-frequency signals and a ringer; iii) a ring inhibitor, the ring inhibitor capable of selectively disabling ringing in a first selected subset of the plurality of cellular telephones, this selective disabling being directly responsive, at least in part, to whether or not the cellular telephone is in the restricted area; and iv) an emergency override, the emergency override capable of selectively enabling ringing of a second selected subset of the plurality of cellular telephones, wherein if a cellular telephone is a member of the first selected subset and a member of the second selected subset, the cellular telephone'"'"'s ringing is enabled. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification