Method and system to alert user of local law via the Global Positioning System (GPS)

• US 7,515,101 B1
• Filed: 06/06/2008
• Issued: 04/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Seacat, Lisa A., Peterson, Robert R., Bhogal, Kulvir S., Talbot, Mark W.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, DAO LINDA
• Application Number:
  US12/134,869
• Time in Patent Office: 305 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.06, 342/357.07, 342/357.13, 342/357.17, 342/451, 342/457, 701/208, 701/209, 701/213, 455/456.1, 455/456.2, 455/565, 455/569.2
• US Class Current: 342/357.22
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/39 the satellite radio beacon positioning system transmitting time-stamped messages, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System], GLONASS [Global Orbiting Navigation Satellite System] or GALILEO

Abstract

A method and system provides for notification to a user of registered devices that are in violation of local law using the Global Positioning System (GPS). One or more one or more devices in a mobile environment are registered with a GPS navigation system of the mobile environment. In response to the mobile environment moving from a first location to a second location, the GPS navigation system retrieves local law information that specifies or defines local law of the second location using GPS coordinates of the second location. It is next determined whether each device of the one or more devices registered with the GPS navigation system is in violation of the local law. If so, a user in the mobile environment is notified of each registered device that is in violation of the local law.

Claims

1. A method for providing notification of registered devices in violation of local law using the Global Positioning System (GPS), comprising:

registering a plurality of devices differing functionalities in a mobile environment with a GPS navigation system of the mobile environment;

the GPS navigation system storing for each registered device of the plurality of devices a hierarchical list of jurisdictional locations in which use of the device is not allowed;

in response to the mobile environment moving from a first location to a second location, the GPS navigation system retrieving local law information that defines local law of the second location using GPS coordinates of the second location; and

determining whether each device of the a plurality of devices registered with the GPS navigation system is in violation of the local law and if so further comprising notifying a user in the mobile environment of each device of the a plurality of devices registered that is in violation of the local law.