System and method for detecting wireless communications activity within a predetermined area and for generating messages to selected communication devices

• US 8,090,387 B1
• Filed: 01/07/2004
• Issued: 01/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Batson, Winton Durrett Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ajit
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Khai M
• Application Number:
  US10/752,777
• Time in Patent Office: 2,918 Days
• Field of Search: 455/522, 455/70, 455/68, 455/69, 455/67.11, 455/67.13, 455/67.16, 455/456.3, 455/456.6, 455/456.2, 455/456.1, 455/414.2, 455/550.1
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 1/12 Analogue/digital converters H03M1/001 – H03M1/10 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/088 using filters or firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/006 with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination

Abstract

A system and method is disclosed for detecting the presence and level of wireless communications activity within a predetermined area, without disclosing the identity of the wireless users, and for generating a message to certain information and communications devices in response to the detection of a predetermined level of wireless communications activity within the predetermined area. The information detected also may include information relating to the general direction and rate of movement of detected wireless devices. The message generated in response to the detection of wireless communications activity may include wireless messages, including Short Message Service (SMS) messages, to persons desiring or needing to receive such information; messages to public officials and other interested persons; and automatic signals to devices such as computers, computer networks (including the internet and wireless networks), facsimile machines, signs, lights, loudspeakers, and other devices providing information through other communication and information media.

Claims

1. A system, for providing an output control signal responsive to detection of wireless transmissions between wireless communications devices within a predetermined area and at least one wireless communications network, comprising:

a radio frequency receiver and antenna system configured to;

detect at least one wireless communications frequency; and

detect in aggregate a plurality of wireless signals from a plurality of wireless communications devices in a predetermined area; and

at least one computing device configured to;

obtain a threshold condition;

determine (i) a location of each of the wireless communication devices in the predetermined area, (ii) a direction of travel of each of the wireless communication devices in the predetermined area, and (iii) a rate of travel of each of the wireless communication devices in the predetermined area;

compare the (i) locations, (ii) directions of travel, and (iii) rates of travel to the threshold condition in a comparison; and

generate the output control signal responsive to the comparison.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one computing device is further configured to:

responsive to the output control signal, communicate the output control signal to the wireless communications network for transmission to at least one of the wireless communication devices; and

responsive to the output control signal, transmit a message to at least one of the wireless communications device in communication with the wireless communications network, the message conveying information to a user of the wireless communication device.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the wireless communications network is a cellular wireless communications network and the computing device is further configured to:

determine an identity of cellular wireless communications devices last known to be located within at least one predetermined cellular wireless communications cell, to define at least one identified cellular wireless communications device; and

transmit the message to the at least one identified cellular wireless communications device in communication with the cellular wireless communications network within the predetermined cellular wireless communications cell.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein:

the computing device is further configured to;

determine whether at least one of the identified cellular wireless communications device is;

configured to receive messages of a certain format; and

associated with a device-specific authorization to receive messages of a certain type; and

in transmitting the message, tansmit the message to the at least one identified wireless device only if the device is determined to;

be configured to receive messages of the certain format; and

have associated with it the authorization to receive messages of the certain type.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein messages of the certain type are messages being from an entity selected from a group of entities consisting of:

a traffic authority;

a public service entity; and

a commercial entity.

6. A process for providing an output control signal responsive to detection of wireless transmissions between wireless communications devices and wireless communication networks within a predetermined area, the process comprising:

detecting in aggregate a plurality of radio frequency signals transmitted from a plurality of wireless communications devices in a predetermined area;

obtaining a threshold condition;

determining (i) a location of each of the wireless communication devices in the predetermined area, (ii) a direction of travel of each of the wireless communication devices in the predetermined area, and (iii) a rate of travel of each of the wireless communication devices in the predetermined area;

comparing the (i) locations, (ii) directions of travel, and (iii) rates of travel to the threshold condition in a comparison; and

generating an output control signal responsive to the comparison.

7. The process of claim 6, further comprising:

identifying at least one wireless communications device in communication with at least one wireless system, to define at least one identified cellular wireless communications device; and

transmitting a message to the at least one identified wireless communications device in response to the output control signal, the message conveying information to a user of the wireless communication device.

8. The process of claim 7, wherein:

identifying at least one wireless communications device includes identifying at least one cellular wireless communications device in a predetermined cell; and

transmitting the message includes transmitting the message to the at least one identified cellular wireless device in response to the output control signal.

9. The process of claim 8, wherein identifying at least one cellular wireless communications device in a predetermined cell includes:

determining whether the identified cellular wireless communications device is;

configured to receive messages of a certain format; and

associated with a device-specific authorization to receive messages of a certain type; and

transmitting the message to the identified cellular wireless communications device only if it is determined that the identified cellular wireless communications device is;

configured to receive messages of the certain format; and

associated with the authorization to receive messages of the certain type.

10. The process of claim 9, wherein messages of the certain type are messages being from an entity selected from a group of entities consisting of:

a traffic authority;

a public service entity; and

a commercial entity.

11. A system for providing an output control signal responsive to detection of wireless transmissions between wireless communications devices within a predetermined area and at least one cellular wireless communications network, the system comprising:

a radio frequency receiver and antenna system configured to;

detect at least one wireless communications frequency; and

detect in aggregate a plurality of wireless transmissions from a plurality of wireless communications devices in a predetermined area; and

at least one computing device configured to;

obtain a threshold;

perform a comparison with respect to the threshold;

generate an output control signal responsive to the comparison;

determine an identity of at least one cellular wireless communications device last known to be located within at least one predetermined cellular wireless communications cell, to define at least one identified cellular wireless communications device;

determine whether the at least one identified cellular wireless communications device is;

configured to receive messages of a certain format; and

associated with a device-specific authorization to receive messages of a certain type; and

responsive to the output control signal, and only if the at least one identified cellular wireless communications device is configured to receive messages of the certain format, and is associated with the authorization to receive messages of the certain type, transmit a message to the at least one identified cellular wireless communications device in communication with the cellular wireless communications network within the predetermined cellular wireless communications cell, the message conveying information to a user of the identified wireless communication device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein:

the radio frequency receiver and antenna system is configured to;

receive at least two wireless communications frequencies; and

detect at least one wireless signal transmitted on each of the frequencies from at least two wireless communications devices in a predetermined area; and

the processor further includes a mixer circuit configured to convert each wireless signal to a common composite frequency to produce a first common composite frequency signal to be used to generate the first analog electrical signal.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the signal processor further includes a summing circuit to combine the first common composite frequency signals to produce a first analog electrical signal.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein:

the signal processor further includes a doppler shift detector for determining a direction and a of travel of at least one wireless device within the predetermined area relative to the radio frequency receiver and antenna system; and

the first analog electrical signal is further responsive to the direction and rate of travel of the at least one wireless device.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein the at least one computing device includes a squelch circuit for obtaining the threshold and generating the output control signal responsive to the comparison.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein:

the computing device includes;

a signal processor for generating a first analog electrical signal resulting from the aggregate reception and detection of said wireless transmissions; and

an analog-to-digital converter to convert the first analog electrical signal to a first digital electrical signal;

the computing device, in being configured to obtain the threshold, is configured to establish a threshold digital electrical signal; and

the computing device is further configured to;

in the comparison, compare the first digital electrical signal to the threshold digital electrical signal; and

generate an output control signal responsive to the comparison of the first digital electrical signal with the threshold digital electrical signal.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein messages of the certain format are short messages service messages.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein messages of the certain format are voice-format messages.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein messages of the certain type are messages being from an entity selected from a group of entities consisting of:

a traffic authority;

a public service entity; and

a commercial entity.