Wireless handset airplane safety interlock

• US 8,090,399 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2008
• Issued: 01/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Embarq Holdings Company LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Howarter, Jamie Christopher, Lesher, Charles Michael, Sweeney, Jeffrey, Morill, Robert J., Hull, Heather
• Primary Examiner(s): Afshar, Kamran
• Assistant Examiner(s): Corbin, Kenneth
• Application Number:
  US12/346,254
• Publication Number:
  US 20100167716A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,099 Days
• Field of Search: 455/411, 455/431, 4554561-4564, 455/455, 455/410, 455/427, 455/420
• US Class Current: 455/550.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18506 Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

A method and device for controlling the operability of a transmitter on a mobile communications device by determining if the mobile communications device is located within the cabin of an airplane. A condition parameter of the mobile communications device may be determined. The transmitter on the mobile communications device may be disabled in response to the mobile communications device being located within an airplane and further in response to the determined condition parameter.

Claims

1. A method for controlling the operability of a transmitter on a mobile communications device, said method comprising:

determining if the mobile communications device is located within a cabin of an airplane;

determining a condition parameter of the mobile communications device; and

transmitting a signal to the mobile communications device instructing the mobile communications device to disable the transmitter on the mobile communications device in response to the mobile communications device being located within an airplane and further in response to the determined condition parameter, wherein the signal includes an airline authority digital signature, which is validated by the mobile communications device prior to disabling the transmitter on the mobile communications device, wherein the signal further includes a prerecorded voice interrupt message, which interrupts a call in response to a person using the mobile communications device for voice communications and is played to the person using the mobile communications device, the prerecorded voice interrupt message indicating to the person using the mobile communications device that the mobile communications device will be disabling the transmitter within a predetermined timeframe.

2. The method according to claim 1, further including, enabling the transmitter on the mobile communications device in response to the determined condition parameter being indicative of no restrictions on the transmitter.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein disabling the transmitter on the mobile communications device further comprises disabling the transmitter in response to the determined condition parameter being indicative of a restriction being necessary.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining a condition parameter includes determining whether the airplane'"'"'s ground speed is indicative of being in flight.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining a condition parameter comprises determining that an emergency has occurred.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein, in response to determining that an emergency has occurred, enabling the transmitter on the mobile communications device.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining a condition parameter includes determining a change in the altitude of the airplane.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining whether a cabin door is ajar on the airplane.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising modifying operating parameters of the mobile communications device by disabling specific operating features or modifying operating features to alternative operating settings, in response to the determined condition parameter being indicative of a restriction being necessary.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising of receiving a wireless signal from a temporary or portable transmitter used to manage wireless transmissions in a location.

11. A mobile communications device, said mobile communications device comprising:

a processor;

a memory;

an input/output (I/O) unit;

said processor configured to;

receive a signal instructing the mobile communications device to disable a transmitter on the mobile communications device in response to the mobile communications device being located within a cabin of an airplane, and further in response to the determined a condition parameter of the mobile communications device, wherein the signal includes an airline authority digital signature, the processor configured to validate the airline authority digital signature prior to disabling the transmitter on the mobile communications device, wherein the signal further includes a prerecorded voice interrupt message, the processor configured to interrupt a call in response to a person using the mobile communications device for voice communications at the time of receiving the signal, the prerecorded voice interrupt message indicating to the person using the mobile communications device that the mobile communications device will be disabling the transmitter within a predetermined timeframe.

12. The mobile communications device according to claim 11, wherein said processor is further configured to enable the transmitter on the mobile communications device in response to determining that the condition parameter is indicative of no restrictions being placed on the transmitter.

13. The mobile communications device according to claim 11, wherein in disabling the transmitter on the mobile communications device, said processor is further configured to disable the transmitter on the mobile communications device in response to the determined condition parameter being indicative of a restriction being necessary.

14. The mobile communications device according to claim 11, wherein in determining a condition parameter, said processor is further configured to determine whether the airplane'"'"'s ground speed is indicative of the airplane being in flight.

15. The mobile communications device according to claim 11, wherein said processor is further configured to determine that an emergency has occurred.

16. The mobile communications device according to claim 15, wherein, in response to determining that an emergency has occurred, the processor is further configured to enable the transmitter on the mobile communications device.

17. The mobile communications device according to claim 11, wherein in determining condition parameter, the processor is further configured to determine whether the altitude of the airplane has changed.

18. The mobile communications device according to claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to determine whether a cabin door is ajar on the airplane.

19. The mobile communications device according to claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to modify a transmitter on the mobile communications device by disabling specific operating features or by modifying operating features to alternative operating settings, in response to the determined conditioned parameter.

20. An airplane control system, said airplane control system comprising:

a processor;

a memory;

an input/output (I/O) unit in communications with a mobile communications device;

said processor configured to;

determine if the mobile communications device is located within the cabin of an airplane;

receive a condition parameter of the mobile communications device; and

send a request to disable a transmitter on the mobile communications device in response to the mobile communications device being within the cabin of an airplane and further in response to the received condition parameter, wherein the request includes an airline authority digital signature, which is validated by the mobile communications device prior to disabling the transmitter on the mobile communications device, wherein the request further includes a prerecorded voice interrupt message, which interrupts a call in response to a person using the mobile communications device for voice communications at the time of receiving the request, the prerecorded voice interrupt message indicating to the person using the mobile communications device that the mobile communications device will be disabling the transmitter within a predetermined timeframe.