Wireless hotspot arrangement

• US 8,180,279 B2
• Filed: 01/20/2011
• Issued: 05/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Antennatech LLC
• Original Assignee: Chester Holdings LLC
• Inventors: Crowley, Robert J., Halgren, Donald N.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRINH, TAN H
• Application Number:
  US12/931,050
• Publication Number:
  US 20120026888A1
• Time in Patent Office: 481 Days
• Field of Search: 455/14, 455/67.11, 455/557, 455/456, 455/556, 455/90.3, 455/575.5, 455/456.1, 455/15, 455/106, 455/117, 455/128, 455/129, 455/351, 455/405, 455/406, 455/9, 455/420, 455/454, 455/463, 455/41.2, 455/552.1, 455/556.1, 455/115.1, 455/151.4, 455/341, 343/702, 343/703
• US Class Current: 455/9
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0012 Seats or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/241 used in mobile communications, e.g. GSM H01Q1/247, H01Q1/248 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3833 Hand-held transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3877 Arrangements for enabling portable transceivers to be used in a fixed position, e.g. cradles or boosters
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers

Abstract

A hot spot system for permitting wireless communication for a wide variety of various manufacturers different wireless personal communication devices in an rf restricted environment, wherein the different wireless personal communication devices each have a radiative antenna, and wherein the hot spot system is arranged to permit wireless, controlled communication between a wide variety of various manufacturers of different personal communication devices located within the rf restricted environment and other communication devices located outside of the rf restricted environment.

Claims

1. A hot spot system for permitting wireless communication for a wide variety of various manufacturers different wireless personal communication devices in an rf restricted environment, the different wireless personal communication devices each having a radiative antenna, wherein the hot spot system is arranged to permit wireless, controlled communication between a wide variety of various manufacturers of different personal communication devices located within the rf restricted environment and other communication devices located outside of the rf restricted environment, the hot spot system comprising:

at least one first antennae arranged as part of the system within the rf restricted environment, the at least one first antenna arranged to communicate wirelessly with the radiative antennae of any of a wide variety of different manufacturers wide variety of wireless personal communication devices being communicatively utilized within the rf restricted environment;

at least one signal transmission line comprising part of the system, the at least one signal transmission line arranged to communicate outside of the rf restricted environment with other communication devices located outside of the rf restricted environment;

a monitoring, signal amplification effecting and control computer comprising part of the system, the monitoring, signal amplification effecting and control computer being arranged in a communications link between the at least one first antennae within the rf restricted environment and the at least one signal transmission line arranged to communicate outside of the rf restricted environment, the monitoring, signal amplification effecting and control computer arranged to monitor and control use of a wide variety of various manufacturers different wireless personal communication devices utilized within the rf restricted environment, and to permit multiple simultaneous controlled, monitored use of various manufacturers wide variety of different wireless personal communication devices utilized within the rf restricted environment and other communication devices located outside of the rf restricted environment.

2. The hot spot system as recited in claim 1, where the monitoring, signal amplification effecting and control computer is arranged to control electronic signal amplification and the amount of time any various manufacturers different wireless personal communication devices may be utilized to communicate from within the rf restricted environment, with any other communication devices located outside of the rf restricted environment.

3. The hot spot system as recited in claim 1, where the monitoring and control computer operates to monitor and bill for costs of utilizing any various manufacturers different wireless personal communication device within the rf restricted environment.

4. The hot spot system as recited in claim 1, where the at least one outside transmission line comprises a further antenna which is arranged to communicate wirelessly with other communication devices outside of the rf restricted environment.

5. The hot spot system as recited in claim 4, wherein the further antenna comprises a satellite communication antenna.

6. A communication system comprising:

at least one first RF antenna arranged for use in an automobile to transmit and receive RF signals to and from one or more various manufacturers different personal electronic communication devices utilized within the automobile;

at least one second RF antenna arranged for use with an automobile to transmit and receive RF signals to and from a communications network outside of an automobile;

at least one transmission line arranged to couple the signals between the first RF antenna and the second RF antenna; and

a monitor and control computer arranged in communication with the transmission line to monitor, control and affect amplification of an RF signal sent to or sent by the various devices utilized in an automobile in which any various manufacturers different personal electronic communication devices are utilized to communicate with a communication network outside of the automobile in which the system is utilized.

7. The communication system of claim 6, wherein the control computer controls the time in the automobile in which the electronic communication devices may be utilized by limiting the times when the electronic communication devices may communicate with the communications network.

8. The communication system of claim 6, wherein the control computer is further arranged to simultaneously regulate multiple in-automobile users of the communication system.

9. The communication system of claim 6, where the communications network comprises a satellite.

10. The communication system of claim 6, further comprising an RF signal shield to minimize radiation from any various personal electronic communication device from traveling in an undesired direction.

11. The communication system of claim 6, wherein the control computer is further arranged to limit certain times when such devices may be utilized to times when the devices are authorized for use in the automobile.

12. The communication system of claim 11, wherein the control computer modulates RF signals between a first and a second frequency bands as the signals travel between the first and second RF antennae.

13. The communication system of claim 6, wherein the first antenna transmits and receives RF signals in a first frequency band and the second RF antenna transmits and receives signals in a second frequency band.

14. The mobile WiFi hot spot system as recited in claim 13, wherein the monitor and control computer includes an RF signal filter to filter RF signals sent to and from any such personal communication device utilized within the zone.

15. A mobile WiFi hot spot system arranged to facilitate communication and permit wireless, simultaneously controlled communication between a wide variety of different manufacturers different personal communication devices utilized within a focal zone and other communication entities located outside of the zone, any such personal communication devices in the zone having a radiative antenna, the mobile system comprising:

at least one first antenna arranged within the zone, the first antenna being arranged to communicate wirelessly with the radiative antennae of any of such wide variety of different manufacturers different wireless personal communications devices being communicatively utilized within the zone;

at least one signal transmission line arranged to communicate between the at least one first antenna within the zone and a further transmission member therewith, for communication with communication entities located outside of the zone; and

a monitor and control computer arranged in the signal transmission line between the least one first antenna within the zone and the further transmission member arranged to communicate with communication entities outside of the zone, the monitor and control computer arrangement being arranged to simultaneously monitor and control RF signals sent by or sent to any of the wide variety of different manufacturers different wireless personal communication devices utilized wirelessly within the zone.

16. The mobile WiFi hotspot system as recited in claim 15 wherein the further transmission member comprises a further radiative antenna.

17. The mobile WiFi hot spot system as recited in claim 15, wherein the zone comprises an rf restricted environment.

18. The mobile WiFi hot spot system as recited in claim 15, wherein the zone is selected from the group consisting of:

a vehicle, a building, an elevator, an automobile, a surface, a flexible mat, a cab, a hospital, a space, a rectilinear area/volume, an RF restricted area and anywhere signal transmission is needed.

19. The mobile WiFi hot spot system as recited in claim 15, which system includes a personal communication device selected from the group consisting of:

a laptop computer, a cell phone, a ground position indicating device and a facsimile machine.

20. The mobile WiFi hot spot system as recited in claim 15, wherein the monitor and control computer is arranged to control amplification of any RF signals sent to or from any such personal communication device utilized within the zone.

21. A method of enabling the use and billing for such use of any of various manufacturers wide variety of different personal wireless communication devices in a zone, by a hot spot system, wherein the method for such hot spot system comprises:

arranging a monitor, amplification and control computer in the zone, the monitor, amplification and control computer arranged to monitor, effect amplification of, and control wireless signals of any of various manufacturers wide variety of different personal communication devices utilized within the zone, and to effect billing of any of a wide variety of different manufacturers various different personal communication devices utilized within the zone, wherein the monitor, amplification and control computer is in electronic communication with the system'"'"'s at least one first antenna arranged within the zone, the at least one first antenna arranged to transmit wireless RF signals to and from any of the wide variety of different manufacturers various personal communication devices utilized within the zone and the monitor, amplification and control computer, wherein the monitor, amplification and control computer is also in electronic communication with a signal transmission line arranged to send and receive RF signals to and from the monitor, amplification and control computer arranged within the zone and communication devices arranged outside of the zone.

22. The method as recited in claim 21, including:

billing for any use of any of the various manufacturers wide variety of different personal communication devices within the zone.

23. The method as recited in claim 22, including:

controlling, effecting change in amplification and monitoring of at least two personal communication devices utilized simultaneously within the zone, by the monitor, amplification and control computer.