Wireless telecommunications signal inhibition

• US 8,260,191 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2011
• Issued: 09/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Arend, Brian L., Gonzalez, Alfredo E., Cook, Charles I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehrpour, Melody
• Application Number:
  US13/107,107
• Publication Number:
  US 20110217919A1
• Time in Patent Office: 480 Days
• Field of Search: 455/1, 455/422.1, 455/414.1, 455/418, 4554561-4564, 455 631- 634, 455/409, 455/403, 455/431, 455/528, 455/69, 455/440, 455/567, 455/466, 455/99, 455/134, 455/345, 342/357.09, 342/357.13, 342/450, 342/457, 342/463, 342/357.1, 359/149, 359/143, 359/145, 359/148, 359/142, 340/904, 340/905, 340/93, 340/988
• US Class Current: 455/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/22 for communication related to vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/34 involving multiple cooperating jammers
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/415 based on motion status or velocity, e.g. for disabling use of mobile phones in a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/42 characterized by the control of the jamming frequency or wavelength
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/43 characterized by the control of the jamming power, signal-to-noise ratio or geographic coverage area
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/02 Access restriction performed under specific conditions

Abstract

Wireless telecommunications is inhibited within a limited region by generating a noise signal within a frequency range of the wireless telecommunications and broadcasting the noise signal into the limited region. A system for inhibiting wireless communications includes a radio frequency noise generator generating a noise signal within a frequency range of the wireless telecommunication. At least one antenna broadcasts the noise signal into the region. Control logic initiates or suspends broadcasting of the noise signal based on at least one control input.

Claims

1. A method for inhibiting wireless telecommunications within a limited region of telecommunications coverage, the method comprising:

identifying a location of a vehicle; and

based at least in part on the identified location of the vehicle, generating at least one noise signal within the frequency range of the wireless telecommunications to inhibit wireless telecommunications within the limited region, the limited region comprising at least a portion of an interior region of the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein generating at least one noise signal within a frequency range of the wireless telecommunications comprises:

generating a plurality of noise signals, each noise signal within a different portion of a frequency range of the wireless telecommunications; and

broadcasting each of the plurality of noise signals from one of a plurality of locations into the interior region of the vehicle, such that telecommunications is inhibited in an area of overlap of the broadcasted noise signals.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the area of overlap is a first portion of the interior region of the vehicle, such that wireless telecommunications are inhibited in the first portion of the interior region of the vehicle and are not inhibited in a second portion of the interior region of the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein generating the plurality of noise signals comprises generating at least one wide band noise signal and band pass filtering the wide band noise signal.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein broadcasting plurality of noise signals comprises broadcasting using at least one directional antenna to achieve the limited region.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the wireless telecommunications is through spread spectrum, the plurality of noise signals generated substantially across the spread spectrum.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is an automotive vehicle.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting whether a wireless handset is operating in a hands-free mode;

controlling broadcasting of the at least one noise signal, based on whether the wireless handset is operating in the hands-free mode.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein detecting whether a wireless handset is operating in a hands-free mode detecting whether the wireless handset is present in a cradle.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting at least one condition of the vehicle; and

controlling broadcasting of the plurality of noise signals based on the at least one condition of the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein detecting at least one condition of the vehicle comprises detecting whether the vehicle is in motion.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein detecting at least one condition of the vehicle comprises detecting whether the vehicle is in gear.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying a location of the vehicle comprises receiving input from a global position system receiver.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying a location of the vehicle comprises determining that the vehicle is within a particular geographic area.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the particular geographic area is a municipality that bans the use of portable telephones while operating a vehicle.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the particular geographic area is a military installation.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the particular geographic area is a medical facility.

18. A system for inhibiting wireless telecommunications within a limited region of telecommunications coverage comprising:

at least one radio frequency noise generator, generating at least one noise signal within the frequency range of the wireless telecommunications;

at least one antenna, in communication with the at least one generator and having an antenna coverage area, the limited region of telecommunications coverage formed the antenna coverage area, to inhibit wireless telecommunications within the limited region, the limited region comprising at least a portion of an interior region of a vehicle

control logic operative to;

identify a location of the vehicle; and

control broadcasting of one or more noise signals based at least in part on an identified location of the vehicle.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein:

the at least one radio frequency noise generator is a plurality of radio frequency noise generators, each generator generating a noise signal within a portion of the frequency range of the wireless telecommunications; and

the at least one antenna is a plurality of antennas, each antenna in communication with one of the noise generators, each antenna having an antenna coverage area, the limited region of telecommunications coverage formed by overlapping antenna coverage areas.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein identifying a location of the vehicle comprises receiving input from a global positioning system receiver.

21. The system of claim 20, further comprising:

the global positioning system receiver.

22. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

one or more sensors in communication with the control logic, the one or more sensors detecting at least one condition of the vehicle;

wherein the control logic is further operative to control broadcasting of one or more noise signals based further on the detected at least one condition of the vehicle.