Mobile device safety
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a transmitter;
a receiver;
a positioning module; and
an alarm module;
wherein the positioning module is configured to determine a current location of an associated first device in communication with an associated second device, wherein the associated first device includes a microphone for capturing signals representative of noise surrounding the associated first device;
wherein the alarm module is configured to determine from the current location whether the associated first device is in a predefined hazardous location, the alarm module being operable, responsive to determining the associated first device is in the predefined hazardous location, to communicate a warning to the associated first device and to communicate a signal to initiate an audio output at the associated first device corresponding to the noise signal surrounding the associated first device;
wherein the alarm module is configured to suspend operation of the associated first device while the associated first device is determined to be in the predefined hazardous location until the associated first device no longer in the predefined hazardous location; and
wherein the alarm module is configured to initiate communication of a predefined message to the associated second device via the transmitter, the predefined message being indicative of a presence of the associated first device relative to the predefined hazardous location, the suspended operation corresponding thereto, and that communications will resume after the associated first device is no longer in the predefined hazardous location.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In an example embodiment, an automatic warning system that warns users of personal mobile devices (such as cellular telephones and portable music players) when they enter or are near the threshold of a hazardous area while using their mobile device. In an example embodiment, the mobile device is automatically paused upon entering a street and resumes when the user has crossed the street. In a cellular telephone embodiment, calls are automatically put on hold upon entering the hazardous area, optionally the other parties to the call are informed of the reason for the hold, and the call is automatically resumed when all parties have left the hazardous area.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a transmitter; a receiver; a positioning module; and an alarm module; wherein the positioning module is configured to determine a current location of an associated first device in communication with an associated second device, wherein the associated first device includes a microphone for capturing signals representative of noise surrounding the associated first device; wherein the alarm module is configured to determine from the current location whether the associated first device is in a predefined hazardous location, the alarm module being operable, responsive to determining the associated first device is in the predefined hazardous location, to communicate a warning to the associated first device and to communicate a signal to initiate an audio output at the associated first device corresponding to the noise signal surrounding the associated first device; wherein the alarm module is configured to suspend operation of the associated first device while the associated first device is determined to be in the predefined hazardous location until the associated first device no longer in the predefined hazardous location; and wherein the alarm module is configured to initiate communication of a predefined message to the associated second device via the transmitter, the predefined message being indicative of a presence of the associated first device relative to the predefined hazardous location, the suspended operation corresponding thereto, and that communications will resume after the associated first device is no longer in the predefined hazardous location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus, comprising:
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a transceiver operable to send and receive data; a positioning module; a non-transitory memory; and an alarm module; wherein the positioning module is operable to receive data from the transceiver for determining a current location of an associated wireless first device in communication with a plurality of associated second devices, wherein the associated wireless first device includes a microphone for capturing signals representative of noise surrounding the associated wireless first device; wherein the alarm module is configured to determine from the current location of the associated wireless first device whether the associated wireless first device is in a hazardous area; wherein the alarm module is operable to send data to the associated first wireless device via the transceiver responsive to determining the associated wireless first device is in a predefined hazardous area corresponding to the noise signal surrounding the associated wireless first device; wherein the alarm module is operable to suspend operation of the associated wireless first device while the associated wireless first device is determined to be in the predefined hazardous area until the associated wireless first device is no longer in the predefined hazardous area; wherein the alarm module is operable to store in the memory data representative of the communication of the plurality of associated second devices while the associated wireless first device is determined to be in the predefined hazardous area for selective playback after the associated wireless first device is no longer in the predefined hazardous area; and wherein the alarm module is operable to initiate a communication of a predefined message to the associated second device via the transceiver, the message being indicative of a presence of the associated first device relative to the predefined hazardous area, the suspended operation corresponding thereto, and that communications will resume after the associated first device is no longer in the predefined hazardous area. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A method, comprising:
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determining a current position of an associated first device in communication with an associated second device; rendering the current position based on a virtual map; determining from the current position rendered on the virtual map whether the associated first device is located in a predefined hazardous area; communicating a warning to the associated first device responsive to determining the associated first device is located in the predefined hazardous area; suspending communication of the associated first device with the associated second device while the associated first device is determined to be located in the predefined hazardous area until the associated first device is no longer in the predefined hazardous area; communicating a signal to the associated first device to initiate an audio output at the associated first device corresponding to a captured signal of noise surrounding the associated first device; and initiating a communication of a predefined message to the associated second device, the predefined message being indicative of a presence of the associated first device relative to the predefined hazardous location, the suspended operation corresponding thereto, and communication with first device will resume after the associated first device is no longer in the predefined hazardous location. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification