Radar detector that interfaces with a mobile communication device

• US 8,970,422 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2010
• Issued: 03/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cobra Electronics Corp. (Cedar Electronics Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Cobra Electronics Corp. (Cedar Electronics Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Washlow, Sally Ann, Kabler, Ronald Byron, Brandys, Robert Ryan, Vondruska, Monica Marie
• Primary Examiner(s): GREGORY, BERNARR E
• Application Number:
  US13/518,167
• Publication Number:
  US 20130009760A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,537 Days
• Field of Search: 455/403, 4554221-4261, 455 301- 306, 455/434, 455/466, 342 13- 20, 342/89, 342/175, 342/195, 342/70, 709/201, 709/202, 709/203, 340/425.5, 340/426.1, 340/426.18, 340/426.2
• US Class Current: 342/20
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3415 Dynamic re-routing, e.g. recalculating the route when the user deviates from calculated route or after detecting real-time traffic data or accidents
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/003 Transmission of data between radar, sonar or lidar systems and remote stations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/02 of systems according to group G01S13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/022 Road traffic radar detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/052 with provision for determining speed or overspeed speed measuring in general G01P
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0967 Systems involving transmission of highway information, e.g. weather, speed limits transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/16 for telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/822 by detecting the presence of a surveillance, interception or detection

Abstract

An electromagnetic signal detector that interfaces with a mobile communication device that includes a communication element. The communication element transmits data between the electromagnetic signal detector and the mobile communication device via a first communication standard. A user interface of the mobile communication device communicates the data to a user of the electromagnetic signal detector. The mobile communication device communicates with a communication network via a second communication standard. The first communication standard differs from the second communication standard.

Claims

1. An electromagnetic signal detector that interfaces with a mobile communication device, comprising:

a signal detection component that detects at least one of a radar signal emitted by an electromagnetic signal device and/or a laser signal emitted by an electromagnetic signal device; and

a communication element that transmits data from said electromagnetic signal detector to said mobile communication device via a first communication standard, wherein said mobile communication device is separate from said electromagnetic signal detector and wherein a user interface of said mobile communication device communicates said data to a user of said mobile communication device, wherein said mobile communication device is operable to communicate with a communication network via a second communication standard, and wherein said first communication standard differs from said second communication standard.

2. The electromagnetic signal detector of claim 1, wherein said data communicated to said user is based at least partially on a user input.

3. The electromagnetic signal detector of claim 1, wherein said data communicated to said user is based at least partially on a mode of operation, wherein said mode of operation is determined by at least one of a user input, a geographic location associated with said mobile communication device, a speed, an acceleration, and a navigation route associated with a motor vehicle that is associated with said mobile communication device.

4. The electromagnetic signal detector of claim 1, wherein said mobile communication device further receives a prediction of an alert level from a server, wherein said prediction is based on a geographic location associated with said mobile communication device, and wherein at least one of said user interface and said electromagnetic signal detector communicates said prediction to said user.

5. The electromagnetic signal detector of claim 4, wherein said mobile communication device further receives said prediction of said alert level from said server via said second communication standard.

6. The electromagnetic signal detector of claim 4, wherein said prediction is communicated to said user as a probability.

7. The electromagnetic signal detector of claim 1, wherein said mobile communication device is at least one of a mobile phone, a cellular phone, a smart phone, a satellite phone, a personal digital assistant, a navigation system, a mobile phone communication component, a portable computer, a laptop computer, and a tablet computer.

8. The electromagnetic signal detector of claim 1, wherein said first communication standard comprises one of the BLUETOOTH communication standard, the ZIGBEE communication standard, and the WiFi communication standard.

9. The electromagnetic signal detector of claim 1, wherein said communication network comprises at least one of a telephone communication network, a satellite network, a WiFi network, and the Internet communication network.

10. The electromagnetic signal detector of claim 1, wherein said mobile communication device processes additional data from at least one of said electromagnetic signal detector, a memory associated with said mobile communication device, and a server via the second communication standard.

11. The electromagnetic signal detector of claim 10, wherein said additional data comprises information related to at least one of a geographic location, a speed, an acceleration, and a navigation route associated with a motor vehicle that is using said mobile communication device.

12. The electromagnetic signal detector of claim 11, wherein at least one of said user interface and said electromagnetic signal detector communicates said additional data to said user.

13. The electromagnetic signal detector of claim 11, wherein said additional data is based on a road segment suggested for travel by a navigation application.

14. The electromagnetic signal detector of claim 10, wherein said additional data is further based on at least one of the time of the day, the day of the week, and the month of the year.

15. The electromagnetic signal detector of claim 1, wherein said communication element lacks capability to directly communicate via said second communication standard.

16. A server for a mobile communication device that interfaces with an electromagnetic signal detector, comprising:

a reception element that receives data from at least one mobile communication device based on a detection by an electromagnetic signal detector that communicates with one of said at least one mobile communication device via a first communication standard;

an analysis algorithm that analyzes said data, wherein analyzing said data generates a prediction of an alert level based on a geographic location associated with said one of said at least one mobile communication device; and

a transmission element that transmits said prediction via a second communication standard to said at least one mobile communication device based on a geographic location associated with said at least one mobile communication device;

wherein a user interface of at least one of an electromagnetic signal detector and said at least one mobile communication device communicates said prediction to a user of said at least one mobile communication device, and wherein said first communication standard differs from said second communication standard.

17. The server of claim 16, wherein said data further comprises at least one of a law enforcement activity, traffic conditions, a hazard, an alert, a school zone, a hospital zone, and a weather condition associated with said geographic location.

18. The server of claim 16, wherein said prediction is communicated to said user based at least partially on a user input.

19. The server of claim 18, wherein said user input is from said user interface.

20. A system for an electromagnetic signal detector that interfaces with a mobile communication device, the system comprising:

said electromagnetic signal detector that;

a) transmits data based on one of a detection of an electromagnetic signal and a parameter via a first communication standard;

said mobile communication device that;

b) receives said data via said first communication standard, and

c) transmits said data via a second communication standard, wherein said first communication standard differs from said second communication standard; and

a server that;

d) receives aggregate data from at least one mobile communication device via said second communication standard, wherein said at least one mobile communication device comprises said mobile communication device,

e) analyzes said aggregate data, wherein analyzing said aggregate data generates a prediction of an alert level based on a geographic location associated with said at least one mobile communication device, and

f) transmits said prediction to said mobile communication device via said second communication standard based on a geographic location associated with said mobile communication device;

wherein at least one of said electromagnetic signal detector and said mobile communication device communicates said prediction to a user of said mobile communication device.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein said parameter is one of a threshold quantity of data, a threshold data storage size, and a time schedule.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein said aggregate data is based on a plurality of detections by said at least one electromagnetic signal detector.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein said at least one electromagnetic signal detector comprises a plurality of electromagnetic signal detectors.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein said prediction of said alert level is based on data associated with a geographic location associated with more than one of said at least one electromagnetic signal detector.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein said data associated with said geographic location is based on data from more than one of said at least one electromagnetic signal detector at said geographic location.

26. The system of claim 20, wherein said prediction is communicated to said user based at least partially on a user input from said mobile communication device.

27. The electromagnetic signal detector of claim 20, wherein said prediction is communicated to said user based at least partially on a mode of operation, wherein said mode of operation is determined by at least one of a user input, said geographic location associated with said mobile communication device, a speed, an acceleration, and a navigation route associated with a motor vehicle that is associated with said mobile communication device.

28. A method for an electromagnetic signal detector that interfaces with a mobile communication device which is separate from said electromagnetic signal detector, the method comprising:

a) detecting a signal emitted by an electromagnetic signal device;

b) transmitting data associated with said signal detection by said electromagnetic signal detector via a first communication standard;

c) receiving said data via said first communication standard; and

d) communicating an output to at least one of a user of said mobile communication device and a user of an other device based at least partially on a user input from a user interface of said mobile communication device, wherein said output is based at least in part on said data, wherein said mobile communication device communicates with a communication network via a second communication standard, and wherein said first communication standard differs from said second communication standard.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein communicating said output to said at least one of said user of said mobile communication device and said user of said other device occurs via at least one of said electromagnetic signal detector, said mobile communication device, and said other device.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein said other device is at least one of a navigation device, a vehicle speed regulation device, a vehicle radio, and an other mobile communication device.

31. The method of claim 28, further comprising receiving a prediction of an alert level from a server based on a geographic location associated with said mobile communication device via said second communication standard, wherein said prediction is based on an analysis of a plurality of detections by a plurality of electromagnetic signal detectors, and further comprising at least one of said user interface and said electromagnetic signal detector communicating said prediction to said user of said mobile communication device.

32. A computer program product for an electromagnetic signal detector that interfaces with a mobile communication device, the computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing computer executable program code that, when executed by a processor, causes performance of a method comprising;

a) detecting at least one of a radar signal and/or a laser signal;

b) transmitting data by said electromagnetic signal detector via a first communication standard;

c) receiving said data via said first communication standard; and

d) communicating said data to at least one of a user of said mobile communication device and a user of an other device based at least partially on a user input from a user interface of said mobile communication device, wherein said mobile communication device communicates with a communication network via a second communication standard, and wherein said first communication standard differs from said second communication standard.

33. The computer program product of claim 32, wherein communicating said data to said at least one of said user of said mobile communication device and said user of said other device occurs via at least one of said electromagnetic signal detector, said mobile communication device, and said other device.

34. The computer program product of claim 32, wherein the method further comprises receiving a prediction of an alert level from a server based on a geographic location associated with said mobile communication device via said second communication standard, wherein said prediction is based on an analysis of a plurality of detections by at least one electromagnetic signal detector, and further comprising at least one of said user interface and said electromagnetic signal detector communicating said prediction to said user of said mobile communication device.

35. A mobile communication device that interfaces with an electromagnetic signal detector which is separate from said mobile communication device, comprising:

a communication component that receives data from an electromagnetic signal detector which is configured to detect at least one of a radar signal and/or a laser signal via a first communication standard; and

a user interface that communicates said data to a user of said mobile communication device, wherein said mobile communication device communicates with a communication network via a second communication standard, and wherein said first communication standard differs from said second communication standard.

36. The mobile communication device of claim 35, wherein said data is communicated to said user based at least partially on a user input from said user interface.

37. The mobile communication device of claim 35, wherein said mobile communication device further receives a prediction of an alert level from a server based on a geographic location associated with said mobile communication device via said second communication standard, wherein said prediction is based on an analysis of a detection by at least one electromagnetic signal detector, and wherein at least one of said user interface and said electromagnetic signal detector communicates said prediction to said user.

38. The mobile communication device of claim 35, wherein said mobile communication device generates a prediction of an alert level based on a geographic location associated with said mobile communication device, wherein said prediction is based on an analysis of a detection by said electromagnetic signal detector, and wherein at least one of said user interface and said electromagnetic signal detector communicates said prediction to said user.

39. The mobile communication device of claim 35, wherein said data comprises information related to at least one of a geographic location, a speed, an acceleration, and a navigation route associated with a motor vehicle that is associated with said mobile communication device.

40. An electromagnetic signal detector that interfaces with a mobile communication device, comprising:

a signal detection component that detects at least one of a radar signal emitted by an electromagnetic signal device and/or a laser signal emitted by an electromagnetic signal device; and

a communication element that transmits data from said electromagnetic signal detector to a mobile communication device via a first communication standard, wherein said mobile communication device is operable to communicate with a communication network via a second communication standard, and wherein said first communication standard differs from said second communication standard,

wherein said mobile communication device is at least one of a mobile phone, a cellular phone, a smart phone, a satellite phone, a personal digital assistant, a navigation system, a mobile phone communication component, a portable computer, a laptop computer, and a tablet computer,

wherein said first communication standard comprises one of the BLUETOOTH communication standard, the ZIGBEE communication standard, the radio frequency identification standard, and the WiFi communication standard,

wherein said communication network comprises at least one of a telephone communication network, a satellite network, a WiFi network, a 4G/Wimax network, and the Internet communication network,

wherein said mobile communication device processes additional data from at least one of said electromagnetic signal detector, a memory associated with said mobile communication device, and a server via the second communication standard, and

wherein a user interface of said mobile communication device communicates an output to a user of said mobile communication device, wherein said output is based upon at least one of said data and said additional data.

41. A mobile communication device, comprising:

a reception element that receives a prediction of an alert level from a server based on a geographic location associated with said mobile communication device via a communication network, wherein said prediction is based on an analysis of data related to at least one of law enforcement activity, traffic conditions, a hazard, an alert, a school zone, a hospital zone, a weather condition, a geographic location, a speed, an acceleration, and a navigation route wherein said communication network comprises at least one of a telephone communication network, a satellite network, a WiFi network, a 4G/Wimax network, and the Internet, and

a user interface that communicates said data to a user of said mobile communication device.

42. The mobile communication device of claim 41, wherein said data is communicated to said user based at least partially on a user input from said user interface.