Radar detector that interfaces with a mobile communication device

• US 9,135,818 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 09/15/2015
• 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:
  US13/840,640
• Publication Number:
  US 20130211707A1
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• Field of Search: 455/403, 4554221-4261, 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, 340/901, 340/905, 340/500, 340/531, 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.13
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 communication element that facilitates communication of data between said electromagnetic signal detector and 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 is operable to manage at least one operation of said electromagnetic signal detector, 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, and

wherein said mobile communication device further receives a prediction of an alert level from a server via said second communication standard, 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.

2. The electromagnetic signal detector of claim 1, wherein at least one of said user interface of said mobile communication device and said electromagnetic signal detector communicates said data to a user of said mobile communication device.

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

4. The electromagnetic signal detector of claim 2, 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.

5. The electromagnetic signal detector of claim 1, wherein said electromagnetic signal is one of a radar wave and a light wave.

6. 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.

7. A mobile communication device that interfaces with an electromagnetic signal detector, comprising:

a communication component that facilitates communication of data with said electromagnetic signal detector via a first communication standard, wherein said mobile communication device is separate from said electromagnetic signal detector; and

a user interface that is operable to manage an operation of said electromagnetic signal detector and communicates information regarding said operation of said electromagnetic signal detector 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, and

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.

8. The mobile communication device of claim 7, wherein said data is communicated to said user based at least partially on a user input from said user interface.

9. The mobile communication device of claim 7, wherein said prediction is communicated to said user as a probability.

10. The mobile communication device of claim 7, wherein said prediction is further based on an analysis of at least one of a heading, a speed, an acceleration and a driving pattern associated with a motor vehicle in which said mobile communication device is located.

11. The mobile communication device of claim 7, 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.

12. The mobile communication device of claim 7, 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.

13. The mobile communication device of claim 7, wherein said user interface comprises a control for adjusting a setting associated with said electromagnetic signal detector.

14. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein said setting comprises at least one of a mode of operation, a detection sensitivity, an output, and an alert threshold.

15. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein said control comprises at least one of a touch screen interface and a button.

16. The mobile communication device of claim 7, wherein said mobile communication device automatically interfaces with said electromagnetic signal detector based upon a triggering event.

17. The mobile communication device of claim 16, wherein said triggering event comprises said mobile communication device entering a communication range associated with said electromagnetic signal detector.

18. A mobile communication device that interfaces with an electromagnetic signal detector, comprising:

a communication component that facilitates communication of data with said electromagnetic signal detector via a first communication standard, wherein said mobile communication device is separate from said electromagnetic signal detector; and

a user interface that is operable to manage an operation of said electromagnetic signal detector and communicates information regarding said operation of said electromagnetic signal detector 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, and

wherein said user interface comprises a map, wherein a radar event is depicted in association with said map and wherein said user interface facilitates management of said radar event by said user.

19. The mobile communication device of claim 18, wherein management of said radar event comprises at least one of removing said radar event, modifying said radar event, and confirming said radar event.

20. The mobile communication device of claim 19, wherein management of said radar event generates radar event data, wherein said radar event data is communicated to at least one of said electromagnetic signal detector and a server via said second communication network.

21. The mobile communication device of claim 18, wherein while a vehicle associated with said mobile communication device is in motion, management of said radar event is at least one of prevented and limited.

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

a non-transitory, tangible computer readable storage medium storing computer executable program code that, when executed by a processor, causes said mobile communication device to perform a method comprising;

a) receiving data from said electromagnetic signal detector via a first communication standard;

b) communicating said data with a communication network via a second communication standard, wherein said first communication standard differs from said second communication standard; and

c) 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.

23. The computer program product of claim 22, 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.

24. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the method further comprises said mobile communication device automatically executing said computer program product based upon a triggering event.

25. The computer program product of claim 24, wherein said triggering event comprises said mobile communication device entering a communication range associated with said electromagnetic signal detector.

26. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein said communication range comprises a range associated with said first communication standard.

27. A mobile communication device, comprising:

a communication 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, and a navigation route, and

a user interface that communicates to a user of said mobile communication device at least one of said data and said prediction.

28. The mobile communication device of claim 27, wherein said data is communicated to said user based at least partially on a user input from said user interface.

29. The mobile communication device of claim 27, wherein said prediction is further based on an analysis of at least one of a heading, a speed, an acceleration and a driving pattern associated with a motor vehicle in which said mobile communication device is located.

30. The mobile communication device of claim 27, wherein said prediction is further based on historical data regarding driving patterns associated with said user.

31. The mobile communication device of claim 27, wherein said prediction is based upon a weighted analysis of said data.

32. The mobile communication device of claim 31, wherein said weighted analysis applies a greater weight to said data received within a threshold timeframe.

33. The mobile communication device of claim 27, wherein said user interface communicates said prediction to said user via at least one of an audio output, a mechanical output, and a visual output.

34. The mobile communication device of claim 33, wherein said audio output comprises at least one of a beep, a buzz, a voice response, and a tone.

35. The mobile communication device of claim 27, wherein said user interface communicates said prediction to said user via an operatively associated external device.

36. The mobile communication device of claim 35, wherein operatively associated external device comprises at least one of an external speaker and a component of a vehicle.

37. The mobile communication device of claim 27, wherein said prediction causes an associated navigation component to suggest an alternate navigation route.

38. The mobile communication device of claim 27, wherein said data comprises custom data comprising at least one of a customized alert, a customized hazard, a customized traffic condition, and a customized navigation route.

39. The mobile communication device of claim 38, wherein said custom data comprises a customized entry associated with a geographic location for said mobile communication device.

40. A server for a mobile communication device that communicates predictions to a user of said mobile communication device, comprising:

a reception element that receives communication from a mobile communication device wherein said mobile communication device is operable to communicate via a first communication standard;

a aggregation component that aggregates data from at least one of said mobile communication device and an electromagnetic signal detector;

an analysis algorithm that analyzes said data, wherein analyzing said data identifies a portion of aggregated data based on a geographic location associated with said mobile communication device; and

a transmission element that facilitates communication of said identified portion of aggregated data via a second communication standard to said mobile communication device based on a geographic location associated with said mobile communication device;

wherein said mobile communication device generates a prediction based upon said identified portion of aggregated data, and wherein a user interface of said mobile communication device communicates said prediction to a user of said mobile communication device, and wherein said first communication standard differs from said second communication standard.

41. The server of claim 40, 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.

42. The server of claim 40, wherein said prediction is communicated to said user based at least partially on a user input.

43. The server of claim 42, wherein said user input is from said user interface.

44. The server of claim 40, wherein said transmission element further facilitates communication of said aggregated data to an other device, wherein said other device comprises at least one of a navigation device, said electromagnetic signal detector, and a vehicle output.

45. The server of claim 40, wherein said reception element further receives communication from at least one of a second server and an electromagnetic signal detector.

46. The server of claim 40, wherein said mobile communication device communicates said prediction to an other device via a first communication standard, wherein said other device comprises at least one of a navigation device, said electromagnetic signal detector, and a vehicle output.

47. The server of claim 40, wherein said mobile communication device communicates said prediction to server.

48. A computer program product for a mobile communication device, the computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory, tangible computer readable storage medium storing computer executable program code that, when executed by a processor, causes said mobile communication device to perform a method comprising;

a) receiving 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, wherein said data comprises information related to at least one of a geographic location, a heading, a speed, an acceleration, and a navigation route;

b) receiving a user input from a user interface of said mobile communication device; and

c) communicating said prediction to a user of said mobile communication device based at least partially on said user input.