Apparatus For Enabling A Mobile Communicator and Methods of Using the Same

• US 20060258376A1
• Filed: 05/10/2005
• Published: 11/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mobile Communication Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Mobile Communication Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Ewell, Robert C. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,590,405 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.600
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/66 with means for preventing unauthorised or fraudulent calling verifying user identity or authority in secret or secure digital communications H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72421 with automatic activation of emergency service functions, e.g. upon sensing an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/06 including a wireless LAN interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/74 with voice recognition means voice activated dialling H04M1/271; voice recognition algorithms G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

An apparatus and method for enabling a Mobile Communicator, such as a cell phone or Mobile Communication Device. A Mobile Communicator comprising: an Enabling System, wherein the Enabling System includes a Global Positioning System (GPS) and an Enabling Circuit, wherein a logic of the Enabling Circuit enables the Mobile Communicator because an at least one condition has been satisfied. A kit for enabling a Mobile Communicator, comprising a Mobile Communicator in a Default Disabled State; and an Enabling System. A method for enabling a Mobile Communicator, comprising: providing a GPS and an Enabling System of the Mobile Communicator, wherein satisfying an at least one condition for enablement enables the Mobile Communicator.

Claims

1. A Mobile Communicator, comprising:

an Enabling System, wherein the Enabling System includes a Global Positioning System (GPS) Receiver and an Enabling Circuit, wherein a logic of the Enabling Circuit has changed a Default Disabled State of the Mobile Communicator to an Enabled State because an at least one condition has been satisfied.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one condition is that there is an emergency.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one condition is that the GPS Receiver receives a GPS Signal.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one condition is that the Mobile Communicator has a speed <

a setpoint.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one condition is that the Mobile Communicator does not receive a Privacy Signal.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein not receiving the privacy signal enables audible receiving and transmitting functions of the Mobile Communicator in a restricted use area.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein each restricted use area is selected from the group consisting of a theater, a sports tournament, a hospital, a waiting room, a library, a spa, a passenger vehicle, a locker room, a business area housing trade secrets or confidential information, a conference room in which trade secrets or confidential proprietary information are discussed and combinations thereof.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a user of the Mobile Communicator speaking or verbalizing a word, e.g. “

help”

into a Microphone or inputting “

help”

via a keyboard into the Enabling System, makes the Mobile Communicator operational to call an Emergency Service Provider and/or notify a Location Transmitter to trigger a Locator Beacon.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the Locator Beacon can be activated by the Emergency Service Provider resulting in the Locator Beacon emitting a locator signal.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a voice of a user of the Mobile Communicator has been authenticated by a Voice Recognition System.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the Voice Recognition System authenticates the voice of the user by determining that each sound(s) provided by the user essentially matches a preprogrammed or recorded user identifying sound(s).

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one condition is that a user'"'"'s voice and/or password is authenticated.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein authenticating the voice or the password of the user identifies an authorized user of the Mobile Communicator to the Emergency Service Provider.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a name of a person to be called has been preprogrammed or recorded in an address book of the Enabling System.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein when the at least one condition is that no privacy signal has been received, each privacy signal is selected from the group consisting of signals from broadcast and pager systems, signals from optical/infrared system, signals from acoustic/ultrasonic systems, 2.4 GHz, audible sounds, inaudible sounds and combinations thereof.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein a Microphone of the Mobile Communicator that is used to input a voice, sound(s) or verbal password for authentication by a Voice Recognition System and to input the privacy signal is the same Microphone used for making outgoing calls.

17. A kit for enabling a Mobile Communicator, comprising:

a Mobile Communicator having an initial Default Disabled State; and

an Enabling System, wherein the Enabling System includes a Global Positioning System (GPS) Receiver and an Enabling Circuit, and wherein a logic of the Enabling Circuit has enabled the Mobile Communicator because an at least one condition has been satisfied.

18. The kit of claim 17, wherein the enabled Mobile Communicator has transmitting and audible receiving functions selected from the group consisting of ringer notification of messages or incoming calls, making incoming and outgoing calls, use of photocopying accessories such as a camera, use of microcomputer accessories, such as palm pilots, as user interfaces for text messaging or email, electronic communicators, and combinations thereof.

19. A method for enabling a Mobile Communicator, comprising:

providing a Global Positioning System (GPS) and an Enabling System in the Mobile Communicator, wherein the Mobile Communicator is in a Default Disabled State;

satisfying an at least one condition for enablement of the Mobile Communicator; and

enabling the Mobile Communicator.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein enabling the Mobile Communicator enables transmitting and audible receiving functions selected from the group consisting of ringer notification of messages or incoming calls, making incoming and outgoing calls, use of photocopying accessories such as a camera, use of microcomputer accessories, such as palm pilots, as user interfaces for text messaging or email, electronic communicators, and combinations thereof.