APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR DISABLING A MOBILE COMMUNICATOR

• US 20070270122A1
• Filed: 08/01/2007
• Published: 11/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mobile Communication Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Mobile Communication Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Ewell, Robert
• Application Number:
  US11/832,432
• Publication Number:
  US 20070270122A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/404.200
• 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 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/045 using recorded signals, e.g. speech
• 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

Provided is a mobile communicator apparatus comprising a locational tracking unit and a disabling circuit. The locational tracking unit determines the location of the mobile communicator. The disabling circuit is configured to change the state of the mobile communicator from an enabled state, wherein the audible receiving and transmitting functions of the mobile communicator are enabled, to a disabled state, wherein the audible receiving and transmitting functions of the mobile communicator are disabled when the location of the mobile communicator as determined by the locational tracking unit satisfies the at least one condition. Also provided is a corresponding mobile communicator disabling system comprised of a mobile communicator apparatus and a network of signal transceivers and a corresponding method for disabling a mobile communicator apparatus.

Claims

1. A mobile communicator, comprising:

a locational tracking unit for determining the location of the mobile communicator; and

a disabling circuit configured to change the state of the mobile communicator from an enabled state, wherein the audible receiving and transmitting functions of the mobile communicator are enabled, to a disabled state, wherein the audible receiving and transmitting functions of the mobile communicator are disabled when the location of the mobile communicator as determined by the locational tracking unit satisfies the at least one condition.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the locational tracking unit uses a network of signal transceivers to determine the location of the mobile communicator.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one condition further comprises one of:

receiving a privacy signal;

or

determining the speed of the mobile communicator to be greater than a setpoint.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mobile communicator further comprises a microphone for inputting any of a voice, sound, or audible password, and wherein the mobile communicator further comprises a keypad for entering alphanumeric inputs.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the mobile communicator further comprises a voice recognition system and a memory storage device, wherein the voice, sound(s), or password inputted into the microphone are authenticated by the voice recognition system by determining each sound(s) provide by a user match a pre-programmed or user-recorded identifying sound in the memory storage device.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the locational tracking unit is configured to determine the location of the mobile communicator by using at least one of triangulation, trilateration, multilateration, or GPS positioning.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mobile communicator comprises an emergency service system, further comprising:

a location transmitter configured to transmit the location of the mobile communicator; and

a locator beacon configured to emit a locator signal, such as an alarm, a flashing light, or an audible sound, as to the geographic location of the mobile communicator.

8. A mobile communicator disabling system, comprising:

a mobile communicator, wherein the mobile communicator includes;

a locational tracking unit configured to determine the location of the mobile communicator; and

a disabling circuit configured to change the state of the mobile communicator from an enabled state, wherein the audible receiving and transmitting functions of the mobile communicator are enabled, to a disabled state, wherein the audible receiving and transmitting functions of the mobile communicator are disabled; and

a network of signal transceivers located in specific and known locations, wherein said network of signal transceivers is configured to communicate with the locational tracking unit to determine the location of the mobile communicator and the mobile communicator is disabled by the disabling circuit when an at least one condition is satisfied.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said at least one condition comprises one of:

retrieval of a privacy signal;

or

speed of the mobile communicator being greater than a setpoint.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein said locational tracking unit uses a network of signal transceivers to determine the location of the mobile communicator.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein said disabling circuit is configured to re-enable the mobile communicator if one of:

the at least one condition is no longer satisfied;

or

there is an emergency.

12. A method for disabling a mobile communicator, comprising:

providing a locational tracking unit and a disabling circuit to a mobile communicator, wherein the mobile communicator is in an initial enabled state;

determining the location of the mobile communicator;

determining that at least one condition for disablement of the mobile communicator is satisfied; and

disabling the mobile communicator.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein determining that at least one condition for disablement of the mobile communicator is satisfied includes one of either:

receiving a privacy signal;

or

determining the speed of the mobile communicator to be greater than a set point.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the initial enablement of the mobile communicator further comprises:

authenticating a user'"'"'s voice and/or password with a voice recognition system;

or

determining the location of the mobile communicator with the locational tracking unit.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein determining the location of the mobile communicator with the locational tracking unit further comprises triangulation, trilateration, multilateration, or any other method of determining the location of the mobile communicator with a network of signal transceivers.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the disabling circuit will change the state of the mobile communicator to the enabled state if either:

the at least one condition is no longer satisfied;

or

there is an emergency.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the mobile communicator will remain in the disabled state for 30 seconds before the locational tracking unit will determine if disabling circuit will change the state of the mobile communicator to an enabled state.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein enabling the mobile communicator in an emergency further comprises speaking or verbalizing a word, e.g. “

help,”

into a microphone or inputting “

help”

via a keyboard to make the mobile communicator operational to call an emergency service provider and/or notify a location transmitter to trigger a locator beacon.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein an authorized user of the mobile communicator is identified to said emergency service provider.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein enabling the mobile communicator in an emergency further comprises said emergency service provider activating said locator beacon and a locator signal is emitted.