Automatic cell phone detection at a combustible delivery station

• US 6,222,458 B1
• Filed: 11/15/1999
• Issued: 04/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Harris Technology LLC
• Original Assignee: Scott C Harris
• Inventors: Harris, Scott C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US09/439,376
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• Field of Search: 340/568.1, 340/506, 340/686.6, 340/691.1, 340/691.6, 340/825.06, 340/825.69, 340/825.07, 340/686.1, 455/421, 455/422, 455/66, 455/528
• US Class Current: 340/686.6
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/3236 relating to electrostatic charges
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/16 Combustible gas alarms
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/16 for telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/18 for wireless local area networks or WLAN
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/22 including jamming detection and monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/43 characterized by the control of the jamming power, signal-to-noise ratio or geographic coverage area
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/45 characterized by including monitoring of the target or target signal, e.g. in reactive jammers or follower jammers for example by means of an alternation of jamming phases and monitoring phases, called "look-through mode"
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/68 using passive jamming, e.g. by shielding or reflection shielding of apparatus or components against electric or magnetic field H05K9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/84 related to preventing electromagnetic interference in petrol station, hospital, plane or cinema
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Protection against use of a two way radio, e.g. a cellular phone, at a combustible delivery station. One mode is active, and detects operating cell phones at the gas station. The phones can be detected using Bluetooth. The pump can be turned off when the alarm is detected. Another mode is passive. This mode can be via shielding, alone or with RF jamming.

Claims

1. A system for protecting against two way radio use at a station for delivery of combustible material, comprising:

a two way radio protecting element, which automatically protects against use of a two way radio within said station for delivery of combustible material.

2. A system as in claim 1, wherein said radio is a cellular phone.

3. A system as in claim 1, wherein said radio protecting element includes a radio frequency shield.

4. A system as in claim 1, wherein said radio protecting element includes an RF jammer.

5. A system as in claim 1 wherein said protecting element includes a cell phone detector, which produces an alarm when a cellular phone is detected.

6. A system as in claim 1 wherein said protecting element is an addressed system, in which the two-way radio has a specific address, said two way radio protecting element detects said specific address to detect said two way radio.

7. A system as in claim 1 wherein said protecting element is a nonaddressed system.

8. A system for detecting two way radio use at a station for delivery of combustible material, comprising:

a two way radio detecting element, which detects use of a two way radio within said station for delivery of combustible material, and automatically produces an action in response to detecting said use of said two-way radio within said station.

9. A system as in claim 8 wherein said action is an alarm.

10. A system as in claim 8 wherein said action is automatically preventing combustible material from being delivered.

11. A system as in claim 8, wherein said radio detecting element includes a Bluetooth device.

12. A method of preventing use of a two way radio in a combustible material delivery station, comprising:

defining a perimeter of a combustible material delivery station; and

protecting against said two way radio being used within said perimeter, at least while combustible material is being delivered.

13. A method as in claim 12, wherein said protecting comprises RF shielding said perimeter.

14. A method as in claim 12, wherein said protecting comprises RF jamming within said perimeter.

15. A method as in claim 14, wherein said jamming comprises adjusting a power level of jamming to an amount that allows jamming within said perimeter, but not outside said perimeter.

16. A method as in claim 12, wherein said protecting comprises detecting when a radio is active within said perimeter, and producing an alarm when active.

17. A method as in claim 16, further comprising, responsive to said alarm, automatically preventing dispensing of said combustible material.

18. A method as in claim 16, wherein said alarm provides an indication that is perceived by an attendant.

19. A method as in claim 12, wherein said detecting is via an addressable protocol.

20. A method as in claim 12, wherein said detecting is via a nonaddressable protocol.