Telephone system and method with background location response capability

• US 6,643,516 B1
• Filed: 03/06/2000
• Issued: 11/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gordon M. Stewart
• Original Assignee: Gordon M. Stewart
• Inventors: Stewart, Gordon M.
• Primary Examiner(s): ABEBE, DANIEL DEMELASH
• Application Number:
  US09/519,498
• Time in Patent Office: 1,338 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456, 701/213, 701/214, 340/539.11, 340/539.13, 340/993
• US Class Current: 455/456.6
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A portable telephone capable of background location transmission response, and methods which can be executed by such a telephone or a system using such a telephone. In one such portable telephone, a position locator which, in response to a location request signal, can determine the location of the portable telephone and generate a corresponding location signal. A receiver receives an incoming call signal and an incoming location request signal. A user interface has: an audio or visual user output device which can reproduce audio or visual information in an incoming call signal as a corresponding audio or visual display; and an audio user input device which generates an audio output signal corresponding to a user'"'"'s voice. An alert generator which, in response to a received incoming call signal, generates a first physical characteristic to indicate an incoming call to a user of the portable telephone. A location request detector which, in response to a received location request signal, can direct the location request signal to the position locator without activating the alert generator. A transmitter to transmit a location signal generated by the position locator in response to a received location request signal, and to transmit the audio output signal.

Claims

1. A portable communication device, comprising:

a) a position locator which, in response to a location request signal, can determine the location of the portable device and generate a corresponding location signal;

b) a receiver to receive an incoming call signal and an incoming location request signal;

c) a user interface having;

an audio or visual user output device which can reproduce audio or visual information in an incoming call signal as a corresponding audio or visual display;

f) a transmitter to transmit a location signal generated by the position locator in response to a received location request signal; and

g) a switch which allows a user to select whether or not a location signal is provided in response to a location request signal during operation of the device.

2. A portable communication device according to claim 1 additionally comprising an alert generator which can generate a physical characteristic for the user, and wherein the switch also allows the user to select whether a location request signal will activate the alert generator.

3. A portable communication device according to claim 1 wherein the switch comprises a keypad.

4. A portable communication device according to claim 1 which weighs no more than 10 pounds.

5. A portable communication device according to claim 1 additionally comprising:

an alert generator which, in response to a received incoming call signal, generates a first physical characteristic to indicate an incoming call to a user of the portable telephone and which, in response to a received location request signal, can generate a second physical characteristic which may be the same or different from the first physical characteristic, to indicate an incoming location request to a user.

6. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the first physical characteristic generated by the alert generator is an audio, visual or tactile alarm.

7. A method, using a portable communication device having:

i) a position locator which, in response to a location request signal, can determine the location of the portable device and generate a corresponding location signal;

ii) a receiver to receive an incoming call signal and an incoming location request signal;

iii) a user interface having;

an audio or visual user output device which can reproduce audio or visual information in an incoming call signal as a corresponding audio or visual display;

iv) a transmitter to transmit a location signal generated by the position locator in response to a received location request signal; and

the method comprising the user selecting at the portable communication device whether or not a location signal is provided in response to a location request signal during operation of the device.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein the user selection is made on a keypad of the portable communication device.

9. A method, using a portable communication device having:

i) a position locator which, in response to a location request signal, can determine the location of the portable device and generate a corresponding location signal;

ii) a receiver to receive an incoming call signal and an incoming location request signal;

iii) a user interface having;

an audio or visual user output device which can reproduce audio or visual information in an incoming call signal as a corresponding audio or visual display;

iv) a transmitter to transmit a location signal generated by the position locator in response to a received location request signal; and

the method comprising providing a location signal from the portable communication device to a first communication device in response to a location request signal from the first communication device, and automatically providing a further location signal from the portable communication device to the first communication device at a selected time interval or when the portable communication device reaches a selected location.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein the selected time interval or selected location is selected at the first communication device.

11. A method according to claim 9 wherein the portable communication device weighs no more than 10 pounds.

12. A method according to claim 9 wherein a further location signal is automatically provided from the portable communication device when the portable communication device reaches a selected location.