Method and apparatus for detecting portable electronic device functionality
First Claim
1. A method in an apparatus for detecting the functionality of an electronic device, comprising:
- detecting a trigger from the electronic device wherein the electronic device is separate from the apparatus;
identifying one or more functionalities of the electronic device based on the detected trigger;
for each of the one or more functionalities, determining whether the functionality is permitted or restricted in a protected area; and
in response to a determination that at least one of the one or more functionalities is restricted in the protected area, setting an alert flag indicating that the electronic device includes restricted functionality.
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Abstract
The present invention is a method and apparatus for the detection of portable electronic device functionality. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention includes a chemically coated antenna to serve as a trigger for device functionality detection. The chemically coated antenna may be passively or actively detected. In active detection, a detection apparatus releases a chemical which reacts or otherwise respods with the chemical trigger in a detectable manner. The detection apparatus detects the reaction, which is specific to the functionality of the portable electronic device. In passive detection, a detection device simply detects the chemical trigger, which is specific to the portable electronic device functionality. Other trigger embodiments utilizing optics, radio frequency (RF) signals, sound waves, and magnetic identification are also disclosed.
117 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method in an apparatus for detecting the functionality of an electronic device, comprising:
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detecting a trigger from the electronic device wherein the electronic device is separate from the apparatus; identifying one or more functionalities of the electronic device based on the detected trigger; for each of the one or more functionalities, determining whether the functionality is permitted or restricted in a protected area; and in response to a determination that at least one of the one or more functionalities is restricted in the protected area, setting an alert flag indicating that the electronic device includes restricted functionality. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method in an apparatus for detecting the functionality of an electronic device, comprising:
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activating a trigger provided on the electronic device to create a response, wherein the electronic device is separate from the apparatus; detecting the response of the activated trigger; and identifying one or more functionalities of the electronic device based on the detected response; for each of the one or more functionalities, determining whether the functionality is permitted or restricted in a protected area; and in response to a determination that at least one of the one or more functionalities is restricted in the protected area, setting an alert flag indicating that the electronic device includes restricted functionality. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An apparatus for detecting the functionality of an electronic device, the apparatus comprising:
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an activator configured to activate the trigger of the electronic device, wherein the electronic device is separate from the apparatus and includes a trigger, the apparatus comprising; a sensor configured to; detect the activation of the trigger; identify one or more functionalities of the electronic device; for each of the one or more functionalities, determine whether the functionality is permitted or restricted in a protected area; and in response to a determination that at least one of the one or more functionalities is restricted in the protected area, set an alert flag indicating that the electronic device includes restricted functionality; and an interface configured to output the one or more functionalities of the electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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Specification