Wireless telecommunications signal inhibition

• US 7,949,296 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2009
• Issued: 05/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gonzalez, Alfredo E., Arend, Brian L., Cook, Charles I.
• Primary Examiner(s): MEHRPOUR, NAGHMEH
• Application Number:
  US12/360,331
• Publication Number:
  US 20090170423A1
• Time in Patent Office: 847 Days
• Field of Search: 455/422.1, 455/414.1, 455/1, 455/418, 455/419, 4554561-4564, 455 631- 634, 455/409, 455/403, 455/431, 455/528, 455/69, 455/440, 342/357.1, 342/357.09, 342/357.14, 342/357.13, 342/450, 342/457, 342/463
• US Class Current: 455/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/22 for communication related to vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/34 involving multiple cooperating jammers
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/415 based on motion status or velocity, e.g. for disabling use of mobile phones in a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/42 characterized by the control of the jamming frequency or wavelength
• 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: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/02 Access restriction performed under specific conditions

Abstract

Wireless telecommunications is inhibited within a limited region by generating a noise signal within a frequency range of the wireless telecommunications and broadcasting the noise signal into the limited region. A system for inhibiting wireless communications includes a radio frequency noise generator generating a noise signal within a frequency range of the wireless telecommunication. At least one antenna broadcasts the noise signal into the region. Control logic initiates or suspends broadcasting of the noise signal based on at least one control input.

Claims

1. A method for inhibiting wireless telecommunications within a limited region of telecommunications coverage, the method comprising:

generating a plurality of noise signals, each noise signal within a different portion of a frequency ranges of the wireless telecommunications; and

broadcasting each of the plurality of noise signals from one of a plurality of locations into the region, such that telecommunications is inhibited in an area of overlap of the broadcasted noise signals and is not inhibited in an area into which at least one of the noise signals is broadcast but in which the plurality of noise signals do not overlap.

2. A method for inhibiting wireless telecommunications as in claim 1 wherein generating the plurality of noise signals comprises generating at least one wide band noise signal and band pass filtering the wide band noise signal.

3. A method for inhibiting wireless telecommunications as in claim 1 wherein broadcasting plurality of noise signals comprises broadcasting using at least one directional antenna to achieve the limited region.

4. A method for inhibiting wireless telecommunications as in claim 1 wherein the wireless telecommunications is through spread spectrum, the plurality of noise signals generated substantially across the spread spectrum.

5. A method for inhibiting wireless telecommunications as in claim 1 further comprising controlling broadcasting of the plurality of noise signals based on a public event.

6. A method for inhibiting wireless telecommunications as in claim 5 wherein the broadcast of the plurality of noise signals is automatically based on at least one condition of the public event.

7. A method for inhibiting wireless telecommunications as in claim 1 wherein the region is the inside of a vehicle.

8. A method for inhibiting wireless telecommunications as in claim 7 wherein the vehicle is an aircraft.

9. A method for inhibiting wireless telecommunications as in claim 7 wherein the vehicle is an automotive vehicle.

10. A method for inhibiting wireless telecommunications as in claim 9 further comprising controlling broadcasting of the plurality of noise signals based on detecting the presence of a telephone in a cradle.

11. A method for inhibiting wireless telecommunications as in claim 9 further comprising controlling broadcasting of the plurality of noise signals based on detecting at least one condition of the automotive vehicle.

12. A system for inhibiting wireless telecommunications within a limited region of telecommunications coverage comprising:

a plurality of radio frequency noise generators, each generator generating a noise signal within a portion of the frequency range of the wireless telecommunications;

a plurality of antennas, each antenna in communication with one of the generators, each antenna having an antenna coverage area, the limited region of telecommunications coverage formed by overlapping antenna coverage areas, such that wireless telecommunications is inhibited in the limited region formed by overlapping antenna coverage but is not inhibited in an area into which at least one of the noise signals is broadcast but in which the plurality of noise signals do not overlap;

control logic operative to initiate or suspend broadcasting of one or more of the noise signals based on at least one control input.

13. A system for inhibiting wireless telecommunications as in claim 12 wherein at least one of the radio frequency noise generators comprises:

a wide band noise source generating a wide band noise signal; and

a band pass filter accepting the wide band noise signal and producing the noise signal within the frequency range of the wireless telecommunications.

14. A system for inhibiting wireless telecommunications as in claim 12 wherein the wireless telecommunications is through spread spectrum, the noise signals generated by the plurality of radio frequency noise generators extending substantially across the spread spectrum.

15. A system for inhibiting wireless telecommunications as in claim 12 wherein the region encompasses a public event, the at least one control input based on a condition occurring at the public event.

16. A system for inhibiting wireless telecommunications as in claim 12 wherein the region is the inside of a vehicle.

17. A system for inhibiting wireless telecommunications as in claim 16 wherein the vehicle is an aircraft.

18. A system for inhibiting wireless telecommunications as in claim 16 wherein the vehicle is an automotive vehicle.

19. A system for inhibiting wireless telecommunications as in claim 16 wherein the at least one control input is based on detecting the presence of a telephone in a cradle.

20. A system for inhibiting wireless telecommunications as in claim 16 wherein the at least one control input is based on detecting at least one condition of the vehicle.