Cell phone locator method

• US 8,005,474 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2008
• Issued: 08/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kroll Family Trust
• Original Assignee: Kroll Family Trust
• Inventors: Kroll, Mark W.
• Primary Examiner(s): SMITH, CREIGHTON H
• Application Number:
  US12/258,903
• Publication Number:
  US 20100029256A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,030 Days
• Field of Search: 379/35, 379/32.01, 379/133, 455/431
• US Class Current: 455/431
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/0063 by avoiding the use of electronic equipment during flight, e.g. of mobile phones or laptops

Abstract

A method of locating a cellular phone on an aircraft includes detecting a cellular phone transmission of a passenger on an aircraft, logging a subscriber number and a serial number of the phone, transmitting the subscriber number and the serial number of the phone to a common carrier for caller identification information, attempting to match the caller identification information with a database, displaying a name and a seat number of the passenger if a match was found between the caller identification information and the database, and recording all information related to the cellular phone transmission.

Claims

1. A method of locating a cellular phone on an aircraft, the method comprising:

detecting a cellular phone transmission of a passenger on an aircraft;

logging a subscriber number and a serial number of the phone;

transmitting the subscriber number and the serial number of the phone to a common carrier for caller identification information;

attempting to match the caller identification information with a database;

displaying a name and a seat number of the passenger if a match was found between the caller identification information and the database; and

recording all information related to the cellular phone transmission.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the attempting to match with a database further comprises attempting to match with an airline check-in database.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the attempting to match with a database further comprises attempting to match the caller identification information with a terrorist watch list database.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

alerting the aircraft'"'"'s captain if there is a match between the caller identification information and the terrorist watch list database.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

alerting an air marshal if there is a match between the caller identification information and the terrorist watch list database.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

determining the location of the phone receiving the cellular phone transmission; and

listening in on the call if either the aircraft or the location of the phone receiving the cellular phone transmission are reasonably believed to be outside the United States.

7. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

recording the call if either the aircraft or the location of the phone receiving the cellular phone transmission are reasonably believed to be outside the United States.

8. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

alerting the Department of Homeland Security if there is a match between the caller identification information and the terrorist watch list database.

9. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

determining the closest airport for re-routing of the flight if there is a match between the caller identification information and the terrorist watch list database.

10. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

determining the location of the phone receiving the cellular phone transmission.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining the caller identification information of the person receiving the cellular phone transmission; and

attempting to match the caller identification information of the person receiving the cellular phone transmission with a terrorist watch list database.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

alerting the Department of Homeland Security if there is a match between the caller identification information and the terrorist watch list database.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

detaining the passenger upon landing of the aircraft.

14. A method of preventing terrorism, the method comprising:

detecting a cellular phone transmission in an airport;

logging a subscriber number and a serial number of the phone;

transmitting the subscriber number and the serial number of the phone to a common carrier for caller identification information;

attempting to match the caller identification information with either a reservation database or a check-in database, and a terrorist watch list database;

displaying a name and a flight number of a passenger if a match was found between the caller identification information and with either the reservation database or the check-in database, and a terrorist watch list database; and

recording all information related to the cellular phone transmission.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

determining the location of the phone receiving the cellular phone transmission.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

listening in on the call if the location of the phone receiving the cellular phone transmission is reasonably believed to be outside the United States.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

recording the call if the location of the phone receiving the cellular phone transmission is reasonably believed to be outside the United States.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

alerting the Department of Homeland Security if there is a match between the caller identification information and the terrorist watch list database.

19. A method of preventing terrorism, the method comprising:

detecting a cellular phone transmission in an airport;

determining the location of the phone receiving the cellular phone transmission;

listening in on the call if the location of the phone receiving the cellular phone transmission is reasonably believed to be outside the United States; and

recording the call if the location of the phone receiving the cellular phone transmission is reasonably believed to be outside the United States.