Apparatus, system, and method for disabling a mobile communicator

• US 8,380,161 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2011
• Issued: 02/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mobile Communication Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Mobile Communication Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Ewell, Jr., Robert C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Balaoing, Ariel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lau, YungSang
• Application Number:
  US13/163,122
• Publication Number:
  US 20110244825A1
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 4554561-457, 455/565
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/66 with means for preventing unauthorised or fraudulent calling verifying user identity or authority in secret or secure digital communications H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72421 with automatic activation of emergency service functions, e.g. upon sensing an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/045 using recorded signals, e.g. speech
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/06 including a wireless LAN interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/74 with voice recognition means voice activated dialling H04M1/271; voice recognition algorithms G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

Provided is a mobile communicator apparatus comprising a locational tracking unit and a disabling circuit. The locational tracking unit determines the location of the mobile communicator. The disabling circuit is configured to change the state of the mobile communicator from an enabled state, wherein the audible receiving and transmitting functions of the mobile communicator are enabled, to a disabled state, wherein the audible receiving and transmitting functions of the mobile communicator are disabled when the location of the mobile communicator as determined by the locational tracking unit satisfies the at least one condition. Also provided is a corresponding mobile communicator disabling system comprised of a mobile communicator apparatus and a network of signal transceivers and a corresponding method for disabling a mobile communicator apparatus.

Claims

1. A Mobile Communicator having an initial Default Disabled State, comprising:

a contact operable between an open configuration and a closed configuration and positioned to complete an electric circuit when the contact is in the closed position thereby activating the Mobile Communicator and providing the Mobile Communicator with functionality;

a display;

a notification mechanism for alerting a user;

a user interface configured for allowing a user to enter a plurality of destination inputs, the plurality of destination inputs each associated with at least one of;

numbers;

letters; and

numbers and letters;

a transmitter in operable communication with the user interface and configured to send a transmission from the mobile communicator to a destination corresponding with the destination input;

a receiver capable of receiving a transmission from a transmitting device; and

an Enabling System, wherein the Enabling System includes an Enabling Circuit, wherein a logic of the Enabling Circuit has changed the initial Default Disabled State of the Mobile Communicator, wherein at least one of the display, the notification mechanism, the user interface, the transmitter and the receiver is disabled, to an Enabled State, wherein the at least one of the display, the notification mechanism, the user interface, the transmitter and the receiver become enabled, because an at least one condition has been satisfied;

wherein the Mobile Communicator remains in the initial Default Disabled State, wherein at least one of the display, the notification mechanism, the user interface, the transmitter and the receiver is disabled, if the at least one condition is not satisfied, even when the contact is in the closed position and the activating electrical circuit is complete.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one condition is that there is an emergency.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one condition is that a GPS Receiver receives a GPS Signal.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one condition is that the Mobile Communicator has a speed ≦

a setpoint.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the speed is determined by at least one of triangulation, trilateration, multilateration, or GPS positioning.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the Mobile Communicator includes a privacy signal receiver configured to receive a privacy signal and wherein at least one condition is that the Mobile Communicator does not receive a Privacy Signal.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein not receiving the privacy signal enables audible receiving and transmitting functions of the Mobile Communicator in a restricted use area.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein each restricted use area is selected from the group consisting of a theater, a sports tournament, a hospital, a waiting room, a library, a spa, a passenger vehicle, a locker room, a business area housing trade secrets or confidential information, a conference room in which trade secrets or confidential proprietary information are discussed and combinations thereof.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a user of the Mobile Communicator speaking or verbalizing a predetermined word into a Microphone or inputting the predetermined word via a keyboard into the Enabling System, makes the Mobile Communicator operational to call an Emergency Service Provider and/or notify a Location Transmitter to trigger a Locator Beacon.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the Locator Beacon can be activated by the Emergency Service Provider resulting in the Locator Beacon emitting a locator signal.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the Mobile Communicator is configured to authenticate a voice of a user with a Voice Recognition System.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the Voice Recognition System authenticates the voice of the user by determining that each sound(s) provided by the user essentially matches a preprogrammed or recorded user identifying sound(s).

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one condition is that a user'"'"'s voice and/or password is authenticated.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein authenticating the voice or the password of the user identifies an authorized user of the Mobile Communicator to the Emergency Service Provider.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a name of a person to be called has been preprogrammed or recorded in an address book of the Enabling System.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein when the at least one condition is that no privacy signal has been received, each privacy signal is selected from the group consisting of signals from broadcast and pager systems, signals from optical/infrared system, signals from acoustic/ultrasonic systems, 2.4 GHz, audible sounds, inaudible sounds and combinations thereof.

17. A kit for enabling a Mobile Communicator, comprising:

a Mobile Communicator having;

a contact operable between an open configuration and a closed configuration and positioned to complete an electric circuit when the contact is in the closed position thereby activating the Mobile Communicator and providing the Mobile Communicator with functionality;

a display;

a notification mechanism for alerting a user;

a user interface configured for allowing a user to enter a plurality of destination inputs, the plurality of destination inputs each associated with at least one of;

numbers;

letters; and

numbers and letters;

a transmitter in operable communication with the user interface and configured to send a transmission from the mobile communicator to a destination corresponding with the destination input; and

a receiver capable of receiving a transmission from a transmitting device;

further wherein the Mobile Communicator includes an initial Default Disabled State, wherein at least one of the display, the notification mechanism, the user interface, the transmitter and the receiver is disabled; and

an Enabling System, wherein the Enabling System includes an Enabling Circuit, and wherein a logic of the Enabling Circuit has enabled the Mobile Communicator, wherein transmitting and audible receiving functions become enabled, because an at least one condition has been satisfied; and

wherein the Mobile Communicator remains in the initial Default Disabled State if the at least one condition is not satisfied, wherein at least one of the display, the notification mechanism, the user interface, the transmitter and the receiver is disabled, even when the contact is in the closed position and the activating electrical circuit is complete.

18. The kit of claim 17, wherein the at least one condition is that the Mobile Communicator has a speed ≦

a setpoint and wherein the speed is determined by at least one of triangulation, trilateration, multilateration, or GPS positioning.

19. A method for enabling a Mobile Communicator having an initial Default Disabled State wherein transmitting and audible receiving functions are disabled, the method comprising:

providing an Enabling System in the Mobile Communicator, the Mobile Communicator comprising;

a display;

a notification mechanism for alerting a user;

a user interface configured for allowing a user to enter a plurality of destination inputs, the plurality of destination inputs each associated with at least one of;

numbers;

letters; and

numbers and letters;

a transmitter in operable communication with the user interface and configured to send a transmission from the mobile communicator to a destination corresponding with the destination input; and

a receiver capable of receiving a transmission from a transmitting device;

wherein the Mobile Communicator is in the Default Disabled State, wherein at least one of the display, the notification mechanism, the user interface, the transmitter and the receiver is disabled, and wherein the Mobile Communicator includes a contact operable between an open configuration and a closed configuration and positioned to complete an electric circuit when the contact is in the closed position thereby activating the Mobile Communicator and providing the Mobile Communicator with functionality;

satisfying an at least one condition for enablement of the Mobile Communicator; and

enabling the Mobile Communicator, wherein at least one of the display, the notification mechanism, the user interface, the transmitter and the receiver become enabled;

wherein the Mobile Communicator remains in the initial Default Disabled State, wherein at least one of the display, the notification mechanism, the user interface, the transmitter and the receiver is disabled, if the at least one condition is not satisfied, even when the contact is in the closed position and the activating electrical circuit is complete.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the at least one condition is that the Mobile Communicator has a speed ≦

a setpoint and wherein the speed is determined by at least one of triangulation, trilateration, multilateration, or GPS positioning.