US20070270122A1 - Apparatus, system, and method for disabling a mobile communicator - Google Patents
Apparatus, system, and method for disabling a mobile communicator Download PDFInfo
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- US20070270122A1 US20070270122A1 US11/832,432 US83243207A US2007270122A1 US 20070270122 A1 US20070270122 A1 US 20070270122A1 US 83243207 A US83243207 A US 83243207A US 2007270122 A1 US2007270122 A1 US 2007270122A1
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- mobile communicator
- communicator
- enabling
- signal
- location
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
- H04M1/66—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers with means for preventing unauthorised or fraudulent calling
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
- H04M1/72—Mobile telephones; Cordless telephones, i.e. devices for establishing wireless links to base stations without route selection
- H04M1/724—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
- H04M1/72403—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
- H04M1/72418—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality for supporting emergency services
- H04M1/72421—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality for supporting emergency services with automatic activation of emergency service functions, e.g. upon sensing an alarm
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M11/00—Telephonic communication systems specially adapted for combination with other electrical systems
- H04M11/04—Telephonic communication systems specially adapted for combination with other electrical systems with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M11/00—Telephonic communication systems specially adapted for combination with other electrical systems
- H04M11/04—Telephonic communication systems specially adapted for combination with other electrical systems with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
- H04M11/045—Telephonic communication systems specially adapted for combination with other electrical systems with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems using recorded signals, e.g. speech
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M2250/00—Details of telephonic subscriber devices
- H04M2250/06—Details of telephonic subscriber devices including a wireless LAN interface
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M2250/00—Details of telephonic subscriber devices
- H04M2250/10—Details of telephonic subscriber devices including a GPS signal receiver
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M2250/00—Details of telephonic subscriber devices
- H04M2250/12—Details of telephonic subscriber devices including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M2250/00—Details of telephonic subscriber devices
- H04M2250/74—Details of telephonic subscriber devices with voice recognition means
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
- H04W4/00—Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
- H04W4/90—Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
- H04W76/00—Connection management
- H04W76/50—Connection management for emergency connections
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
- H04W88/00—Devices specially adapted for wireless communication networks, e.g. terminals, base stations or access point devices
- H04W88/02—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.
Description
- The present invention is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/908,377, filed May 10, 2005 and entitled “Apparatus for Enabling a Mobile Communicator and Methods of Using the Same” and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
- The present invention relates generally to an apparatus and method for using a mobile communication device, and more specifically to an apparatus and method for controlling the mobile communication device.
- Mobile or wireless cell phones or other wireless mobile communication devices such as two way radios have become popular devices for communicating when away from home or the office. Some people rely exclusively on wireless mobile communication devices because they may be carried on their persons, so their mobile communicator may always be accessible. This ubiquitous nature of wireless cell phones may be a disadvantage because cell phones may not be bound by use restrictions that may be placed on wired phones, when conditions arise in which cell phone use may need to be limited.
- Therefore there is a need for controlling cell phone use when conditions arise in which cell phone use may need to be limited.
- A first aspect of the present invention provides a Mobile Communicator, comprising: an Enabling System, wherein the Enabling System includes a Global Positioning System (GPS) Receiver and an Enabling Circuit, wherein a logic of the Enabling Circuit has changed a Default Disabled State of the Mobile Communicator to an Enabled State because an at least one condition has been satisfied.
- A second aspect of the present invention provides a kit for enabling a Mobile Communicator, comprising: a Mobile Communicator having an initial Default Disabled State; and an Enabling System, wherein the Enabling System includes a Global Positioning System (GPS) Receiver and an Enabling Circuit, and wherein a logic of the Enabling Circuit has enabled the Mobile Communicator because an at least one condition has been satisfied.
- A third aspect of the present invention provides a method for enabling a Mobile Communicator, comprising: providing a Global Positioning System (GPS) and an Enabling System in the Mobile Communicator, wherein the Mobile Communicator is in a Default Disabled State; satisfying an at least one condition for enablement of the Mobile Communicator; and enabling the Mobile Communicator.
- A fourth aspect of the present invention provides an apparatus for a mobile communicator, comprising: a locational tracking for determining the location of the mobile communicator; and a disabling circuit for changing 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 at least one condition.
- A fifth aspect of the present invention provides a mobile communicator disabling system, comprising: a mobile communicator, wherein the mobile communicator includes a locational tracking unit configured to determine the location of the mobile communicator; and a disabling circuit 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; and a network of signal transceivers located in specific and known locations, wherein said network of signal transceivers is configured to communicate with the locational tracking unit to determine the location of the mobile communicator and the mobile communicator is disabled by the disabling circuit when an at least one condition is satisfied.
- A sixth aspect of the present invention provides a method for disabling a mobile communicator, comprising: providing a locational tracking unit and a disabling circuit to the mobile communicator, wherein the mobile communicator is in an initial enabled state; determining the location of the mobile communicator; determining that at least one condition for disablement of the mobile communicator is satisfied; and disabling the mobile communicator.
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FIG. 1 depicts a kit and a Mobile Communicator, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention; and -
FIGS. 2-7 depict embodiments of method(s) for using the kit and the Mobile Communicator, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. -
FIG. 8 is a view of an embodiment of the mobile communicator apparatus of the present invention; -
FIG. 9 is a view of an embodiment of the mobile communicator disabling system, in accordance with the present invention; -
FIG. 10 is a view of a method of determining the location of the mobile communicator, in accordance with the present invention; -
FIG. 11 is a view of an alternative method of determining the location of the mobile communicator, in accordance with the present invention; -
FIG. 11 is a diagram of logic within the mobile communicator apparatus, in accordance with the present invention; -
FIG. 12 is a diagram of the method for disabling a mobile communicator, in accordance with the present invention. - Mobile cell phones or other mobile communication devices such as two way radios have become popular devices for communicating when away from home or the office. Some people rely exclusively on mobile communication devices because they may be carried on their persons, so they can always be near their mobile communicator.
- Firstly, this ubiquitous nature of cell phones may be a disadvantage when a user receives or transmits a call from a cell phone within a proximity of other people because it may interfere with their enjoyment of their quiet and solitude. Hereinafter, “proximity of other people” is defined as within a listening distance of the other people.
- Secondly, the ubiquitous nature of cell phones may also be disadvantageous for companies that wish to prevent their trade secrets or other proprietary information from being communicated to the outside world via a cell phone, or by a camera accessory of a cell phone, by an employee or other visitor having access to the trade secrets or other proprietary information.
- Thirdly, the ubiquitous nature of cell phones may also be disadvantageous because of safety concerns. Many states such as New York State have enacted laws prohibiting an operator of a moving vehicle from holding a mobile communication device while operating the vehicle in order to reduce the number of moving vehicle accidents that may occur as a result of operators of moving vehicles using mobile communication devices during operation of the vehicle.
- Therefore, there is a need for providing safeguards to avoid safety hazards or interference with the quiet and solitude of others resulting from use of cell phones or other mobile communication devices.
- Many states such as New York State have enacted laws prohibiting an operator of a moving vehicle from holding a mobile communication device while operating the vehicle in order to reduce the number of moving vehicle accidents that may occur as a result of operators of moving vehicles using mobile communication devices during operation of the vehicle.
- Therefore there is a need for equipping a Mobile Communicator such as a cell phone so that some or all of its transmitting and
audible receiving functions 680 may remain in a Disabled State unless certain conditions for Enabling the transmitting andaudible receiving functions 680 are satisfied. Non-limiting examples of the transmitting andaudible receiving functions 680 include ringer notification of messages or incoming calls, calling in/out, e.g., making incoming and outgoing calls from the Mobile Communicator 370, use of photocopying accessories such as a camera, use of microcomputer accessories, such as palm pilots, as user interfaces for text messaging or email, electronic communicators and combinations thereof. -
FIG. 1 depicts akit 205 or aMobile Communicator 370, comprising: anEnabling System 360, wherein the Enabling System 360 includes a “Start Switch” 203 for activating thekit 205 or the MobileCommunicator 370 if an at least one condition is satisfied, and wherein an outgoing call to anEmergency Service Provider 180 may always be enabled by the Enabling System 360. Alternatively, thekit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 may remain in a Default DisabledState 410 if the at least one condition is not satisfied, even if the Start Switch 203 may be activated. The Enabling System 360 may include akeypad 240 for inputting information into the Communicator Controller 350, such as passwords for user identification by the Communicator Controller 350, aLocation Transmitter 270 for transmitting a location of thekit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370, a Locator Beacon 213, for giving notice, such as an alarm, such as a flashing light or an audible sound, as to a geographical location of thekit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370, an Emergency Dialer 260, for calling an emergency service provider such as the Emergency Service Provider 180, a Global Positioning System (GPS)Receiver 210, aPrivacy Receiver System 273, having aprivacy signal antenna 269, a Voice RecognitionSystem 230, aMotion Detector 228, a Microphone 275 and an Enabling Circuit 250. Although the Microphone 275 may by any device able to convert sound(s) wave(s) into an electrical signal, the Microphone 275 may have the following specifications: 100-10 KHz frequency response; low impedance; normal and zoom settings; an effective output level from about −66 dB±3 dB unbalanced (normal); −79 dB±3 dB unbalanced (zoom); and a Microphone 275 range to 80 dB. - The Microphone 275 may provide received sound(s) to the Voice Recognition System 230 via the
wire 285, or wirelessly, or to the Privacy Receiver System 273 via thewire 277, or wirelessly. A Privacy Signal Generator 278 may provide a privacy signal to the Microphone 275 wirelessly by transmitting from theantenna 274. The Microphone 275 may provide the privacy signal received wirelessly from theantenna 274 to the Privacy Receiver System 273 via awire 277, or wirelessly. The Privacy Signal Generator 278 may provide the privacy signal to the Privacy Receiver System 273 wirelessly, wherein theantenna 274 of the Privacy Signal Generator 278 may transmit and theantenna 269 of the Privacy Signal Receiver 273 may receive the privacy signal. Alternatively, the Privacy Signal Generator 278 may provide the privacy signal to thePrivacy Receiver 273 via awire 268, or wirelessly. The Enabling Circuit 250 may include a logic that enables the Mobile Communicator 370 if at least one of a number of conditions may be satisfied, and wherein outgoing calls to an Emergency ServiceProvider 180 may always be enabled by the Enabling System 360. Hereinafter “enabling the Mobile Communicator 370” is defined as making the Mobile Communicator's 370 transmitting andaudible receiving functions 680 operational; to activate the Mobile Communicator's 370 transmitting andaudible receiving functions 680. Hereinafter, “logic” is defined as non-arithmetic operations performed by a logic circuit (not shown) in the Enabling Circuit 250 or in a computer (not shown), such as sorting, comparing, and matching, that involve yes-no decisions, wherein the logic may be provided by computer software or the computer circuit that may be located in the Enabling Circuit 250 or in the computer (not shown). - The “Start Switch” 203 may be any appropriate means of opening or closing an electrical circuit in the Communicator Controller 350 via a
wire 201, or wirelessly, such as a contact closure. Hereinafter, a contact closure may be a variety of electrical switches in an electrical circuit that may be open, i.e., having infinite electrical resistance, or closed, i.e., being electrically conducting. The contact closure may be the Start Switch 203 providing a contact closure to the Communicator Controller 350, via thewire 201, or wirelessly, and the electrical circuit may include theCommunicator Controller 350 and at least one other component of the EnablingSystem 360, such as the Enabling Circuit 250, via thewire 225, or wirelessly, the Emergency Dialer 260, via thewire 235, or wirelessly, or theLocation Transmitter 270, via thewire 255, or wirelessly. Alternatively, the contact closure may be in the Enabling Circuit 250 providing a contact closure for the Communicator Controller 350, via thewire 225, or wirelessly, and the electrical circuit may include the Communicator Controller 350, the Enabling Circuit 250, via thewire 225, or wirelessly, and the Enabling Circuit 250 and at least one other component of the Enabling System 360, such as the GPS Receiver 210, via thewires System 230, via thewire 223, or wirelessly, and the Motion Detector 228, via thewire 229, or wirelessly, and thePrivacy Receiver System 273, via thewire 241, or wirelessly. When the contact closure is closed, the electrical circuit that may include the Communicator Controller 350 and the Enabling Circuit 250 may be complete and functional. Alternatively, when the contact closure is open, the electrical circuit that may include the Communicator Controller 350 and the Enabling Circuit 250 is open and non-functional. When the electrical circuit is open and non-functional the transmitting andaudible receiving functions 680 of thekit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 may remain in the Default DisabledState 410. - In embodiments of the
kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 and of themethods Inaudible Receiving Functions 685 may remain enabled if the at least one condition (420-480) may not be satisfied. Non-limiting examples of Data Retrieval &Inaudible Receiving Functions 685 include ability to receive incoming calls as messages, vibrator or optical notification of incoming messages, visual page, accessing phone numbers or other stored information, personal schedules, and combinations thereof. - Alternatively, when the electrical circuit is closed and functional the transmitting and
audible receiving functions 680 of thekit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 may be changed from the Default DisabledState 410 to the EnabledState 510 if an at least one condition (420-480) may be satisfied, as in themethods Communicator Controller 350 may drive the EnabledState 510 transmitting andaudible receiving functions 680 of thekit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 if the Communicator Controller 350 has received a contact closure from either the Start Switch 203 or the Enabling Circuit 250. The Communicator Controller 350 may drive the transmitting andaudible receiving functions 680 via thewire 690, or wirelessly. - The at least one condition for what conditions must be met so that the
kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 may be enabled may be that there is an emergency, wherein calling an EmergencyService Provider 180 and/or triggering aLocation Transmitter 270 may be enabled if there has been an emergency. Alternatively, the at least one condition may be that the GPS Receiver 210 receives a GPS Signal, wherein transmitting andaudible receiving functions 680 of the Mobile Communicator 370 may be enabled if a GPS signal is received. - Hereinafter, the GPS signal received by the GPS Receiver 210 is defined as any signal that provides geographic location information in the signal as to a longitude and latitude location of the
kit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 on the Earth. Such signals and information may be obtained from a source such as a GPS satellite, a cell phone provider, or any other provider of the signal having longitude and latitude information about the location of thekit 205 or the Mobile Communicator 370 on the Earth. - Alternatively, the at least one condition may be that the
Mobile Communicator 370 has a speed ≦ a setpoint, wherein audible receiving and transmittingfunctions 680 of theMobile Communicator 370 may be enabled if the speed of the Mobile Communicator is ≦ the setpoint. Alternatively, the at least one condition may be that a user's voice or password is authenticated, wherein transmitting and audible receiving functions 680 of theMobile Communicator 370 may be enabled if the user's voice or identifying sound(s) or password are authenticated. TheVoice Recognition System 230 may authenticate a user by determining that each sound(s) provided by the user essentially matches a preprogrammed or recorded user identifying sound(s). Alternatively, the at least one condition may be that theMobile Communicator 370 receives a privacy signal, wherein transmitting and audible receiving functions 680 of theMobile Communicator 370 may be enabled if theMobile Communicator 370 receives the privacy signal. The privacy signal may include 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. - The Enabling
System 360 of thekit 205 may include a Global Positioning System (GPS)Receiver 210, aPrivacy Signal Receiver 273, and aCommunicator Controller 350. TheGPS Receiver 210 may include aGPS Signal Amplifier 190 for amplifying a GPS signal and aGPS Processor 220. TheGPS Signal Amplifier 190 may include aGPS Antenna 271. TheGPS Signal Amplifier 190 may communicate the amplified GPS signal to theGPS Processor 220 via awire 200, or wirelessly. Alternatively, the amplified GPS signal may be transmitted to theGPS Processor 220 by theGPS Signal Amplifier 190 wirelessly using, for example, Wi-Fi protocol. ThePrivacy Signal Receiver 273 may receive a privacy signal fromMicrophone 275, via a communicatingwire 277, or wirelessly. ThePrivacy Signal Generator 278 may generate the privacy signal wirelessly using, for example, Wi-Fi protocol. TheGPS Processor 220 may process the information from theGPS Signal Amplifier 190 to determine a speed and/or a geographic location of theMobile Communicator 370. Hereinafter “geographic location” includes a longitude and latitude from which a position on the earth's surface may be determined. TheGPS Processor 220 may provide said speed and geographic location information to the EnablingCircuit 250 viawire 247, or wirelessly. ThePrivacy Receiver System 273 may provide a privacy signal to the EnablingCircuit 250 via thewire 243, or wirelessly. Different types of privacy signals employed may be signals from broadcast and pager systems, optical/infrared system, and acoustic/ultrasonic systems. Alternatively, the privacy signal may operate at 2.4 GHz. - In one embodiment of the
Mobile Communicator 370 and thekit 205, not receiving the privacy signal enables transmitting and audible receiving functions 680 of theMobile Communicator 370 in a restricted use area. The restricted use area may include a theater, a sports tournament, a hospital, a church, a waiting room, a locker room, a library, a spa, a vehicle, 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. A vehicle may be any transportation vehicle that carries passengers, such as an airplane, an automobile, a coach in a train. However, the restricted use area may be any area in which privacy, quiet or enjoyment of solitude may be desired and in which transmitting and audible receiving functions 680 of thekit 205 of theMobile Communicator 370 may interfere. TheMicrophone 275 of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 that is used for receiving the Privacy Signal and for voice recognition may be the same Microphone 275 a user may speak into to make outgoing calls and for receiving and transmitting function of thekit 205 and theMobile Communicator 370. - The
GPS Receiver 210 may use National Marine Electronics Association (NEMA) standards for data communication between marine instruments GPS protocol (as used between a GPS and Autopilot, for example). TheGPS Receiver 210 may be designed to provide a low cost alternative to other geographic location devices that require high precision and/or accuracy. TheGPS Receiver 210 may have aGPS Signal Amplifier 190 having anactive GPS Antenna 271. TheGPS Receiver 210 may have a RS-232 output for connection to a PC or navigation system and may be enclosed in an essentially 100% waterproof, pole mount case. The NMEA RS-232 output may provide an easy connection to a PC to translate and process theGPS Receiver 210 data strings. TheGPS 213 may be accurate: position horizontal, ±15 m 2D RMS (SA off), velocity, 0.1 m/sec 95% (SA off), 1 micro-second synchronized to GPS time, WASS, ±10 m 2D RMS. - The Enabling
System 360 may include aVoice Recognition System 230, and aMicrophone 275, for inputting an identifiable or distinguishable sound(s). The user identifying sound(s) may be the voice of a user or a user identifying tone or frequency, such as a tone from a tuning fork, a musical note or clip, an animal sound, or any sound by which a user may wish to be identified. The user identifying sound(s) may be inaudible to the human ear such as high frequency or low frequency sounds that are outside of a range of the human ear, such as a dog whistle, having a tone that has been recorded by theVoice Recognition System 230 and may be compared to the identifying sound provided by a user to be authenticated by theVoice Recognition System 230. Hereinafter, comparing the identifying sound(s) provided by a user to be authenticated by theVoice Recognition System 230 to the recorded user identifying sound(s) is a first step in a process by which theVoice Recognition System 230 may “recognize” or “authenticate” a user of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370. A second step in the process may be determining if the identifying sound(s) may match or be essentially identical to the preprogrammed or pre-recorded identifying sound(s). The comparing and matching steps may compare and match features of the identifying sound(s) that include frequency, pitch, volume, and interval between musical notes, syllables of words and the like. The at least one condition to be satisfied for enablement of the transmitting and audible receiving functions 680 of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 may be that the comparison of the identifying sound(s) provided by the user to be authenticated is determined by theVoice Recognition System 230 to be essentially identical or essentially matches the preprogrammed or recorded identifying sound(s) in theVoice Recognition System 230. Hereinafter, user identifying sound(s) include the voice of a user or an identifying tone or frequency, such as a tone from a tuning fork or inaudible sounds such as a dog whistle, having a tone recognizable by theVoice Recognition System 230. TheMicrophone 275 may provide the user identifying sound(s) or password to theVoice Recognition System 230 via awire 285, or wirelessly, and theVoice Recognition System 230 may provide or signal that the user's voice has been recognized or authenticated to the EnablingCircuit 250 via awire 223, or wirelessly. - The
Voice Recognition System 230 may determine that the user authorization condition has been satisfied by authenticating the user identifying sound(s) that the user provides into theMicrophone 275. “Authenticating” or “authentication” is defined as determining the authenticity or identity of the user identifying sound(s) that the user provides into theMicrophone 275 by comparing the user identifying sound(s) to authentic or actual user identifying sound(s) that have been recorded or preprogrammed into theVoice Recognition System 230 so that theVoice Recognition System 230 may recognize the user's voice or sound(s) to identify them, i.e., authenticate them to the EnablingSystem 360 of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370. The at least one condition to be satisfied for enablement of the transmitting and audible receiving functions 680 of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 may be that a user's voice is authenticated. The at least one condition to be satisfied for providing identification of the user to the Emergency Service Provider and triggering a Locator Beacon may be entry of an authenticated password or authenticated voice. - The Enabling
Circuit 250 may receive a signal indicating authentication from theVoice Recognition System 230 viawire 223, or wirelessly. TheVoice Recognition System 230 may receive the user-identifying voice or the frequency of the user-identifying sound(s) from theMicrophone 275 through thewire 285, or wirelessly. - A user placing or originating an outgoing call from the
Mobile Communicator 370 may be authenticated by theVoice Recognition System 230. TheVoice Recognition System 230 may authenticate the user by determining that a pattern of frequencies of the sound(s) provided by the user include sounds audible to a human ear or sounds inaudible to a human ear matches or may be essentially identical to a preprogrammed or recorded pattern of the frequencies of the user identifying sound(s) that may be preprogrammed or recorded in theVoice Recognition System 230. - Once having been authenticated by the
Voice Recognition System 273, a user may enable the transmitting and audible receiving functions 680 of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 by speaking or verbalizing a name of a person to be called that has been preprogrammed or recorded in the EnablingSystem 360, such as in anaddress book 483. Thus, the user may place a call to a telephone number of a person in theaddress book 483 by speaking or verbalizing the person's name or any other preprogrammed or recorded tag attached to the person's name, such as nicknames. Theaddress book 483 may provide preprogrammed or recorded names for recall from theaddress book 483 by the authenticated user via awire 485, or wirelessly. - Embodiments of the present invention may be used to communicate an identity of a user who places a call for emergency services to the
Emergency Services Provider 180. For example, an authorized user may identify himself to theEmergency Services Provider 180 by providing an authenticated password or authenticated voice to the EnablingSystem 360 of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370. Providing an authenticated password or authenticated voice or authenticated sound(s) to the EnablingSystem 360 of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 may trigger anEmergency Dialer 260 andLocator Beacon 213. TheMicrophone 275 of theMobile Communicator 370 that is used to input the user identifying sound(s) or verbal password for authentication by theVoice Recognition System 230 and to input a privacy signal may be the same Microphone used for making outgoing calls. The inventor has found use of thesame Microphone 275 for making outgoing calls and for inputting the user identifying sound(s) or verbal password for authentication by theVoice Recognition System 230, or for inputting the privacy signal for satisfying thePrivacy Receiver System 273, may render methods of bypassing theVoice Recognition System 230 or thePrivacy Receiver System 273 impossible. For example, shielding theVoice Recognition System 273 or thePrivacy Receiver System 273 so that it may not receive the user identifying sound(s) or verbal password for authentication by theVoice Recognition System 230, or the privacy signal for satisfying thePrivacy Receiver System 273 would also shield theMicrophone 275 from receiving the user's voice message that would interfere or prohibit theMicrophone 275 from being used to make outgoing calls. - The Enabling
Circuit 250 may provide go/no go logic such that an authenticated voice may activate theCommunicator Controller 350, resulting in enablement of the Mobile Communicator's 370 incoming/outgoing calls and other transmitting and audible receiving functions 680, including calling theEmergency Service Provider 180, other emergency numbers such as 911 and/or triggering theLocator Beacon 213. Alternatively, theCommunicator Controller 370 may be activated by providing a password or Personal Identification Number (PIN) or alphanumeric combination of numbers and letters using thekeypad 240. - Alternatively, the
Voice Recognition System 230 may be equipped with a Wi-Fi receiver that may enable theVoice Recognition System 230 to receive the user-identifying voice or the frequency of the user-identifying sound from themicrophone 275 via wireless transmission using Wi-Fi protocol and a Wi-Fi transmitter. Hereinafter “Wi-Fi” refers to wireless fidelity and is meant to be used generically when referring of any type of 802.11 network, that 802.11b, 802.11a, dual-band, etc. The term is promulgated by the Wi-Fi Alliance. - Any products tested and approved as “Wi-Fi Certified” (a registered trademark) by the Wi-Fi Alliance are certified as interoperable with each other, even if they are from different manufacturers. A user with a “Wi-Fi Certified” product can use any brand of access point with any other brand of client hardware that also is certified. Typically, however, any Wi-Fi product using the same radio frequency (for example, 2.4 GHz for 802.12b or 11 g, 5 GHz for 802.11a) will work with any other, even if not “Wi-Fi Certified.”
- Formerly, the term “Wi-Fi” was used only in place of the 2.4 GHz 802.11b standard, in the same way that “Ethernet” is used in place of IEEE 802.3. The Alliance expanded the generic use of the term in an attempt to stop confusion about wireless LAN interoperability.
- The Enabling
Circuit 250 may contain logic that queries that certain conditions have been satisfied so that the EnablingSystem 360 may enable theMobile Communicator 370. The EnablingCircuit 250 may provide a contact closure via awire 225, or wirelessly, that completes an electrical circuit between the EnablingCircuit 250 and theCommunicator Controller 350, enabling theCommunicator Controller 350 to drive EnabledState 510 transmitting and audible receiving functions 680 of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 when an answer to the query as to that the certain condition has been satisfied is “yes.” However, the contact closure may not be provided to theCommunicator Controller 350 when the answer to the query as to that the certain condition has been satisfied is “no.” TheCommunicator Controller 350 may drive certain EnabledState 510 transmitting and audible receiving functions 680 via awire 690, or wirelessly, or inaudible or suppressed receiving and transmittingfunctions 685 of theMobile Communicator 370 via awire 687, or wirelessly, when theCommunicator Controller 350 may receive the contact closure from the EnablingCircuit 250, i.e., when the certain condition has been satisfied. TheEnabled State 510 transmitting and audible receiving functions 680 include ringer notification of messages or incoming calls, calling in/out, e.g., making incoming and outgoing calls from theMobile Communicator 370, and combinations thereof. TheEnabled State 510 inaudible or suppressed receiving and transmittingfunctions 685 include a vibrator notification, a camera, a palm pilot, text messaging, message receipt and storage, internet connectivity, silent mode, selective suppression or damping of portions of frequencies of transmissions such as high frequency portion, substitution of video or audio output for suppressed output, and combinations thereof. - The Enabling
System 360 may include aKeypad 240, for inputting information to theCommunicator Controller 350 via a wire 245. Alternatively, thekeypad 240 may input information to theCommunicator Controller 350 wirelessly. - The
kit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 may be enabled for hands-free calling when the at least one condition for enablement of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 has been satisfied. A purpose of hands-free calling is to enable use of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 when a user's hands are not available to operate thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370, such as for activating theStart Switch 203. Hereinafter, “hands-free calling” or “hands-free operation” is defined as allowing a user to retrieve a preprogrammed name and phone number of the person to be called from anaddress book 483. A user may enable the transmitting and audible receiving functions 680 of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 by speaking or verbalizing the name that has been preprogrammed or recorded in the EnablingSystem 360, such as in theaddress book 483. Thus, the user may place a call to a telephone number of a person whose name and number may have been stored in theaddress book 483 by speaking or verbalizing the person's name or any other preprogrammed or recorded tag attached to the person's name, such as nicknames. Theaddress book 483 may provide preprogrammed or recorded names for recall from theaddress book 483 by the authenticated user via awire 485, or wirelessly. - The
Communicator Controller 350 may also drive a voice activatedEmergency Dialer 260 and/or aLocation Transmitter 270. A user may simply speak or verbalize a predetermined call for assistance, such as a word or phrase, e.g., “help” into theMicrophone 275, or input the word “help” into theCommunicator Controller 350 via thekeypad 240 to make theEmergency Dialer 260 and/or aLocation Transmitter 270 operational. Simply speaking or verbalizing the predetermined call for assistance, such as a word or phrase, e.g., “help” into theMicrophone 275, such that theCommunicator Controller 350 may drive thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 to call theEmergency Service Provider 180 and/or notify theLocation Transmitter 270 when the user speaks the predetermined word or phrase into theMicrophone 275 or inputs the word or phrase into theCommunicator Controller 350 via thekeypad 240. - Causes for such a call to the
Emergency Service Provider 180 for help may include calls for any assistance, such as when hiking if the user may be lost and may need directions to find a safe resting place, or to be rescued because of unexpected weather or that there isn't time to return to safety before nightfall. Alternatively the user may be experiencing an emergency, such as a medical emergency or because of a threat against the user's safety. - The
Communicator Controller 350 may drive anEmergency Dialer 260 and aLocation Transmitter 270 for automatically dialing for example, 911, in the United States, and transmitting a location of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 to anEmergency Service Provider 180. TheEmergency Dialer 260 may communicate with theEmergency Service Provider 180 via awire 270 or wirelessly. TheLocation Transmitter 270 may communicate with theEmergency Service Provider 180 via awire 265 or wirelessly. The outgoing call to theEmergency Service Provider 180 may trigger theLocation Transmitter 270. TheLocation Transmitter 270 may be activated by a cell phone signal provider, such as theEmergency Service Provider 180, resulting in aLocator Beacon 213 emitting a locator signal. Alternatively, the EnablingSystem 360 may contain preprogrammed commands and appropriately designated telephone numbers, e.g., “help, 911,” or “call home, XXX-XXXX,” or “call Emergency Service Provider, 911,” or “police, XXX-XXXX, ” or “emergency, 911,” so that the EnablingSystem 360 may enable all functions of theMobile Communicator 370 including audible receiving and transmittingfunctions 680 and data retrieval and inaudible receiving functions 685 for communicating with the designated telephone number holders and trigger theLocation Transmitter 270, so that a user may override the need to determine whether the conditions 420-480 have been satisfied by applying the yes/no logic of the EnablingCircuit 250 if they utter the command into theMicrophone 275. The command may be a user identifying sound(s) or a verbal password that may be recognized by theVoice Recognition System 273, or a written command or password inputted into theCommunicator Controller 350 via thekeypad 240, and if the command has been determined to be essentially identical to or matches the preprogrammed or recorded command, the EnablingCircuit 250 may activate theCommunication Controller 350 to enable the transmitting and audible receiving functions 680 of theMobile Communicator 370, including triggering theEmergency Dialer 260 and/or theLocation Transmitter 270. TheLocation Transmitter 270 may communicate with theLocator Beacon 213 via awire 276 or wirelessly. - The
Communicator Controller 350 may also drive theEmergency Dialer 260 and aLocation Transmitter 270 when the user's voice or identifying sound(s) making the outgoing call to theEmergency Service Provider 180 has been authenticated by theVoice Recognition System 230. Thevoice recognition system 230 may recognize user identifying sound(s) described herein. Satisfaction of the at least one condition for enabling the Mobile Communicator's 370 audible receiving and transmittingfunctions 680 may require authentication of a user's voice by voice recognition or sound(s) recognition or password recognition. Entry of a password via akeypad 240 or authentication by theVoice Recognition System 230 may provide identification of the user to theEmergency Service Provider 180 and enabling of theLocator Beacon 213. - Referring to the
Communicator Controller 350 driving theLocation Transmitter 270, it may become necessary for a user to activate theLocator Beacon 213 in order to find theMobile Communicator 370 if it may be lost or misplaced or obscured from view. Alternatively, when thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 may be lost or stolen a user may report this to any service provider or to theEmergency Service Provider 180 and a specific signal can be sent to thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 by the service provider or theEmergency Service Provider 180 which may activate theLocation Transmitter 270 to transmit a location provided by theGPS Receiver 210 so the phone may be recovered. - In one embodiment, the user may call in to the
Mobile Communicator 370 and instruct the EnablingCircuit 250 of the EnablingSystem 360 to drive theCommunicator Controller 250 to trigger theLocation Transmitter 270 and/or theLocator Beacon 213. The Enabling System may require the user to be voice or sound or password authenticated. If there is an interference from background noise that may interfere with reception from themicrophone 275 when voice or sound or password authentication is used to trigger theLocation Transmitter 270 and/or theLocator Beacon 213, theLocation Transmitter 270 and/or theLocator Beacon 213 may be triggered by an input from thekeypad 240, such as a password. - Adding the Enabling
System 360 to akit 205 or aMobile Communicator 370, such as commercially available cell phones, may be an inexpensive improvement having improved functionality that may be easily implemented. The issue today is not does something need to be done to address the safety and privacy issues inappropriate cell phone use represents, but how to do it. One solution to these the safety and privacy issues is legislation requiring cell phones to be disabled whenever they pose safety or privacy risks. Communication devices disclosed in the prior art may be complicated and expensive so that using them to implement these legislative objectives would be politically impractical due to the hardship it would place on the general population. The low cost and simplicity of this device in conjunction with its improvements in emergency use and owner protection from unauthorized use or misuses if theMobile Communicator 370 may be lost or stolen, makes such needed legislation feasible. - The Enabling
System 360 of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 may be designed so that the EnablingSystem 360 may enable a default state so that certain functions of theMobile Communicator 370 may be disabled when use of theMobile Communicator 370 may be unsafe or an intrusion upon the personal privacy of bystanders. Enabling the default state and its operation requires no generation of radio or other signal transmission that could create health risks or impinge on other types of communication. - The
kit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 having the EnablingSystem 360 may be an improvement over cell phones that depend on a disabling signal of some type to be received in order for the phone to be disabled. Such cell phones may be subject to blocking systems or other workarounds being developed which would result in the cell phones remaining functional because they require a disabling signal, and preventing that signal from getting through may leave such cell phones enabled. In contrast, the EnablingSystem 360 of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 may enable the Default Disabled State when certain required conditions, such as receiving a global positioning system (GPS) signal or receiving a privacy signal, may not be satisfied. Therefore, the EnablingSystem 360 that enables the enabled state of theMobile Communicator 370 may not be subject to blocking systems or other workarounds being developed, because blocking the GPS signal or privacy signal in theMobile Communicator 370 enables the Default Disabled State. - At no time does the function of the Enabling
System 360 interfere, or create a condition which could interfere with receiving signals. On the contrary, the EnablingSystem 360 may require that theGPS Receiver 210 receive a GPS signal. In addition, the EnablingSystem 360 may also require voice, password or sound(s) authentication for enablement of the Mobile Communicator's 370 calling in/out and/or other functions. The EnablingSystem 360 may disable certain functions deemed inappropriate or unsafe if no GPS signal is received by theGPS processor 220 and the EnablingCircuit 250. Therefore, the EnablingSystem 360 that enables the enabled state of theMobile Communicator 370 may not be subject to blocking systems or other workarounds being developed, such as disablement of themicrophone 275, because blocking themicrophone 275 in theMobile Communicator 370 may enable the Default Disabled State. - At present the loss of communicators that rely on satisfying a security requirement to be disabled may result in the owner being exposed to the risks of unauthorized use delineated above. The
Mobile Communicator 370 of the present invention may eliminate that risk without adversely impacting convenience or the ability to make emergency calls immediately. - In emergency situations the
Mobile Communicator 370 of the present invention not only provides for less likelihood of operator error due to emergency, but also provides for a way to locate where the emergency call is coming from, since theGPS Receiver 210 may provide a geographic location of theMobile Communicator 370. Thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 having the EnablingSystem 360 may be a major improvement over cell phones that do not have the EnablingSystem 360 because thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 having the EnablingSystem 360 may lower risk of deploying emergency personnel to a wrong location, but it also allows emergency personnel to be immediately deployed to where help is required even if the person in need of help is only able to initiate the call due to becoming physically incapacitated or endangered. This approach offers significant improvements over cell phones not equipped with the EnablingSystem 360 of the present invention. Since at no time does thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 remain in theDefault Disabled State 410 due to lack of GPS signal or inaudible sound(s). In emergency situations thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 can have audible receiving and transmittingfunctions 680 without concern of a stray signal or occurrence unintentionally disabling it as is possible with cell phones without the EnablingSystem 360 of the present invention. In an emergency situation, where time is of the essence, not having to try and push buttons will result not only in time savings but eliminate mistakes due to panic. -
FIG. 2 depicts embodiments of amethod 400 for enabling theMobile Communicator 370 using the EnablingSystem 360 to enable thekit 205, theMobile Communicator 370 or similar communication device. In astep 650 of themethod 400, notice that a GPS signal has been received byGPS Receiver 210 may be transmitted to the EnablingCircuit 250 viaconnection wire 247, or wirelessly, wherein theGPS Processor 220 may have received the GPS signal from theGPS Signal Amplifier 190 viaconnection wire 200, or wirelessly. Alternatively, notice that the GPS signal has been received byGPS Signal Amplifier 190, may be transmitted to the EnablingCircuit 250 by theGPS Signal Amplifier 190 via thewire 243, or wirelessly. The GPS signal from theGPS Processor 220 may be digital or analog. In thestep 650 of themethod 400, said receiving of the GPS signal may be an at least onecondition 420 for enabling thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370, and wherein outgoing calls to anEmergency Service Provider 180 are always enabled by the EnablingSystem 360. The EnablingCircuit 250 may enable calls from thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 to theEmergency Service Provider 180 by providing a contact closure that completes an electrical circuit in the EnablingCircuit 250 that may notify theCommunicator Controller 350 that the GPS signal has been received, via awire 225, or wirelessly, wherein theCommunicator Controller 350 may enable theEmergency Dialer 260 to make the outgoing calls to theEmergency Service Provider 180. - In a
step 660 of themethod 400, a user may activate theStart Switch 203 on thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 that may enable the call to theEmergency Service Provider 180 and/or theLocation Transmitter 270 of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370, if an at least one condition, e.g., that there is an emergency, has been satisfied. In thestep 660, a logic of the EnablingCircuit 250 of the EnablingSystem 360 of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 asks “There is an Emergency?” 430. If theemergency condition 430 has been satisfied, e.g., the user has spoken a word or command such as “help” into theMicrophone 275, or input a message “emergency” via theKeypad 240, the user may be able to change the state of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370, from an initialDefault Disabled State 410, as instep 660 “Start”, to a 911 Enabled & Locator Triggeredstate 450 because such a word or command or input satisfies the at least one condition that there be an emergency, i.e. as in step 590 of themethod 400. Hereinafter, a user calling or speaking a preprogrammed word, e.g., “help”, or phrase, e.g., “this is an emergency”, or “get help”, into theMicrophone 275 or inputting the preprogrammed word or phrase into theCommunicator Controller 370 via thekeypad 240 may signify there is an emergency and satisfies the condition that there be an emergency. In the step 590, the EnablingCircuit 250 may provide a contact closure that completes an electrical circuit in which the EnablingCircuit 250 notifies theCommunicator Controller 350 via awire 225, or wirelessly, that there has been an emergency. TheCommunicator Controller 350 may then trigger theEmergency Dialer 260 to call 911 and theLocation Transmitter 270 to trigger theLocator Beacon 213. - In the
methods Start Switch 203 may be the contact closure, providing a contact closure to theCommunicator Controller 350, via thewire 201, or wireles sly and completing an electrical circuit that may include theCommunicator Controller 350 and at least one other component of the EnablingSystem 360, such as the EnablingCircuit 250, via thewire 225, or wirelessly, theEmergency Dialer 260, via thewire 235, or wirelessly, or theLocation Transmitter 270, via thewire 255, or wirelessly. Completing the electrical circuit may enable theCommunicator Controller 350 to change the state of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 from aDefault Disabled State 410 to anEnabled State 510, and to drive the receiving or transmitting functions of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 depending thatcertain conditions Mobile Communicator 370 may be periodically ascertained by a logic contained in the EnablingCircuit 250 of the EnablingSystem 360 as “yes, the condition has been satisfied, as in 495, 515, 525, 570, 575, 580, 590, 600, 707, 775, 790, 795, 797, 807, 875, 895, and 897. Alternatively, not satisfying the conditions 420-480 for theMobile Communicator 370 may be periodically ascertained by a logic contained in the EnablingCircuit 250 of the EnablingSystem 360 as “no, the condition has not been satisfied, as in 490, 500, 510, 520, 530, 700, 730, 790, 800, 830, and 890. The answers toquestions Circuit 250 via aconnection wire 225, or wirelessly, to theCommunicator Controller 350. Hereinafter, the process by which the EnablingCircuit 250 arrives at the answers toquestions Mobile Communicator 370, as in embodiments of themethods methods Mobile Communicator 370 may become theEnabled State 510, as insteps Mobile Communicator 370 may become aDefault Disabled State 410, as insteps Mobile Communicator 370 to alternate betweenstates methods Circuit 250 may perform periodic querying that the conditions 420-480 have been satisfied for periods from about a second to about a minute. In themethods Circuit 250 may perform periodic querying that the conditions 420-480 have been satisfied for periods from about 0.01 seconds to about 0.1 minutes. In themethods Circuit 250 may perform periodic querying that the conditions 420-480 have been satisfied for periods from about 0.001 seconds to about 0.01 minutes. - In the
method 400, if it may be ascertained, as instep 500 of themethod 400, that there is no emergency, changing thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 from the initialDefault Disabled State 410 to theEnabled State 510 may depend on satisfying acondition 420, i.e., “GPS signal has been received?”. Hereinafter, enabling the transmitting and audible receiving functions 680 of theMobile Communicator 370 is equivalent to changing theMobile Communicator 370 from a Default Disabled State to an Enabled State. In astep 650, of themethod 400, a GPS signal has been received by theGPS Signal Amplifier 190. In thestep 650, if theGPS Processor 220 receives the GPS signal from theGPS Signal Amplifier 190, theGPS Receiver 210 may provide the GPS signal or a processed signal to the EnablingCircuit 250. The EnablingCircuit 250 may provide a contact closure that completes an electrical circuit in which the EnablingCircuit 250 notifies theCommunicator Controller 350 via awire 225, or wirelessly, that the GPS signal has been provided to the EnablingCircuit 250. Receiving the GPS signal, as in thestep 660 of themethod 400, by theGPS Receiver 210 and/or notice that the GPS signal has been received by theCommunicator Controller 250 of theMobile Communicator 370 may be an at least one condition for enabling thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370, wherein outgoing calls from theEmergency Dialer 260 to anEmergency Service Provider 180 are always enabled by theCommunication Controller 350. Hereinafter, references in this discussion toMobile Communicator 370, mobile phone, cell phone, or mobile communication device are intended to refer to the encompassing meaning of a cell phone and/or mobile communication device under certain enabling conditions, wherein theMobile Communicator 370 may default to theDisabled State 410 unless the at least one aforementioned conditions 420-480 are satisfied, and wherein that outgoing calls from theEmergency Dialer 260 to anEmergency Service Provider 180 and/or from theLocation Transmitter 270 are always enabled by theCommunication Controller 350. - In the
step 495 of themethod 400, if the EnablingSystem 360 of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 determines that thecondition 420 may be satisfied, i.e., that a GPS signal has been received and/or theCommunicator Controller 350 has been notified that the GPS signal has been received by the EnablingCircuit 250, then the EnablingSystem 360 may enable anEnabled State 510 of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370, as in thestep 495 of themethod 400. - Alternatively, in the
step 490 of themethod 400, if the EnablingCircuit 250 of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 determines, conversely, that thecondition 420 has not been satisfied, i.e., that no GPS signal has been received by the EnablingCircuit 250, and/or theCommunicator Controller 350 has not been notified that the GPS signal has been received by the EnablingCircuit 250, then the EnablingSystem 360 may enable aDefault Disabled State 410 of theMobile Communicator 370, as in thestep 490 of themethod 400. -
FIG. 3 depicts a continuation ofFIG. 2 , depicting embodiments of themethod 400. If the EnablingSystem 360 has ascertained, as in thestep 500 of themethod 400, as depicted inFIG. 2 and described in associated text herein, that there is no emergency, and that a GPS signal has been received, in thestep 600, instead of enabling theMobile Communicator 370, as in thestep 495, the EnablingSystem 360 may require that acondition 440, i.e., that a speed, sf,i, of theMobile Communicator 370, an average speed, Savg, of theMobile Communicator 370, or a normalized speed, ns, of theMobile Communicator 370, may be less than or equal to (“≦”) a setpoint speed. Hereinafter, “speed of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370” refers to each speed selected from the group consisting of the speed, sf,i, of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370, an average speed, Savg, of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370, or a normalized speed, ns, of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370. - A
motion detector 228, such as a laser doppler non-contact speed and length gauge (Proton Products, 10 Aylesbury End, Beaconsfield, Bucks.HP9 LW1, England), may determine if theMobile Communicator 370 may be in motion. Photo radar systems usually operate on the K-band at 24.15 GHz. Themotion detector 228 may measure a speed of a vehicle in which thekit 205, or theMobile Communicator 370 is used, using any appropriate speedometer typically used to determine the speed of a vehicle. The output from the speedometer may be provided to theMotion Detector 228 by the vehicle'sspeedometer 279 via mechanical, electrical signal, hydraulic or pneumatic means through a conduit orwire 272, or wirelessly. - IR Pulsed Laser Diode, available from Ingram Technologies, LLC, Rt 2, Box 2169, 6721 West, 4000 South Roosevelt, Utah 84066, to measure speed, distance and direction is the new generation replacement for the older Photo-Radar systems. By using beam width of less than one-degree, an accuracy level is achieved that can not be reached by the older radar systems. As the beam crosses the traffic lanes, it can only target one vehicle at a time and minimize the possibility of false readings. The beam can also be “gated” so that only vehicles within a set of distances will be read. The other feature of IR Pulsed Laser Diode is that a vehicle traveling in only one direction can be captured by the system, if desired.
- The speed, sf,i, of the
kit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 may be determined by theGPS processor 220, such as a GPSTran (available from 5 Little Balmer, Buckingham Industrial Park, Buckingham MK18 1TF, United Kingdom), designed to provide a digital speed pulse output for use by other equipment. Because satellite GPS is used to measure speed, the GPSTran is suitable for use in many applications where normal speed sensing methods will not work. The update rate of the pulse output is 5 Hz with an accuracy of ±0.1 kmh. The pulse per meter setting is configurable to suit most applications. - The
GPS Processor 220 may provide an initial pi and a final pf geographical position of theGPS Processor 220 for an initial time ti and a final time tf, wherein a difference (tf−ti) between the initial and final times ti, tf, represent a time interval, xf,i, wherein xf,i may be any positive integer. Alternatively, the time interval xf,i may be from about 1 mili second to about 1×103 mili seconds. Alternatively, the time interval, xf,i, may be from about 1 micro second to about 1×106 micro seconds. Alternatively, the time interval, xf,i, may be from about 1 nano second to about 1×109 nano seconds. The time interval, xf,i, may be from about 1 minute to about 5 minutes and a difference between the initial geographical position pi of theGPS Processor 220 and the final geographical position pf of theGPS Processor 220 may be from about 0.016 miles to about 2.5 miles. The speed, sf,i, of theMobile Communicator 370 may be represented by formula 1, as follows:
s f,i=(p f −p i)/x f,i Formula 1: - The average speed, savg, of the
Mobile Communicator 370, for a time interval, xj, wherein j=1,2,3, . . . j, may be determined by theGPS processor 220, wherein theGPS Processor 220 may provide an initial geographical position, pi, and a final geographical position, pf, of theGPS Processor 220 for each time interval, xj, and an initial time ti and a final time tf for each time interval, xj, wherein a sum of the differences Σ(tf−ti)j for each initial and final time, ti, tf, for each time interval, xj, may be represented as a sum of the time intervals, Σxj. A sum of the differences Σ(pf−pi)k, where k=1,2,3, . . . k, between the initial and final geographical positions pi, pf, may represent a total distance that thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 may have traveled in each time interval xj. The average speed, savg, of theMobile Communicator 370 may be represented by formula 2, as follows:
s avg=Σ(p i −p f)j/Σxj Formula 2: - The normalized speed, ns of the
Mobile Communicator 370, for a time interval, xm, where m=1, 2, . . . m, determined by theGPS processor 220, wherein theGPS Processor 220 may provide an initial speed si of theMobile Communicator 370, and a fraction of time at the initial speed si, and a final speed, sf, of theMobile Communicator 370, and fraction of time at the final speed, sf. The time, ts,i, may be the time at speed si and the time tsf may be the time at speed sf. Therefore, the fraction of time at the first speed si may be represented as tsi/(tsi+tsf). In like manner, the fraction of time at the second speed sf may be represented as tsf/(tsi+tsf). TheGPS processor 220 may calculate the normalized speed, ns, of theMobile Communicator 370 as in the following Formula 3:
ns=s i×fraction of time at si +s f×fraction of time at sf Formula 3 - A logic of the Enabling
Circuit 250 may provide a contact closure that completes an electrical circuit in which the EnablingCircuit 250 notifies theCommunicator Controller 350 via awire 225, or wirelessly, that theMotion Detector 228 has provided confirmation that the speed of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 is ≦ the setpoint speed to the EnablingCircuit 250 viawire 229, or wirelessly, based on theMotion Detector 228 receiving a speed of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 from thespeedometer 279 via awire 272, or wirelessly. Said completion of the electrical circuit and confirmation that the speed of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 is ≦ the setpoint speed to the EnablingCircuit 250 via awire 223, or wirelessly, may be the at least one condition for enabling the EnablingSystem 360 of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370, and wherein outgoing calls from theEmergency Dialer 260 to anEmergency Service Provider 180 may always be enabled by theCommunication Controller 350. - In the
step 515 of themethod 400, if the EnablingSystem 360 of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 determines that thecondition 440 may be satisfied, i.e., that theMobile Communicator 370 speed may be ≦ the setpoint, then the EnablingSystem 360 may enable anEnabled State 510 of theMobile Communicator 370, as in thestep 515 of themethod 400. - Alternatively, in the
step 510 of themethod 400, if the EnablingSystem 360 of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 determines, conversely, that thecondition 440 may not be satisfied, i.e., that theMobile Communicator 370 speed not be ≦ the setpoint speed, then the EnablingSystem 360 may enable aDefault Disabled State 410 of theMobile Communicator 370, as in thestep 510 of themethod 400. -
FIG. 4 depicts a continuation ofFIG. 3 , depicting embodiments of themethod 400. If the EnablingSystem 360 has ascertained as in thestep 500 of themethod 400, as depicted inFIG. 2 and described in associated text herein, that there is no emergency, and that the GPS signal has been received, in thestep 580, instead of enabling theMobile Communicator 370, as in thestep 515, the EnablingSystem 360 may require that acondition 460, i.e. that a user of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 be authorized. In thestep 580, if thevoice recognition system 230 receives a user identifying sound(s) such as a user's identifying voice or identifying frequency or tone (hereinafter user-identifying sound(s) from themicrophone 275. If the user identifying sound(s) match or have the same frequencies as a preprogrammed voice or preprogrammed frequency, thevoice recognition system 230 may provide confirmation of voice recognition to the EnablingCircuit 250. The preprogrammed user identifying sound(s) may be in a frequency range that may be audible or inaudible to humans. For example, a dog whistle may emit sound(s) that may be inaudible to humans. Humans hear frequencies between about 20 cycles/sec to 20,000 cycles/sec at 130 db (very loud). This shrinks to a range of about 700 cycles/sec to 6000 cycles/sec at 0 db (very faint). - Alternatively, the user identifying sound(s) may be a tone from a tuning fork that naturally resonates at an established frequency or set of frequencies, i.e., sound(s), such as the note C in the key of C major that is equivalent to middle C on a standard piano, may be audible to humans.
- A logic of the Enabling
Circuit 250 may provide a contact closure that completes an electrical circuit in which the EnablingCircuit 250 notifies theCommunicator Controller 350 via awire 225, or wirelessly, that theVoice Recognition System 230 has provided confirmation of the voice recognition to the EnablingCircuit 250 viawire 223, or wirelessly. Said completion of the electrical circuit and confirmation of the voice recognition to the EnablingCircuit 250 via awire 223, or wirelessly, may be the at least one condition for enabling the EnablingSystem 360 of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370, and wherein that outgoing calls from theEmergency Dialer 260 to anEmergency Service Provider 180 may always be enabled by theCommunication Controller 350. - In the
step 525 of themethod 400, if the EnablingSystem 360 of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 determines that thecondition 460 may be satisfied, i.e., that the user has been authorized, then the EnablingSystem 360 may enable theEnabled State 510 of theMobile Communicator 370, as in thestep 525 of themethod 400. - Alternatively, in the
step 520 of themethod 400, if the EnablingSystem 360 of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 determines, conversely, that thecondition 460 may not be satisfied, i.e., that the user has not been authorized, then the EnablingSystem 360 may enable aDefault Disabled State 410 of theMobile Communicator 370, as in thestep 520 of themethod 400. -
FIG. 5 depicts embodiments of amethod 400 for enabling theMobile Communicator 370 using the EnablingSystem 360 to enable thekit 205, theMobile Communicator 370 or similar communication device. If the EnablingSystem 360 has ascertained as in thestep 500 of themethod 400, as depicted inFIG. 2 and described in associated text herein, that there is no emergency and that the GPS signal has been received, in thestep 570, instead of enabling theMobile Communicator 370, as in thestep 525, the EnablingSystem 360 may require that acondition 480, i.e. “No Privacy Signal Has Been Received”, be satisfied, so that the EnablingCircuit 250 may communicate to theCommunicator Controller 350 to drive audible receiving and transmittingfunctions 680, thereby enabling theEnabled State 510 of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370. - In the
step 570, if thePrivacy Receiver System 273 receives a privacy signal from thePrivacy Signal Generator 271, thePrivacy Receiver System 273 may provide the privacy signal or a processed signal to the EnablingCircuit 250. In thestep 570, the EnablingSystem 360 may or may not receive a privacy signal. A logic of the EnablingCircuit 250 may determine that thecondition 480, i.e., “No Privacy Signal Has Been Received?”, has been satisfied, as instep 575 or is not satisfied, as in thestep 530. If thecondition 480 has not been satisfied, as in thestep 530, i.e., a privacy signal has been received, e.g., when privacy is desirable or when piracy of trade secrets, for example, is to be discouraged, the EnablingCircuit 250 communicates that thecondition 480 has not been satisfied to theCommunicator Controller 350. Alternatively, if thecondition 480 has been satisfied, i.e. no privacy signal may have been detected by the Privacy Signal ReceiveSystem 273, as in thestep 575, theCommunicator Controller 350 may enable theEnabled State 510 and the phone becomes enabled. - A purpose of defeating or working around the
privacy signal condition 480 may be to make an outgoing phone call. Embodiments in which enabling theEnabled State 510 of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 may be conditioned on satisfying thecondition 480, i.e. that No Privacy Signal Has Been Received, may be an improvement over cell phones that require a privacy signal for enablement because no privacy signal may be needed to enable theEnabled State 510 of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370. Conditioning enablement of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 on satisfying thecondition 480, i.e. that No Privacy Signal Has Been Received, may be an improvement over cell phones that require a privacy signal for enablement because a user seeking to block the privacy signal that disables thekit 205 orMobile Communicator 370 must also block theMicrophone 275, thus defeating the ability to make the outgoing call because both the user's voice and the privacy signal may be received by theMicrophone 275 in order for the user to make the outgoing call. - In the enabled
Default Disabled State 410, the receiving or transmitting functions of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 may remain disabled, even though theStart Switch 203 has been activated in thestep 660 of themethod 400, as depicted inFIG. 2 , and described in associated text, herein. Conditioning disablement of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 on receiving the privacy signal through theMicrophone 275 instead of throughwire 268 or wirelessly from theantenna 274 of thePrivacy Signal Generator 278 may avoid the majority of the privacy and piracy (theft of trade secrets or business confidential information) issues because audible receiving and transmittingfunctions 680 of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 may remain in theDefault Disabled State 410 unless the EnablingSystem 360 of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 does not receive the privacy signal. Alternatively, privacy and piracy incidents may be avoided during indoor usage of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 since the GPS signal also may not be available due to indoor blocking of the line of sight to the source of the GPS signal, such as a GPS satellite. Transmitting and receiving functions of thekit 205 and theMobile Communicator 370 my remain disabled because the at least one condition for enabling the EnablingSystem 360 of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370, i.e., receiving a GPS signal, has not been satisfied, and wherein that outgoing calls from theEmergency Dialer 260 to anEmergency Service Provider 180 may always be enabled by theCommunication Controller 350. During indoor usage, if a GPS signal has not been received by theGPS Receiver 210, theDefault Disabled State 410 of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 may be enabled as in thestep 490 of themethod 400. In the unlikely situation a GPS signal is available in a building (GPS typically requires line of sight to work) and the owner/occupants wish to disable phones in this area this can be done by the installation of a wide range of inexpensive and readily available blocking devices that will allow them to create a no GPS signal area. For example, a Cell-Block-R Control Unit, available from Quiet Cell Technologies Inc., 57 Waterford Drive, Ottawa ON K2E 7V4: CANADA, may act as a kind of decoy cellular tower. Where its use may no be prohibited, the Cell-Block-R Control Unit may remove thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 from a regular cell phone service provider by supplying a decoy communication signal. Any incoming calls may be referred to voice mail. - In the
method 400 for using thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370, a logic of the EnablingCircuit 250 may condition enablement of the EnabledState 510 on theEnabled Circuit 250 not receiving the privacy signal or processed privacy signal from thePrivacy Signal Receiver 273 viaMicrophone 275. Conditioning enabling theEnabled State 510 on theEnabled Circuit 250 on not receiving the privacy signal or processed privacy signal from thePrivacy Signal Receiver 273 via theMicrophone 275 will also prevent most usage of theMobile Communicator 370 in ground passenger vehicles or carriers such as cars, trucks, trains, buses and the like, or in airplanes if use of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 may interfere with the passengers enjoyment of their quiet and solitude or if trade secrets, confidential or proprietary information may be improperly disclosed because the privacy signal could be provided when it may be improper to use theMobile Communicator 370 in such vehicles or carriers. When prevention of indoor use of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 is desired, and thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 has received a GPS signal from, for example, theantenna 271 being in the line of sight of the GPS signal from the GPS satellite, aPrivacy Signal Generator 278 may provide a privacy signal to thePrivacy Receiver System 273 for indoor enablement of theDefault Disabled State 410 of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370, as in thestep 530 of themethod 400. Any appropriate system for enhancing the GPS signal may be used to provide the GPS signal to theGPS Receiver 210 during indoor or other applications where theGPS antenna 271 may not be in the line of sight of the GPS signal from the GPS Satellite. - In the
method 400 for using thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370, a logic of the EnablingCircuit 250 may provide a contact closure that completes an electrical circuit in which the EnablingCircuit 250 notifies theCommunicator Controller 350 via awire 225, or wirelessly, that the EnablingCircuit 250 may not have received the privacy signal or a processed privacy signal from thePrivacy Receiver System 273 via thewire 241, or wirelessly. Said completion of the electrical circuit and confirmation of notice to theCommunicator Controller 350 by the EnablingCircuit 250 via awire 225, or wirelessly, may be the at least one condition for enabling thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370, and wherein outgoing calls from theEmergency Dialer 260 to anEmergency Service Provider 180 may always be enabled by theCommunication Controller 350. - It has been stated that the Enabling
System 360 of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 may be an improvement over mobile communicators that may be disabled by receiving a disabling signal because the disabling signal of such devices may be blocked or interfered with or they may fail, leaving the mobile communicator in an Enabled State because that is the default state when the disabling signal is not received. Conversely, the EnablingSystem 360 may be an improvement because the default state of theMobile Communicator 370 may be aDefault Disabled State 410 because thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 may be disabled if theGPS Signal Amplifier 190 does not receive a GPS signal, as in thestep 490 of themethod 400, as described inFIG. 2 and associated text, supra. - The GPS signal may be any standard GPS signal. GPS satellites transmit two low power radio signals, designated L1 and L2. Civilian GPS uses the L1 frequency of 1575.42 MHz in the UHF band. The signals travel by line of sight, meaning they will pass through clouds, glass and plastic but will not go through most solid objects such as buildings and mountains. In the
step 650, the EnablingSystem 360 may or may not receive a GPS signal. The logic of the EnablingCircuit 250 may determine that thecondition 420, i.e., “GPS signal has been received?”, is satisfied, as instep 495 or is not satisfied, as in thestep 490. If no GPS signal is available (typically indoors or in most vehicles), the EnablingCircuit 250 communicates that thecondition 420 is satisfied to theCommunicator Controller 350. If the GPS signal is not detected, as in thestep 490, theCommunicator Controller 350 may enable theDefault Disabled State 410 and theMobile Communicator 370 remains disabled. This embodiment is an improvement over cell phones not having the EnablingSystem 360 in that if for any reason (intentional or unintentional) the GPS signal is not available in thestep 650, theMobile Communicator 370 stays in its defaultdisabled mode 410. - Conditioning enablement of the
Mobile Communicator 370 on receiving the GPS signal, instead of conditioning disablement on receiving a disabling signal, as in cell phones not having the EnablingSystem 360, may avoid the majority of the privacy and piracy (theft of trade secrets or business confidential information) issues, since privacy and piracy issues arise mostly in indoor usage of theMobile Communicator 370, where the GPS signal usually is not available. In the unlikely situation a GPS signal is available in a building (GPS typically requires line of sight to work) and the owner/occupants wish to disable phones in this area this can be done by the installation of a wide range of cheap and readily available blocking materials that will allow them to create a privacy area. This feature will also prevent most usage in cars and airplanes where it would be a safety hazard because a GPS signal is most often not available in cars or airplanes. When indoor use of theMobile Communicator 370 is desired, anantenna 271 may provide a GPS signal to theGPS Signal Amplifier 190 for indoor enablement of theMobile Communicator 370. Alternatively, theantenna 271 may provide better reception for theGPS Signal Amplifier 190 than an internal antenna with whichmost GPS Receivers 210 may be equipped. - Referring to
FIG. 2 , although there are unlimited applications for the EnablingSystem 360, the inventor of the present invention submits the following three embodiments for employing themethod 400 and the EnablingSystem 360, as depicted inFIG. 1 , supra, to enable thestates Mobile Communicator 370. - In Example 1, if the Enabling
System 360 of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 determines that thecondition 440 may be satisfied, i.e., that theMobile Communicator 370 speed may be ≦ the setpoint, then transmitting and audible receiving functions 680 of theMobile Communicator 370 may be enabled, as described in Example 1, as follows. - Referring to
FIG. 2 , and associated text, herein, in astep 650 of themethod 400 for enabling thekit 205, theMobile Communicator 370 or similar communication device, notice that a GPS signal has been received byGPS Receiver 210 may be transmitted to the EnablingCircuit 250 viaconnection wire 247, or wirelessly, wherein theGPS Processor 220 may have received the GPS signal from theGPS Signal Amplifier 190 viaconnection wire 200, or wirelessly. Alternatively, notice that a GPS signal has been received byGPS Signal Amplifier 190 may be transmitted by theGPS Signal Amplifier 190 to the EnablingCircuit 250 viaconnection wire 243, or wirelessly. The GPS signal from theGPS Processor 220 may be digital or analog. In thestep 650 of themethod 400, said receiving of the GPS signal may be an at least onecondition 420 for enabling thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370, and wherein outgoing calls to anEmergency Service Provider 180 may always be enabled by the EnablingSystem 360. The EnablingCircuit 250 may enable calls from thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 to theEmergency Service Provider 180 by providing a contact closure that completes an electrical circuit in which the EnablingCircuit 250 notifies theCommunicator Controller 350 that the GPS signal has been received, via awire 225, or wirelessly, wherein theCommunicator Controller 350 may enable theEmergency Dialer 260 to make the outgoing calls to theEmergency Service Provider 180. - In a
step 660 of themethod 400, a user may activate the “Start Switch” 203 on thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 that may enable the call to theEmergency Service Provider 180 and/or theLocation Transmitter 270 of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370, if an at least one condition, e.g., that there is an emergency, has been satisfied. In thestep 660, a logic of the EnablingCircuit 250 of the EnablingSystem 360 of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 asks “There Is an Emergency?” 430. If theemergency condition 430 has been satisfied, e.g., the user has spoken a word or command such as “help” into theMicrophone 275, or input a message “emergency” via theKeypad 240, the user may be able to change the state of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370, from an initialDefault Disabled State 410, as instep 660 “Start”, to a 911 Enabled & Locator Triggeredstate 450 because such a word or command or input satisfies the at least one condition that there be an emergency, i.e. as in step 590 of themethod 400. In the step 590, the EnablingCircuit 250 may provide a contact closure that completes an electrical circuit in which the EnablingCircuit 250 notifies theCommunicator Controller 350 via awire 225, or wirelessly that may trigger theEmergency Dialer 260 to call 911 and theLocation Transmitter 270 to trigger theLocator Beacon 213. - Referring to
FIG. 3 and described in associated text herein, if the EnablingSystem 360 has ascertained as in thestep 500 of themethod 400, as depicted inFIG. 2 and described in associated text herein, that there is no emergency, and that a GPS signal has been received, in thestep 600, instead of enabling theMobile Communicator 370, as in thestep 495, the EnablingSystem 360 may enable audible receiving and transmittingfunctions 680 of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 if acondition 440, i.e., that a speed, sf,i, of theMobile Communicator 370, an average speed, savg, of theMobile Communicator 370, or a normalized speed, ns, of theMobile Communicator 370, may be less than or equal to (“≦”) a setpoint speed, wherein the setpoint may be a maximum speed such as any speed from about 0 to about 10 mph. Alternatively, the setpoint may be from about 0 to about 30 mph. It has been found that only enablingMobile Communicator 370, e.g., cell phone, use in moving vehicles when the vehicles are moving at a speed ≦ the setpoint may be a major public safety need that may be advanced by use of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 and the EnablingSystem 360, in accordance with themethod 400. - Transmitting and audible receiving functions 680 of the
Kit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 may be enabled when thecondition 480, i.e., that no privacy signal has been received by thePrivacy Receiver System 273 has been satisfied, as described in Example 2, as follows. - When Privacy or Security May be an Issue a
method 450 for enabling theMobile Communicator 370 using the EnablingSystem 360 to enable thekit 205, theMobile Communicator 370 or similar communication device. In astep 750 of themethod 450 for enabling thekit 205, theMobile Communicator 370 or similar communication device, notice that a GPS signal has been received byGPS Receiver 210 may be transmitted to the EnablingCircuit 250 viaconnection wire 247, or wirelessly, wherein theGPS Processor 220 may have received the GPS signal from theGPS Signal Amplifier 190 viaconnection wire 200, or wirelessly. Alternatively, notice that the GPS signal has been received byGPS Signal Amplifier 190, may be transmitted to the EnablingCircuit 250 by theGPS Signal Amplifier 190 via thewire 243, or wirelessly. The GPS signal from theGPS Processor 220 may be digital or analog. In thestep 750 of themethod 450, said receiving of the GPS signal may be an at least onecondition 420 for enabling thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370, and wherein outgoing calls to anEmergency Service Provider 180 may always be enabled by the EnablingSystem 360. - The Enabling
Circuit 250 may enable calls from thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 to theEmergency Service Provider 180 by providing a contact closure that completes an electrical circuit in which the EnablingCircuit 250 notifies theCommunicator Controller 350 that the GPS signal has been received, via awire 225, or wirelessly, wherein theCommunicator Controller 350 may enable theEmergency Dialer 260 to make the outgoing calls to theEmergency Service Provider 180. - In a
step 760 of themethod 450, a user may activate the “Start Switch” 203 on thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 that may enable the transmitting and receiving functions of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370, if an at least one condition, e.g., that there is an emergency, has been satisfied. In thestep 760, a logic of the EnablingCircuit 250 of the EnablingSystem 360 of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 asks “There is an Emergency?” 430. In thestep 797, if theemergency condition 430 has been satisfied, e.g., the user has spoken a word or command such as “help” into theMicrophone 275, or input a message “emergency” via theKeypad 240, the user may be able to change the state of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370, from an initialDefault Disabled State 410, as instep 760 “Start”, to a 911 Enabled & Locator Triggeredstate 450 because such a word or command or input satisfies the at least one condition that there be an emergency, i.e. as instep 790 of themethod 450. In thestep 797, the EnablingCircuit 250 may provide a contact closure that completes an electrical circuit in which the EnablingCircuit 250 notifies theCommunicator Controller 350, via awire 225, or wirelessly, that may trigger theEmergency Dialer 260 to call 911 and theLocation Transmitter 270 to trigger theLocator Beacon 213. - Alternatively, if there is no emergency, as in the
step 700 of themethod 450, the audible receiving and transmittingfunctions 680 of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 may be enabled, as in thestep 795, if the EnablingSystem 360 of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 determines that thecondition 420 may be satisfied, i.e., that a GPS signal has been received. In thestep 795, the EnablingCircuit 250 notifies theCommunicator Controller 350 that the GPS signal has been received from theGPS Receiver 210. The EnablingCircuit 250 may provide a contact closure that completes an electrical circuit in which the EnablingCircuit 250 notifies theCommunicator Controller 350, via awire 225, or wirelessly, that the GPS signal has been provided to the EnablingCircuit 250. In thestep 795, the EnablingSystem 360 may enable the audible receiving and transmittingfunctions 680 of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 by changing the state of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 from theDefault Disabled State 410 to theEnabled State 510. - Alternatively, in the
step 790 of themethod 450, the EnablingCircuit 250 of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 has determined, conversely, that thecondition 420 has not been satisfied, i.e., that no GPS signal has been received by the EnablingCircuit 250. In thestep 790, the state of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 remains in theDefault Disabled State 410 so audible audible receiving and transmittingfunctions 680 of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 may not be enabled. - In the
steps Circuit 250 may determine that thecondition 420, i.e., “GPS signal has been received?”, has been satisfied, as instep 795 or is not satisfied, as in thestep 790. In thestep 790, if no GPS signal has been received, e.g., when the GPS signal is not in line of sight of theGPS Signal Amplifier 190, e.g., when theGPS Signal Amplifier 190 may be indoors in a building, automobile, or airplane, the EnablingCircuit 250 communicates that thecondition 420 has not been satisfied to theCommunicator Controller 350. If no GPS signal may be detected, as in thestep 790, theCommunicator Controller 350 may enable theDefault Disabled State 410 and theMobile Communicator 370, e.g., the cell phone, remains disabled. - Referring to
FIG. 6 , if the EnablingSystem 360 has ascertained as in thestep 700 of themethod 450, that there is no emergency, and that the GPS signal has been received, in thestep 707, instead of enabling theMobile Communicator 370, as in thestep 795, the EnablingSystem 360 may require that acondition 480, i.e. that thePrivacy Receiver System 273 of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 has not received a privacy signal. - In the
step 707 of themethod 450, the EnablingSystem 360 may or may not receive a privacy signal. In thestep 707, if thePrivacy Receiver System 273 receives a privacy signal from thePrivacy Signal Generator 271, thePrivacy Receiver System 273 may provide the privacy signal or a processed signal to the EnablingCircuit 250. A logic of the EnablingCircuit 250 may determine that thecondition 480, i.e., “No Privacy Signal Has Been Received?”, has not been satisfied, as in step 730 of themethod 450. If a privacy signal has been received, e.g., when privacy is desirable or when piracy of trade secrets, for example, is to be discouraged, the EnablingCircuit 250 communicates that thecondition 480 has not been satisfied to theCommunicator Controller 350. - Alternatively, if no privacy signal may be detected, as in the
step 775 of themethod 450, theCommunicator Controller 350 may enable theEnabled State 510 and the audible receiving and transmittingfunctions 680 of theMobile Communicator 370, e.g., a cell phone, may be enabled. Examples of areas wherekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 use may be appropriate, safe, or not a security risk include airplanes before takeoff, non-private places outside doctor's offices, outside locker rooms, outside sensitive corporate or private public buildings, outside theatres, and the like. Examples of areas wherekit 205 orMobile Communicator 370 use may be appropriate, safe, or not a security risk include any public or private place that for privacy or safety reasons needs to havekit 205 orMobile Communicator 370, e.g., cell phone, usage controlled. - Alternatively, if a privacy signal has been not been received, e.g., when privacy is not needed or when use of the
kit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370, for example, may be encouraged, the EnablingCircuit 250 communicates that thecondition 480 has been satisfied to theCommunicator Controller 350. If the privacy signal may not be detected, as in thestep 775, theCommunicator Controller 350 may enable theEnabled State 510 and the audible receiving and transmittingfunctions 680 of theMobile Communicator 370, e.g., the cell phone, may be enabled. - Transmitting and audible receiving functions 680 of the
Kit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 may be enabled when thecondition 460, i.e., that the user has been confirmed by theVoice Recognition System 230 has been satisfied, as described in Example 3, as follows. -
FIG. 7 depicts embodiments of amethod 465 for enabling theMobile Communicator 370 using the EnablingSystem 360 to enable thekit 205, theMobile Communicator 370 or similar communication device. In astep 850 of themethod 465 for enabling thekit 205, theMobile Communicator 370 or similar communication device, notice that a GPS signal has been received byGPS Receiver 210 may be transmitted to the EnablingCircuit 250 viaconnection wire 247, or wirelessly, wherein theGPS Processor 220 may have received the GPS signal from theGPS Signal Amplifier 190 viaconnection wire 200, or wirelessly. Alternatively, notice that the GPS signal has been received byGPS Signal Amplifier 190, may be transmitted to the EnablingCircuit 250 by theGPS Signal Amplifier 190 via thewire 243, or wirelessly. The GPS signal from theGPS Processor 220 may be digital or analog. In thestep 850 of themethod 465, said receiving of the GPS signal may be an at least onecondition 420 for enabling thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370, and wherein outgoing calls to anEmergency Service Provider 180 may always be enabled by the EnablingSystem 360. - The Enabling
Circuit 250 may enable calls from thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 to theEmergency Service Provider 180 by providing a contact closure that completes an electrical circuit in which the EnablingCircuit 250 notifies theCommunicator Controller 350 that the GPS signal has been received, via awire 225, or wirelessly, wherein theCommunicator Controller 350 may enable theEmergency Dialer 260 to make the outgoing calls to theEmergency Service Provider 180. - In a
step 860 of themethod 465, a user may activate the “Start Switch” 203 on thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 that may enable the transmitting and receiving functions of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370, if an at least one condition, e.g., that there is an emergency, has been satisfied. In thestep 860, a logic of the EnablingCircuit 250 of the EnablingSystem 360 of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 asks “Is There an Emergency” 430. If theemergency condition 430 has been satisfied, e.g., the user has spoken a word or command such as “help” into theMicrophone 275, or input a message “emergency” via theKeypad 240, the user may be able to change the state of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370, from an initialDefault Disabled State 410, as instep 860 “Start”, to a 911 Enabled & Locator Triggeredstate 450 because such a word or command or input satisfies the at least one condition that there be an emergency, i.e. as instep 797 of themethod 465. In thestep 797, the EnablingCircuit 250 may provide a contact closure that completes an electrical circuit in which the EnablingCircuit 250 notifies theCommunicator Controller 350, via awire 225, or wireles sly, that may trigger theEmergency Dialer 260 to call 911 and theLocation Transmitter 270 to trigger theLocator Beacon 213. - Alternatively, if there is no emergency, as in the
step 800 of themethod 465, the audible receiving and transmittingfunctions 680 of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 may be enabled, as in thestep 895, if the EnablingSystem 360 of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 determines that thecondition 420 may be satisfied, i.e., that a GPS signal has been received. In thestep 895, the EnablingCircuit 250 notifies theCommunicator Controller 350 that the GPS signal has been received from theGPS Receiver 210. The EnablingCircuit 250 may provide a contact closure that completes an electrical circuit in which the EnablingCircuit 250 notifies theCommunicator Controller 350, via awire 225, or wirelessly, that the GPS signal has been provided to the EnablingCircuit 250. In thestep 895, the EnablingSystem 360 may enable the audible receiving and transmittingfunctions 680 of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 by changing the state of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 from theDefault Disabled State 410 to theEnabled State 510. - Alternatively, in the
step 890 of themethod 465, the EnablingCircuit 250 of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 has determined, conversely, that thecondition 420 has not been satisfied, i.e., that no GPS signal has been received by the EnablingCircuit 250. In thestep 890, the state of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 remains in theDefault Disabled State 410 so audible receiving and transmittingfunctions 680 of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 may not be enabled. - In the
steps Circuit 250 may determine that thecondition 420, i.e., “GPS signal has been received?”, has been satisfied, as instep 895 or is not satisfied, as in thestep 890. In thestep 890, if no GPS signal has been received, e.g., when the GPS signal is not in line of sight of theGPS Signal Amplifier 190, e.g., when theGPS Signal Amplifier 190 may be indoors in a building, automobile, or airplane, the EnablingCircuit 250 communicates that thecondition 420 has not been satisfied to theCommunicator Controller 350. If no GPS signal may be detected, as in thestep 890, theCommunicator Controller 350 may enable theDefault Disabled State 410 and theMobile Communicator 370, e.g., the cell phone, remains disabled. - Referring to
FIG. 7 , if the EnablingSystem 360 has ascertained as in thestep 800 of themethod 465, that there is no emergency, and that the GPS signal has been received, in thestep 807, instead of enabling theMobile Communicator 370, as in thestep 895, the EnablingSystem 360 may require that acondition 460, i.e. that a user of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 be authorized or authenticated. In thestep 807, if thevoice recognition system 230 receives a user's identifying voice or identifying frequency or tone (hereinafter user-identifying sound(s)) from themicrophone 275, that matches a preprogrammed voice or preprogrammed frequency that has been preprogrammed into the EnablingSystem 360, thevoice recognition system 230 may provide confirmation of voice recognition to the EnablingCircuit 250. Hereinafter, “authorizing a user” or “authenticating a user” describes a designed property or function of the Voice Recognition System's 230 to determine (ascertain) that a user's identifying voice or identifying frequency or tone (hereinafter user-identifying sound(s) from the microphone 275), matches the preprogrammed voice or preprogrammed frequency or sound(s) or passwords that have been preprogrammed into the EnablingSystem 360. The preprogrammed sound(s) may be in a frequency range that may be audible or inaudible to humans. For example, a dog whistle may emit sound(s) that may be inaudible to humans. Humans hear frequencies between about 20 cycles/sec to 20,000 cycles/sec at 130 db (very loud). This shrinks to a range of about 700 cycles/sec to 6000 cycles/sec at 0 db (very faint). - Alternatively, a tone from a tuning fork that naturally resonates at an established frequency or set of frequencies, i.e., sound(s), such as the note C in the key of C major that is equivalent to middle C on a standard piano, may be audible to humans. In the
step 807, a logic of the EnablingCircuit 250 may provide a contact closure that completes an electrical circuit in which the EnablingCircuit 250 notifies theCommunicator Controller 350, via awire 225, or wirelessly, that theVoice Recognition System 230 has provided confirmation of the voice recognition to the EnablingCircuit 250 viawire 223, or wirelessly. Said completion of the electrical circuit and confirmation of the voice recognition to the EnablingCircuit 250 via awire 223, or wirelessly, may be the at least one condition for enabling the EnablingSystem 360 of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370, and wherein that outgoing calls from theEmergency Dialer 260 to anEmergency Service Provider 180 may always be enabled by theCommunication Controller 350. In thestep 807, the EnablingSystem 360 may or may not receive a privacy signal. The logic of the EnablingCircuit 250 may determine that thecondition 460, i.e. that a user of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 be authorized, has been satisfied, as instep 875 or is not satisfied, as in thestep 830. If no confirmation from theVoice Recognition System 230 has been received by the EnablingCircuit 250, e.g., when the user is not authorized, such as when the user is using thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370 without permission or when the user's voice, sound(s) or password may not be authenticated, the EnablingCircuit 250 communicates that thecondition 460 has not been satisfied to theCommunicator Controller 350. If no confirmation from theVoice Recognition System 230 may be received by the EnablingCircuit 250, as in thestep 830, theCommunicator Controller 350 may enable theDefault Disabled State 410 and theMobile Communicator 370, e.g., the cell phone, remains disabled. - Alternatively, if confirmation from the
Voice Recognition System 360 has been received, e.g., when audible receiving and transmittingfunctions 680 of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370, for example, may be authorized, the EnablingCircuit 250 communicates that thecondition 480 has been satisfied to theCommunicator Controller 350. If the confirmation from theVoice Recognition System 360 has been received, as in thestep 875, theCommunicator Controller 350 may enable theEnabled State 510 and the audible receiving and transmittingfunctions 680 of theMobile Communicator 370, e.g., the cell phone, may be enabled. - In the
method 465, in thestep 875, outgoing call to the Emergency Service Provider may be authenticated by theVoice Recognition System 230. In themethod 465, in thestep 875, theVoice Recognition System 230 may recognize each sound selected from the group of sounds consisting of sounds audible to a human ear and sounds inaudible to a human ear. In themethod 465, in thestep 875, entry of a password or authentication by voice recognition may provide identification of the user to the Emergency Service Provider and triggering the Locator Beacon. - Unauthorized use of the
kit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370, e.g., the cell phone, may be undesirable for two reasons: A) unauthorized use may result in unauthorized charges to an authorized user's charge account with a provider of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370, e.g., the provider of the cell phone; and B) unauthorized use may result in unauthorized access to the authorized user's personal calling lists, that may include respective names and phone numbers of persons on the list who may want to limit access by others to their names and phone numbers, such as by the unauthorized user. Unauthorized use of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370, e.g., the cell phone, may result in unauthorized access to the authorized user's secured information, such as, for example, passwords, personal identification numbers (PIN) and the like. As a number of types of secured information stored in thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370, e.g., the cell phone increases, unauthorized access to the secured information stored in thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370, e.g., the cell phone may become a concern. An example of the increased number of secured information types may be a politician's or corporate executive's stored confidential phone numbers and other like secured information. A purpose of embodiments of the present invention may be to protect the owner of thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370, e.g., the cell phone from an unauthorized user accessing the secured information if their phone were lost or stolen as well as providing features that would aid in recovering thekit 205 or theMobile Communicator 370. - Referring to
FIG. 8 . andFIG. 9 , an embodiment of the present invention may comprise amobile communicator apparatus 470, wherein themobile communicator 470 may include alocational tracking unit 610, a disablingcircuit 550, amicrophone 375, avoice recognition system 630, amemory storage device 620, akeypad 340, and anemergency service system 290. Theemergency service system 290 may further include alocation transmitter 570 and alocator beacon 313. Thelocational tracking unit 610 of themobile communicator apparatus 470 may utilize a network ofsignal transceivers 310 to determine the location of themobile communicator 470. - Referring to
FIG. 9 , the network ofsignal transceivers 310 may comprise of a number of signal transceivers, such as cell towers 320 a-c. A cell tower 320 a-c is a wireless communications station installed at a fixed and known location that transmits and receives signals to and frommobile communicators 470. Those of ordinary skill in the art may interpret a base station, a cell site, a mobile phone mast, or various other terms to mean a cell tower 320 a-c for these purposes. The cell towers 320 a-c may transmit signals 330 a-c in a radially outward direction to themobile communicator 470. Moreover, the cell towers 320 a-c may receive signal 335 transmitted from themobile communicator 470. The location of themobile communicator 470 may be tracked by the intersection cell tower signals 330 a-c. - Although
FIG. 9 provides three cell towers 320 a-c in the network of signal transceivers, the network ofsignal transceivers 310 may comprise additional cell towers 320 a-c. The more cell towers 320 a-c thenetwork 310 is comprised of, the more accurate the tracking of the location of themobile communicator 470. - As in
FIG. 8 , the mobile communicator apparatus may contain alocational tracking unit 610 that utilizes the surrounding network ofsignal transceivers 310 to determine the location of themobile communicator 470. Thelocational tracking unit 610 may be positioned within themobile communicator 470. Thelocational tracking unit 610 may be connected to the disablingcircuit 550. The disablingcircuit 550 may comprise a logic circuit that performs non-arithmetic operations including, but not limited to: OR, AND, NOR, NAND, and NOT. The disablingcircuit 550 may disable the mobile communicator apparatus if the at least one condition is satisfied. In this embodiment, the at least one condition may comprise either: 1) receiving a privacy signal; or 2) determining speed of themobile communicator 470 to be greater than a pre-determined setpoint. The setpoint may be a speed determined by state or federal law. - A privacy signal may be received by the
mobile communicator 470 in certain locations that prohibit the transmission and retrieval of signals through themobile communicator 470 for specific reasons. Some locations that may require the disablement of amobile communicator 470 may include a theater, a sports tournament, a hospital, a church, a waiting room, a library, a locker room, a classroom, a vehicle, a business area that houses trade secrets and/or confidential information, or a conference room in which trade secrets or confidential proprietary information are discussed. A vehicle may be any transportation device that carries passengers, such as, but not limited to, an airplane, an automobile, or a seat on a train. Also, in the case of a terrorist situation or any other situation dealing with national defense, a privacy signal may be executed according to protocol dependent upon security levels ascertained by an entity. Regardless, a location that may require the disablement of amobile communicator 470 may be any area in which privacy and/or silence may be desired - Referring further to
FIG. 8 , themobile communicator apparatus 470 may contain amicrophone 375 for inputting a voice, sound(s), and/or passwords into themobile communicator 470. Themicrophone 375 may be any device that operates as an acoustic to electric transducer or sensor. That is, themicrophone 375 may be any device that converts sound signals into electrical signals. Themobile communicator apparatus 470 may also contain avoice recognition system 630 and amemory storage device 620. Thevoice recognition system 630 may be configured to be connected to themicrophone 375 so that the voice, sound(s), and/or password inputted into themicrophone 375 can be authenticated by thevoice recognition system 630 by determining each sound(s) provided by the user match a pre-programmed or user-recorded identifying sound stored in thememory storage device 620. Themobile communicator apparatus 470 may further contain akeypad 340 configured to allow a user to input alphanumeric combinations such as, but not limited to, passwords, names, phone numbers, and text messages into themobile communicator 470. - The
mobile communicator apparatus 470 may also comprise anemergency service system 290. Theemergency service system 290 may include alocation transmitter 570 and alocator beacon 313. Thelocation transmitter 570 may be configured to transmit the location of themobile communicator 470 to theemergency service provider 280, while thelocator beacon 313 is connected to thelocation transmitter 570 and is configured to emit a locator signal, such as an alarm, a flashing light, or an audible sound, as to the geographic location of the mobile communicator. Thelocational tracking unit 610 may be connected to thelocation transmitter 570 and thelocator beacon 313 in order to provide the components of theemergency service system 290 with the location of themobile communicator 470. Thelocation transmitter 570 and thelocator beacon 313 may further be connected to anemergency service provider 280. Therefore, the location of themobile communicator 470 may be transmitted to theemergency service provider 280 in an emergency and alocator beacon 313 may be emitted to aid theemergency service provider 280 in locating the user in an emergency. - Another embodiment of the present invention is related to a mobile
communicator disabling system 300, as illustrated inFIG. 9 . The mobilecommunicator disabling system 300 may comprise amobile communicator 470 and a network ofsignal transceivers 310. Themobile communicator 470 may further include alocational tracking unit 610 and a disablingcircuit 550. Thelocational tracking unit 610 may be configured to determine the location of themobile communicator 470. Moreover, the disablingcircuit 550 may be configured to change the state of themobile communicator 470 from an enabled state, wherein the audible receiving and transmitting functions of themobile communicator 470 are enabled, to a disabled state, wherein the audible receiving and transmitting functions of themobile communicator 470 are disabled. Thelocational tracking unit 610 may use a network ofsignal transceivers 310 to determine the location of themobile communicator 470. - As shown in
FIG. 10 , the locational tracking unit 610 (FIG. 8 ) of themobile communicator 470 may communicate with signal transceivers, such as the cell towers 320 a,b, to determine the location of themobile communicator 470 using triangulation. Thelocational tracking unit 610, of themobile communicator 470, may determine the incident angle θ1, θ2 withcell towers 320 a, b, respectively. The angles θ1 and θ2 may be determined by the known technique of Angle of Arrival (AoA). This technique uses the multiple antennas of a cell tower to determine the incident angle of an arriving signal. A second cell tower with the same technology may then also determine the direction of the signal and the incident angle of an arriving signal. AoA systems must be designed to account for multipath signals. Multipath signals occur when a signal bounces off other objects and may confuse the cell tower as to the location of the mobile communicator. The distance d between the cell towers 320 a,b is a known distance since the locations of the cell towers 320 a,b are fixed and known. The method of triangulation is the process of finding the location of a point, given measurements of various angles and sides of a triangle formed by that point and two other known reference points. - In this example, the point and the two other known reference points are the
mobile communicator 470 and the cell towers 320 a,b, correspondingly. Further, the distance d and the angles θ1, θ2 are known. Those with ordinary skill in the art would know that the sum of the three angles in any triangle is 180 degrees. Therefore, since the points of themobile communicator 470 and the cell towers 320 a,b form a triangle, the third angle θ3 may be 180-θ1-θ2. Using various trigonometric identities, the distance Ia, Ib between themobile communicator 470 and the cell towers 320 a,b may be determined. Given either of these lengths, the sine and cosine can be used to calculate the offsets in both the north/south and east/west axes from the corresponding observation points at the cell towers 320 a,b to the unknown point at themobile communicator 470. Hence, the location of themobile communicator 470 will be determined. Further, since thelocational tracking unit 610, of themobile communicator 470, is continually and dynamically tracking the location of themobile communicator 470 in substantial real time, the speed of themobile communicator 470 may also be determined by analyzing the change of position over time. - In another embodiment of the
system 300, the locational tracking unit 610 (FIG. 8 ) may use the trilateration method as depicted inFIG. 11 to determine the location of themobile communicator 470. Trilateration is a method of determining the relative position of an object using the geometry of triangles in a similar fashion as triangulation. However, unlike triangulation, which uses angle measurements to calculate an object's location, trilateration uses the known locations of two or more reference points, and the measured distance between the object and each reference point. As shown inFIG. 11 , there is a coordinate system of the X and Y axes. The Z axis is not shown as the height in the Z direction is so minimal that it may be approximated to be zero. The location of themobile communicator 470 is where the cell tower signals 330 a-c intersect. - Referring further to
FIG. 11 , thecell tower 320 a is located at the origin of the coordinate system. Thecell tower 320 b is located on the X-axis at a distance p away from the origin atcell tower 320 a. Therefore,cell tower 320 b has the same y-coordinate ascell tower 320 a. Thecell tower 320 c is located in the fourth quadrant of the coordinate system, wherein thecell tower 320 c is a distance i to the right of the Y-axis and a distance j below the X-axis. AlthoughFIG. 11 depicts themobile communicator system 300 in a specific configuration, thesystem 300 may comprise many different configurations of the cell towers 320 a-c and themobile communicator 470. Moreover, the mobilecommunicator disabling system 300 may further comprise additional cell towers 320 a-c to provide a more accurate calculation of themobile communicator 470 location. - As shown in
FIG. 11 , each cell tower 320 a-c emits a signal 330 a-c in the shape of a sphere. For purposes of simplicity,FIG. 11 depicts the signals 330 a-c as circles, rather than sphere; however, the derivation for the location of themobile communicator 470 will assume the signals 330 a-c are spheres. Since signals 330 a-c travel with a known velocity, the distances r1, r2, and r3 from each cell tower 320 a-c to themobile communicator 470 may be directly calculated from the time of arrival. The formula for the distance is: d=v*t. - With further reference to
FIG. 11 , in order to derive the location of themobile communicator 470, the equations for each signal 330 a-c sphere may be determined and set equal to one another to calculate the point at which all the signals 330 a-c intersect. This intersection point is the location of themobile communicator 470. As previously mentioned, the z-coordinate of the signals 330 a-c are approximated to be zero. The derivation for the location of themobile communicator 470 is as followed: - The equation for
signal 330 a is:
r 1 2 =x 2 +y 2 +z 2 - The equation for
signal 330 b is:
r 2 2=(x−p)2 +y 2 +z 2 - The equation for
signal 330 c is:
r 3 2=(x−i)2+(y−j)2 +z 2 - Subtract the equation for
signal 330 b from the equation forsignal 330 a:
r 1 2 −r 2 2 =x 2−(−p)2=2*x*p−p 2 - Solve for x:
- Substitute x into the equation for
signal 330 a: - Solving for y2+z2 and substituting for x:
- Solving for y2+z2 for
signal 330 c and setting it equal to the previous equation:
y 2 +z 2 =r 3 2−(x−i)2+2*y*j−j 2 =r 1 2 −x 2 - Solving for y:
- Solving the equation for
signal 330 a for z with equation for x and y: - Therefore, from the derivation above and reference to
FIG. 11 , the location of themobile communicator 470 may be determined by the method of trilateration. - With further reference to
FIGS. 8 and 9 , themobile communicator system 300 may operate as depicted inFIG. 12 . As provided inFIG. 12 , themobile communicator 470 may be in an initialenabled state 100. In this example of the mobilecommunicator disabling system 300, the network ofsignal transceivers 310 may communicate with thelocational tracking unit 610 of themobile communicator 470 in order to determine the location of themobile communicator 470. Referring toFIG. 12 , if the at least one condition is not satisfied, the mobile communicator may remain enabled 160. Thelocational tracking unit 610 may continually communicate with the network ofsignal transceivers 310 to determine if the at least one condition is satisfied. However, if the at least one condition is satisfied, the disabling circuit may disable themobile communicator 110. The at least one condition may comprise either of the retrieval of a privacy signal; or the present speed of themobile communicator 470 may be greater than a pre-determined setpoint. As depicted inFIG. 12 , the mobile communicator may remain disabled for 30 seconds or any period oftime 120. Since thelocational tracking unit 610 may continually determine the location of themobile communicator 470 after thetime period 120, such as 30 seconds, has elapsed, if the at least one condition is still satisfied, the mobile communicator may remain disabled 130 and may remain disabled for anadditional time period 120, such as 30 seconds. However, if the at least one condition is not longer satisfied, the disabling circuit may re-enable themobile communicator 140. Additionally, if there is an emergency, the disabling circuit may enable themobile communicator 150. - A
mobile communicator 470 disablingmethod 900, as described with reference toFIGS. 8 and 13 , may comprise: providing alocational tracking unit 610 and a disablingcircuit 550 to amobile communicator 470, wherein themobile communicator 470 is in an initialenabled state 910; determining thelocation 920 of themobile communicator 470; determining that at least one condition for disablement of themobile communicator 470 is satisfied 930; and disabling 940 themobile communicator 470. - With continued reference to
FIGS. 8 and 13 , and with further reference toFIG. 9 , determining thelocation 920 of themobile communicator 470 may comprise of thelocational tracking unit 610 communicating with a network ofsignal transceivers 310. The determination of thelocation 920 may further include triangulation, trilateration, multilateration, GPS positioning, cell identification, enhanced cell identification, etc. - Multilateration is a process of locating an object by accurately computing the Time Difference of Arrival (TDoA) of a signal emitted from the object to three or more receivers. TDoA uses the time it takes for a signal to travel as an indirect method of calculating distance. With a minimum of three base stations of signal transceivers, such as cell towers 320 a-c, receiving a signal from a
mobile communicator 470, the difference in time it takes for thesignal 335 to reach each tower 320 a-c can be used to determine the position of themobile communicator 470. - Cell identification is a method that determines the position of a
mobile communicator 470, based on signal strength. This is a simple method that provides a rough estimate of the location of themobile communicator 470. The location of a cell tower 320 a-c that is in communication with amobile communicator 470 and is closest to themobile communicator 470 is determined to be the rough location of the mobile communicator. The cell tower 320 a-c that receives thestrongest signal 335 from themobile communicator 470 is closest to themobile communicator 470. - This simple method is often used in conjunction with other techniques in order to increase the precision of the mobile positioning, such as the Global Positioning System (GPS) or Time of Arrival (ToA). ToA is similar to the TDoA technique, but differs in that it uses the absolute time of arrival at a certain base station, rather than the difference between stations.
- Determining that at least one condition for disablement of the
mobile communicator 470 is satisfied 930 may include the at least one condition for disablement to be either the retrieval of a privacy signal or the determination that the speed of themobile communicator 470 is greater than a pre-determined setpoint. - Moreover, the initial enablement of the
mobile communicator 910 may further comprise authenticating a user's voice and/or password with avoice recognition system 630 or determining the location of themobile communicator 470 with thelocational tracking unit 610. - The method for disabling a
mobile communicator 900 may also comprise re-enabling themobile communicator 470 as depicted inFIG. 12 . Themobile communicator 470 may be enabled if the at least one condition is no longer satisfied 140. Further, if there is an emergency, the disabling circuit enables themobile communicator 150. In one example, the method for disabling amobile communicator 900 may also comprise enabling the mobile communicator in an emergency by speaking or verbalizing a word, e.g. “help,” into amicrophone 375 or inputting “help” via akeypad 340. In another example, this may also notify thelocation transmitter 570 to trigger thelocator beacon 313. Moreover, an example may include enabling themobile communicator 470 in an emergency in order for a user to call anemergency service provider 280 and theemergency service provider 280 may activate thelocator beacon 313. Additionally, theemergency service provider 280 may be notified of the authorized user of themobile communicator 470. - The foregoing description of the embodiments of this invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and obviously, many modifications and variations are possible. Such modifications and variations that may be apparent to a person skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined by the accompanying claims.
Claims (20)
1. A mobile communicator, comprising:
a locational tracking unit for determining the location of the mobile communicator; and
a disabling circuit 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.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the locational tracking unit uses a network of signal transceivers to determine the location of the mobile communicator.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one condition further comprises one of:
receiving a privacy signal; or
determining the speed of the mobile communicator to be greater than a setpoint.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the mobile communicator further comprises a microphone for inputting any of a voice, sound, or audible password, and wherein the mobile communicator further comprises a keypad for entering alphanumeric inputs.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the mobile communicator further comprises a voice recognition system and a memory storage device, wherein the voice, sound(s), or password inputted into the microphone are authenticated by the voice recognition system by determining each sound(s) provide by a user match a pre-programmed or user-recorded identifying sound in the memory storage device.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the locational tracking unit is configured to determine the location of the mobile communicator by using at least one of triangulation, trilateration, multilateration, or GPS positioning.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the mobile communicator comprises an emergency service system, further comprising:
a location transmitter configured to transmit the location of the mobile communicator; and
a locator beacon configured to emit a locator signal, such as an alarm, a flashing light, or an audible sound, as to the geographic location of the mobile communicator.
8. A mobile communicator disabling system, comprising:
a mobile communicator, wherein the mobile communicator includes:
a locational tracking unit configured to determine the location of the mobile communicator; and
a disabling circuit 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; and
a network of signal transceivers located in specific and known locations, wherein said network of signal transceivers is configured to communicate with the locational tracking unit to determine the location of the mobile communicator and the mobile communicator is disabled by the disabling circuit when an at least one condition is satisfied.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein said at least one condition comprises one of:
retrieval of a privacy signal; or
speed of the mobile communicator being greater than a setpoint.
10. The system of claim 8 , wherein said locational tracking unit uses a network of signal transceivers to determine the location of the mobile communicator.
11. The system of claim 8 , wherein said disabling circuit is configured to re-enable the mobile communicator if one of:
the at least one condition is no longer satisfied; or
there is an emergency.
12. A method for disabling a mobile communicator, comprising:
providing a locational tracking unit and a disabling circuit to a mobile communicator, wherein the mobile communicator is in an initial enabled state;
determining the location of the mobile communicator;
determining that at least one condition for disablement of the mobile communicator is satisfied; and
disabling the mobile communicator.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein determining that at least one condition for disablement of the mobile communicator is satisfied includes one of either:
receiving a privacy signal; or
determining the speed of the mobile communicator to be greater than a set point.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the initial enablement of the mobile communicator further comprises:
authenticating a user's voice and/or password with a voice recognition system; or
determining the location of the mobile communicator with the locational tracking unit.
15. The method of claim 12 , wherein determining the location of the mobile communicator with the locational tracking unit further comprises triangulation, trilateration, multilateration, or any other method of determining the location of the mobile communicator with a network of signal transceivers.
16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the disabling circuit will change the state of the mobile communicator to the enabled state if either:
the at least one condition is no longer satisfied; or
there is an emergency.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the mobile communicator will remain in the disabled state for 30 seconds before the locational tracking unit will determine if disabling circuit will change the state of the mobile communicator to an enabled state.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein enabling the mobile communicator in an emergency further comprises speaking or verbalizing a word, e.g. “help,” into a microphone or inputting “help” via a keyboard to make the mobile communicator operational to call an emergency service provider and/or notify a location transmitter to trigger a locator beacon.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein an authorized user of the mobile communicator is identified to said emergency service provider.
20. The method of claim 18 , wherein enabling the mobile communicator in an emergency further comprises said emergency service provider activating said locator beacon and a locator signal is emitted.
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US13/887,667 US9100794B2 (en) | 2005-05-10 | 2013-05-06 | Apparatus for and system for enabling a mobile communicator |
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Also Published As
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US8380161B2 (en) | 2013-02-19 |
US20110244825A1 (en) | 2011-10-06 |
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