WO1999045729A1

WO1999045729A1 - Remote control system for deactivating/reactivating signals transmitted by a portable telephone and method using said system

Info

Publication number: WO1999045729A1
Application number: PCT/FR1999/000506
Authority: WO
Inventors: René Feghali
Original assignee: Feghali Rene
Priority date: 1998-03-05
Filing date: 1999-03-05
Publication date: 1999-09-10
Also published as: FR2775862B1; AU2839699A; FR2775862A1; EP1060625A1

Abstract

The invention concerns a remote control system for activating or deactivating one or several functions of a portable telephone such as the sound elements characterised in that it uses: transmission means provided in the controlled zone (2) and transmitting a coded activation or deactivation message; delimiting means of the controlled zone (2) for controlling the bell of only the portable telephone(s) (3) located in said zone (2) and acting automatically on the main transmitting and/or receiving functions of only the portable telephone(s) located in the controlled zone (2). The invention is particularly applicable to portable telephones.

Description

"Remote control system for deactivation / reactivation of signals emitted by a mobile telephone and method for implementing said system"

The subject of the invention is an automatic remote control system for deactivating or reactivating the signals emitted by mobile telephones which enter an area where reception of telephone calls is inconvenient, conference rooms, concerts, theater, tennis courts, place of worship, etc.

By transmitted signals is meant audible signals such as ringing, "beeps", the speaker (s), but also all signals transmitted. 2

The subject of the invention is also the method of implementing the system according to the invention as well as the transmitters and the laptops intended for the implementation as well as all the other elements or bodies intended for the implementation. The invention can be applied to sectors other than portable telephones. Thus, it is possible to envisage the same control on the horns of automobiles in zones of noise pollution.

The invention tends to avoid all these drawbacks due to the audible signals of mobile telephones and the conversations which result therefrom.

But mainly, the invention tends to automatically solve the problems of electromagnetic incompatibility in an area due to radio emissions (example: planes, hospitals).

The state of the art can be defined by the following patents:

- FR-A-2.645.375: this system comprises a signal receiver, used to demodulate a received modulated signal, a frequency synthesizer used to produce a demodulation frequency signal and send this signal to said signal receiver means, a control means for producing and delivering an intermittent signal synchronous with said control signal during a standby period of said system, a power source for continuously applying a voltage at least to said control means, and a power switch sensitive audio signal intermittent to send an intermittent voltage derived from said power source to said signal receiver means and to the frequency synthesizer. Application in particular to mobile or portable telephones installed in motor vehicles.

EP.193 .972: device for controlling the transmission of a multiple frequency signal for use in a cordless telephone system which comprises a fixed unit connected to 3 a telephone exchange and a portable unit which can be connected to the fixed unit by a radio channel, comprising: means for sending a dialing signal from the portable unit to the fixed unit, the dialing signal comprising a dial signal discrimination code and call number code; audio frequency circuit means for establishing an audio channel between the telephone exchange and the portable unit; and means for detecting the dialing signal to deliver the discrimination codes and call numbers of the detected dialing signal characterized in that it comprises: control section means for keeping the audio frequency circuit deactivated for the first time after receiving the detected number signal discrimination code and, after the first prescribed time has elapsed, sending from the fixed unit to the telephone exchange a multi - frequency signal corresponding to the code of the detected call number.

The system according to the invention has the advantage of very precisely delimiting the area under control. This point is essential so as not to act on mobile phones located outside the desired area.

The portion of space in which one wishes to act on mobile phones is called the area under control.

In an application mode, these zones are silence zones, namely that one wishes to suppress the sound manifestations of the telephones there.

To this end, the remote control system for activating or deactivating one or more functions of a portable telephone such as the sound element uses: - transmission means equipping the zone under control and emitting a coded activation message or deactivation

means for delimiting the area under control to control the ringing of the portable telephone or telephones located only in said zone and to act automatically on the 4 main transmission and / or reception functions of the portable telephone (s) located only in the area under control.

The transmission and delimitation means comprise one or more access transmitters located in the passage areas so as to activate or deactivate the functions only of mobile telephones crossing the passage areas.

The function of the access transmitters is to activate a coded message such as a binary word which is a pre-activation of the process for controlling the signals transmitted by the mobile telephone and that the transmission means furthermore comprise one or more transmitters placed in the area under control and transmitting a coded message to activate or deactivate the pre-activated mobile phones. The transmission means transmit a coded message such as a binary signal selected beforehand by the user; said transmission means are programmable or include a selector to determine the coded message transmitted by the transmission means and which corresponds to a security level among various security levels for controlling the portable and its reactivation in the initial state upon exit from the controlled area.

The security level activates: deactivation of the ringer, activation of an information signal intended for the user,

The security level activates: deactivation of the portable transmitter, deactivation of the ringtone, an information signal. The security level activates the reset, that is to say reactivation of the laptop to its initial state before entering the control zone.

The emission means are composed of: a power source, 5 of a generator of coded messages such as binary words, of a selector of coded messages such as binary words, of an amplitude and / or frequency modulator, of a transmitter equipped with a means of adjustment transmission power, a time control circuit, a means for adjusting the periodicity of the transmission, - a transmitting antenna.

The mobile telephone is equipped with all the current conventional means for this type of device, it is also provided with means for receiving remote control from the transmitter (s). It is equipped with: an auxiliary antenna for detecting the signal from the transmitter, a receiver unit or detector for the signal from the transmitter, - a control circuit which is connected: to the buzzer, to a vibrator , to a display screen; the signal receiver or detector block includes the following functions: - demodulator, filtering, restitution of binary words, buffer registers, an analysis and storage circuit; the control circuit is connected: to the ringing control circuit, to the vibrator control circuit, 6 to the control circuit of the transmitter block of the portable which is itself in relation with the transmitter block and the main antenna of the portable.

It includes, outside the area under control, a transmitter for reactivating mobile phones to their initial state.

An information signal such as a buzzer, a vibrator, a message on the display or a light signal by a diode alerts the user to an incoming call and / or that his mobile phone has been deactivated.

The access transmitter and / or the transmitter is equipped with an infrared passage detector so as to trigger the emission only when crossing the passage zone. The delimitation means include: - a coded message generated by the transmission means and corresponding to the maximum length of the area under control which is set in the direction of transmission, calculation means with which the mobile telephone is provided, making it possible to calculating the distance separating the transmission means of the portable telephone, means for comparing said calculated distance and the maximum configured length, making it possible, for each portable telephone, to define its situation outside or in the zone under control.

The calculation means include means for measuring the power of the signals received so that, knowing the power of the transmission means, determine the transmission rate from which the distance separating the transmission means and the mobile telephone is deduced.

The transmission means are motorized in rotation to scan the area under control, the coded message of maximum length being configured according to the angular position of the transmission means. 7

The method for implementing the system consists in: defining a control zone for mobile telephones by delimitation means, having transmission means whose function is to control the ringing and / or the transmission functions and / or reception of the portable telephone (s), that the transmitters transmit a coded message such as a binary signal, the binary word of which is adjustable according to the security level, - that the portable telephones are equipped to be controlled by said means from the system. In one embodiment, the method is characterized by the fact that: - one or more groups of mobile telephones are defined, each comprising prerogatives as to the functions to be activated or deactivated, transmits, by the transmission means, a coded message corresponding to the chosen group or groups, - compares, at the mobile telephone level, the internal information and the coded message received to determine whether the mobile telephone enters the chosen group, in order to act selectively on the mobile telephones for n '' activate or deactivate only one group of mobile telephones present in the area or all mobile telephones except those of the selected group. The attached drawings are given as indicative and non-limiting examples. They represent a preferred embodiment according to the invention. They will allow the invention to be easily understood.

FIG. 1 is a general view of the system according to the invention, showing the control zone, the control and command transmitters of the portable computers, the transmitters equipped with a passage detector. 8

Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of a laptop according to the invention highlighting the few specific elements of the system.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a portable device according to the invention, that is to say sensitive to the action of the transmitters of the system.

Figure 4 is a block diagram of a transmitter (called DMS).

Figure 5 is a block diagram of a so-called access transmitter (DMSI). Figure 6 is a flowchart illustrating the various actions of the system.

Figure 7 is a flowchart illustrating the different actions of process 1.

Figure 8 is a flowchart illustrating the different actions of process 2.

Figure 9 is a flowchart illustrating the different actions of process 3.

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram illustrating the different actions of process 4. FIG. 11 is a flow diagram illustrating the different actions of process 5.

FIG. 12 is a diagram of the system in another embodiment.

Figure 13 is a view of the portable telephone according to a particular embodiment.

Figures 14 and 15 show the use of transmission means in one embodiment.

The remote control system for deactivation and reactivation of the ringing of a mobile telephone uses transmission means such as transmitters 1 placed in a zone 2 known as the controlled zone.

The zone under control 2 can be equipped with one or more transmitters 1 called DMS "remote master switch" according to the embodiment of FIG. 1. 9

The function of the transmission means is to control the signals transmitted, that is to say the audible or radio signals of the portable telephone (s) 3 located in said control zone 2.

Said transmission means act automatically on the main transmission and / or reception functions of the portable telephone (s) 3 located in the area under control 2.

Depending on the situation of the area or the terrain, passage zones 4 and 5 are defined to control said portable telephones 3 which are forced to pass through these entry and exit passage zones 4, 5.

As indicated above, the transmission means can comprise transmitters 1 located in the zone 2. It is also possible to use, alone or in combination with the transmitters 1, transmission means in the form of access transmitters 6, 8 The entry and exit zones 4 are then equipped with transmission means in the form of access transmitters 6, 8. These transmitters may themselves be provided with infrared transceivers 7, 9.

The infrared detectors 7, 9 make it possible to trigger a transmission from the access transmitters 6, 8 only when an effective crossing of the passage area (4, 5) takes place.

Whatever their embodiment, the transmission means generates a coded message, such as a binary word, capable of being received and interpreted by portable telephones. The formation of an access transmitter 6, 8 makes it possible to very precisely delimit the zone under control 2. The delimitation means are thus formed.

In an embodiment where transmitters 1 and transmitters 6, 8 are combined, these transmitters (6, 8) have the function of activating a message such as a binary word which is a pre-activation of the process of controlling the signals transmitted. by the portable, and this, to avoid that the transmitters 1 act on portable outside the control area. 10

As presented in FIGS. 12 and 14, mixed zones 36 can be formed, namely zones under control 2 in which zones outside control 34 are present.

For example, according to FIG. 12, zones out of control are enabled by reactivation transmitters in the passage zones 35.

According to another embodiment outside of the control zone 2, transmitters 10 can be installed in order to automatically reactivate the portable devices to their initial state. The transmitter 1 said DMS transmits periodically or continuously for example a binary signal selected beforehand by the user, the one who controls the control zone 2.

The transmitter 1 can be programmable or include a selector which determines the message such as the binary password sent by the said transmitter and corresponding to different security levels of control of the portable and its reactivation in the initial state at the output of the area under control 2.

The binary word no. 1 detected by the portable telephone (s) 3 subjected to electromagnetic fields, therefore in control zone 2 of range of the signal emitted by the transmitters 1 has the effect of executing a process no.

Process n ° l:

Deactivation of the ringer of the portable 3 and / or activation of a mechanical signal such as a vibrator of the portable. The binary word n ° 2 detected by the portable or portable 3 subjected to the electromagnetic field coming from the transmitters 1 in the control zone has the effect of executing a process n ° 2.

Process n ° 2:

Deactivation of the portable 3 transmitter for safety of a dangerous electromagnetic incompatibility type in a well-defined area, for example in an airplane.

The laptops 3 deactivated during transmission can receive short messages that can be displayed (with a beep if present) on the respective screens, for example the 11 caller's number or an alphanumeric message sent by the caller.

The binary word n ° 3 detected by the portable or portable subjected to the electromagnetic field of the transmitter, therefore in control zone 2 has the effect of executing a process n ° 3.

Process n ° 3:

Resetting laptop 3, reactivating all processes that may be under the control of transmitters 1.

As shown diagrammatically in FIG. 2, the portable telephone 3 according to the invention is equipped with all the conventional means currently available for this type of device.

It is also provided with remote control reception means from the transmission means.

To this end, the portable 3 according to the invention is equipped with an auxiliary antenna 11 for detecting the signal from the transmitter 1, 6, 8, a receiver or detector block 12 for the signal from the transmitter, d a control circuit 13 which is connected to the buzzer 14 and to the mechanical vibrator or buzzer 15.

This control circuit is also connected to the transmitter 16 of the portable computer towards a display 32.

The block diagram in FIG. 3 highlights other elements which constitute this portable telephone 3 according to the invention.

Thus, the receiver block 12 consists of a demodulator of a filtering means and of a means of restoring the binary words.

A register 17 acts as a buffer register and an analysis and storage circuit.

The assembly is connected to a state backup battery 18. The control circuit 13 is itself connected to the buzzer 14 to the vibrator 15 and to the control circuit 19 or transmitter block 20 of the portable device 3 connected to the main antenna 21.

The transmitter 1 is shown in FIG. 4. 12

In this example, it is composed of a power source 22, a binary word generator 23, a binary word selector 24, an amplitude and / or frequency modulator 25, a transmitter equipped with a means 26 for adjusting the transmission power, a time control circuit 27, a means 28 for adjusting the periodicity of the transmission, a transmitting antenna 29.

The block diagram shown in Figure 5 represents a transmitter called DMSI access transmitter referenced 6.8 in Figure 1. This transmitter includes of course with the same references, all the elements that make up the transmitters 1 previously described in Figure 4 .

This access transmitter 6, 8 includes a circuit 30 which is the infrared detection management circuit, an infrared transmitter receiver 31.

This management circuit is connected on the one hand, to the time control circuit and on the other hand, to the power supply source 22.

The system according to the invention consists in taking control of a portable telephone 3 so that it is in silent mode and / or in call barring mode in a control zone 2.

Silent mode:

This mode implies that the portable 3 cannot emit any noise in the control zone 2. Call barring mode:

This mode implies that the portable 3 cannot make any call in the enclosure except according to programming of the calls called emergency calls.

According to other embodiments, the system according to the invention may comprise at the portable 3 a mechanical or light signal to warn the user of an incoming call and / or that his portable has been deactivated. 13

Thus, said portable 3 can receive a message on the screen of its display so that a diode flashes when it is in silence mode imposed by the system.

Of course, the user of a laptop will be warned by different display means or audible message before entering the control zone 2 that the laptops according to the system of the invention go beyond a certain limit. geographic entry into an area under control.

The transmitter 1 called DMS ("Distant Master Switch") can transmit a modulated signal and this periodically.

The diffusion of this modulated signal has the consequence of taking control of certain functions of the portable 3.

The transmitters 6, 8 known as transmitters with detection of passage by infrared method using infrared detectors 7 and 9, are placed inside the control zone 2 at locations known as forced exit and / or entry passages.

Outside, the transmitter 10 periodically transmits a modulated signal which has the effect of reactivating the portable 3 to its initial state. The subject of the invention is the method of implementing the system as well as the means for find out which transmitters and mobile phones are equipped with this function to be sensitive to said transmitters.

A particular embodiment of the transmission and delimitation means is described below.

These transmission means can be used both in the passage zone 4, 5 in the form of access transmitters 6, 8 and in the form of transmitter 1.

This emerges more precisely from FIGS. 12, 14 and 15. The use of access transmitters 6, 8, possibly combined with a precise choice of range, makes it possible to precisely delimit the zone under control 2.

The following means of delimitation may replace or be combined with them. 14

In this context, the transmission generated by the transmission means will include a coded message reflecting the maximum length "1" of the area under control 2. This length "1" is variable depending on the direction of transmission 42 as shown in FIG. 14. Therefore, the coded message of length "1" is parameterized according to the direction of transmission 42.

The intersection surfaces 41 of the emission with the limits 40 of the zone 2 are presented in FIG. 14.

The coded message corresponding to the length 1 is received by the portable 3 together with the coded message of activation or deactivation.

Components of the delimitation means, present in the portable telephone 3 then allow an exploitation of the transmitted information. Thus, calculation means 37 allow first of all to calculate the distance separating the portable 3 from the transmission means. This calculation can be carried out by comparing the power transmitted by the transmission means and the power received by the portable. The transmission rate allows you to know the distance.

Comparison means 38 are then used to compare the calculated distance and the maximum length "1": if the length "1" decoded by the portable is greater than the calculated distance, the portable is in the area under control 2 and action should be taken on it, if the length "1" is less than the calculated distance, the laptop 39 is out of the area and must not be deactivated.

In an embodiment illustrated in Figures 14 and 15, the transmitter 1 is movable in rotation according to the movements r or

R to scan the area under control. Programming makes it possible to send a coded message of the maximum length "1" configured according to the position of transmitter 1. 15

According to FIG. 15, the transmitter comprises guide antennas 43 scanning the area 2.

A box 44 ensures the motorization and the programming of the movements and the configuration of the coded message of the maximum length.

According to this technique, it is also possible to define zones outside of control 35, in the volume of zone 2.

The housing 44 provides the motorization and the programming of the movements and of the configuration of the coded message of maximum length.

The method according to the invention and the system also make it possible to act selectively on one or more groups of portable telephones. This is particularly interesting for defining a group of priority users who will retain full or partial use of their mobile in the area under control.

In the case where use is made of transmission means with transmission of a coded message reflecting the maximum length "1" of zone under control 2, a low frequency magnetic or electromagnetic field transmitter or of another nature may broadcast , in zone 2, a signal of constant amplitude serving as a basis for calculating the distance separating the transmission means and the portable 3. It is then this reference which will be compared with the signal received by the portable telephone 3.

16

REFERENCES

1. Issuer

2. Control area 3. Portable according to the invention

4. Passage area

5. Passage area

6, 8 Access transmitters

7, 9. Infrared detector 10 Transmitter for reactivating laptops to their initial state

11. Auxiliary antenna

12. Receiver block

13. Control circuit

14 Ringtone 15 Vibrator

16. Cellphone transmitter

17. Buffer-analysis and memorization circuit register

18. Backup battery

19. Transmitter block control circuit 20. Transmitter block

21.Main antenna

22. Power source

23.Binary generator

24. Binary selector of a binary word selector 25. Amplitude or frequency modulator and transmitter

26.Means for adjusting the power of the transmission

27. Time control circuit

28. Means for adjusting the periodicity of the program

29. Transmitting antenna 30. Infrared detection management circuit

31.Infrared transceiver

32. Laptop display

33. Light emitting diode

34. Area out of control 17

35. Passage zone of the zone out of control

36. Mixed zone

37. Means of calculation

38. Means of comparison 39. Mobile phone outside the zone

40. Boundaries of the area under control

41. Intersection

42. Issuance direction

43. Directive antenna 44. Housing

R, r. Rotational movements 1. Maximum length

Claims

18 CLAIMS

1. Remote control system for activating or deactivating one or more functions of a mobile telephone such as the sound element, characterized by the fact that it uses:

- transmission means equipping the area under control (2) and transmitting a coded activation or deactivation message

- means for delimiting the area under control (2) to control the ringing of the portable telephone (s) (3) located only in said zone (2) and to act automatically on the main transmission and / or reception functions of the or mobile phones (3) located only in the area under control (2).

2. remote control system of a mobile telephone according to claim 1 characterized in that the transmission and delimitation means comprise one or more access transmitters (6, 8) located in the passage areas (4 , 5) to activate or deactivate the functions only of mobile telephones (3) crossing the passage areas.

3. remote control system of a mobile telephone according to claim 2 characterized in that the access transmitters (6, 8) have the function of activating a coded message such as a binary word which is a pre-activation of the process for controlling the signals transmitted by the mobile telephone (3) and that the transmission means further comprise one or more transmitters (1) placed in the area under control (2) and transmitting a coded message of activation or deactivation of pre-activated mobile phones.

4. remote control system of a portable telephone according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that the transmission means transmit a coded message such as a binary signal selected beforehand by the user; said transmission means are programmable or include a 19 selector (24) for determining the coded message transmitted by the transmission means and which corresponds to a security level among various security levels for controlling the portable and its reactivation in the initial state at the exit from the zone under control (2).

5. remote control system of a mobile telephone according to claim 4 characterized in that the security level (1) activates: deactivation of the ringtone (14), - activation of an information signal (16) intended for

1 user,

6. Remote control system of a mobile telephone according to claim 4 characterized in that the security level (2) activates: - deactivation of the transmitter (20) of the mobile phone, deactivation of the ringer (14) , an information signal (16).

7. Remote control system of a portable telephone according to claim 4 characterized in that the security level 3 activates the reset, that is to say the reactivation of the portable in its initial state before the entry into the control area (2).

8. Remote control system for activating or deactivating the sound element of a mobile telephone according to claim 1 characterized in that the transmission means are composed of: a power source (22), a generator of coded messages such as binary words

(23), - a coded message selector such as binary words

(24), an amplitude and / or frequency modulator (25), a transmitter equipped with a means for adjusting (26) the transmission power, 20 of a time control circuit (27), of a means for adjusting the periodicity of the transmission (28), of a transmitting antenna (29).

9. remote control system of a portable telephone according to one of claims 1 to 8 characterized in that the portable telephone (3) is equipped with all current conventional means for this type of device, it is also provided with means for receiving remote control from the transmitter (s).

10. Remote control system of a portable telephone according to claim 9 characterized in that it is equipped with: an auxiliary antenna (11) for detecting the signal from the transmitter (1), a block receiver or detector (12) for the signal from the transmitter, a control circuit (13) which is connected: to the buzzer (14), - to a vibrator (15), to a display screen (16) ; the receiver block (12) or signal detector includes the following functions: demodulator, - filtering, restitution of binary words, buffer registers (17), an analysis and storage circuit; the control circuit is connected: - to the control circuit (13) of the bell (14), to the control circuit (13) of the vibrator (15), 21

- the control circuit (19) of the portable transmitter block

(3) which is itself related to the transmitter block

(20) and the main antenna (21) of the laptop (3).

11. Remote control system for a portable telephone according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises, outside the area under control (2), a transmitter (10) reactivation of mobile phones to their initial state.

12. Remote control system for a mobile telephone according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that an information signal such as a ringtone, a vibrator (15), a message on the display (32) or a light signal by a diode (33) alerts the user to an incoming call and / or that his mobile phone has been deactivated.

13. Remote control system of a mobile telephone according to claims 2 or 11, characterized in that the access transmitter (6, 8) and / or the transmitter (10) is equipped with a detector infrared passage (7, 9) to trigger the emission only when crossing the passage area (4, 5).

14. Remote control system for a mobile telephone, according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the delimitation means comprise: a coded message generated by the transmission means and corresponding to the length maximum of the area under control (2) which is configured in the direction of transmission (42), of the calculation means with which the mobile telephone is used making it possible to calculate the distance separating the transmission means from the mobile telephone (3), 22 means for comparing said calculated distance and the maximum configured length, making it possible, for each mobile telephone, to define its situation outside or in the area under control.

15. A remote control system for a portable telephone, according to claim 14, characterized in that the calculation means comprise means for measuring the power of the signals received for, knowing the power of the transmission means, determining the transmission rate from which the distance between the transmission means and the mobile telephone is deducted.

16. Remote control system of a mobile telephone, according to any one of claims 14 or 15, characterized in that the transmission means are motorized in rotation to scan the area under control (2), the message coded for the maximum length being configured according to the angular position of the transmission means.

17. Method for the implementation of the system according to one of claims 1 to 16 characterized in that it consists in: defining a control zone for mobile telephones by delimitation means, - having means of transmission whose function is to control the ringing and / or the transmission and / or reception functions of the portable telephone or telephones, that the transmitters transmit a coded message such as a binary signal whose binary word is adjustable according to the level security, that mobile phones are equipped to be controlled by said system transmission means.

18. The method of claim 17 characterized in that 23 that one: defines one or more groups of mobile telephones, each comprising prerogatives as to the functions to be activated or deactivated, - transmits, by the transmission means, a coded message corresponding to the group or groups chosen, compares, to level of the mobile phone, the internal information and the coded message received to determine whether the mobile phone enters the chosen group, in order to act selectively on the mobile phones to activate or deactivate only one group of mobile phones present in the area or all mobile phones except those of the chosen group.