Dead Zone for Wireless Communication Device

Abstract

I have invented a communication system illustratively comprising: a wireless communication device; a network for controlling wireless communication over said network, said network tracking a location of said wireless communication device based on location data pertaining to said wireless communication device, said network comprising a no communication zone register including a database of predetermined zones in which predetermined communication by, to, or by and to said wireless communication device is to be disabled; wherein when said wireless communication device is in one of said predetermined zones in which communication by, to, or by and to wireless communication device is not permitted, said network disables said predetermined communication by, to, or by and to said wireless communication device. The “dead zones” where the wireless device may be disabled illustratively may include a speeding zone, a hospital zone, a movie theater zone, a church zone, and a performing arts theater zone or be based upon the law of a state on the use of said wireless communication device in a moving vehicle. The device may include GPS acquisition circuitry and the system may use assisted GPS for use in calculating the location of the wireless communication device. On disablement a message may display on the wireless communication device that the wireless communication device is in a “dead zone”. While in the “dead zone”, my invention allows for disablement of voice communication, text messages, emails, and/or data communication. Disablement may occur by service disablement or disablement of the password or keyboard entry feature of the wireless device. “Dead zones” may be determined by default or subscription. My inventive device and method for dead zoning a wireless communication device are also disclosed.

1 . A communication system comprising:
 a wireless communication device;   a network for controlling wireless communication over said network, said network tracking a location of said wireless communication device based on location data pertaining to said wireless communication device, said network comprising a no communication zone register including a database of predetermined zones in which predetermined communication by, to, or by and to said wireless communication device is to be disabled;   wherein when said wireless communication device is in one of said predetermined zones in which communication by, to, or by and to wireless communication device is not permitted, said network disables said predetermined communication by, to, or by and to said wireless communication device.   
     
     
         2 . The communication system of  claim 1  wherein said wireless communication device includes GPS acquisition circuitry for capturing satellite messages for use in calculating said location of said wireless communication device. 
     
     
         3 . The communication system of  claim 1  further comprising assisted GPS for use in calculating said location of said wireless communication device. 
     
     
         4 . The communication system of  claim 1  wherein said predetermined zones in which predetermined communication by, to, or by and to said wireless communication device is to be disabled is taken from the group consisting of a speeding zone, a hospital zone, a movie theater zone, a church zone, and a performing arts theater zone. 
     
     
         5 . The communication system of  claim 1  wherein said predetermined zones in which predetermined communication by, to, or by and to said wireless communication device is to be disabled is based upon the law of a state on the use of said wireless communication device in a moving vehicle. 
     
     
         6 . The communication system of  claim 1  wherein said predetermined zones in which predetermined communication by, to, or by and to said wireless communication device is a speed of said wireless communication device absent a hands free operation of said wireless communication device. 
     
     
         7 . The communication system of  claim 1  wherein on disablement of said wireless communication device when said wireless communication device is in one of said predetermined zones in which communication by, to, or by and to wireless communication device is not permitted said wireless device displays a message that communication by, to, or by and to wireless communication device is not permitted because said wireless communication device is in one of said predetermined zones in which predetermined communication by, to, or by and to said wireless communication device is to be disabled. 
     
     
         8 . The communication system of  claim 1  wherein said predetermined communication by, to, or by and to said wireless communication device is to be disabled is taken from the group consisting of voice communication, text messages, emails, and data communication. 
     
     
         9 . The communication system of  claim 1  wherein said disablement of said wireless communication device when said wireless communication device is in one of said predetermined zones in which communication by, to, or by and to wireless communication device is not permitted is based upon programmed service subscription information. 
     
     
         10 . The communication system of  claim 1  wherein said disablement of said wireless communication device when said wireless communication device is in one of said predetermined zones in which communication by, to, or by and to wireless communication device is not permitted occurs using over-the-air programming. 
     
     
         11 . The communication system of  claim 1  wherein said disablement of said wireless communication device when said wireless communication device is in one of said predetermined zones in which communication by, to, or by and to wireless communication device is not permitted occurs by flagging on a feature that overrides the password entry feature of said wireless communication device. 
     
     
         12 . The communication system of  claim 1  wherein said disablement of said wireless communication device when said wireless communication device is in one of said predetermined zones in which communication by, to, or by and to wireless communication device is not permitted occurs by flagging on a feature that overrides the keypad entry feature of said wireless communication device. 
     
     
         13 . The communication system of  claim 1  wherein said database of predetermined zones in which predetermined communication by, to, or by and to said wireless communication device is to be disabled is populated with zone data by default. 
     
     
         14 . The communication system of  claim 1  wherein said database of predetermined zones in which predetermined communication by, to, or by and to said wireless communication device is to be disabled is populated with zone data by subscription. 
     
     
         15 . A wireless communication device having a no communication zone register including a database of predetermined zones in which predetermined communication by, to, or by and to said wireless communication device is to be disabled;
 wherein said wireless communication device tracks its location based on location data and wherein when said wireless communication device is in one of said predetermined zones in which predetermined communication by, to, or by and to said wireless communication device is not permitted, said wireless communication device is disabled from handling said predetermined communication by, to, or by and to said wireless communication device.   
     
     
         16 . The wireless communication device of  claim 15  wherein said wireless communication device further includes GPS acquisition circuitry for capturing satellite messages for use in calculating said location of said wireless communication device. 
     
     
         17 . The communication system of  claim 15  further comprising assisted GPS for use in calculating said location of said wireless communication device. 
     
     
         18 . The communication system of  claim 15  wherein said predetermined zones in which predetermined communication by, to, or by and to said wireless communication device is to be disabled is taken from the group consisting of a speeding zone, a hospital zone, a movie theater zone, a church zone, and a performing arts theater zone. 
     
     
         19 . The communication system of  claim 15  wherein said predetermined zones in which predetermined communication by, to, or by and to said wireless communication device is to be disabled is based upon the law of a state on the use of said wireless communication device in a moving vehicle. 
     
     
         20 . The communication system of  claim 15  wherein on disablement of said wireless communication device when said wireless communication device is in one of said predetermined zones in which communication by, to, or by and to wireless communication device is not permitted said wireless device displays a message that communication by, to, or by and to wireless communication device is not permitted because said wireless communication device is in one of said predetermined zones in which predetermined communication by, to, or by and to said wireless communication device is to be disabled. 
     
     
         21 . The communication system of  claim 15  wherein said predetermined communication by, to, or by and to said wireless communication device is to be disabled is taken from the group consisting of voice communication, text messages, emails, and data communication. 
     
     
         22 . The communication system of  claim 15  wherein said disablement of said wireless communication device when said wireless communication device is in one of said predetermined zones in which communication by, to, or by and to wireless communication device is not permitted occurs by flagging on a feature that overrides the password entry feature of said wireless communication device. 
     
     
         23 . The communication system of  claim 15  wherein said disablement of said wireless communication device when said wireless communication device is in one of said predetermined zones in which communication by, to, or by and to wireless communication device is not permitted occurs by flagging on a feature that overrides the keypad entry feature of said wireless communication device. 
     
     
         24 . The communication system of  claim 15  wherein said database of predetermined zones in which predetermined communication by, to, or by and to said wireless communication device is to be disabled is populated with zone data by default. 
     
     
         25 . The communication system of  claim 15  wherein said database of predetermined zones in which predetermined communication by, to, or by and to said wireless communication device is to be disabled is populated with zone data by subscription. 
     
     
         26 . A method of disabling communication by, to, or by and to a wireless communication device; the method comprising:
 creating a database populated with a no communication zone location where a predetermined communication by, to, or by and to said wireless communication device is to be disabled;   tracking a location of said wireless communication device;   querying whether said location of said wireless communication device is within said no communication zone location;   if the wireless communication device is in said no communication zone location, disabling said predetermined communication by, to, or by and to said wireless communication device.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  network wherein said step of creating a database further includes populating said database with additional no communication zone locations in which predetermined communication by, to, or by and to said wireless communication device is to be disabled. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26  network wherein said step of tracking said location of said wireless communication device is performed using GPS generated position data. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26  wherein said step of tracking said location of said wireless communication device is performed using assisted GPS generated position data. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26  wherein said predetermined no communication zone location in which predetermined communication by, to, or by and to said wireless communication device is to be disabled is based upon the law of a state on the use of said wireless communication device in a moving vehicle. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 26  wherein said predetermined communication by, to, or by and to said wireless communication device is to be disabled is taken from the group consisting of voice communication, text messages, emails, and data communication. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 26  wherein said database populated with a no communication zone location where a predetermined communication by, to, or by and to said wireless communication device is to be disabled is populated with zone data by default. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 26  wherein said database populated with a no communication zone location where a predetermined communication by, to, or by and to said wireless communication device is to be disabled is populated with zone data by subscription.