Abstract:
A cellular phone for emergency situations may include a power source, a communications antenna, communications electronic circuitry, a “911” button wherein the “911” button is characterized in that depressing the “911” button transmits a 911 emergency number, an actuation device, and a microswitch. These elements are cooperatively connected such that when the “911” button is depressed, the actuation device deploys the antenna to a fully extended position, and the antenna deployment activates a microswitch that turns on the communications electronic circuitry.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/219,901, filed Aug. 14, 2002, which is a divisional of “Generic Number Cellular Telephone” U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/584,326, filed on May 30, 2000, now issued U.S. Pat. No. 6,580,908, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/895,398, filed Jul. 16, 1997, “Disposable Emergency Cellular Phone”, now issued U.S. Pat. No. 6,115,597, the entire contents of each being expressly incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0002]    This application is also related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/504,500, filed Feb. 15, 2000, “Thermal Battery Booster System,” now issued U.S. Pat. No. 6,198,249, and also related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/571,980, filed May 15, 2000, “Keyboard Signature Security System,” now issued U.S. Pat. No. 6,405,922, both incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    As it is well known, cellular phones present a tremendous advantage in dealing with an emergency situation. However, there are several problems with present cellular phone systems. The primary one is that the owner must pay a monthly charge to maintain the use of a number. Thus there is a need for an economical and durable disposable emergency cellular phone that can be operated without the need to pay a monthly access fee. 
         [0005]    The art referred to and/or described above is not intended to constitute an admission that any patent, publication or other information referred to herein is “prior art” with respect to this invention. In addition, this section should not be construed to mean that a search has been made or that no other pertinent information as defined in 37 C.F.R. § 1.56(a) exists. 
         [0006]    All U.S. patents and applications and all other published documents mentioned anywhere in this application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
         [0007]    Without limiting the scope of the invention, a brief summary of some of the claimed embodiments of the invention is set forth below. Additional details of the summarized embodiments of the invention or additional embodiments of the invention may be found in the Detailed Description of the Invention below. 
         [0008]    A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification is provided for the purposes of complying with 37 C.F.R. § 1.72. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    In at least one embodiment, the invention is directed to a cellular phone for emergency situations. The phone may include a power source, a communications antenna, communications electronic circuitry, a “911” button wherein the “911” button is characterized in that depressing the “911” button transmits a 911 emergency number, a spring, and a microswitch. These elements are cooperatively connected such that when the “911” button is depressed, the spring deploys the antenna to a fully extended position. The antenna deployment activates a microswitch that turns on the communications electronic circuitry. 
         [0010]    In some embodiments, the invention is directed to a method of operating a cellular phone without a dedicated number. The method includes depressing a “911” button, the “911” button being characterized in that depressing the “911” button transmits a 911 emergency number. The method further includes attempting to register a first mobile identification number and a first electronic serial number. The method further includes verifying that registration is established. The method further includes transmitting the 911 emergency number if registration was established. The method further includes initiating a timer if registration was established. The method further includes disabling further transmissions after the timer reaches a predetermined duration. 
         [0011]    These and other embodiments which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof. However, for further understanding of the invention, its advantages and objectives obtained by its use, reference should be made to the drawings which form a further part hereof and the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there is illustrated and described embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         [0012]    A detailed description of the invention is hereafter described with specific reference being made to the drawings. 
           [0013]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  show a front and side view of the phone with the antenna collapsed. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  shows the side and front views of the phone with the antenna extended. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  shows the phone in its waterproof storage pouch. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  shows the basic circuitry for the phone. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  shows the circuitry modifications for the automatic crash response feature. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  shows the registration process to allow the user to bypass a monthly access fee. 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  shows the physical embodiment of the stun gun version of the cell phone. 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  shows the electrical circuitry of the stun gun cell phone. 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  shows one cell of a thermal battery. 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  shows the internal construction of a thermal battery with the cells and housing. 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  shows the method of the operation of the thermal battery emergency cell phone. 
           [0024]      FIG. 12  shows the method of operation of the generic number email/data phone. 
           [0025]      FIG. 13  shows the “on-off” times for dialing a four digit number or PIN. 
           [0026]      FIG. 14  shows the method of using on-off times for identification security. 
           [0027]      FIG. 15  shows the method of using the instant invention for monitoring persons. 
           [0028]      FIG. 16  shows the method of using the instant invention for medical monitoring. 
           [0029]      FIG. 17  shows the method of using the instant invention to allow the cell phone to act as a car or house key. 
           [0030]      FIG. 18  shows the embodiment of the method for operating the phone in an emergency warning “as a siren proxy.” 
           [0031]      FIG. 19  shows the embodiment of the invention with a fax scanner on the phone. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0032]    While this invention may be embodied in many different forms, there are described in detail herein specific preferred embodiments of the invention. This description is an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiments illustrated. 
         [0033]    For the purposes of this disclosure, like reference numerals in the figures shall refer to like features unless otherwise indicated. 
         [0034]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  depict the phone with the antenna collapsed from a side and front view. The basic mechanical components of the phone  10  are the speaker and speaker section  12 , the antenna  14 , and the microphone section  18 . The center section  19  carries the batteries and the electronics. It also serves as the base for the “911” button  16 . 
         [0035]    A spring  20  to automatically deploy the antenna is shown in the speaker section. In an alternative embodiment, the antenna is slid down into the phone body with a linear spring. When the 911 button is pushed, it releases the antenna, which then slides out the end into a fully extended position when released. 
         [0036]    In one embodiment, the whole phone is made waterproof through the use of waterproof switches, microphone, and speakers. 
         [0037]      FIG. 2  shows the identical components but with the antenna extended. The operation of the spring is such that the antenna is normally fully extended. 
         [0038]      FIG. 3  shows the phone of this embodiment in its weatherproof pouch  30 . This pouch could be made of any water or weatherproof material including vinyl, polycarbonates or other polymers. Along the front end of the pouch  30  is an embedded quick release strip  34 , which has a brightly colored large pull tab  36 . For use of the phone the tab  36  is gripped and pulled down the complete length of release line  34  to open the pouch and access the phone. This then automatically deploys the antenna due to the operation of the integral spring. 
         [0039]    On the back of the phone pouch  30  is an attachment means. In the preferred embodiment this is shown as a Velcro® type of mechanism  32 . Alternatively it could be suction cups for glass or adhesives for metal. Further alternatives would include magnets for metal. The Velcro® works particularly well for the roof cloth or floor carpeting of many cars. Yet another alternative attachment mechanism would be a combination of Velcro® and magnet for universal attachment as shown using the magnets  38  embedded in the pouch. 
         [0040]    The pouch is transparent to make the phone contents very obvious in an emergency situation. 
         [0041]    Due to the presence of dedicated integrated circuits the electronic portion of a conventional cellular phone design is doable by anyone skilled in the art of electrical engineering. The circuit in  FIG. 4  is meant to be broadly illustrative. The circuitry is not meant to be in great detail as that is no longer necessary with this art. Speaker  40  is coupled through capacitors  42  and  44  to audio controller  60 . The audio controller  60  receives a demodulated audio line  62  from the RF section chip  66 . That RF section chip receives the RF signal from antenna  68 . Microswitch  17  is shown connected to the power supply chip for automatically turning on the phone after the antenna is deployed as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         [0042]    Microphone  46  is coupled through capacitors  48  and  50  and resistors  52 ,  54 ,  56 , and  58  into the audio controller  60 . The audio controller then sends the “audio out” signal on line  64  into the RF section  66  for final transmission out on antenna  68 . When the call button  16  is depressed the microprocessor microcontroller  70  interprets this and activates the appropriate sequences and the digital controller  72  would then give the appropriate controls to the audio controller  60 . Digital controller  72  is clocked by a crystal oscillator comprising capacitors  74  and  76 , crystal  78 , and resistor  80 . All of the electronic components are powered by battery  76  through the power supply chip  74 . A representative audio controller is the TCM 8010 of Texas Instruments, P.O. Box 655303, Dallas, Tex. 75265. A representative RF section IC is the TRF 1015 from Texas Instruments. There are numerous manufacturers of microprocessors or microcontrollers. Sample devices are the 8051 or 8032 available from numerous electronic manufacturers. electronic manufacturers. A representative of the digital controller is the TCM 8002 from Texas Instruments. Representative power supply ICs are the TPS9013 or the TPS9104, both of Texas Instruments. 
         [0043]    The battery  76  is a permanently installed primary cell such as an alkaline, lithium, or manganese dioxide cell although many other types could work. The cell must provide high peak currents in transmission but otherwise is not required to have extremely high longevity. By having a permanent primary cell there is an economy over the use of an expensive rechargeable cell and also over the use of a changeable primary cell due to the expense of the battery holders chambers and doors. These battery holders, chambers, and doors for a battery chamber also introduce reliability problems. As an alternative embodiment the battery could be a fixed or removable thermal battery or any practical battery. 
         [0044]    Microswitch  17  is activated by the antenna springing out and thus automatically turning on the device.  FIG. 5  depicts the circuit modifications to allow for the automatic crash activation feature. The three-axis acceleration sensor  100  will detect the sudden acceleration from a crash and pass this on to three-channel amplifier  102  and then on to the microprocessor and microcontroller  70 . If a sufficient force is detected then the device will turn on automatically and begin pulsing through transistor  104  to pulse integral light  106 . The light  106  is also used to light up the 911 button after the antenna is deployed. The microprocessor microcontroller will also signal the rapid beeping through the phone speaker  40 , which is shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0045]    If the phone is not operated within 5 minutes of the “crash” then it automatically turns off to save battery life. Alternatively the phone could include a “hang-up” button which could also stop the flashing and pulsing. 
         [0046]    Suitable acceleration sensors are available from Analog Devices of Norwich, Mass. 
         [0047]      FIG. 6  shows the flow chart for the operation of the phone with particular attention to the unique feature that allows the operation of the phone without the customer having to pay a monthly access fee for a private number. 
         [0048]    The provider (distributor) of the disposable emergency cellular phones will pay a monthly fee for a few phone numbers. Each of these phone numbers (mobile identification number [MIN]) comes with an electronic serial number (ESN) which will be transmitted with the MIN in order to register to the cellular system. (A conventional cellular phone also transmits its MIN and a unique ESN, which it registers. The ESN is unpublished and is matched with the phone to minimize fraudulent usage.) One feature of this invention is that thousands of the disposable emergency phones could share a small set of MINs and matching ESNs. 
         [0049]    Assume that the average call requires 5 minutes. The table below gives the number of MINs required for a smoothed (average) load as a function of the number of subscribers. The last column gives the estimated number of MINs required to reduce waits as call volume will not be perfectly constant. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 number of 
                 MINs needed for 
                 MINs needed to 
               
               
                 subscribers 
                 average load 
                 minimize waits 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 100 
                 1 
                 3 
               
               
                 200 
                 1 
                 5 
               
               
                 500 
                 2 
                 8 
               
               
                 1,000 
                 4 
                 12 
               
               
                 2,000 
                 7 
                 17 
               
               
                 5,000 
                 18 
                 30 
               
               
                 10,000 
                 35 
                 49 
               
               
                 20,000 
                 70 
                 85 
               
               
                 50,000 
                 174 
                 190 
               
               
                 100,000 
                 348 
                 364 
               
               
                 200,000 
                 695 
                 712 
               
               
                 500,000 
                 1,737 
                 1,753 
               
               
                 1,000,000 
                 3,473 
                 3,490 
               
               
                 2,000,000 
                 6,945 
                 6,962 
               
               
                 5,000,000 
                 17,362 
                 17,378 
               
               
                 10,000,000 
                 34,723 
                 34,740 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0050]    In operation, the first step is to wait for the 911 button depression  200 . Step  202  is to register with a MIN and ESN. Step  204  is to verify that registration (log on) is established. If it is established then the method proceeds on to step  206  which is to transmit the 911 number. Then step  208  begins a timer. Finally, at step  210  the device will disable further transmissions when the timer reaches 60 minutes. In an alternative embodiment, a counter is used to limit the number of 911 calls to a small fixed number, say 5. The total talking time would then be limited only by the battery life and the patience of the 911 operators. If at step  204  registration was not established then the method proceeds to step  212 , which is to verify that a carrier signal is present. If If no carrier is detected then the method returns to step  202  to attempt registration again. If the carrier is detected then the method proceeds to step  214  and increments to the next MIN (phone number) and ESN (serial number). It then attempts another registration in step  216 . The reason for the attempt for different numbers is that it is conceivable that two customers would both be trying to make a 911 call at the exact same time. Were that to occur, the first caller would normally lock out that number nationwide and prevent the second caller from getting through. Thus a disposable cellular phone provider would have a few numbers that a minimal monthly service fee is paid for. The system could try the MINs and ESNs (phone and serial numbers) in a fixed sequence or a random fashion. Alternatively the phone could simply log on with a public phone number and transmit a 311 or 911 call since the FCC requires phone companies to accept 311 and 911 calls regardless of the account status. 
         [0051]      FIG. 7  shows the physical embodiment of the stun gun in this version of the cell phone. The basic phone  300  has a conventional key pad  302  and read-out display  304  along with the antenna  306 . There is also the on-off button  308  as standard. 
         [0052]    There is a left side high (mechanical) resistance push button  310  to enable the flashlight. Also there is a right side push button  311  to enable the electrical stunning operation when used in conjunction with the switch  310 . When the flashlight is enabled then the battery from the cell phone is connected to high intensity light bulb  312 . When both switches  310  and  311  are enabled simultaneously a high voltage is developed between the pseudo antenna tip  314  and the tip of the normal antenna  316 . The angle between the tips  314  and  316  is very important as it allows the shock to be delivered from the operator&#39;s right hand and angled to attack the arm or hand of an attacker without having to have a full perpendicular contact. 
         [0053]      FIG. 8  shows the synergistic operation of the circuitry. We begin with the battery  320 , which is connected to the conventional cell phone circuitry  322 , which then drives the conventional antenna  306  for transmission. When switch  311  is depressed then the battery power  320  is delivered directly to the light bulb  312  to cast an intense beam. 
         [0054]    When both switches  311  and  310  are depressed then battery current is delivered to oscillator  324 . Oscillator  324  provides an AC current to transformer  326  which develops a high voltage output which is rectified by diode  328  and stored in capacitor  330 . In this way a voltage is built up to over 1000 volts on capacitor  330 . When the voltage exceeds 1000 volts on capacitor  330  then the hermetically sealed spark gap  332  will break down and deliver a short intense current through transformer  334 . The output of transformer  334  (of about 25,000 to 50,000 volts) will then appear between contacts  306  (which is the conventional antenna) and  314  which is the shocking probe “pseudo antenna.” The hermetically sealed spark gap  336  limits that voltage to prevent damage to the circuitry. The Zener diodes  337  serve to protect the cell phone circuitry from the effects of this high voltage and keep the antenna  306  closer to a ground potential. 
         [0055]    Another key element of this invention is the use of a thermal battery for an emergency phone system. U.S. Pat. No. 6,041,255 teaches the possible use of a thermal battery for a single use external defibrillator. 
         [0056]    The detailed construction of the piles of a thermal battery is shown in  FIG. 9 . It begins with a pyrotechnic heat source  340  which is followed by cathode  342  which is followed by an electrolyte  344 , followed by anode  346  followed by current collector  348 . The electrolyte at normal ambient temperature is a solid, insulating inorganic salt. The electrolyte is rendered molten by the pyrotechnic heat source. The heat melts the electrolyte which causes it to be conductive and deliver electrical power at an extremely high rate. The thermal battery has many attributes making it ideal for an emergency phone system. First, it has no leakage current until it is triggered. Thus it has a shelf life of ten or twenty years. It then delivers current at an extremely high rate for a short period of time on the order of minutes. This is ideal for long range, high power transmission. 
         [0057]    Representative materials for the battery anode include lithium, calcium, magnesium, and others. The electrolytes that have been used successfully in these batteries have been lithium chloride and potassium chloride mixtures primarily. Representative cathodes are FeS 2 , K 2 Cr 2 O 7 , WO 3 , CaCrO 4 , and V 2 O 5  for example. A typical pyrotechnic heat source is iron with KClO 4 . 
         [0058]      FIG. 10  shows the overall construction of a thermal battery. Battery piles  350  are shown stacked as discs leaving an open core  354 . The electric match  352  is placed above that open core. Electric match  352  is ignited by current passing through contacts  358  and  360 . Connection  356  is used for delivery of current from the battery and the other current delivery connection can be one of the match terminals, either  358  or  360 . As an alternative, yet a fourth electrode could be used for the battery output current. Insulation material  364  is wrapped around the battery to keep it very hot so that it can achieve its high levels of efficiencies. Temperatures on the order of 23° Celsius are not uncommon. Representative insulation that can be used include Mica, silicon-bonded Mica, FiberFrax, Microtherm, Aluminum/Mica combinations, and Min-K. 
         [0059]    In the embodiment using an electric match to trigger the thermal battery, a conventional non-thermal small battery such as a lithium battery will deliver current when connected through the electric match circuitry. This will cause the thermal battery to go to its high temperature mode and then deliver current at an extremely high level. 
         [0060]    Another preferred embodiment for this invention is shown as  FIG. 15  of “Thermal Battery Booster System” Ser. No. 09/504,500, filed Feb. 15, 2000. In this case the electric match is replaced by a percussion ignitor. This is essentially a primer from a shotgun shell. This has an impact activated explosive. A spring loaded percussion ignition system comprising a firing pin and spring (or other mechanical activation means). Then the firing pin will contact the percussion ignitor to begin the thermal battery ignition process. This will then allow the thermal battery to begin delivering extremely high currents without the need for an electric match and small triggering battery. 
         [0061]      FIG. 11  shows the method of operating the thermal battery emergency phone. We begin at step  400 , which is to activate the phone. At step  402  the base station carrier is attempted to be detected. If the base station carrier is detected then we go to step  404  which is to proceed as in  FIG. 6  to register. If the base station carrier is not detected in step  402  then we go to step  406  and the system asks if the number 911 was dialed. If it was not then we go to step  408  which warns that only 911 calls can get through with the high-power operation at this point and returns to step  406 . If 911 was, in fact, dialed then the system permits the move to step  410  which is to go to unrestricted mode in which case it will scan all carriers and frequencies. Thus if the subscriber&#39;s main provider was the local System A which is unavailable it could also allow System B as well as other frequencies. At step  412  the system looks for a base station carrier to be detected. If it is, then it would proceed as in  FIG. 6  before. If it is not then the system proceeds to step  414  at which point the thermal battery is activated and the system goes to a maximum power transmit level of 20 watts. This is important as a thermal battery is able to provide at least 20 watts of output power, or even up to 50 watts but only for a watts but only for a short period of time. Thus the output power is merely limited by the output stage transistors and a significant increase in range would be obtained. The conventional cell phones are limited to three-watt power and thus, for this emergency operation, an output of 12 watts gives an increase of four times which would give a doubling of the range by the square power law. 
         [0062]    The invention of using multiple MINs and ESNs for a generic number phone system has many uses beyond the emergency cellular voice phone. Some of these embodiments are described below. 
         [0063]    The set of MINs and ESNs for a given set of phones would be stored in the memory of each of the phones. The provider can download additional numbers to generic phone number customers if it is found that they are experiencing excessive waits. 
         [0064]      FIG. 12  shows the operation of the generic number phone for sending and receiving local data. The subscriber unit could be a laptop computer, a palmtop computer, a personal digital assistant, a cellular phone with a sufficient display to read Email, or other means of entering or displaying digital messages. It could be a car computer with a digital display terminal. The exact hardware system is quite flexible. The operation begins in step  420  where the operator activates the mobile data phone. At step  422  the selection is made to send or receive data. If the decision is made to send data then the system proceeds to step  424  and asks if the data is ready for transmission. If it is then the system proceeds to step  430  which it would also go to if it was ready to receive data. If at step  424  the system is not ready to transmit data then it goes to step  426  where it opens an email screen for the operator. At this point the operator must at step  428  prepare the email message. When this is ready then everything goes to step  430  where the system will attempt a registration with a randomly chosen mobile identification number MIN j  and an electronic serial number ESN j . These numbers are not capriciously chosen but are rather from the list of approved numbers for this service. At step  432 , if the system finds the registration was unsuccessful due to the fact that someone else was using that mobile identification number and that serial number, then the system goes to step  434 . At that point j is increased by 1 and the system goes back to step  430  to attempt registration with the next MIN j  and ESN j . When registration is finally successful then the system proceeds to step  436  where it will send and receive data. After the data is sent or received the system proceeds to step  438  which is to hang up. 
         [0065]      FIG. 13  shows the on/off times that are available when an operator types a four digit number. In this case the operator has typed in a PIN or a subscriber&#39;s line number of 5678. This operation generates eight distinct times beginning with the “space” time T 10 , which is the time from the prompt or previous number to the pushing of the “5” key. 
         [0066]    Then there is the “key-down” time T 11  which is the amount of time the “5” key is held down, etc. 
         [0067]    This set of times provides a distinct signature of the operator due to the fact that everyone has different typing habits. This is the subject of co-pending application Ser. No. 08/942,820, “ATM signature security system” filed Oct. 2, 1997. The operation of this security system is shown in  FIG. 14  and also later on in  FIG. 17  as one application. 
         [0068]    In  FIG. 14  we begin with step  500  which measures space times and key down times during entry of a phone or PIN. Step  502  of the system transmits the vector of times  504  to the base station which selects the stored signature acceptance criteria based on the type of phone being used. In step  506  the transmitted vector is compared to the existing signature range. In step  508  the comparison results are acted on. If the transmitted vector of times is found to be within limits then the call or transaction is approved at step  510 . Then at step  512  the vector is used to update the stored signature slightly to account for aging or changing of patterns of the user. 
         [0069]    If, at step  508 , the vector was out of limits then the customer is asked to reenter the number at step  514 . The vector is then compared to the stored signature at step  516  and if it is then found within limits then the operation proceeds to step  510 . If the vector is found to be outside of limits for the second time then the system goes to step  518  to initiate the emergency procedure. 
         [0070]    An important alternative embodiment to the system as shown in  FIG. 14  involves comparing the signature internally at the phone at step  508  rather than at the base station. This would allow the phone to be modified and not require modification of base stations. The disadvantage is that one could perhaps fraudulently modify phones. 
         [0071]      FIG. 15  shows the application of this generic number cellular telephone to monitor people. This could be a criminal in house arrest or a child. The step  530  is to attach a phone to monitor a person with a tamperproof means. Step  532  is pseudo random number generator, which generates random call times. This is to prevent a sophisticated criminal from having a scanner, or other sense of detection of a cellular phone transmission, detecting when the cell phone is making a transmission and assuming that he or she is free to move about in between. The pseudo random number generator would randomly generate call times between one minute and several hours of each other. 
         [0072]    In step  534  the location of the call is recorded at a monitoring base station as the call comes in. This location could be generated by modern cellular location systems from “enhanced 911” service or could use even the simpler version, which simply gives the cellular antenna involved. The more sophisticated but expensive system would involve the use of GPS receiver including the monitor. This has a disadvantage of being unable to report when someone is indoors so the GPS system would have to store the most recent good GPS data. To prevent the fraud of having the criminal cover the GPS antenna to allow movement the system would have the backup of noting the base cellular antenna to demonstrate significant movements. 
         [0073]    Finally at step  536  authorities are alerted if the monitored person is in an inappropriate location. This is done by the base station making appropriate calls that could also be done automatically from the attached cellular phone on the monitored person. 
         [0074]    Similarly, this invention will be very useful for the monitoring of stolen cars. When circuitry in the car detects that the car is being moved by unauthorized people, then the generic phone number cellular phone will begin transmitting this fact along with location information. Also, by differentiating the position information, the system can calculate the direction of heading and forward all of this to the authorities. 
         [0075]      FIG. 16  shows the method of this invention for medical monitoring. It begins at step  540  recording diagnostic information. This could be from an implantable device or an external monitor or a nerve stimulator, etc. 
         [0076]    It then moves to step  542  and asks if the information suggests an emergency. If it suggests an emergency then it proceeds to step  544  to call 911 as done in the method shown in  FIG. 6 . The system then, at step  546 , generates a recorded (actually synthesized) voice giving the nature and location of the emergency and then goes to step  556  to hang up. If the information does not suggest an emergency then the system goes to step  548  where it registers under the generic mobile identification number and electronic serial number also shown earlier in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0077]    In step  550  the system will then ask if the registration was successful. If it is then it goes to step  554  to do a burst transmission of the data to the appropriate number and then proceeds to step  556  to hang up. 
         [0078]    If the registration was unsuccessful in step  550  the system proceeds to step  552  and generates a random (or pseudo-random) number delay from 1 to 59 seconds and then goes back to step  550  to attempt registration. This is due to the fact that another similar system or the same service may be attempting to transmit the medical information at the exact same second. Note that this system does not require a batch of MINs. This exact embodiment in  FIG. 16  allows just the mere waiting for an open “slot”. Of course this can also be combined with the searching for further phone numbers as shown in  FIG. 12 . 
         [0079]    This approach can also be used for industrial emergency monitoring. The term is here used to refer to many (often unwitnessed) emergencies such as oil and water spills or factory or forest fires. Before this invention, one would have had to pay for a cellular phone account for each monitoring site. With the instant invention, an enormous number of monitoring sites can use the same generic number. 
         [0080]      FIG. 17  shows the method of using the instant invention to allow the cell phone to act as a car or house key. The system begins at step  600  where the operator is prompted to enter a PIN into the key pad. At step  604  the systems asks if the PIN matches the base station database. If it does not, then at step  606  we prompt for reentry and go back to step  600 . If the PIN matches then the system goes on to  612  to transmit a pseudo random binary number (PRBN) to unlock the car. As an alternative to a PIN the system will prompt as many people as there are PINs to enter their home phone number in step  602 . At step  608  the system does a keystroke dynamics to verify the identity as shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 . Once the identity is verified then the system goes to step  612  to transmit the PRBN to unlock the car or house. If the identity is not verified then the system goes to step  610  to prompt for reentry. 
         [0081]    In  FIG. 18  is shown the embodiment of the invention for modification to allow police and emergency vehicles to get the attention of the operator. There is a major problem with people talking on their cellular phones and not hearing emergency vehicles behind them. The system proceeds as follows. At step  620  the system asks if 10 seconds has elapsed. This is because the system will at every 10 seconds check the emergency vehicle warning transmission. If 10 seconds has not elapsed then the system at step  622  continues with normal phone procedures. If it is time for a 10 second check then the systems proceeds to step  624  where it checks for the emergency transmission. 
         [0082]    If an emergency warning transmission is detected in step  626  then the system goes to step  628  where it asks if the operator phone is connected to 911. This is very important as criminal usage to spoof a police transmission could be used to shut off a citizen&#39;s cell phone and thus prevent them from making an emergency call. It is important that a 911 call be able to bypass the shut off. If the operator is connected to 911 then the system proceeds to step  630  where the warning is given. 
         [0083]    If in fact the user is not connected to 911 then the system goes to step  632  and warns by the synthesized voice of an emergency vehicle and disconnects the existing call so that the user/driver can focus on driving out of the way. 
         [0084]      FIG. 19  depicts the fax scanning version of the invention. Here charge coupled device (CCD) scanning array  650  is embedded in linear lens  652 . The scanned data is observed in either the “fisheye” lens  654  or in the normal operating screen  656 . With this scanner the phone can either directly send a fax or, with optical character recognition circuitry, send actual text based on the scanned image. 
         [0085]    The above disclosure is intended to be illustrative and not exhaustive. This description will suggest many variations and alternatives to one of ordinary skill in this art. The various elements shown in the individual figures and described above may be combined or modified for combination as desired. All these alternatives and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the claims where the term “comprising” means “including, but not limited to” 
         [0086]    This completes the description of the preferred and alternate embodiments of the invention. Those skilled in the art may recognize other equivalents to the specific embodiment described herein which equivalents are intended to be encompassed by the claims attached hereto.