Abstract:
A system includes a sensor receiving unique identity data from a cell phone; and a network component receiving the unique identity data and processing a transaction based on the unique identity data. If the transaction is successfully completed, the network component sends a signal indicating an action to be performed.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to a cell phone sensor and related applications. Specifically, an identity of a cell phone is used as a basis for the related applications. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Cellular phones have been developed to include a variety of different functionalities beyond an initial use of making voice communications. Cellular phones have also become universally used. The portability of cellular phones enable the cellular phone to be located on a user&#39;s person at all times. Conventionally, a cellular phone includes a transceiver and an antenna to wirelessly transmit and/or receive wireless signals. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention relates to a system which includes a sensor receiving unique identity data from a cell phone; and a network component receiving the unique identity data and processing a transaction based on the unique identity data. If the transaction is successfully completed, the network component sends a signal indicating an action to be performed. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  shows a system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2   a  shows a first view of a first application of the network system of  FIG. 1  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2   b  shows a second view of the first application of  FIG. 2   a.    
           [0007]      FIG. 3  shows a view of a second application of the network system of  FIG. 1  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0008]    The exemplary embodiments of the present invention may be further understood with reference to the following description and the appended drawings, wherein like elements are referred to with the same reference numerals. The exemplary embodiments of the present invention describe a cell phone sensor and related applications. According to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the cell phone sensor (hereinafter “cell sensor”) receives identity data from a cellular phone (hereinafter “cell phone”) to use as a basis for one of the related applications. The cell phone sensor, the cell phone, the identity data, and the related applications will be discussed in further detail below. 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  shows a system  100  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The system  100  illustrates a general configuration in which exemplary applications of the present invention may be implemented. The exemplary applications will be described in further detail below. The system  100  may include a cell phone  105  and a cell sensor  110  that is part of a network  115 . 
         [0010]    The cell phone  105  may be any conventional type of cellular phone. Thus, the cell phone  105  may include a transceiver so that wireless signals may be exchanged to and from the cell phone  105  with, for example, a cell tower that provides coverage for the cell phone  105 . The cell phone  105  may include other conventional components such as an audio input device (e.g., microphone), an audio output device (e.g., speaker), a keypad (e.g., numeric), a display, a battery, etc. 
         [0011]    It should be noted that the use of a cell phone is only exemplary. The exemplary embodiments of the present invention may generally relate to any mobile unit (MU) that is capable of performing an exchange of wireless signals. That is, the cell phone may represent any MU with a transceiver capable of transmitting and/or receiving wireless signals. The MU may be the cell phone or any other portable electronic device such as a mobile computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a laptop, a radio frequency identification reader, a scanner, an image capturing device, a pager, etc. The MU may include various components such as a processor, a memory, a battery, a transceiver, an antenna, etc. 
         [0012]    The cell phone  105  may be manufactured with conventional protocols. For example, the cell phone  105  may include a unique identifier such as an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) that identifies the cell phone  105  itself. In another example, the unique identifier may be a model number with an identifying extension. In yet another example, the unique identifier may be an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) that identifies the user of the cell phone  105  (e.g., encoded on a SIM card of the cell phone  105 ). It should be noted that other unique identifying markers may be used and programmed into the cell phone  105  to thereby identify the cell phone  105 . For example, the IMEI number may be incorporated into headers of wireless packets to be transmitted. Thus, when a device receives the wireless packet, the header may be decrypted so that the IMEI number may be decoded. 
         [0013]    The cell sensor  110  may be a device that is configured to transmit and/or receive a wireless signal to the cell phone  105 . Specifically, the cell sensor  110  may be configured for wireless signals of a cellular nature. Because the cell phone  105  operates within a cellular network, wireless signals are of a cellular nature. The cell sensor  110  operating for these types of signals prevents a need for an additional transceiver on the cell phone  105  configured for another type of wireless signal (e.g., WiFi). However, it should be noted that the cell sensor  110  may also be configured for other types of wireless signals. 
         [0014]    A first cellular network provider may configure wireless signals of its cellular network to operate at predetermined parameters such as frequency. A further cellular network provider may configure wireless signals of its cellular network to operate at different predetermined parameters. The cell sensor  110  may be configured to accommodate the variety of different parameters in which the cell phone  105  may operate. Thus, according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the cell sensor  110  may operate independent of the operating parameters in which the cell phone  105  is configured. Accordingly, regardless of the cellular network in which the cell phone  105  is associated, the cell sensor  110  may be configured to exchange wireless signals with the cell phone  105 . For example, the first network may include a frequency parameter for the wireless signals to operate at 800 MHz. The second network may include a frequency parameter for the wireless signals to operate at 1900 MHz. The cell sensor  110  may be configured to operate at both of these frequencies. Accordingly, if other frequency parameters exist, the cell sensor  110  may further be configured to operate at the other frequency parameters. 
         [0015]    As will be described in further detail below, the cell sensor  110  may include features that are substantially similar to those of an access point. The cell sensor  110  includes a transceiver to enable wireless signal exchange with the cell phone  105 . The cell sensor  110  may have an operating area. The operating area may determine a distance in which the cell phone  105  is to be disposed for wireless signals to be exchanged therebetween. The operating area of the cell sensor  110  may be configured to encompass predetermined areas. For example, depending upon a power level, the cell sensor  110  may include a substantially spherical operating area radially extending from the cell sensor  110 . In another example, the operating area may be shaped according to predefined conditions such as extending from the cell sensor  110  in a conical shape. 
         [0016]    In a first exemplary embodiment, the cell sensor  110  may be configured to process the wireless signals exchanged between the cell phone  105  and the cell sensor  110 . As discussed above, an identity of the cell phone  105  is used as a basis for the related applications of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The cell sensor  110  may be equipped with a processor and a memory so that an appropriate action may be determined as a result of the identity of the cell phone  105 . The identity of the cell phone  105  may be referenced to a database of identities stored on the memory and corresponding actions to be taken. The cell sensor  110  may be connected to other components that are to execute the appropriate action. 
         [0017]    In a second exemplary embodiment, the cell sensor  110  may be a network component. That is, the cell sensor  110  may forward signals received from the cell phone  105  to be processed by another network component. Specifically, the cell sensor  110  may receive an identity of the cell phone  105  that serves as a basis for a related application according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0018]    As discussed above, the cell sensor  110  may be part of the network  115 . The network  115  may be any wireless network such as a local area network (LAN), a virtual local area network (VLAN), a private area network (PAN), a wide area network (WAN), etc. The network  115  may include a server  120  and a database  125 . 
         [0019]    The server  120  may be configured to be responsible for the operations occurring within the network  115 . Specifically, the server  120  may execute the related operation in which the identity of the cell phone  105  has been received. The identity of the cell phone  105  may be referenced to a database of identities and corresponding actions to be taken. The database of identities may be stored in the database  125  which serves as a storage unit of the network  115 . The database  125  may store other data relating to the network  115  such as association lists. The network  115  may further include other network components such as switches, network management arrangements, data storage arrangements, etc. For example, the switch may direct other wireless signals from the cell phone  105  (e.g., signals that are not the identity of the cell phone  105 ) to other network components or other networks with which the network  115  is associated. 
         [0020]    When the server  120  has appropriately processed the identity of the cell phone  105 , the server  120  may transmit command data so that a corresponding action may be taken, depending on the related application in which the identity of the cell phone  105  is being used. In a first example, the cell sensor  110  may be connected to other components of the related application that is to perform the corresponding action. Thus, the server  120  may transmit the command data back to the cell sensor  110 . In a second example, the server  120  may directly transmit the command data to another component responsible for executing the action of the command data. 
         [0021]    The cell sensor  110  may receive the identity of the cell phone  105  in a variety of manners. In a first example, the cell sensor  110  may transmit a query beacon. The query beacon may request the identity of the cell phone  105 . When the cell phone  105  receives the query beacon, a packet may be transmitted to the cell sensor  110  from the cell phone  105  that includes identity data. In a second example, the cell phone  105  may be configured to continuously broadcast network association packets to remain connected to its respective cellular network. The network association packets may be configured to incorporate identity data in, for example, the headers. The cell sensor  110  may be configured to receive network association packets and decode the header to determine the identity of the cell phone  105 . That is, the cell sensor  110  may be in a listening mode. In a third example, the cell phone  105  may be equipped with a locating system (e.g., triangulation, RSSI, GPS, etc.). When the cell phone  105  enters a known location in which a cell sensor  110  is associated, the cell phone  105  may broadcast the identity data. The cell sensor  110  may be in a “hearing” mode to receive the identity data from the cell phone  105 . 
         [0022]    It should be noted that the system  100  may include additional cell sensors  110 . As will be described in further detail below, the cell sensors  110  may be disposed at an entryway for a facility. Thus, if the facility includes multiple entryways, further cell sensors  110  may be disposed for each entryway. 
         [0023]      FIG. 2   a  shows a first view of a first application  200  of the system  100  of  FIG. 1  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The first application  200  relates to a tollbooth for automobiles. The first application  200  may be used to charge an owner of the cell phone  105  a corresponding fare using the identity of the cell phone  105  when the owner passes through a tollbooth while in an automobile. The first view illustrates an overhead view of the first application  200 . The first application  200  may include aisle walls  205 , overhangs  210 , and gates  215  where each has a respective gate controller  220 . 
         [0024]    The aisle walls  205  create aisles in which an automobile is to approach the gates  215 . As illustrated, the first application  200  is a toll booth with two aisles. Accordingly, three aisle walls  205  are included in the configuration. The aisle walls  205  may be disposed at predetermined locations to safely admit any sized automobile. The overhangs  210  are disposed over the respective aisle created by the aisle walls  205 . The overhangs  210  may be disposed at predetermined heights to safely admit any sized automobile. 
         [0025]    The gates  215  prevent an automobile from exiting the toll booth until the corresponding fare has been processed using the identity of the cell phone  105 . Upon the corresponding fare being processed, the gates  215  may be moved by the respective gate controller  220  to enable the automobile to exit the tollbooth. For example, the gate controller  220  may angularly raise the gate  215  from a disposition parallel to the ground to a disposition perpendicular to the ground. 
         [0026]    As illustrated in  FIG. 2   a , the cell sensor  110  may be disposed on the overhang  110 . As discussed above, multiple cell sensors  110  may be disposed for the system  100 . Because the exemplary embodiment of the first view of the first application  200  includes two aisles, two cell sensors  110  are included where each cell sensor  110  is disposed on one of the overhangs  210 . It should be noted that the position of the cell sensor  110  being located on the overhangs  210  is only exemplary. In another exemplary embodiment of the first application  200 , the tollbooth configuration may not include the overhangs  210 . In such a configuration, the cell sensors  110  may be disposed on the gate controllers  220 , the gates  215 , the aisle walls  205 , etc. 
         [0027]    As discussed above, the cell sensor  110  may include an operating area in which an exchange of signals with the cell phone  105  is enabled. As illustrated in the first view of  FIG. 2   a , the cell sensor  110  may include an operating area  130  that is substantially conical in shape. A third dimension of the operating area  130  will be discussed below with reference to  FIG. 2   b.    
         [0028]    The cell sensor  110  may be configured to receive the identity of the cell phone  105  upon entering the operating area  130 . That is, the owner of the cell phone  105  that is activated may be in an automobile that has entered an aisle of the tollbooth. Specifically, the cell phone  105  may have entered the operating area  130  of the cell sensor  110 . The cell sensor  110  may receive the identity data from the cell phone  105 . According to the exemplary embodiments discussed above, the cell sensor  110  may be configured to process the identity data or the cell sensor  110  may forward the identity data via the network  115  to a network component such as the server  120  to process the identity data to determine an action to be taken by the gate controller  220 . 
         [0029]    In either embodiment, the identity of the cell phone  105  may be referenced with the database of identities. According to the exemplary embodiment of the first application  200 , when the identity of the cell phone  105  is included in the database of identities, a corresponding action may be associated therewith. The corresponding action may be to raise the gate  215  to enable exiting of the vehicle from the aisle of the tollbooth. When the gate  215  is raised, the corresponding fare associated with the identity of the cell phone  105  may be charged. For example, the owner of the cell phone  105  may have an account for the tollbooth system. The account may be a pre-paid or pay-as-you-go account. In another exemplary embodiment, the toll authority may have a relationship with the cell phone carrier and the fare is charged via the cell phone account. Thus, the corresponding fare may be deducted or charged, respectively. 
         [0030]    It should be noted that other actions may be taken. For example, the corresponding action may be to deny the gate  215  from being raised to prevent the automobile from exiting the tollbooth. Subsequent actions may also be included such as contacting authorities, capturing an image of the automobile, etc. In another example, if the identity of the cell phone  105  is not included in the database, an image of the license plate of the automobile may be taken so that a citation for a tollbooth violation may be issued. 
         [0031]      FIG. 2   b  shows a second view of the first application  200  of  FIG. 2   a . The second view includes the components described above such as the aisle walls  205 , the overhang  210 , the gate controller  220 , and the cell sensor  110 . Furthermore, the second view illustrates an overhang support  225  and a gate support  230 . The overhang support  225  provides an elevation for the overhang  210  to be disposed at the predetermined height while the gate support  230  provides an elevation for the gate controller  220  to be disposed at a predetermined height to sufficiently prevent an automobile from exiting when the gate  215  (not shown) is in a closed position. 
         [0032]    The second view further illustrates a disposition of the cell sensor  110  with respect to the overhang  210 . Specifically, according to the exemplary embodiment of the first application  200  as illustrated in  FIGS. 2   a - b , the cell sensor  110  may be disposed underneath the overhang  210  on a side closest to the automobile as it enters the aisle of the tollbooth. The second view further illustrates the operating area  130 . As discussed above, the operating area  130  may be a substantially conical shape. The substantially conical shape of the operating area  130  may be configured so that a sufficient area is covered to substantially guarantee that the identity of the cell phone  105  is received by the cell sensor  110 . 
         [0033]    It should be noted that the first application  200  may include additional components. As discussed above, when the cell phone  105  enters the operating area of the cell sensor  110 , the cell sensor  110  may query the cell phone  105  by transmitting a query signal. The query signal may request the identity of the cell phone  105  to be transmitted. To anticipate an automobile entering the operating area of the cell sensor  110 , a motion sensor may also be disposed to determine when the automobile has entered the operating area  130  to enable the cell sensor  110  to be aware of when the query signal is to be transmitted. 
         [0034]    It is also possible that the cell phone may have a setting to indicate that the account associated with the cell phone should not be charged in certain situations. For example, if there are two people in an automobile with a cell phone, the toll should be charged to only one of the individuals. Thus, the person that is not to be charged may set the cell phone to not respond to queries of sensors  110  or may include a bit (or other indicator) in its beacon signal to indicate that the account associated with this cell phone should not be charged. 
         [0035]      FIG. 3  shows a view of a second application  300  of the system  100  of  FIG. 1  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The second application  300  relates to an access for a parking garage. The second application  300  may be used to charge an owner of the cell phone  105  a corresponding fee using the identity of the cell phone  105  for a duration in which the automobile is kept in the parking garage. The second application  300  may include a gate  305 , a gate controller  310 , and a gate support  315 . The gate  305 , the gate controller  310 , and the gate support  315  may be substantially similar to the gate  215 , the gate controller  220 , and the gate support  230 , respectively, of  FIGS. 2   a - b.    
         [0036]    As illustrated, the cell sensor  110  is disposed on the gate controller  310 . However, it should be noted that the cell sensor  110  may be disposed at other locations such as on a wall of the entryway. The cell sensor  110  may operate in a substantially similar manner as that described above for the cell sensor of the tollbooth of  FIGS. 2   a - b . Specifically, the cell sensor  110  may include an operating area that is substantially a conical shape, receive identity data of the cell phone  105  as described above, etc. 
         [0037]    In the second application  300 , in a first exemplary embodiment, the identity data may be used to reference the database. The database may include identities associated with parking permits. Thus, the identity data from the cell phone  105  may indicate that the owner of the cell phone  105  is an authorized person to park an automobile at the parking garage. Thus, the gate  305  may open thereby enabling access. Accordingly, if the database does not include the identity of the cell phone  105 , the gate  305  may remain closed thereby denying access. 
         [0038]    The following description is for a second exemplary embodiment based upon a parking garage that charges a fee based upon a time in which an automobile is stored in the garage. A first scenario of the second exemplary embodiment may involve maintaining the database with identities of cell phones having permission to park at the parking garage. In this scenario, the identity of the cell phone  105  may be received by the cell sensor  110  to determine a starting time. When exiting the garage, the identity of the cell phone  105  may be received by the cell sensor  110  to determine an ending time. Thus, a total time in which the automobile was left in the parking garage may be determined and a corresponding fee may be determined. 
         [0039]    A second scenario of the second exemplary embodiment may involve a dynamic database that is maintained where no identities are pre-stored. That is, the parking garage may be a public lot in which any automobile may park if the corresponding fee is paid. The cell sensor  110  may receive the identity data and create an entry in the database with a corresponding start time when the cell phone  105  (and therefore the automobile) enters the parking garage. The cell sensor  110  may receive the identity data to determine an end time when the cell phone  105  exits the parking garage. Subsequently, a confirmation of payment may be performed in a variety of manners. For example, the cellular network may be identified via the identity data. The network provider may be informed of the additional fee for parking and the owner of the cell phone  105  may be accordingly charged on the cell phone bill. In another example, the cell phone  105  may be configured to receive signals from the cell sensor  110  that are interpreted to open a confirmation screen on a display of the cell phone  105 . The confirmation screen may indicate the fee for parking and an appropriate measure may be taken to pay the amount (e.g., entering of credit card information, requesting the cellular network provider to forward a bill, etc.). 
         [0040]    It should be noted that further applications exist for the exemplary system  100  of the present invention. For example, in a facility such as a warehouse, access to certain locations may be restricted, presence in a location is monitored, etc. The exemplary embodiments of the present invention enable the identity of the cell phone to provide access to the location, serve as a location determining value, etc. That is, the cell sensor  110  may be used for these further applications in a substantially similar manner as the applications discussed above (e.g., receiving identity data and performing a corresponding task). 
         [0041]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in the present invention, without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.