Abstract:
A method and system for disabling at least a portion of at least one personal electronic device on board a vehicle is disclosed. The method and system includes sending a radio frequency signal from a transmitter on the vehicle. The method and system also includes receiving the RF signal by a receiver of the at least one personal electronic device. Further, the method and system includes interpreting the RF signal in a manner causing at least a portion of the at least one personal electronic device to be disabled.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present specification relates to the disablement of radio frequency (RF) receiving electronic devices. In particular, the specification relates to at least partially disabling personal electronic devices which may be carried on board an airplane. Further, the specification relates to the disabling of personal electronic devices which may be within a specified area.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Handheld computers as well as other types of personal electronic devices, for example, cellular telephones, pagers, messaging devices, laptop computers, and others, may include the use of wireless communication devices, such as Bluetooth devices, IEEE 802.11 b devices, and other RF devices. It is standard practice for commercial airlines to ask its passengers to turn off all electronic devices on board the aircraft prior to take-off. Further, the airlines also request that some devices remain off during the flight or during a portion of the flight. Of these personal electronic devices, many are enabled with RF signal generating and/or receiving devices.  
           [0003]    Currently, it is required that the user or owner of the personal electronic device take the action of shutting down the device and ensuring that the device is in compliance with the request by the airlines. This shutting down or disabling may be accomplished in a variety of ways, for example, turning off the device, like a cell phone, for example, choosing a setting in a software menu to control and shut down only the hardware generating the RF signal. In all cases, user intervention is still required. The fact that user intervention is required leaves an opportunity for error or rejection of authority to follow the requested procedures. Further, there are instances when a personal electronic device is unintentionally allowed to remain on for any of a variety of reasons, including, but not limited to, the electronic device being left in a bag, out of sight, distractions, inability to hear the audible announcement from the airline, the belief by the user that the RF hardware was already disabled, etc.  
           [0004]    Further, there may be other areas in which it may be desirable to cause the disablement of certain electronic devices, for example, but not limited to, laboratories in which RF generating hardware cannot be used, classrooms, lecture halls, or conference rooms where the use of personal electronic devices may be distracting, among others.  
           [0005]    Accordingly, there is a need for a system which is configured to transmit an RF signal to personal electronic devices in and/or around a specified area. An RF signal transmitter is configured to transmit a signal which causes at least partial disablement of the personal electronic devices. Further, there is a need for a system and method for causing the at least partial disablement of personal electronic devices that are carried by users on board an airplane, prior to take-off, during final approach (landing), and during other periods in which it is requested that the personal electronic devices be at least partially disabled.  
           [0006]    The techniques herein below extend to those embodiments which fall within the scope of the appended claims, regardless of whether they accomplish one or more of the above-mentioned needs.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    An exemplary embodiment relates to a method of disabling at least a portion of at least one personal electronic device on board a vehicle. The method includes sending a radio frequency (RF) signal from a transmitter on a vehicle. The method also includes receiving the RF signal by a receiver of at least one personal electronic device. Further, the method includes interpreting the RF signal in a manner causing at least a portion of the at least one personal electronic device to be disabled.  
           [0008]    Another exemplary embodiment relates to a system for at least partially disabling personal electronic devices within a specified area. The system includes a transmitter configured to send a radio frequency (RF) signal, the transmitter located within the specified area. This system also includes a receiver configured to receive the RF signal. The receiver is coupled to the personal electronic device. Further, the system includes program logic configured to disable at least a portion of the personal electronic device in response to the RF signal.  
           [0009]    Yet another exemplary embodiment relates to a method of preparing an airplane for take-off. The method includes providing a warning message to passengers relating to the disablement of personal electronic devices on board the airplane. The method also includes transmitting a radio frequency (RF) signal configured to be received by RF receivers of the personal electronic devices on board the airplane and configured to cause at least partial disablement of the personal electronic devices.  
           [0010]    Yet still another exemplary embodiment relates to a method of preparing an area for a specific use. The method includes providing a warning message to persons in the area relating to the disablement of personal electronic devices in and near the area. The method also includes transmitting a radio frequency (RF) signal configured to be received by RF receivers of the personal electronic devices in and near the area and the RF signal is configured to cause at least partial disablement of the personal electronic devices.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    The invention will become more fully understood from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements, in which:  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is an exemplary general schematic diagram of an airplane passenger cabin including a system for disabling personal electronic devices;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is an exemplary schematic block diagram of a defined area including a system for disabling personal electronic devices in and/or near the defined area; and  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is a flow diagram depicting exemplary steps for disabling personal electronic devices in a specific area. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS  
       [0015]    Referring to FIG. 1, an airplane passenger cabin  100  is depicted. Airline passenger cabin  100  includes a plurality of passenger seats  110  configured for seating a plurality of passengers within cabin  100 . Cabin  100  further includes a stowage area  120  beneath each of seats  110  in which parcels, including, but not limited to, luggage  130  may be stowed during the airplane flight. Further, cabin  100  may include a plurality of overhead bins  140  which also may be used for stowage of luggage, and/or other parcels and personal belongings during an airplane flight.  
         [0016]    In an exemplary embodiment, cabin  100  includes a transmitter  150 . Transmitter  150  is configured to transmit radio frequency (RF) signals throughout airplane cabin  100 . Further, in an exemplary embodiment cabin  100  may include information consoles  160  which may be configured with visual displays and/or audio devices such as, but not limited to, speakers  170 . Consoles  160  are used to display and provide information to passengers within airplane cabin  100 .  
         [0017]    Conventionally, passengers, such as, but not limited to, business travelers, in airplane cabin  100  carry personal electronic devices  180 . Personal electronic devices may include, but are not limited to, handheld computers, wireless telephones, pagers, messaging devices, notebook computers, PDAs, beepers, etc. Personal electronic devices  180  may be distributed throughout airplane cabin  100 . For example, a personal electronic device  180  may be confined within luggage  130  which is in stowage  120  beneath a seat  110 . Another personal electronic device may be set on a tray table  190  and may be used by a passenger seated in a seat  110 ; another electronic device  180  may be stowed in an overhead bin  140 . Further, electronic device  180  may be found in any of a variety of other locations including, but not limited to, passenger purses, bags, pockets, coats, and further, stowed in various other locations within airplane cabin  100 . In an exemplary embodiment, at least some of the personal electronic devices  180  are equipped with RF receivers, including, but not limited to, Bluetooth and 802.11 (Wi-Fi) receivers.  
         [0018]    In preparation of a flight take-off, speaker  170  and/or a visual indicator on the display of console  160  may be used to provide an announcement to passengers in airline cabin  100  that all personal electronic devices should be shut off or disabled in a specified manner. Whether inadvertently or advertently the electronic devices are not disabled, transmitter  150  may be configured to transmit an RF signal throughout cabin  100 . The RF signal is received by receivers  195  of devices  180 . Devices  180  are configured to interpret the signal received from transmitter  150  as a disablement or shut-down signal and are configured to disable certain portions of the device or shut down the device all together, automatically, without user intervention. In a particular embodiment, only portions of the device, such as the RF generating hardware, may be shut down. Further, in an alternative embodiment, the device may be put into a suspend mode in which certain portions of the hardware are disabled until revived.  
         [0019]    Further, because it is possible that passengers in airline cabin  100  may attempt to bypass the system by enabling devices  180  after they have been shut off by transmission from transmitter  150 , transmissions from transmitter  150  may be repeated a plurality of times during the period in which disablement is desired, or transmitter  150  may be configured to transmit the signal continuously during the time in which disablement is desired.  
         [0020]    In a particular exemplary embodiment, it may be desirable to encrypt transmission signals sent by transmitter  150  such that devices  180  are required to decrypt or decode the signals before interpreting the signals as shut down or disablement signals. The encryption of signals transmitted by transmitter  150  may be needed such that hackers, pranksters, and the like must have access to the encryption code in order to send a proper shut-down or disablement signal at a time which is not desired by the airline or the airplane crew. Any of a variety of standard and/or non-standard encryption methods, software, and techniques may be used.  
         [0021]    In preparation for a flight landing, speaker  170  and/or a visual indicator on the display of console  160  may be used to provide an announcement to passengers in airline cabin  100  that all personal electronic devices should be shut off or disabled in a specified manner. Whether inadvertently or advertently the electronic devices are not disabled, transmitter  150  may be configured to transmit an RF signal throughout cabin  100 . The RF signal is received by receivers  195  of devices  180 . Devices  180  are configured to interpret the signal received from transmitter  150  as a disablement or shut-down signal and are configured to disable certain portions of the device or shut down the device all together, automatically, without user intervention. In a particular embodiment, only portions of the device, such as the RF generating hardware, may be shut down. Further, in an alternative embodiment, the device may be put into a suspend mode in which certain portions of the hardware are disabled until revived. In preparation for flight landing it is likely that many electronic devices have been turned on during the flight and as such many may be inadvertently left on. Accordingly, it is advantageous to utilize a transmitter  150  configured to provide a disablement signal to the electronic devices that may be left on.  
         [0022]    Referring now to FIG. 2, a specified use area  200  is depicted. Specified use area  200  may be any of a variety of specific use areas, such as, but not limited to, conference and/or meeting rooms, classrooms, laboratories, hospitals, or any of a variety of environments, including other types of vehicles besides airplanes, in which it may be desirable to have personal electronic devices disabled, at least in some manner. Specified use area  200  includes a transmitter  210  configured to transmit RF signals  220  to a plurality of personal electronic devices  230  and  235  including receivers and/or transceivers  240  and  245 , respectively. In the diagram shown, persons entering andlor near specified use area  200  and carrying devices  230  or  235  will have devices  230  or  235  at least partially disabled when transmitter  210  transmits a disablement signal throughout specified use area  200 . Accordingly, devices  230  and  235  receiving signals  220  will be at least partially shut down and/or disabled.  
         [0023]    Referring now to FIG. 3, a flow diagram is shown depicting exemplary steps followed in at least partially disabling electronic devices, such as personal electronic devices. In the exemplary steps shown, a warning message is provided to persons nearing and/or entering the area in which the devices may be shut down and/or disabled (step  310 ). The warning message may be in any of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to, printed signs, electronic displays, lighted signs, audible messages, among others. When an electronic device is in and/or near the specified area, a transmitter may selectively transmit an RF signal throughout the area (step  320 ). The electronic devices in and/or near the area may include receivers which are configured to receive the RF signal (step  330 ) and further to interpret the signal as a disablement or shut-down signal. In an exemplary embodiment, the electronic devices will interpret the RF signal as a disablement or shutdown signal and will carry out procedures to partially disable the electronic devices automatically (step  340 ).  
         [0024]    While the detailed drawings, specific examples, and particular formulations given describe exemplary embodiments, they serve the purpose of illustration only. The hardware and software configurations shown and described may differ depending on the chosen performance characteristics and physical characteristics of the communications devices and electronic devices. For example, the type of personal electronic device, encrypting techniques, and environments may differ. The systems and methods shown and described are not limited to the precise details and conditions disclosed. Furthermore, other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions, and arrangement of the exemplary embodiments and the steps of the exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.