Patent ID: 7518550

Claim:
A method for controlling operation of registered devices using the Global Positioning System (GPS), comprising: registering a plurality of devices of differing functionalities in a mobile environment with a GPS navigation system of the mobile environment, wherein the plurality of devices registered with the GPS navigation system are each operable to be individually controlled by the GPS navigation systems; the GPS navigation system storing for each registered devices of the plurality of devices a hierarchical list of jurisdictional locations in which use of the device is not allowed; in response to the mobile environment moving from a first location to a second location, the GPS navigation system retrieving local law information that specifies local law or laws of the second location using GPS coordinates of the second location; determining whether each device of the a plurality of devices registered with the GPS navigation system is in violation of the local law and if so further comprising the GPS navigation system automaically controlling operation of each device in violation of the local law so as to not be in violation of the local law.