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Title: |
US6650894:
Method, system and program for conditionally controlling electronic devices
[ Derwent Title ]

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Country: |
US United States of America

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Inventor: |
Berstis, Viktors; Austin, TX
Brown, Michael Wayne; Georgetown, TX
Lawrence, Kelvin Roderick; Round Rock, TX
Paolini, Michael A.; Round Rock, TX

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Assignee: |
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY
other patents from INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION (280070) (approx. 44,393)
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Published / Filed: |
2003-11-18
/ 2000-05-30

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Application Number: |
US2000000583644

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IPC Code: |
Advanced:
H04W 48/04;
H04W 52/00;
IPC-7:
H04Q 7/20;

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ECLA Code: |
T04W52/00;

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U.S. Class: |
455/420;
455/418;
455/419;
455/404.2;
455/405;
455/456.6;

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Field of Search: |
455/405,420,418-419,525,518,404.2
340/539

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Priority Number: |
| 2000-05-30 |
US2000000583644 |

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Abstract: |
In accordance with the present invention, an electronic device is enabled to detect the proximity of other electronic devices. Multiple proximity based conditions for usage of the electronic device may be provided by a manufacturer, user and other authorities at the electronic device. The proximity of other electronic devices is compared with the proximity based conditions and a level of usage of the electronic device is determined, such that the level of usage of the electronic device is conditionally adjusted according to the proximity of other electronic devices.

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Attorney, Agent or Firm: |
Dawkins, Marilyn SmithBracewell & Patterson, L.L.P. ;

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Primary / Asst. Examiners: |
Trost, William; Miller, Brandon J

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INPADOC Legal Status: |
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Family: |
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First Claim:
Show all 39 claims |
What is claimed is:
1. A method for conditionally controlling an electronic device, said method comprising the steps of:
- a particular mobile electronic device directly detecting signals transmitted by an alternate mobile electronic device within a particular proximity of the particular mobile electronic device, said step of detecting including:
- detecting an identifier and global positioning location by receiving a signal directly from said alternate mobile electronic device at said particular mobile electronic device; and
- computing said particular proximity of said global positioning location of said alternate mobile electronic device to a current global positioning location of said particular mobile electronic device; and
- in response to said detecting said signals, adjusting a level of usage of said particular mobile electronic device in response to determining a particular conditional usage level selection according to said particular proximity of said alternate mobile electronic device from among a plurality of conditional usage level selections at said particular mobile electronic device, such that said level of usage of said particular mobile electronic device is conditionally adjusted according to said particular proximity of said alternate mobile electronic device.

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Background / Summary: |
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Drawing Descriptions: |
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Description: |
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Forward References: |
Show 111 U.S. patent(s) that reference this one

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Foreign References: |

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Other References: |
Sami Levijoki, "Privacy vs Location Awareness," Autumn 2000, see pages 1, 2, 6, 7 and 8; Helsinki University of Technology, Seminar on Network Security, www.slevijok@cc.hut.fi.
(11 pages)
Cited by 63 patents
[ISI abstract]
Karl Weiss and Dave Muri, "Conventional Local Area Radio Coverage System," Motorola, Inc., Technical Developments, vol. 13, Jul. 1991, pp. 67-69.
(11 pages)
Cited by 63 patents
[ISI abstract]
Brent Miller, IBM, Pervasive Computing, Bluetooth Applications in Pervasive Computing, Feb. 2000.
(11 pages)
Cited by 63 patents
[ISI abstract]

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