Apparatus and method for providing a wireless, portable, and/or handheld, device with safety features

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10218888-B2
Application number	US-201815924189-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 17, 2018
Priority date	Sep 17, 2012
Publication date	Feb 26, 2019
Grant date	Feb 26, 2019

Abstract

An apparatus, including a case; cameras; microphones; a speaker; a processor; a display; a touchscreen keyboard; a global positioning system; and a collision avoidance sensor. The processor detects a texting, e-mail, game or gaming, or speakerphone, operational mode and activates the camera to display a view in front of, or an anticipated travel path of movement of the apparatus. The global positioning system determines a position or location of the apparatus. The processor determines whether or not the apparatus is located outside of a safe area of travel. If the apparatus is outside of the safe area of travel, the processor activates a camera to record a picture or video at the location of the apparatus, and generates a notification message containing the picture or video, or a link thereto. The apparatus transmits the notification message to a communication device associated with an authorized individual or law enforcement personnel.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus, comprising:
a case;
a plurality of cameras, wherein each camera of the plurality of cameras is configured to record or obtain a view, a picture, or a video, wherein each camera of the plurality of cameras is positioned on, or is housed by, the case;
a plurality of microphones, wherein each microphone of the plurality of microphones is configured to record or obtain audio, wherein each microphone of the plurality of microphones is positioned on, or is housed by, the case;
at least one speaker;
a processor, wherein the processor is specially programmed to control a plurality of operations of the apparatus;
a display, wherein the display displays the view, the picture, or the video, obtained by at least one camera of the plurality of cameras;
a touchscreen keyboard, wherein the touchscreen keyboard is displayed within a portion of the display;
a global positioning system, wherein the global positioning system determines a position or a location of the apparatus; and
a collision avoidance sensor, wherein the collision avoidance sensor detects an object, a structure, or an individual,
wherein the processor is specially programmed to automatically detect a texting operational mode, an e-mail operational mode, a game or gaming operational mode, or a speakerphone operational mode, of operation of the apparatus and, wherein, in response to detecting the texting operational mode, the e-mail operational mode, the game or gaming operational mode, or the speakerphone operational mode, of operation of the apparatus, the processor activates at least one camera of the plurality of cameras and activates the collision avoidance sensor, and further wherein the processor activates at least a portion of the display to display a view in front of, or an anticipated travel path of movement of, the apparatus, and further wherein the display simultaneously displays the view in front of, or the anticipated travel path of movement of, the apparatus and information for providing the continued use of the texting operational mode, the e-mail operational mode, the game or gaming operational mode, or the speakerphone operational mode, of operation of the apparatus, and further wherein the processor is specially programmed to automatically deactivate the at least one camera of the plurality of cameras and the collision avoidance sensor upon detecting a completion of the texting operational mode, the e-mail operational mode, the game or gaming operational mode, or the speakerphone operational mode, of operation of the apparatus, wherein the apparatus displays the view obtained by the at least one camera of the plurality of cameras, on or via the display, from a first time when the at least one camera of the plurality of cameras is activated until a second time when the at least one camera of the plurality of cameras is deactivated upon the detecting of the completion of the texting operational mode, the e-mail operational mode, the game or gaming operational mode, or the speakerphone operational mode, of operation of the apparatus,
wherein the apparatus stores information regarding a safe area of travel, and further wherein the global positioning system determines a position or location of the apparatus, wherein the processor determines whether or not the apparatus is located at a location outside of the safe area of travel, and wherein, if the apparatus is determined to be outside of the safe area of travel, the processor is specially programmed to activate the at least one camera of the plurality of cameras or programmed to activate a second camera of the plurality of cameras, to record a picture or video at the location of the apparatus, wherein the processor generates a notification message containing the picture or the video or containing a link to the picture or the video, and further wherein the apparatus transmits the notification message to a communication device associated with an authorized individual or law enforcement personnel.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the size or shape of the display, a display area in the display, or the touchscreen keyboard, can be programmably changeable.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is specially programmed to identify a municipal subdivision within which the apparatus is located and to provide information regarding the municipal subdivision via the apparatus.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the processor is specially programmed to identify a police department, law enforcement office, fire department, hospital, doctor's office, dentist's office, restaurant, gas station or service station, hotel, or point of interest, in the municipal subdivision.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the processor is specially programmed to identify a second individual or a relative or friend of the user of the apparatus in the municipal subdivision.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the processor is specially programmed to identify a second municipal subdivision within which the apparatus has entered and to provide information regarding the second municipal subdivision via the apparatus.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus stores a pre-stored emergency message for automatic transmission to the communication device.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one camera of the plurality of cameras is a night vision camera.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus transmits a second message to a server or a central processing computer.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a receiver, wherein the receiver receives a control signal for controlling an operation of the apparatus.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the notification message contains a link or a hyperlink to the video or to a video clip.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is programmed for being voice-activated.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus processes information for composing a text message or an e-mail message, and further wherein the global positioning system determines a current position or location of the apparatus at the time of the composing of the text message or the e-mail message, and further wherein the apparatus attaches or includes information regarding the current position or location of the apparatus to or in the text message or to or in the e-mail message, and further wherein the apparatus transmits the information regarding the current position or location of the apparatus with the text message or with the e-mail message.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the mode of operation detected is a texting operational mode.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is specially programmed to convert audio information obtained by at least one microphone of the plurality of microphones to text information for transmission to the communication device, and further wherein the processor is specially programmed to convert a text message or an e-mail message to audio information and provide the audio information via the apparatus.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus detects a driving mode, and further wherein the apparatus deactivates the display and the touchscreen keyboard and activates a voice synthesized reading of a message or composes a message from dictation.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus automatically detects a movement of the apparatus outside of a municipal subdivision and generates an alert message containing information regarding the detection of the movement of the apparatus outside of the municipal

Assignees

• Joao Gregory Thomas
• Joao Raymond Anthony
• Joao Christopher Michael

Inventors

• Joao Gregory Thomas
• Joao Raymond Anthony
• Joao Christopher Michael

Classifications

• H04N23/57 Primary

  Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices · CPC title

• H04N5/2257 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic

• G01C21/3679

  Retrieval, searching and output of POI information, e.g. hotels, restaurants, shops, filling stations, parking facilities (G01C21/3611 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H04N7/18 Primary

  Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast · CPC title

• G01S5/0027

  of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile · CPC title