Patent Application for Cellphone in Planes Device

ASI Entertainment's subsidiary ASiQ says that it has applied for a patent for a new concept that allows cell phones to be operated in-flight, without interfering with the aircraft's avionics and the ground networks and eliminates the problem of annoying voice calls.

Ron Chapman, ASiQ's President, stated: "There is a wealth of data documenting the three major issues with using cell phones in-flight. The first is they can interfere with the aircraft's avionics which could be potentially dangerous, the second is they can poll a 250 mile radius, disrupting multiple ground networks, and the third is passengers talking loudly on their cell phones could be very annoying.

"Unlike the Airbus and Boeing in-flight cell phones programs, the ASiQ invention has been designed to prevent the cell phone transmitting, thereby eliminating the problem of interference with aircraft avionics and the ground network. Although the transmitter is shut down, only the ability to make a voice call in-flight is disabled. The cell phone will still function for SMS, emails and games."

The ASiQ unit is attached to the cell phone via a standard Bluetooth or cable connection. What makes the invention unique is that it is designed to work with all cell phone networks, GSM, CDMA and UMTS. The unit communicates via the existing certified aviation communications networks and reduces data delivery cost as it does not rely on the cellular roaming network for transmission.

ASiQ plans to release the prototype at the upcoming World Airlines Entertainment Association (WAEA) Conference in September."

Posted to the site on 28th July 2006