System, method and apparatus for automatic location-based silencing of wireless transceivers

1. A wireless communication system, comprising:

a wireless handset configured to communicate voice and data with a wireless communication network, the wireless handset comprising:

a navigation module to enable the wireless handset to determine a location of the wireless handset;

an interface to enable a user to designate a quiet zone location based at least in part on a scheduled event, wherein the scheduled event comprises a date, a start time and an end time, and wherein the interface enables the user to designate a quiet mode for the wireless handset whereby one or more functions of the wireless handset are disabled; and

a quiet mode controller to determine that the location of the wireless device is within the quiet zone location and to determine the occurrence of the scheduled event based at least in part on the date and start time wherein the quiet mode controller automatically sets the wireless handset to operate in the quiet mode upon determination that the wireless handset is within the quiet zone location and upon the occurrence of the scheduled event.

2. The wireless communication system of claim 1 wherein the wireless handset is configurable to selectively issue an audible notification upon the occurrence of one or more of a plurality of events.

3. The wireless communication system of claim 2 wherein the one or more of a plurality of events upon the occurrence of which the wireless handset is configurable to issue an audible notification, is selected from the group consisting of:

a phone call;

a voice mail message;

an e-mail message;

a short message service (SMS) message;

a received real-time text-based communication;

a messaging (IM) communication;

the scheduled event;

establishment of a connection with the wireless communication network;

loss of connection with the wireless communication network;

a past-due notice of a scheduled event;

a low-power notice; and

a reminder notification.

4. The wireless communication system of claim 1 wherein navigation module comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) transceiver that receives signals indicating a presence of the quiet zone location.

5. The wireless communication system of claim 4 , wherein the RFID transceiver receives second signals indicating that the wireless handset is leaving the quiet zone location, and wherein the quiet mode controller disables the quiet mode upon receiving the second signals.

6. The wireless communication system of claim 1 wherein the navigation module comprises a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver.

7. The wireless communication system of claim 1 wherein the wireless handset receives a description of a plurality of metes and bounds of the quiet zone location, and wherein the quiet mode controller compares the location of the wireless handset with the description of the plurality of metes and bounds.

8. The wireless communication system of claim 1 wherein the wireless handset receives a set of global navigation satellite system (GNSS) coordinates of the quiet zone location, and wherein the quiet mode controller compares the location of the wireless handset with the GNSS coordinates of the quiet zone location.

9. The wireless communication system of claim 8 wherein the set of GNSS coordinates comprise additional information that identifies the location of the wireless handset as being within the quiet zone location.

10. The wireless communication system of claim 1 wherein the navigation system receives location information from the wireless network to determine the location of the wireless handset.

11. The wireless communication system of claim 1 wherein the quiet mode comprises a silent notification mode.

12. The wireless communication system of claim 1 wherein the quiet mode comprises a visual-only notification mode.

13. The wireless communication system of claim 1 wherein the quiet mode disables the wireless handset from receiving incoming calls.

14. The wireless communication system of claim 13 wherein the quiet mode enables the wireless handset to receive an incoming emergency call.

15. The wireless communication system of claim 14 wherein the quiet mode further enables the wireless handset to redirect the incoming emergency call to a public safety answering point (PSAP) by way of the cellular communication network.

16. The wireless communication system of claim 1 wherein the wireless handset further comprises an override capability that permits the user of the wireless handset to override the quiet mode of operation.

17. The wireless communication system of claim 1 , wherein the quiet mode controller receives user input from the user, the user input specifying one or more actions to take when the wireless handset is set to operate in a quiet mode.

18. The wireless communication system of claim 1 , wherein the status of the quiet zone location changes depending on circumstances at the quiet zone location.

19. A method, comprising:

communicating, by a wireless handset, voice and data with a wireless communication network;

determining, by a navigation module of the wireless handset, a location of the wireless handset;

enabling, by an interface, the designation of a quiet zone location by a user based at least in part on a scheduled event, wherein the scheduled event comprises a date, a start time and an end time, and wherein the interface enables the user to designate a quiet mode for the wireless handset whereby one or more functions of the wireless handset are disabled;

determining, with a quiet mode controller, that the location of the wireless device is within the quiet zone location and the occurrence of the scheduled event based at least in part of the date and start time; and

setting automatically, with the quiet mode controller, the wireless handset to operate in the quiet mode upon determination that the wireless handset is within the quiet zone location and upon the occurrence of the scheduled event.

20. A wireless communication system, comprising:

a wireless network; and

a wireless handset configured to communicate voice and data with a wireless communication network, the wireless handset comprising:

a navigation module to enable the wireless handset to determine a location of the wireless handset;

an interface to enable a user to designate a quiet zone location based at least in part on a scheduled event, wherein the scheduled event comprises a date, a start time and an end time, and wherein the interface enables the user to designate a quiet mode for the wireless handset whereby one or more functions of the wireless handset are disabled; and

a quiet mode controller to determine that the location of the wireless device is within the quiet zone location and the occurrence of the scheduled event based at least in part of the date and start time and to automatically set the wireless handset to operate in the quiet mode upon determination that the wireless handset is within the quiet zone location and upon the occurrence of the scheduled event.