System and method for limiting usage of a wireless communication device
First Claim
1. A method for limiting usage of at least one feature of a wireless communication device within a vehicle, comprising:
- determining whether said vehicle is in a restricted state;
transmitting a disabling wireless signal from a first wireless transmission device toward a first designated region only when said vehicle is in said restricted state, said first designated region including an interior of said vehicle;
transmitting an enabling wireless signal from a second wireless transmission device toward a second designated region only when said vehicle is in said restricted state, said second designated region being a subset of said interior of said vehicle;
determining by a processor within said wireless communication device whether said disabling and enabling wireless signals have been received from said first and second wireless transmission devices, respectively;
disabling by said processor said at least one feature of said wireless communication device when only said disabling wireless signal is received during a period of time when both said disabling and enabling wireless signals are being transmitted; and
maintaining by said processor said at least one feature of said wireless communication device in an enabled state when both said disabling and enabling wireless signals are received during said period of time when both said disabling and enabling wireless signals are being transmitted;
wherein said at least one feature of said wireless communication device is not disabled when both said disabling and enabling wireless signals are received during said period of time when both said disabling and enabling wireless signals are being transmitted.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method is provided for limiting, disabling and/or activating a wireless communication device during operation of a vehicle or participation in an activity. In one embodiment of the present invention, the system includes a wireless transmission device and a wireless communication device. The wireless transmission device, which includes at least one wireless transmitter, a processor, and a memory device, is configured to transmit a first wireless signal toward a first designated region, and a second wireless signal toward a second designated region. The wireless communication device, which includes at least one wireless receiver, a processor, a memory device, a keypad, and a display, is configured to receive the first wireless signal and, in response thereto, limit or disable certain features of the wireless device. This can be done by disabling certain features (e.g., cellular service, Bluetooth™, telephone calls, text messaging, emailing, its antenna, its keyboard, and/or its display) or disabling (e.g., powering down, etc.) the entire cell phone. The wireless communication device is further configured to receive a second wireless signal and, in response thereto, enable the features that have been disabled or limited via the first wireless signal. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first wireless signal is a Bluetooth signal, and the second wireless signal is an IR signal.
8 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for limiting usage of at least one feature of a wireless communication device within a vehicle, comprising:
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determining whether said vehicle is in a restricted state; transmitting a disabling wireless signal from a first wireless transmission device toward a first designated region only when said vehicle is in said restricted state, said first designated region including an interior of said vehicle; transmitting an enabling wireless signal from a second wireless transmission device toward a second designated region only when said vehicle is in said restricted state, said second designated region being a subset of said interior of said vehicle; determining by a processor within said wireless communication device whether said disabling and enabling wireless signals have been received from said first and second wireless transmission devices, respectively; disabling by said processor said at least one feature of said wireless communication device when only said disabling wireless signal is received during a period of time when both said disabling and enabling wireless signals are being transmitted; and maintaining by said processor said at least one feature of said wireless communication device in an enabled state when both said disabling and enabling wireless signals are received during said period of time when both said disabling and enabling wireless signals are being transmitted; wherein said at least one feature of said wireless communication device is not disabled when both said disabling and enabling wireless signals are received during said period of time when both said disabling and enabling wireless signals are being transmitted. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system for limiting usage of at least one wireless communication feature, comprising:
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a vehicle for transmitting wireless signals during a restricted state;
comprising;a sensor for determining whether said vehicle is in said restricted state; a first wireless transmission device for transmitting a disabling wireless signal toward a first designated region only when said vehicle is in said restricted state, said first designated region including an interior of said vehicle; a second wireless transmission device for transmitting an enabling wireless signal toward a second designated region only when said vehicle is in said restricted state, said second designated region being a subset of said interior of said vehicle; and a wireless communication device that can be used within said vehicle, said wireless communication device being adapted to; determine whether said disabling and enabling wireless signals have been received from said first and second wireless transmission devices, respectively; disable said at least one wireless communication feature of said wireless communication device when only said disabling wireless signal is received during a period of time when both said disabling and enabling wireless signals are being transmitted; and maintain said at least one wireless communication feature of said wireless communication device in an enabled state when both said disabling and enabling wireless signals are received during said period of time when both said disabling and enabling wireless signals are being transmitted; wherein said at least one wireless communication feature of said wireless communication device is not disabled when both said disabling and enabling wireless signals are received during said period of time when both said disabling and enabling wireless signals are being transmitted. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for limiting usage of at least one feature of a wireless communication device within a vehicle, comprising:
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transmitting a disabling wireless signal toward a first designated region, said first designated region including at least a driver portion of said vehicle and a passenger portion of said vehicle; transmitting an enabling wireless signal toward a second designated region, said second designated region including at least said passenger portion of said vehicle and excluding at least said driver portion of said vehicle, said second wireless signal being separate and distinct from said first wireless signal; determining by a processor within said wireless communication device whether said disabling and enabling wireless signals have been received; disabling by said processor said at least one feature of said wireless communication device when only said disabling wireless signal is received during a period of time when both said disabling and enabling wireless signals are being transmitted; and maintaining by said processor said at least one feature of said wireless communication device in an enabled state when both said disabling and enabling wireless signals are received during said period of time when both said disabling and enabling wireless signals are being transmitted; wherein said at least one feature of said wireless communication device is not disabled when both said disabling and enabling wireless signals are received during said period of time when both said disabling and enabling wireless signals are being transmitted. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification