Intelligent Restriction of Device Operations

• US 20090082951A1
• Filed: 09/26/2007
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Graessley, Joshua V.
• Granted Patent: US 11,441,919 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/200
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3602 Input other than that of destination using image analysis, e.g. detection of road signs, lanes, buildings, real preceding vehicles using a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3617 using user history, behaviour, conditions or preferences, e.g. predicted or inferred from previous use or current movement
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3641 Personalized guidance, e.g. limited guidance on previously travelled routes

Abstract

A navigation system includes a user interface for detecting touch input. The system uses touch input to determine if a driver or passenger is operating the navigation system. If the system determines that the driver is operating the system, then an action is initiated (e.g., the user interface is locked down, a warning is provided). The navigation system allows a passenger in the vehicle to operate the navigation system while the vehicle is in motion. In an aspect, additional or other sensors (e.g., seat sensor, seat belt sensor, infrared sensor) can be used to detect whether a driver or passenger is operating the navigation system while the vehicle is in motion.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

obtaining input for a navigation system configured for operating in a vehicle;

determining if the vehicle is moving at the time the input is obtained;

if the vehicle is moving, automatically determining if the input is provided by a driver of the vehicle using the input; and

if the input is provided by a driver of the vehicle, initiating an action associated with the navigation system or the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, where obtaining input further comprises:

obtaining touch input through a touch-sensitive display.

3. The method of claim 2, where the touch input is multi-touch input and the touch-sensitive display is a multi-touch-sensitive display.

4. The method of claim 2, where automatically determining if the input is provided by the driver further comprises:

detecting one or more fingers or one or more angles of the one or more fingers based on the multi-touch input; and

determining if the driver is operating the navigation system based on results of the detection.

5. The method of claim 2, where initiating an action further comprises:

locking down the touch-sensitive display or presenting a warning message.

6. The method of claim 5, where the warning message is presented on the touch-sensitive display.

7. The method of claim 1, where determining if the vehicle is moving at the time the input is obtained, further comprises:

obtaining information indicating movement of the vehicle from the navigation system or the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 1, where input includes input provided by one or more sensors from a group of sensors consisting of:

a touch-sensitive display, a seat sensor, a seatbelt sensor, an infrared sensor, a proximity sensor, an optical sensor, a biometric sensor and a digital camera.

9. The method of claim 1, where the input includes information previously stored in the navigation system.

10. The method of claim 1, where the input includes information received from a remote device over a communication channel.

11. An apparatus, comprising:

an interface configurable for obtaining input for a navigation system configured for operating in a vehicle; and

a processor coupled to the interface and configurable for determining if the vehicle is moving at the time the input is obtained, and if the vehicle is moving, automatically determining if the input is provided by a driver of the vehicle using the input, and if the input is provided by a driver of the vehicle, initiating an action associated with the navigation system or the vehicle.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, where the interface includes a touch-sensitive display.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, where the touch-sensitive display is a multi-touch-sensitive display.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, where the processor automatically determines if input from the touch-sensitive display is provided by the driver by detecting one or more fingers or one or more angles of the one or more fingers based on the multi-touch input, and determining if the driver is operating the navigation system based on results of the detection.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, where the action is initiated by the processor and the action includes locking down the touch-sensitive display or presenting a warning message.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, where the warning message is presented on the touch-sensitive display.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, where the processor determines if the vehicle is moving at the time the input is obtained by obtaining information indicating movement of the vehicle from the navigation system or the vehicle.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, where input includes input provided by one or more sensors from a group of sensors consisting of:

a touch-sensitive display, a seat sensor, a seatbelt sensor, an infrared sensor, a proximity sensor, an optical sensor, a biometric sensor and a digital camera.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, where the input includes information previously stored in the navigation system.

20. The apparatus of claim 11, where the input includes information received from a remote device over a communication channel.