System and Method for Detecting Use of a Wireless Device in a Moving Vehicle

• US 20090085728A1
• Filed: 10/02/2007
• Published: 04/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Inthinc Technology Solutions Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Inthinc Technology Solutions Incorporated
• Inventors: McClellan, Scott, Catten, Jonathan C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,876,205 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/425.500
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/16 for telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/22 for communication related to vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/415 based on motion status or velocity, e.g. for disabling use of mobile phones in a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6075 adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle H04M1/6058 takes precedence; arrangements for holding telephones in a vehicle B60R11/0241
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/04 including near field communication means, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed

Abstract

A system and method for detecting use of a wireless device is disclosed. In one embodiment, wireless device activity data is received from a wireless network. User account data is searched using selected parameters from the wireless device activity data to identify one or more subscribers that are or were using a wireless device. One or more subscriber vehicles or vehicle monitoring systems associated with each of the one or more subscribers are identified. Vehicle operation data from one or more vehicle monitoring systems is received. The vehicle operation data is used to determine whether any of the one or more subscriber vehicles were moving during use of an associated wireless device.

Claims

1. A method for detecting use of a wireless device in a moving vehicle, comprising:

receiving wireless device activity data from a wireless network;

searching user account data, using selected parameters from the wireless device activity data, to identify one or more subscribers that are or were using a wireless device;

identifying one or more subscriber vehicles or vehicle monitoring systems associated with each of the one or more subscribers;

receiving vehicle operation data from one or more vehicle monitoring systems; and

determining, from the vehicle operation data, whether any of the one or more subscriber vehicles were moving during use of an associated wireless device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless device activity data includes a location identifying where a wireless device was used, or a time when the wireless device was used, or both.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a message identifying wireless devices that are located in or near a particular vehicle.

4. The method of claim 5, wherein the wireless devices that are located in or near a particular vehicle are determined using a short-range communications system, an RFID system, or a Bluetooth system or a combination of one or more short-range, RFID and Bluetooth systems.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing mentoring feedback to drivers of the one or more subscriber vehicles that were moving during use of an associated wireless device, or reporting movement of the one or more subscriber vehicles during use of an associated wireless device to a third party, or both.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a request to the wireless network to terminate or block communications to the associated wireless device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless device activity data is real-time data, near real-time data, or historical data.

8. A method for detecting wireless device use in a moving vehicle, comprising:

receiving a first set of wireless device activity data, wherein the first set of data identifies a first location in which a particular wireless device has been used;

receiving a second set of wireless device activity data, wherein the second set of data identifies a second location in which the particular wireless device has been used; and

if the first location and second location are different, then notifying a third party that the particular wireless device was in use while moving, or providing mentoring feedback to a user associated with the particular wireless device, or both.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining a speed associated with the distance between the first and second location; and

notifying the third party only if the speed is greater than a predetermined threshold.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the first and second set of wireless device activity data is from a wireless network.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the first and second set of wireless device activity data is from a wireless device.

12. A system for detecting use of a wireless device in a moving vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle monitoring system mounted in the vehicle, the vehicle monitoring system having a processor for processing data received from vehicle systems and sensors, and wherein the processor is configured to determine when the vehicle is moving; and

a radio frequency (RF) sensor mounted in the vehicle and coupled to the monitoring system, wherein the RF sensor is configured to detect signals in a wireless communication frequency band and to provide data to the processor upon detection of the signals.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the RF sensor is configured to detect signals originating from a wireless device.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor or RF sensor is configured to identify a source or destination address for captured signals in the wireless communication frequency band.

15. A method for detecting use of a wireless device, comprising:

capturing radio frequency (RF) signals via an RF sensor mounted in a vehicle;

detecting motion of the vehicle using a vehicle monitoring system mounted in the vehicle;

linking the captured radio frequency signals to a wireless device associated with the vehicle.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the captured RF signals are linked to the wireless device associated with the vehicle using source or destination address data in the RF signals.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the captured RF signals are linked to the wireless device associated with the vehicle based upon a signal strength of the captured RF signals.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the captured RF signals are linked to the wireless device associated with the vehicle based upon a message type of the captured RF signals.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

providing mentoring messages to a driver of the vehicle when the vehicle monitoring system detects a situation in which the vehicle is moving and the wireless device associated with the vehicle is being used.

20. A method for evaluating driver behavior, comprising:

receiving data identifying when a wireless device is in use;

receiving data identifying when a vehicle is in motion;

correlating the wireless device to the vehicle; and

providing mentoring feedback to a driver of the vehicle, or reporting a use of the wireless device while driving to a third party, or both.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the mentoring feedback includes an audible message or tone played to the driver, or a warning light or text message displayed to the driver, or a combination of multiple audible or visual warnings or both.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the wireless device is correlated to the vehicle using data stored in a user account database.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the wireless device is correlated to the vehicle using a radio frequency sensor in the vehicle.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the wireless device is correlated to the vehicle using a short-range communications system, an RFID system, or a Bluetooth system, or a combination of one or more short-range, RFID and Bluetooth systems.