Method and apparatus for restricting the use of a mobile telecommunications device by a vehicle's driver
First Claim
1. A method for restricting use of a mobile telecommunications device in a vehicle, the vehicle having an operator thereof, the method comprising:
- determining that (i) the operator of the vehicle is currently in physical possession of the mobile telecommunications device and (ii) the vehicle is currently in motion and moving at a speed which is above a given threshold speed; and
restricting the mobile telecommunications device from performing one or more functions thereof if it has been determined that (i) the operator of the vehicle is currently in physical possession of the mobile telecommunications device and (ii) the vehicle is currently in motion and moving at a speed which is above the given threshold speed.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus which determines that a vehicle operator is in physical possession of a given mobile telecommunications device and that the vehicle is moving at a speed greater than a given threshold speed (which may be zero), and thereby restricts the use of the mobile communications device. Illustratively, the device may be restricted from placing and receiving calls, and sending and receiving text messages. It may be determined that the vehicle operator is in physical possession of the device based on near field communication (NFC) technology whereby a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) transceiver is attached to or embedded in the steering wheel or driver'"'"'s seat of the vehicle. The vehicle'"'"'s speed may be determined using a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver or an Assisted GPS (A-GPS) technique, or from speed data determined by the vehicle itself and communicated to the mobile communications device thereby.
124 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method for restricting use of a mobile telecommunications device in a vehicle, the vehicle having an operator thereof, the method comprising:
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determining that (i) the operator of the vehicle is currently in physical possession of the mobile telecommunications device and (ii) the vehicle is currently in motion and moving at a speed which is above a given threshold speed; and restricting the mobile telecommunications device from performing one or more functions thereof if it has been determined that (i) the operator of the vehicle is currently in physical possession of the mobile telecommunications device and (ii) the vehicle is currently in motion and moving at a speed which is above the given threshold speed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A mobile telecommunications device adapted to restrict its own use in a vehicle, the vehicle having an operator thereof, the mobile telecommunications device comprising a processor which:
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determines that (i) the operator of the vehicle is currently in physical possession of the mobile telecommunications device and (ii) the vehicle is currently in motion and moving at a speed which is above a given threshold speed; and restricts the mobile telecommunications device from performing one or more functions thereof if it has been determined that (i) the operator of the vehicle is currently in physical possession of the mobile telecommunications device and (ii) the vehicle is currently in motion and moving at a speed which is above the given threshold speed. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A network element comprised in a mobile telecommunications network, the network element for use in restricting use of a mobile telecommunications device in a vehicle, the vehicle having an operator thereof, the network element comprising a processor which:
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determines that (i) the operator of the vehicle is currently in physical possession of the mobile telecommunications device and (ii) the vehicle is currently in motion and moving at a speed which is above a given threshold speed; and restricts the mobile telecommunications device from performing one or more functions thereof if it has been determined that (i) the operator of the vehicle is currently in physical possession of the mobile telecommunications device and (ii) the vehicle is currently in motion and moving at a speed which is above the given threshold speed. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification