Method and apparatus for alerting mobile telephone call participants that a vehicle's driver is occupied
First Claim
1. A method for use in connection with a vehicle having a driver thereof, the driver using a mobile telecommunications device to engage in a conversation with one or more remote parties, the method comprising:
- automatically detecting a situation that requires an elevated attention level of the driver; and
automatically providing, in response to having detected a situation that requires an elevated attention level of the driver, an audible alert to at least one of the remote parties to the conversation.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for improving safety when a driver of a vehicle such as an automobile is engaged in a conversation with another party (or other parties) using a mobile telecommunications device such as a cell phone. Specifically, a situation that requires an elevated attention level of the driver is automatically detected, and in response thereto, an audible alert to at least one of the remote parties to the conversation is automatically provided. The detection of a situation that requires an elevated attention level of the driver and/or the generation of the audible alert to the (one or more) remote parties may be effectuated by the driver'"'"'s mobile telecommunications device (i.e., cell phone) or by a network element in the telecommunications network being used to effectuate the call.
-
Citations
28 Claims
-
1. A method for use in connection with a vehicle having a driver thereof, the driver using a mobile telecommunications device to engage in a conversation with one or more remote parties, the method comprising:
-
automatically detecting a situation that requires an elevated attention level of the driver; and automatically providing, in response to having detected a situation that requires an elevated attention level of the driver, an audible alert to at least one of the remote parties to the conversation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A mobile communications device for use in connection with a vehicle having a driver thereof, the driver using the mobile telecommunications device to engage in a conversation with one or more remote parties, the mobile communications device comprising:
-
a processor that automatically detects a situation that requires an elevated attention level of the driver; and a signal generator that automatically provides, in response to having detected a situation that requires an elevated attention level of the driver, an audible alert to the one or more remote parties to the conversation. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. A network element comprised in a telecommunications network, the network element for use in connection with a mobile telecommunications device being used by a driver of a vehicle to engage in a conversation with one or more remote parties, the network element comprising:
-
a processor that automatically detects a situation that requires an elevated attention level of the driver; and a signal generator that automatically provides, in response to having detected a situation that requires an elevated attention level of the driver, an audible alert to at least one of the remote parties to the conversation. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
-
Specification