Automatic short messaging system and/or call suspension for wireless devices in motion

• US 20110076996A1
• Filed: 09/28/2010
• Published: 03/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: Burton, Victor C., Ramberg, Mark J.
• Application Number:
  US12/923,544
• Publication Number:
  US 20110076996A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/418
• 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 1/72418 for supporting emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

Automatic suspension of call and/or short text message service for a mobile device in motion. The speed of the wireless device is obtained or detected, and compared with a predetermined speed threshold to determine whether the speed has reached or exceeded the predetermined speed threshold. If so, suspension of a text messaging service is automatically triggered in response to the speed exceeding or reaching the threshold. Emergency call and/or text messaging capabilities may be retained even during suspension of service. An indication of the service suspension may be displayed on the mobile device. Suspension of the relevant service may be maintained for a predetermined period of time to provide a hysteresis so that when the device momentarily stops but is generally still in a driven situation, the service(s) remain suspended. The wireless device may permit a user to temporarily disable the suspension of service for a given period of time.

Claims

1. A method of automatically triggering suspension of a text messaging service on a wireless device while in a driven vehicle, comprising:

obtaining a speed of a wireless device capable of a text messaging service;

determining if said speed exceeds a predetermined threshold speed; and

automatically triggering suspension of said text messaging service if said speed exceeds said predetermined threshold speed.

2. The method of automatically triggering suspension of a text messaging service on a wireless device while in a driven vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

retaining emergency use of said text messaging service during said suspension of said text messaging service.

3. The method of automatically triggering suspension of a text messaging service on a wireless device while in a driven vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

displaying on said wireless device an indication of suspension of said text messaging service, when said text messaging service is suspended.

4. The method of automatically triggering suspension of a text messaging service on a wireless device while in a driven vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining suspension of said text messaging service for a predetermined period of time after said speed drops below said predetermined threshold speed.

5. The method of automatically triggering suspension of a text messaging service on a wireless device while in a driven vehicle according to claim 4, further comprising:

permitting a user of said wireless device to manually release said maintained suspension during said predetermined period of time.

6. The method of automatically triggering suspension of a text messaging service on a wireless device while in a driven vehicle according to claim 1, wherein:

said predetermined speed threshold is 5 mph.

7. The method of automatically triggering suspension of a text messaging service on a wireless device while in a driven vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

qualifying said automatically triggered suspension with an additional requirement that said wireless device be located on a known street.

8. The method of automatically triggering suspension of a text messaging service on a wireless device while in a driven vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

qualifying said automatically triggered suspension with an additional requirement that said wireless device be detected as traveling along a known street.

9. The method of automatically triggering suspension of a text messaging service on a wireless device while in a driven vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

presenting a manual override to temporarily disable an automatic suspension of said text messaging service for a given period of time.

10. A wireless device providing automatic suspension of a text messaging service when in a driven vehicle, comprising:

a speed detection module to obtain a speed of a wireless device capable of a text messaging service;

a threshold detector to determine if said obtained speed exceeds a predetermined threshold speed; and

a suspension triggering module to automatically trigger suspension of said text messaging service if said speed exceeds said predetermined threshold speed.

11. The wireless device providing automatic suspension of a text messaging service when in a driven vehicle according to claim 10, wherein:

emergency use of said text messaging service is permitted during. said automatic suspension of said text messaging service.

12. The wireless device providing automatic suspension of a text messaging service when in a driven vehicle according to claim 10, wherein:

said wireless device provides a display of an indication of suspension of said text messaging service, when said text messaging service has been suspended by said suspension triggering module.

13. The wireless device providing automatic suspension of a text messaging service when in a driven vehicle according to claim 10, wherein:

said suspension triggering module maintains suspension of said text messaging service for a predetermined period of time after said speed of said wireless device drops below said predetermined threshold speed.

14. The wireless device providing automatic suspension of a text messaging service when in a driven vehicle according to claim 10, wherein:

said suspension triggering module permits a user of said wireless device to manually release said maintained suspension during said predetermined period of time.

15. The wireless device providing automatic suspension of a text messaging service when in a driven vehicle according to claim 10, wherein:

said predetermined speed threshold is 5 mph.

16. The wireless device providing automatic suspension of a text messaging service when in a driven vehicle according to claim 10, wherein:

said suspension triggering module qualifies said automatically triggered suspension with an additional requirement that said wireless device be located on a known street.

17. The wireless device providing automatic suspension of a text messaging service when in a driven vehicle according to claim 10, wherein:

said suspension triggering module qualifies said automatically triggered suspension with an additional requirement that said wireless device be detected as traveling along a known street.

18. The wireless device providing automatic suspension of a text messaging service when in a driven vehicle according to claim 10, further comprising:

a manual override to temporarily disable an automatic suspension of said text messaging service for a given period of time.