Controlling Mobile Device Functions

• US 20110105097A1
• Filed: 10/31/2009
• Published: 05/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: BTPatent, LLC
• Inventors: Halavi, Maryam, Tadayon, Saied
• Granted Patent: US 8,315,617 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/21 for calibration; for correcting measurements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/16 Threshold monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/14 with services dependent on location where the service is an information service H04M2242/15; services independent of location H04M3/42229
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53 Centralised arrangements for recording incoming messages , i.e. mailbox systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 using location based information parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring

Abstract

This provides for controlling mobile device functions and features. For example, it limits or disables the use of some of mobile device features which could cause distraction to the user, when the user is engaged in another activity. In an example, it enables other mobile device features based on occurrence of events related to the user or environment. Another example addresses controlling the mobile device features, such as SMS, while the user is in a vehicle or driving. Another example restricts the ability of the driver of a vehicle to text, while the vehicle is in motion, by automatically disabling the texting ability of mobile device within and around the perimeter of the driver'"'"'s seat. Other variations, examples, improvements, detection mechanisms, models, techniques, calculations, verification mechanisms, and features are also described in details.

Claims

1. A system for modifying functions or available choices on a mobile device, said system comprising:

one or more sensors, detectors, or antennas,

said one or more sensors, detectors, or antennas determine relative or absolute position or coordinate of said mobile device; and

a controller,

said controller modifies functions or available choices on said mobile device;

in case said one or more sensors, detectors, or antennas determine that said mobile device is within a range with predefined boundaries, then said controller receives a message indicating in-range status for said mobile device, and said controller modifies functions or available choices on said mobile device, according to one or more rules associated with said in-range status for said mobile device.

10. The system for modifying functions or available choices on a mobile device as recited in claim 1,

wherein said controller increases, enables, or activates functions or available choices on said mobile device.

11. The system for modifying functions or available choices on a mobile device as recited in claim 1,

wherein said controller decreases, disables, or deactivates functions or available choices on said mobile device.

12. The system for modifying functions or available choices on a mobile device as recited in claim 1,

wherein, in case ignition is on for a car, or said car moves, or said car is not in parking mode, then said controller decreases, disables, or deactivates texting functions on a user'"'"'s cell phone.

13. The system for modifying functions or available choices on a mobile device as recited in claim 12,

wherein said user is driver of said car.

14. The system for modifying functions or available choices on a mobile device as recited in claim 12,

wherein said user is a passenger of said car.

15. The system for modifying functions or available choices on a mobile device as recited in claim 1, said system further comprising:

a communication module.

16. The system for modifying functions or available choices on a mobile device as recited in claim 15,

wherein said communication module is based on Bluetooth technology, passive or active RFID technology, or antenna technology.

17. The system for modifying functions or available choices on a mobile device as recited in claim 1,

wherein said one or more rules are stored, maintained, or updated in a database, remote location, central location, computer, PDA, smart phone, smart card, magnetic card, storage, RAID, memory device, memory stick, optical disk, CD-ROM, magnetic media, or server.

18. The system for modifying functions or available choices on a mobile device as recited in claim 1,

wherein said one or more rules are maintained, updated, designed, assigned, or set, through a user interface or GUI, by local government, federal government, parents, business owner, manager at work, police, court, user, or driver.

19. The system for modifying functions or available choices on a mobile device as recited in claim 1, said system further comprising:

a security or biometrics module, to identify or verify a user or users.

20. The system for modifying functions or available choices on a mobile device as recited in claim 1, said system further comprising:

telephones and users location and identification module;

rule priority and combination logic module;

features ranges module; and

manual control and override module.

2. A system for modifying functions or available choices on a mobile device, said system comprising:

one or more sensors, detectors, or antennas,

said one or more sensors, detectors, or antennas determine relative or absolute position or coordinate of said mobile device; and

a controller,

said controller modifies functions or available choices on said mobile device;

in case said one or more sensors, detectors, or antennas determine that said mobile device is outside of a range with predefined boundaries, then said controller receives a message indicating outside-range status for said mobile device, and said controller modifies functions or available choices on said mobile device, according to one or more rules associated with said outside-range status for said mobile device.

3. A system for modifying functions or available choices on two or more mobile devices, said system comprising:

one or more sensors, detectors, or antennas,

said one or more sensors, detectors, or antennas determine relative or absolute positions or coordinates of said two or more mobile devices; and

a controller,

said controller modifies functions or available choices on said two or more mobile devices;

wherein, for a first device of said two or more mobile devices, said one or more sensors, detectors, or antennas determine that whether said first device is within a range with predefined boundaries corresponding to a specific user or a specific location, or whether said first device is outside of said range with predefined boundaries corresponding to said specific user or said specific location.

4. The system for modifying functions or available choices on two or more mobile devices as recited in claim 3,

wherein said controller receives a message indicating range status for said first device.

5. The system for modifying functions or available choices on two or more mobile devices as recited in claim 4,

wherein said controller modifies functions or available choices on said first device, according to one or more rules associated with said range status for said first device.

6. The system for modifying functions or available choices on two or more mobile devices as recited in claim 3,

wherein said controller reassigns some or all functions of said first device to a second device of said two or more mobile devices.

7. The system for modifying functions or available choices on two or more mobile devices as recited in claim 3,

wherein number of said two or more mobile devices is N;

wherein N is an integer, larger or equal to 3;

wherein said controller reassigns some or all functions of said first device to (N−

1) other devices of said two or more mobile devices, and

wherein said (N−

1) other devices are different from said first device.

8. The system for modifying functions or available choices on two or more mobile devices as recited in claim 3,

wherein said controller forwards some or all of text or voice messages of said first device to a second device of said two or more mobile devices.

9. The system for modifying functions or available choices on two or more mobile devices as recited in claim 7,

wherein said (N−

1) other devices are connected together on a conference call.