Method and System for Selectively Limiting Wireless Communication in a Motor Vehicle

• US 20110136476A1
• Filed: 11/30/2010
• Published: 06/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Richard K. Beasley
• Original Assignee: Richard K. Beasley
• Inventors: Beasley, Richard K.
• Granted Patent: US 8,620,354 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724631 by limiting the access to the user interface, e.g. locking a touch-screen or a keypad
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

The present invention relates to a communication system that selectively limits functionality of one or more portable electronic communication devices. More particularly, in one embodiment the apparatus for selectively limiting functionality may comprise a transmission device comprising a transmitter configured to transmit an activation signal to an activation radius. The transmission device may further comprise one or more motion sensors configured to provide power from a battery to the transmission device upon physically detecting activity (e.g., motion, vibration) of a vehicle. The activation signal allows the transmission device to communicate with a plurality of portable electronic communication devices that detects a condition of the portable electronic communication devices and that execute a control software application that limits functionality if the detected condition violates the predetermined safety condition and if the activation signal indicates that the portable electronic communication device should have a limited functionality.

Claims

1. A transmission device configured to selectively limit operation of a portable electronic communication device, comprising:

a transceiver selectively coupled to a power supply, wherein upon being coupled to the power supply the transmission device is configured to transmit an activation signal that communicates with a portable electronic communication device, wherein the portable electronic communication device is configured to execute a control software application that limits functionality if a detected condition of the portable electronic communication device violates a predetermined safety condition and if the activation signal indicates that the portable electronic communication device should have a limited functionality; and

one or more motion sensors configured to detect physical activity of a vehicle, wherein upon detecting physical activity of the vehicle, the one or more motion sensors couple the power supply to the transceiver.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the activation signal indicates that the portable electronic communication device should have a limited functionality if the portable electronic communication device is located within an activation radius of the activation signal.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the activation signal indicates that the portable electronic communication device should have a limited functionality if the portable electronic communication device is located within an activation radius of the activation signal and is identified by the activation signal as a vehicle operator.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the activation signal is configured to not limit functionality of portable electronic communication devices located within the activation radius and not identified by the activation signal as the vehicle operator.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein the power supply comprises a battery configured to provide power to the transceiver to enable transmission of the activation signal.

6. The device of claim 5, further comprising a regenerative circuitry configured to generate energy from one or more external sources to charge the battery.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the regenerative circuitry comprises a photovoltaic cell, a thin film solar cell, an RFID transceiver, an electromagnetic energy harvesting circuit, or a piezoelectric energy harvesting circuit.

8. The device of claim 3, further comprising an adhesive surface configured to affix the transmission device to a surface of the vehicle.

9. The device of claim 3, wherein:

the transceiver is further configured to receive two or more confirmation signals from two or more portable electronic communication devices that are within the activation radius;

wherein upon reception of the two or more confirmation signals, the transmission device is configure to query the portable electronic communication devices that provided the two or more confirmation signals to determine which portable electronic communication device is the vehicle operator.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the transceiver is configured to accumulate data of portable electronic communication device identifiers to further assist in identifying the vehicle operator.

11. The device of claim 3, wherein the transmission device is configured to enter a power saving mode if the one or more motion sensors do not detect activity for a predetermined period of time;

and

wherein the transmission device is configured to exit the power saving mode if the one or more motion sensors detect activity of the vehicle.

12. The device of claim 3, further comprising one or more tamper resistance mechanisms configured to detect if the transmission device is being distressed;

wherein when distress is sensed, a message is sent from the portable electronic communication device paired with the distressed transmission device to a managing authority to alert the managing authority that the transmission device has been distressed.

13. The device of claim 12, further comprising an adhesive surface configured to affix the transmission device to a surface of the vehicle,

wherein the tamper resistance mechanisms comprise a capacitive component configured to discharge current to the transceiver when the transmission device is distressed.

14. The device of claim 3, wherein the transceiver is configured to communicate with multiple portable electronic communication devices within the activation radius.

15. A transmission device configured to selectively limit operation of a portable electronic communication device, comprising:

a transmission device housing;

a battery comprised within the transmission device housing and configured to provide power; and

a transceiver comprised within the transmission device housing and selectively coupled to the battery, wherein upon being coupled to the battery the transceiver is configured to transmit an activation signal that communicates with a portable electronic communication device, wherein the portable electronic communication device is configured to execute a control software application that limits functionality if a detected condition of the portable electronic communication device violates a predetermined safety condition and if the activation signal indicates that the portable electronic communication device should have a limited functionality.

16. The device of claim 15, further comprising a receiver configured to receive two or more confirmation signals from two or more portable electronic communication devices that are within an activation radius of the activation signal;

wherein upon reception of the two or more confirmation signals, the transmission device is configure to query the portable electronic communication devices that provided the two or more confirmation signals to determine which portable electronic communication device is a vehicle operator.

17. The device of claim 15, further comprising one or more tamper resistance mechanisms configured to detect if the transmission device is being distressed;

and

wherein when distress is sensed, a message is sent from the portable electronic communication device paired with the distressed transmission device to a managing authority to alert the managing authority that the transmission device has been distressed.

18. The device of claim 15, wherein the portable electronic communication device is configured to execute a control software application that limits functionality if the portable electronic communication device is located within an activation radius of the activation signal and is identified by the activation signal as a vehicle operator.

19. A transmission device configured to selectively limit operation of a portable electronic communication device, comprising:

a transceiver selectively coupled to a power supply, wherein upon being coupled to the power supply the transceiver is configured to transmit an activation signal that communicates with a portable electronic communication device, wherein the portable electronic communication device is configured to execute a control software application that limits functionality if a detected condition of the portable electronic communication device violates a predetermined safety condition and if the activation signal indicates that the portable electronic communication device should have a limited functionality;

wherein the transceiver is configured to communicate with multiple portable electronic communication devices within an activation radius of the activation signal.

20. The device of claim 19, further comprising one or more motion sensors configured to detect physical activity of a vehicle, wherein upon detecting physical activity of the vehicle, the one or more motion sensors couple a battery to the transceiver to provide power to the transceiver to generate the activation signal.