METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING AND RECORDING OPERATOR'S USE OF A COMMUNICATION DEVICE WHILE OPERATING A VEHICLE
First Claim
1. A system for an operator controlled vehicle comprising:
- a receive only directional antenna;
a shield isolating radio waves not emanating from or through a target area from being received by the directional antenna;
said shield allowing radio wave emanating from a target area to be received by the directional antenna;
a processor operably connected to the directional antenna for monitoring receipt of a signal at the direction antenna and determining an event based on at least if a signal is received;
a memory operably connected to the processor, said processor causing the storage of the event in said memory;
wherein said target area comprises the area proximate to the operator while in control of the vehicle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
To enable enforcement and monitoring of safety regulations, a system records events of broadcast communications from a driver'"'"'s or machine operator'"'"'s mobile communication device. The events may be annotated with other fact or circumstances, such as time, duration, speed of vehicle, motion of vehicle, type of communication, or mode of communication. The event may be determined through use of direction receive only antennas capable of receiving only those signals aligned with the antenna, signals not aligned with the direction of the antenna are not received and thus do not create a recordable event. The recorded event may be broadcast to an organization or person in real time or may be retrieved periodically. The event may also produce an alert for persons or other operators proximate the vehicle or machine.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for an operator controlled vehicle comprising:
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a receive only directional antenna; a shield isolating radio waves not emanating from or through a target area from being received by the directional antenna;
said shield allowing radio wave emanating from a target area to be received by the directional antenna;a processor operably connected to the directional antenna for monitoring receipt of a signal at the direction antenna and determining an event based on at least if a signal is received; a memory operably connected to the processor, said processor causing the storage of the event in said memory; wherein said target area comprises the area proximate to the operator while in control of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for determining if an operator of a vehicle is communication over a wireless device during operation of the vehicle, comprising
defining a signal reception zone, said zone allowing signals emanating from the wireless device in a target area proximate to the operator shielding a receiver from radio signals outside of the reception zone; -
detecting a signal from the wireless at the receiver creating an event based at least on the detected signal, said event comprising at least an indication a signal was detected and an associated time stamp; storing the event in a memory. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification