SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING THE LOCATION OF A COMMUNICATION DEVICE IN A VEHICLE

• US 20110301780A1
• Filed: 05/27/2011
• Published: 12/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Miller, Thomas Lee, Kleve, Robert Bruce
• Granted Patent: US 9,769,297 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0241 for telephones
• 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 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information

Abstract

In at least one embodiment, a system for locating a personal communication device (PCD) in a vehicle is provided. The system includes a controller that is configured to receive a first signal indicative of a location of at least one PCD in a vehicle and to determine whether the at least one PCD is located within one of a driver zone and a passenger zone. The driver zone corresponds to a location in the vehicle generally occupied by a driver and the passenger zone corresponds to a location in the vehicle generally occupied by at least one passenger. The controller is further configured to receive a second signal indicative of at least one occupant being positioned in at least one of the driver zone and the passenger zone and to store data corresponding to a modified driver zone that includes the driver zone and at least a portion of the passenger zone in response to determining that the at least one PCD is located in the driver zone and the second signal indicating that a first occupant is in the driver zone and a second occupant is not detected within the passenger zone.

Claims

1. A system for locating a personal communication device (PCD) in a vehicle, the system comprising:

a controller configured to;

receive a first signal indicative of a location of at least one PCD in a vehicle;

determine whether the at least one PCD is located within one of a driver zone and a passenger zone, the driver zone corresponding to a location in the vehicle generally occupied by a driver and the passenger zone corresponding to a location in the vehicle generally occupied by at least one passenger;

receive a second signal indicative of at least one occupant being positioned in at least one of the driver zone and the passenger zone; and

store data corresponding to a modified driver zone that includes the driver zone and at least a portion of the passenger zone in response to determining that the at least one PCD is located in the driver zone and the second signal indicating that a first occupant is in the driver zone and a second occupant is not detected within the passenger zone.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is further configured to determine transmission status for the vehicle.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the controller is further configured to transmit a vehicle status signal to the at least one PCD for restricting usage thereof in the modified driver zone if the transmission status indicates that the vehicle is in a non-PARK condition.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is further configured to determine one of a vehicle speed and a park brake status of the vehicle.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the controller is further configured to transmit a vehicle status signal to the at least one PCD for restricting usage thereof in the modified driver zone if one of the vehicle speed is greater than a predetermined vehicle threshold and the park brake status indicates that the park brake is engaged.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising an occupant classification system including a control module and an occupant sensor for generating the second signal to indicate whether the at least one occupant is positioned in at least one of the driver zone and the passenger zone.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the first signal includes at least one global positioning system (GPS) coordinate which identifies the location of the PCD in the vehicle and the data corresponds to at least one stored GPS coordinate for the modified driver zone.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the controller is further configured to compare the at least one GPS coordinate of the first signal to the at least one stored GPS coordinate to determine if the PCD is in the modified driver zone.

9. A method for locating a personal communication device (PCD) in a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving a first signal indicative of a location of at least one PCD in a vehicle;

determining whether the at least one PCD is located within one of a driver zone and a passenger zone, the driver zone corresponding to a location in the vehicle generally occupied by a driver and the passenger zone corresponding to a location in the vehicle generally occupied by at least one passenger;

receiving a second signal indicative of at least one occupant being positioned in at least one of the driver zone and the passenger zone; and

storing data corresponding to a modified driver zone that includes the driver zone and at least a portion of the passenger zone in response to determining that the at least one PCD is located in the driver zone and the second signal indicating that a first occupant is in the driver zone and a second occupant is not detected within the passenger zone.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising determining a transmission status for the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising transmitting a vehicle status signal to the at least one PCD for restricting usage thereof in the modified driver zone and the transmission status indicates if the vehicle is in a non-PARK condition.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising determining one of a vehicle speed and a park brake status of the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising transmitting a vehicle status signal to the at least one PCD for restricting usage thereof in the event the at least one PCD is in the modified driver zone if one of the vehicle speed is greater than a predetermined vehicle threshold and the park brake status indicates that the park brake is engaged.

14. The method of claim 9 further comprising generating the second signal via an occupant sensor to indicate whether the at least one occupant is positioned in at least one of the driver zone and the passenger zone.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein the first signal includes at least one global positioning system (GPS) coordinate which identifies the location of the PCD in the vehicle and the data corresponds to at least one stored GPS coordinate for the modified driver zone.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising comparing the at least one GPS coordinate of the first signal to the at least one stored GPS coordinate to determine if the PCD is in the modified driver zone.

17. A system for locating a personal communication device (PCD) in a vehicle having a driver zone corresponding to a location generally occupied by a driver and a passenger zone corresponding to a location generally occupied by a passenger, the system comprising:

a controller configured to;

transmit a first signal indicative of the driver zone to the PCD such that the PCD determines whether the PCD is located therein,

determine whether the vehicle is moving;

receive a second signal indicative of whether at least one occupant is positioned in the passenger zone; and

transmit a third signal indicative of a modified driver zone corresponding to the driver zone and at least a portion of the passenger zone to the PCD in response to determining that the vehicle is moving and the second signal indicating that the at least one occupant is not positioned in the passenger zone.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the controller is further configured to determine transmission status for the vehicle.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the controller is further configured to transmit a vehicle status signal to the at least one PCD for restricting usage thereof in the modified driver zone if the transmission status indicates that the vehicle in a non-PARK condition.

20. The system of claim 17 wherein the modified driver zone is larger than the driver zone.