Telematics enhanced mobile device safety interlock

• US 20120006610A1
• Filed: 11/29/2010
• Published: 01/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: Wallace, Erik, Morin, Drew, Murphy, Sean, Pitt, Lance D.
• Application Number:
  US12/926,581
• Publication Number:
  US 20120006610A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/272
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A vehicle includes a telematics controller and at least three short range, low power interior transceivers, one of which is focused on a vehicle'"'"'s driver'"'"'s seat only. At least two additional individual short range, low power interior transceivers are focused on a front passenger seat, and a rear seat. A fourth or more short range, low power interior transceiver may be included in a larger vehicle. Synergistic interaction is provided between a vehicle'"'"'s telematics controller and wireless devices (e.g. cell phones, smart phones, PDAs, wireless laptops, etc.) to parametrically control at least one wireless service or other operation of a wireless device presumed operated by the driver of the vehicle. Example wireless services blocked or forced into a safe mode (such as hands-free operation) include SMS, Email, and Voice services.

Claims

1. A telematics enhanced mobile device safety interlock for a vehicle, comprising:

at least three short range, low power transceivers mountable within a vehicle;

a trilateration module, in communication with said at least three transceivers, to trilaterate a position of an operating wireless device within said vehicle and determine if said operating wireless device is being operated from a driver'"'"'s seat of said vehicle; and

a safety module to force a safety mode of operation of said wireless device when operated from said driver'"'"'s seat.

2. The telematics enhanced mobile device safety interlock for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein:

said safety module forces said safety mode of operation only if said vehicle is currently being operated by a requestor of mobile services.

3. The telematics enhanced mobile device safety interlock for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

a cellular front end communications module, mounted in said vehicle and in communication with said trilateration module.

4. The telematics enhanced mobile device safety interlock for a vehicle according to claim 3, wherein:

said safety module is triggered via said cellular front end communications module.

5. The telematics enhanced mobile device safety interlock for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein:

said safety module is triggered by said trilateration module.

6. The telematics enhanced mobile device safety interlock for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein:

said at least three short range, low power transceivers are piconet transceivers.

7. The telematics enhanced mobile device safety interlock for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein:

said at least three short range, low power transceivers are Bluetooth transceivers.

8. The telematics enhanced mobile device safety interlock for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein:

said at least three short range, low power transceivers are infrared transceivers.

9. The telematics enhanced mobile device safety interlock for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of seat sensors within said vehicle;

wherein safety blockage of said wireless device is triggered only if said mobile device is determined to be operated by said driver.

10. The telematics enhanced mobile device safety interlock for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said wireless device comprises:

a laptop.

11. The telematics enhanced mobile device safety interlock for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said wireless device comprises:

a smartphone.

12. A telematics enhanced mobile device safety interlock for a vehicle, comprising:

at least three short range, low power transceivers mountable within a vehicle;

a triangulation module, in communication with said at least three transceivers, to triangulate a position of an operating wireless device within said vehicle and determine if said operating wireless device is being operated from a driver'"'"'s seat of said vehicle; and

a safety module to force a safety mode of operation of said wireless device when operated from said driver'"'"'s seat.

13. The telematics enhanced mobile device safety interlock for a vehicle according to claim 12, wherein:

said safety module forces said safety mode of operation only if said vehicle is currently being operated by a requestor of mobile services.

14. The telematics enhanced mobile device safety interlock for a vehicle according to claim 12, further comprising:

a cellular front end communications module, mounted in said vehicle and in communication with said triangulation module.

15. The telematics enhanced mobile device safety interlock for a vehicle according to claim 14, wherein:

said safety module is triggered via said cellular front end communications module.

16. The telematics enhanced mobile device safety interlock for a vehicle according to claim 12, wherein:

said safety module is triggered by said triangulation module.

17. The telematics enhanced mobile device safety interlock for a vehicle according to claim 12, wherein:

said at least three short range, low power transceivers are piconet transceivers.

18. The telematics enhanced mobile device safety interlock for a vehicle according to claim 12, wherein:

said at least three short range, low power transceivers are Bluetooth transceivers.

19. The telematics enhanced mobile device safety interlock for a vehicle according to claim 12, further comprising:

a plurality of seat sensors within said vehicle;

wherein safety blockage of said wireless device is triggered only if said mobile device is determined to be operated by said driver.

20. A method of restricting use of a mobile device in a non-parked vehicle, comprising:

detecting attempted use of a mobile device within said vehicle;

determining a seat position of said mobile device to be a driver'"'"'s seat; and

triggering a safety interlock module to cause restriction of use of said mobile device.

21. The method of restricting use of a mobile device in a non-parked vehicle according to claim 20, wherein said restriction of use comprises:

prevention of operation of an Email application.

22. The method of restricting use of a mobile device in a non-parked vehicle according to claim 20, wherein said restriction of use comprises:

prevention of operation of a text messaging application.

23. The method of restricting use of a mobile device in a non-parked vehicle according to claim 20, wherein said restriction of use comprises:

forced hands-free mode of operation of said mobile device.

24. The method of restricting use of a mobile device in a non-parked vehicle according to claim 20, wherein:

said seat position is determined using triangulation of an RF signal from said mobile device.

25. The method of restricting use of a mobile device in a non-parked vehicle according to claim 20, wherein:

said seat position is determined using a physical seat sensor of a driver indicating an only occupant of said vehicle.

26. The method of restricting use of a mobile device in a non-parked vehicle according to claim 20, further comprising:

communicating between said safety interlock module and said mobile device using a Bluetooth signal.