INTRA-VEHICULAR MOBILE DEVICE USAGE DETECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME

• US 20120015625A1
• Filed: 09/23/2011
• Published: 01/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Greg Miller, Gunter Karg, Mendenhall R. Jason, Robert L. Mendenhall
• Original Assignee: Greg Miller, Gunter Karg, Mendenhall R. Jason, Robert L. Mendenhall
• Inventors: Mendenhall, Robert L., Mendenhall, R. Jason, Karg, Gunter, Miller, Greg
• Granted Patent: US 8,295,890 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/405
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device

Abstract

A system and method for detecting and storing mobile device usage by a driver of a vehicle. An antenna in a vehicle is configured and positioned to detect mobile device signals from the driver area in the vehicle. A processor in communication with the antenna analyzes the detected signals for frequency and strength. The antenna and processor may communicate with vehicle data collection systems (e.g., GPS, telemetry, etc.) such that the mobile device usage data may be collected along with the vehicle operation data. The mobile device usage data and vehicle operational data can be evaluated to determine the impact of mobile device usage by the driver of a vehicle. The data may be especially useful to the trucking, train, bus, and mass transit industries in order to educate drivers about the dangers associated with using mobile devices while driving.

Claims

1. A mobile device usage detection system for use with vehicles comprising:

one or more antennas positioned within a vehicle to detect mobile device signals attributable to a mobile device being used by a driver of said vehicle, said one or more antennas remote from said mobile device;

a processor for analyzing signals detected by said one or more antennas, said processor for determining whether or not said detected signals correspond to a mobile device being used by a vehicle driver and storing a time period associated with detected signals corresponding to mobile device usage by a vehicle driver; and

a synchronization module for synchronizing detected signals corresponding to mobile device usage of a driver with vehicle operation data collected by a vehicle data collection system.

2. The mobile device usage detection system of claim 1 further comprising a memory unit configured to store signal data acquired by said antennas.

3. The mobile device usage detection system of claim 1 further comprising a remote data receiving system in communication with the vehicle data collection system.

4. The mobile device usage system of claim 1 wherein at least on of said one or more antennas is a directional antenna positioned behind and above a driver'"'"'s seat, and pointed at a driver seated in said driver'"'"'s seat.

5. A mobile device usage detection method comprising:

utilizing one or more antennas positioned within a vehicle for detecting mobile device signals attributable to a mobile device being used by a vehicle driver;

analyzing signals detected by said one or more antennas to determine whether or not said detected signals correspond to a mobile device being used by a vehicle driver;

storing a time period associated with detected signals corresponding to mobile device usage by a vehicle driver; and

synchronizing detected signals corresponding to mobile device usage of a driver with vehicle operation data collected by a vehicle operation data collection system.

6. A mobile device usage detection method comprising:

establishing a number of mobile device frequencies to assess during a vehicle frequency sweep;

conducting a frequency sweep within said vehicle utilizing one or more antennas positioned within a vehicle for detecting mobile device signals attributable to a mobile device being used by a vehicle driver;

analyzing signals detected by said one or more antennas to determine whether or not said detected signals correspond to a mobile device being used by a vehicle driver;

storing a time period associated with detected signals corresponding to mobile device usage by a vehicle driver; and

synchronizing detected signals corresponding to mobile device usage of a driver with vehicle operation data collected by a vehicle operation data collection system.

7. A mobile device usage detection system for use with a vehicle comprising:

one or more directional antennas positioned proximate to a driver'"'"'s seat of said vehicle, said one or more directional antennas for detecting mobile device signals attributable to a mobile device being used by a driver of said vehicle, said one or more directional antennas remote from said mobile device;

a processor for analyzing signals detected by said one or more directional antennas, said processor for determining whether or not said detected signals correspond to a mobile device being used by a vehicle driver and storing a time period associated with detected signals corresponding to mobile device usage by a vehicle driver; and

a synchronization module for synchronizing detected signals corresponding to mobile device usage of a driver with vehicle operation data collected by a vehicle data collection system.

8. The mobile device usage detection system of claim 7 further comprising a memory unit configured to store signal data acquired by said antennas.

9. The mobile device usage detection system of claim 7 further comprising a remote data receiving system in communication with the vehicle data collection system.

10. The mobile device usage system of claim 7 wherein at least on of said one or more antennas is a directional antenna positioned behind and above a driver'"'"'s seat, and pointed at a driver seated in said driver'"'"'s seat.