CUBOID-BASED SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SAFE MOBILE TEXTING.
First Claim
1. A system for enabling, disabling or restoring distracting operations in a cellPhone module in a mobile vehicle, comprising:
- (a) a mobile vehicle operated by a driver who can steer or control the speed of said vehicle, said vehicle having a contiguous interior space wherein said driver is using a cellPhone,(b) wherein at least one said cellPhone module can distract said mobile vehicle'"'"'s driver,(c) a finder that outputs xyzCoordinates of said cellPhone relative to said interior space,(d) each cellPhone storing in a memory a nonempty set of zones, each zone comprised of a bit vector, a time duration, and a nonempty set of cuboids,(e) wherein if said xyzCoordinate is within any said cuboid of any said zone, said zone'"'"'s bit vector sets, clears or restores bits in said cellPhone modules for said time duration,(f) said modifiable bits include at least one bit to enable or disable said distractive module'"'"'s operation, wherein said module'"'"'s operation does not distract said driver when it is disabled.
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Abstract
Systems are disclosed for enabling, disabling or restoring cellPhone operations when these cellPhones are in certain zones. A zone is comprised of cuboids (boxes). Entering or exiting such a zone can disable, enable or restore certain cellPhone operations. A first Global Position Satellite-based system determines if a cellPhone is entering a certain geographical zone. For instance, when it enters, dialing can be disabled. A second GPSS-like system using an ultrasonic signal determines if the cellPhone is in a zone in a moving vehicle. Such a zone might be the space around the driver. A third system uses table-lookup in a system like the second system to determine if the cellPhone is in the zone that the driver is in. In mobile vehicles, the two last-mentioned systems can prevent drivers from texting when the vehicle is in motion.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for enabling, disabling or restoring distracting operations in a cellPhone module in a mobile vehicle, comprising:
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(a) a mobile vehicle operated by a driver who can steer or control the speed of said vehicle, said vehicle having a contiguous interior space wherein said driver is using a cellPhone, (b) wherein at least one said cellPhone module can distract said mobile vehicle'"'"'s driver, (c) a finder that outputs xyzCoordinates of said cellPhone relative to said interior space, (d) each cellPhone storing in a memory a nonempty set of zones, each zone comprised of a bit vector, a time duration, and a nonempty set of cuboids, (e) wherein if said xyzCoordinate is within any said cuboid of any said zone, said zone'"'"'s bit vector sets, clears or restores bits in said cellPhone modules for said time duration, (f) said modifiable bits include at least one bit to enable or disable said distractive module'"'"'s operation, wherein said module'"'"'s operation does not distract said driver when it is disabled. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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14. An apparatus comprising a contiguous space and a movable object in which said movable object'"'"'s location can be determined relative to said contiguous space, comprising:
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(a) said contiguous space in which a movable object can be located, said space having at least three ultrasonic transmitters, and having in it a movable object coupled to an ultrasonic receiver, (b) a trilateration evaluator which is fed three ultrasonic signals from said ultrasonic receiver and which produces xyzCoordinates indicative of where said receiver is located.
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16. A method for discouraging distractive driving wherein the moving vehicle driver eats while driving, comprising the steps of:
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a. configuring a zone coextensive with a fast-food restaurant'"'"'s drive-through lane, b. repeating the following infinite loop of steps comprising; i. driving a moving vehicle into said zone, ii. said driver placing an order for a fast-food carryout meal and being served said meal, iii. said moving vehicle leaving said zone, iv. loading a cellPhone'"'"'s memory location with an estimated time to eat the meal, said time being estimated automatically by said fast-food cash register, or manually by a fast-food waiter or waitress, v. if the vehicle is stopped for said estimated time, or longer, send some indication or message to the driver, such as a text message, thanking him or her for stopping and eating said fast food, vi. but if the moving vehicle does not stop after leaving the drive-through long enough for the driver to eat said meal, then send some indication or message to the driver, such as a text message, reminding him or her to stop and eat the fast food.
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Specification