MOBILE COMMUNICATOR DEVICE INCLUDING USER ATTENTIVENESS DETECTOR

• US 20120265977A1
• Filed: 04/12/2011
• Published: 10/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mobile Communication Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Mobile Communication Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Ewell, Robert C. Jr., Garmany, Douglas L., Kelly, Charles T.
• Granted Patent: US 10,139,900 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1694 the I/O peripheral being a single or a set of motion sensors for pointer control or gesture input obtained by sensing movements of the portable computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3231 Monitoring the presence, absence or movement of users
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3287 by switching off individual functional units in the computer system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/012 Head tracking input arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724098 Interfacing with an on-board device of a vehicle for hands-free speaking in vehicles H04M1/6075
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a mobile communicator that includes a speed detection system for determining whether the mobile communicator is moving faster than a threshold speed. The mobile communicator further includes a user attentiveness detector configured determine whether a user is inattentive. The mobile communicator includes a circuit configured to ensure that a functionality of the mobile communicator is in a turned off state when the speed detection system determines that the mobile communicator is moving faster than the threshold speed and the user attentiveness detector determines that the user is inattentive.

Claims

11. A mobile communicator comprising:

a speed detection system for determining whether the mobile communicator is moving faster than a threshold speed;

a user attentiveness detector configured determine whether a user is inattentive; and

a circuit configured to disable a functionality of the mobile communicator when the speed detection system determines that the mobile communicator is moving faster than the threshold speed and the user attentiveness detector determines that the user is inattentive.

12. The mobile communicator of claim 11, wherein the user attentiveness detector is an image capture device.

13. The mobile communicator of claim 12, wherein the user attentiveness detector is configured to determine the direction that an eye of the user is looking.

14. The mobile communicator of claim 12, wherein the user attentiveness detector is configured to determine if the head of the user is moving over time.

15. The mobile communicator of claim 11, wherein the user attentiveness detector is configured to determine whether the user is using both hands to operate the mobile communicator.

16. The mobile communicator of claim 11, wherein the functionality is at least one of text messaging, web browsing, and video viewing.

17. The mobile communicator of claim 11, wherein the speed detection system is at least one of a GPS system, cell tower triangulation, a signal from an external means for determining speed, an accelerometer and multilateration.

18. The mobile communicator of claim 11, wherein the speed detection system is activated in response to the user attempting to use the functionality.

19. The mobile communication of claim 11, wherein the user attentiveness detector continuously detects attentiveness of the user throughout operation of the functionality by the user.

20. A computer program product, comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having a computer-readable program code stored therein, said computer-readable program code containing instructions configured to be executed by a processor of a mobile communicator to implement a method of restricting the functionality of the mobile communicator, the method comprising:

the processor determining whether the mobile communicator is moving faster than a threshold speed;

the processor determining whether a user is inattentive; and

the processor disabling a functionality of the mobile communicator if the mobile communicator is moving faster than the threshold speed and the user is inattentive.

21. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein the method further comprises determining the direction that an eye of the user is looking.

22. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein the method further comprises determining whether the head of the user is moving over time.

23. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein the method further comprises determining whether a user is operating the mobile communicator with two hands.

24. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein the method further comprises continuously determining whether the user is inattentive during operation of the functionality and disabling the functionality if the user becomes inattentive.

25. A computer system comprising:

a processor; and

a computer-readable memory unit coupled to the processor, the memory unit containing instructions that when executed by the processor implement a method of restricting the functionality of the computer system, the method comprising;

determining whether the computer system is moving faster than a threshold speed;

determining whether a user is inattentive; and

disabling a functionality of the computer system if the speed is greater than a threshold speed and the user is inattentive.

26. The computer system of claim 25, wherein the method further comprises determining the direction that an eye of the user is looking.

27. The computer system of claim 25, wherein the method further comprises determining whether the head of the user is moving over time.

28. The computer system of claim 25, wherein the method further comprises determining whether a user is operating the mobile communicator with two hands.

29. The computer system of claim 25, wherein the method further comprises continuously determining whether the user is inattentive during operation of the functionality and disabling the functionality if the user becomes inattentive.

30. A mobile communicator comprising:

a functionality including a default turned off state;

a speed detection system for determining whether the mobile communicator is moving slower than a threshold speed;

a user attentiveness detector configured to determine whether a user is attentive; and

a circuit configured to enable the functionality of the mobile communicator when the speed detection system determines that the mobile communicator is moving slower than the threshold speed, wherein the circuit is further configured to enable the functionality of the mobile communicator when the user attentiveness detector determines that the user is attentive.

31. The mobile communicator of claim 30, wherein the user attentiveness detector is an image capture device.

32. The mobile communicator of claim 31, wherein the user attentiveness detector is configured to determine the direction that an eye of the user is looking.

33. The mobile communicator of claim 31, wherein the user attentiveness detector is configured to determine if the head of the user is moving over time.

34. The mobile communicator of claim 30, wherein the user attentiveness detector is configured to determine whether the user is using both hands to operate the mobile communicator.

35. The mobile communicator of claim 30, wherein the functionality is at least one of text messaging, web browsing, and video viewing.

36. The mobile communicator of claim 30, wherein the speed detection system is at least one of a GPS system, cell tower triangulation, a signal from an external means for determining speed, an accelerometer and multilateration.

37. The mobile communicator of claim 30, wherein the speed detection system is activated in response to the user attempting to use the functionality.

38. The mobile communication of claim 30, wherein the user attentiveness detector continuously detects attentiveness of the user throughout operation of the functionality by the user.

39. A computer program product, comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having a computer-readable program code stored therein, said computer-readable program code containing instructions configured to be executed by a processor of a mobile communicator to implement a method of restricting the functionality of the mobile communicator, the method comprising:

the processor determining whether the mobile communicator is moving slower than a threshold speed;

the processor determining whether a user is attentive;

the processor enabling a functionality of the mobile communicator if the mobile communicator is moving slower than the threshold speed; and

the processor enabling a functionality of the mobile communicator if the user is attentive.

40. The computer program product of claim 39, wherein the functionality is in a turned off state by default.

41. The computer program product of claim 39, wherein the method further comprises determining the direction that an eye of the user is looking.

42. The computer program product of claim 39, wherein the method further comprises determining whether the head of the user is moving over time.

43. The computer program product of claim 39, wherein the method further comprises determining whether a user is operating the mobile communicator with two hands.

44. The computer program product of claim 39, wherein the method further comprises continuously determining whether the user is attentive during operation of the functionality and disabling the functionality if the user becomes inattentive.

45. A computer system comprising:

a processor; and

a computer-readable memory unit coupled to the processor, the memory unit containing instructions that when executed by the processor implement a method of restricting the functionality of the computer system, the method comprising;

determining whether the mobile communicator is moving slower than a threshold speed;

determining whether a user is attentive;

enabling a functionality of the mobile communicator if the mobile communicator is moving slower than the threshold speed; and

enabling a functionality of the mobile communicator if the user is attentive.

1. A mobile communicator comprising:

a speed detection system for determining whether the mobile communicator is moving faster than a threshold speed;

a user attentiveness detector configured determine whether a user is inattentive; and

a circuit configured to ensure that a functionality of the mobile communicator is in a turned off state when the speed detection system determines that the mobile communicator is moving faster than the threshold speed and the user attentiveness detector determines that the user is inattentive.

2. The mobile communicator of claim 1, wherein the user attentiveness detector is an image capture device.

3. The mobile communicator of claim 2, wherein the user attentiveness detector is configured to determine the direction that an eye of the user is looking.

4. The mobile communicator of claim 2, wherein the user attentiveness detector is configured to determine if the head of the user is moving over time.

5. The mobile communicator of claim 1, wherein the user attentiveness detector is configured to determine whether the user is using both hands to operate the mobile communicator.

6. The mobile communicator of claim 1, wherein the circuit is configured to disable the functionality when the speed detection system determines that the mobile communicator is moving faster than the threshold speed and the user attentiveness detector determines that the user is inattentive.

7. The mobile communicator of claim 1, wherein the functionality is at least one of text messaging, web browsing, video viewing, and video gaming.

8. The mobile communicator of claim 1, wherein the speed detection system is at least one of a GPS system, cell tower triangulation, a signal from an external means for determining speed, an accelerometer and multilateration.

9. The mobile communicator of claim 1, wherein the speed detection system is activated in response to the user attempting to use the functionality.

10. The mobile communication of claim 1, wherein the user attentiveness detector continuously detects attentiveness of the user throughout operation of the functionality by the user.

46. The computer system of claim 45, wherein the functionality is in a turned off state by default.

47. The computer system of claim 45, wherein the method further comprises determining whether the head of the user is moving over time.

48. The computer system of claim 45, wherein the method further comprises determining whether a user is operating the mobile communicator with two hands.

49. The computer program product of claim 45, wherein the method further comprises continuously determining whether the user is inattentive during operation of the functionality and disabling the functionality if the user becomes inattentive.

46-1. The computer system claim 45, wherein the method further comprises determining the direction that an eye of the user is looking.