DISABLEMENT OF USER DEVICE FUNCTIONALITY

• US 20120268235A1
• Filed: 04/23/2012
• Published: 10/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Konnected Universe LLC
• Original Assignee: Konnected Universe LLC
• Inventors: Farhan, Fariborz M., Firoozbakhsh, Babak, Amini, Afshin
• Granted Patent: US 8,994,492 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/3.1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0278 Qualitative, e.g. if-then rules; Fuzzy logic; Lookup tables; Symptomatic search; FMEA
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 9/02 electric

Abstract

The use of user equipment, or distracting features thereof are restricted or prohibited to improve vehicle operation safety. The presence of user equipment within the operator'"'"'s or driver'"'"'s operational area is detected. The distracting features are then restricted either immediately or based on other conditions such as vehicle speed, motion, engine state, etc. When the conditions have been eliminated and/or the user equipment is vacated from the operator'"'"'s operational area, the restrictions can be removed or removed after a threshold period of time.

Claims

1. A method for restricting functionality of user equipment, the method comprising the actions of:

a processing unit detecting that user equipment is within a particular area;

the processing unit identifying the existence of one or more conditions;

determining restrictions on the user equipment based at least in part on the identified conditions; and

imposing the restrictions on the functionality of the user equipment.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the user equipment includes an RFID detector and, the action of detecting that the user equipment is within a particular area further comprises the actions of:

the user equipment sending a signal to actuate any RFID tags within the vicinity of the user equipment to transmit a signal;

the processing unit detecting the transmission of signals from one or more RFID tags; and

based on the detected signals, determine that the user equipment is within the particular area.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the user equipment includes an RFID tag and, the action of detecting that the user equipment is within a particular area further comprises the actions of:

the processing unit send a signal to actuate any RFID tags within the vicinity to transmit a signal;

in response to the actuation signal, the RFID within the user equipment transmits a signal;

the processing unit detects the signal and;

based at least in part on the detected signals, determine that the user equipment is within the particular area.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the user equipment includes a transmitter and, the action of detecting the user equipment is within a particular area further comprises the actions of:

the processing unit detecting a signal transmitted from the user equipment; and

the processing unit analyzing the signal to determine if the user equipment is within the particular area.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular area is the driver of a vehicles range of interest (ROI), and wherein the action of the processing unit identifying the existence of one or more conditions further comprises:

the processing unit detecting the speed of the vehicle; and

if the vehicle speed exceeds a particular threshold, identifying the existence of the condition of a moving vehicle.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the processing unit interfaces to an accelerometer and the action of detecting the speed of the vehicle further comprises receiving a signal from the accelerometer indicating movement.

7. The method claim 5, wherein the processing unit interface to the on-board data system of the vehicle and, the action of detecting the speed of the vehicle further comprises receiving signals from the on-board data system indicating that the vehicle is moving.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the action of imposing the restrictions on the functionality of the user equipment further comprises:

sending a signal to the user equipment to invoke the restrictions at the user equipment.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the user equipment operates in conjunction with a service provider and, the action of imposing the restrictions on the functionality of the user equipment further comprises:

sending a signal to the service provider of the user equipment to invoke the restrictions at the user equipment; and

the service provider restricting functionality of the user equipment at the service provider equipment.

10. A device for restricting the functionality of user equipment operating within a vehicle, the system comprising:

an interface to one or more sensors for detecting vehicle operating conditions;

a detector for detecting when the user equipment is located within a particular area of the vehicle; and

a controller interface for sending signals to invoke restrictions in the functionality of the user equipment wherein the restrictions are selected based on the location of the user equipment and the detected operating conditions.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the interface to one or more sensors includes an interface to an accelerometer for detecting movement of the vehicle.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the interface to one or more sensors includes an interface to the on-board data system of the vehicle.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein the interface to one or more sensors includes an interface to a global position system device for detecting vehicle movement.

14. The device of claim 10, wherein the detector comprises an RFID detector that is configured to send out an actuating signal and then detect any transmissions from RFID tags and to identify the source and location of the RFID tag.

15. The device of claim 10, wherein the controller interface is configured to send signals to the user equipment to invoke the restrictions.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the controller interface is based on BLUETOOTH technology and the controller interface sends signals to the user equipment to invoke the restrictions by sending data using BLUETOOTH technology.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the user equipment is a cellular telephone and the controller sends controller interface sends signal to the user equipment to invoke the ability to receive and respond to text messages.

18. The device of claim 10, wherein the user equipment operates in conjunction with a service provider and, the controller interface is configured to send signal to the service provider to invoke the restrictions.

19. The device of claim 10, wherein the user equipment is a cellular telephone and the controller interface sends signals to the cellular service provider to request the cellular service provider to prevent sending text messages to the cellular telephone.

20. The device of claim 10, wherein the user equipment is a cellular telephone and the controller interface sends signals to the cellular service provider to request the cellular service provider to prevent identified functions from operating on the cellular telephone.