METHOD FOR CONTROLLING APPLICATION USAGE ON A MOBILE DEVICE WHILE THE DEVICE IS IN MOTION

• US 20130117839A1
• Filed: 10/26/2012
• Published: 05/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ashok Ramadass, Steven W. White
• Original Assignee: Ashok Ramadass, Steven W. White
• Inventors: White, Steven W., Ramadass, Ashok
• Application Number:
  US13/662,211
• Publication Number:
  US 20130117839A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/50 Monitoring users, programs or devices to maintain the integrity of platforms, e.g. of processors, firmware or operating systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2111 Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment

Abstract

The disclosure generally describes computer-implemented methods, software, and systems for controlling access to applications on a device while the device is in motion. One example computer-implemented method includes identifying a request to access an application on a device, determining if the requested application is a motion-restricted application, upon determination that the requested application is a motion-restricted application, identifying a speed of movement associated with the device, and controlling access to the requested application based at least in part on the identified speed of movement of the device.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method executed by at least one processor, the method comprising:

identifying a request to access an application on a device;

determining if the requested application is a motion-restricted application;

upon determination that the requested application is a motion-restricted application, identifying a speed of movement associated with the device; and

controlling access to the requested application based at least in part on the identified speed of movement of the device.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

upon determination that the requested application is not a motion-restricted application, allowing access to the requested application.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein controlling access to the requested application based on the identified speed of movement of the device includes at least one of prohibiting access to the requested application, disabling a feature of the requested application, displaying a message stating that the requested application is motion-restricted, and allowing only hands-free access to the requested application.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein controlling access to the requested application based on the identified speed of movement of the device includes comparing the identified speed of movement of the device to a speed threshold and controlling access to the requested application if the identified speed of movement of the device exceeds the speed threshold.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein controlling access to the requested application is based at least in part on at least one configuration parameter, and wherein the computer-implemented method further comprises:

identifying a request to modify the at least one configuration parameter; and

modifying the at least one configuration parameter.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein identifying the speed of movement associated with the device includes utilizing a global positioning system.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein identifying the request to access the application on the device includes at least one of:

receiving a request to launch the application, and receiving a request to access the application after the application has been launched.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

allowing access to the requested application upon identifying a motion-restriction override request for the requested application.

9. A computer program product encoded on a tangible, non-transitory storage medium, the product comprising computer readable instructions for causing one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

identifying a request to access an application on a device;

determining if the requested application is a motion-restricted application;

upon determination that the requested application is a motion-restricted application, identifying a speed of movement associated with the device; and

controlling access to the requested application based at least in part on the identified speed of movement of the device.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, further comprising:

upon determination that the requested application is not a motion-restricted application, allowing access to the requested application.

11. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein controlling access to the requested application based on the identified speed of movement of the device includes at least one of prohibiting access to the requested application, disabling a feature of the requested application, displaying a message stating that the requested application is motion-restricted, and allowing only hands-free access to the requested application.

12. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein controlling access to the requested application based on the identified speed of movement of the device includes comparing the identified speed of movement of the device to a speed threshold and controlling access to the requested application if the identified speed of movement of the device exceeds the speed threshold.

13. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein controlling access to the requested application is based at least in part on at least one configuration parameter, and wherein the operations further comprise:

identifying a request to modify the at least one configuration parameter; and

modifying the at least one configuration parameter.

14. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein identifying the speed of movement associated with the device includes utilizing a global positioning system.

15. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein identifying the request to access the application on the device includes at least one of:

receiving a request to launch the application, and receiving a request to access the application after the application has been launched.

16. The computer program product of claim 9, further comprising:

allowing access to the requested application upon identifying a motion-restriction override request for the requested application.

17. A system, comprising:

memory for storing data; and

one or more processors operable to;

identify a request to access an application on a device;

determine if the requested application is a motion-restricted application;

upon determination that the requested application is a motion-restricted application, identify a speed of movement associated with the device; and

control access to the requested application based at least in part on the identified speed of movement of the device.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the one or more processors are further operable to:

upon determination that the requested application is not a motion-restricted application, allow access to the requested application.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein identifying the request to access the application on the device includes at least one of:

receiving a request to launch the application, and receiving a request to access the application after the application has been launched.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein controlling access to the requested application based on the identified speed of movement of the device includes comparing the identified speed of movement of the device to a speed threshold and controlling access to the requested application if the identified speed of movement of the device exceeds the speed threshold.