In-Vehicle Electronic Device Usage Blocker

• US 20130295908A1
• Filed: 01/20/2012
• Published: 11/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Zeinstra, Mark L., Vanderwall, Philip J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,306,422 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724631 by limiting the access to the user interface, e.g. locking a touch-screen or a keypad
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]

Abstract

A method for controlling the operability and functionality of an electronic device with an electronic device detection system begins by determining whether an electronic device is located within the vehicle and proximate to an operator of the vehicle. The electronic device detection system defines a restricted zone in which electronic device use is partially or fully prohibited and a safe zone in which all or some of the functionality of electronic devices is enabled. Once it is determined that an electronic device is in use and within a restricted zone, a determination is made as to whether any usage prohibition conditions are satisfied. If usage prohibition conditions are satisfied, then particular functions of the electronic device may be disabled in a restricted zone. If prohibition conditions are not met, the electronic device may be totally enabled, partially enabled to allow certain functions, or the electronic device is never disabled.

Claims

1. A method for controlling the operability of an electronic device, said method comprising the steps of:

determining whether an electronic device is located within the vehicle and proximate to an operator of the vehicle using a sensor;

determining whether at least one usage prohibition condition exist;

disabling at least a portion of the functionality of the electronic device in response to the electronic device being located proximate to the operator of the vehicle and further in response to the determined prohibition condition; and

enabling at least a portion of the functionality of the electronic device in response to determining that the electronic device is not located proximate to the operator, and in response to the electronic device being located proximate to the operator of the vehicle enabling the electronic device if no prohibition condition exist.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 further including the step of defining a restricted zone in which at least a portion of the functionality of the electronic device is disabled and a safe zone in which at least a portion of the functionality of electronic device is enabled.

3. The method as set forth in claim 2 further including the step of defining a safe docking station within the restricted zone for enabling at least a portion of the functionality of the electronic device as long as the electronic device remains in the safe docking station.

4. The method as set forth in claim 3 wherein the defining a safe docking station step is further defined as disposing a wireless proximity sensor within the vehicle to define the safe docking station and for detecting the presence of the electronic device in proximity to the safe docking station for enabling at least a portion of the functionality of the electronic device as long as the electronic device remains in proximity to the safe docking station.

5. The method as set forth in claim 3 wherein the defining a safe docking station step is further defined as defining the safe docking station within the restricted zone for enabling a hands free talking function of the electronic device as long as the electronic device remains in the safe docking station.

6. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the determining whether the electronic device is located within the vehicle step is further defined as determining whether the electronic device is located within the vehicle and proximate to the operator of the vehicle using an image sensor located within the vehicle.

7. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the determining whether the electronic device is located within the vehicle step is further defined as determining whether the electronic device is located within the vehicle and proximate to the operator of the vehicle using a directional sensor located within the vehicle.

8. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the determining whether the electronic device is located within the vehicle and proximate to the operator of the vehicle using the sensor step is further defined as determining whether the electronic device is located within the vehicle and proximate to the operator of the vehicle using a plurality of antennas within the vehicle and triangulation for determining the position of the electronic device within the vehicle.

9. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the determining whether the electronic device is located within the vehicle step is further defined as determining whether the electronic device is located within the vehicle and proximate to the operator of the vehicle using a directional sensor located outside the vehicle and in communication with the vehicle through a network connection.

10. The method as set forth in claim 9 wherein the network connection is one of an internet, LAN, WAN or satellite network connection.

11. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the determining whether the usage prohibition condition exist step is further defined as determining whether the vehicle is in motion.

12. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the usage prohibition condition includes determining at least one of the state of vehicle, the speed of vehicle, the device being connected to a hands free talking system, or an emergency situation.

13. A method for controlling the operability of an electronic device, said method comprising:

determining if the electronic device is located proximate to an operator seat of a vehicle using directional sensors located within the vehicle;

determining a prohibition condition of the electronic device;

disabling the transmitter on the electronic device in response to the electronic device being located proximate to an operator seat of a vehicle and further in response to the determined prohibition condition; and

enabling the transmitter on the electronic device in response to determining that the electronic device is not located in a restricted zone; and

in response to the electronic device being located proximate to the operator seat of a vehicle, enabling the transmitter if the prohibition condition is not indicative of a restriction being necessary.

14. The method as set forth in claim 13 wherein disabling the transmitter on the electronic device further comprises disabling the transmitter in response to the determined prohibition condition being indicative of a restriction being necessary.

15. The method as set forth in claim 13 wherein determining a prohibition condition includes determining whether the prohibition condition is in motion.