MITIGATING USE OF DEVICE FEATURE DURING VEHICLE OPERATION

• US 20130295910A1
• Filed: 07/11/2013
• Published: 11/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Brett Barta, Don Enty
• Original Assignee: Brett Barta, Don Enty
• Inventors: Enty, Don, Barta, Brett
• Application Number:
  US13/939,850
• Publication Number:
  US 20130295910A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/419
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6075 adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle H04M1/6058 takes precedence; arrangements for holding telephones in a vehicle B60R11/0241
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• 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: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/48 for in-vehicle communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities

Abstract

One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for mitigating use of a mobile device feature of a mobile device during vehicle operation a vehicle operation. A determination component coupled with a vehicle can identify a vehicle operation condition, such as whether it is driving or not. A disablement indicator determination can create a first disablement indicator based on the vehicle operation condition. A mobile device communication component that is communicatively coupled with a proximate mobile device can transmit the first disablement indicator to the mobile device. When the mobile device receives the first disablement indicator, a disablement component that is operating on the mobile device can enable a user-interface cover, which mitigates the mobile device user from accessing an activator for a feature on the mobile device.

Claims

1. A control module, comprising:

a vehicle operation determination component, operably coupled with a vehicle, and configured to identify a vehicle operation condition;

a disablement indicator determination component, operably coupled with said vehicle operation determination component, and configured to identify a first disablement indicator based at least on said vehicle operation condition; and

a mobile device communication component, operably coupled with said disablement indicator determination component, and configured to;

communicatively couple with a proximate mobile device; and

transmit said first disablement indicator to said mobile device, wherein;

receipt of said first disablement indicator by said mobile device results in a disablement component operating on said mobile device enabling a user-interface cover; and

enabling said user-interface cover mitigates a mobile device operator accessing an activator for a first feature on said mobile device.

2. The control module of claim 1, wherein said vehicle operation condition comprises one of:

a driving condition, comprising one or more of;

an ignition of said vehicle in an on condition;

a transmission of said vehicle in a moving condition;

an engine of said vehicle in an operating condition; and

said vehicle in a moving condition; and

a non-driving condition, comprising one or more of;

an ignition of said vehicle in an off condition;

a transmission of said vehicle in a non-moving condition;

an engine of said vehicle in a non-operating condition; and

said vehicle in a non-moving condition.

3. The control module of claim 2, wherein:

said first disablement indicator comprises an indication that the vehicle is in a driving condition;

said disablement indicator determination component is configured to identify a second disablement indicator; and

said second disablement indicator comprises an indication that the vehicle is in a non-driving condition.

4. The control module of claim 3, wherein said mobile device communication component is configured to transmit said second disablement indicator to said mobile device, wherein receipt of said second disablement indicator by said mobile device results in said disablement component disabling said user-interface cover.

5. The control module of claim 1, wherein said mobile device communication component is configured to cease transmission of said first disablement indicator to said mobile device upon said disablement indicator determination component not identifying said first disablement indicator, wherein cessation of receipt of said first disablement indicator by said mobile device results in said disablement component disabling said user-interface cover.

6. The control module of claim 1, wherein said disablement component comprises one or more mobile device programs executed on said mobile device, at least in part, by a processing unit.

7. The control module of claim 1, wherein said user-interface cover comprises a graphical display on a screen of said mobile device configured to cover an interactive user-interface component.

8. The control module of claim 1, wherein said user-interface cover comprises an alternate feature activator configured to be activated by said operator.

9. The control module of claim 8, where said alternate feature activator comprises one or more of:

an call placement activator; and

a call answering activator.

10. The control module of claim 8, wherein said user-interface cover can be configured by an authorized user to comprise one or more desired alternate feature activators.

11. The control module of claim 1, wherein said mobile device communication component is configured to perform one or more of:

communicatively couple with one or more proximate mobile devices using a discrete, short-range wireless signal; and

create a personal area network between said mobile device communication component and said one or more mobile devices using said short-range wireless signal.

12. The control module of claim 1, wherein said disablement component operating on said mobile device is configured to cause an alert to be sent to a desired third-party if at least a portion of said disablement component is deactivated without authorization.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said mobile device is communicatively coupled with a remote notification component, comprising one or more authorized third-party notification thresholds, said remote notification component configured to:

receive data from said mobile device indicative of one or more of;

a location of said mobile device;

a speed of said mobile device;

a vehicle operation condition of said vehicle;

an operation condition of said disablement component; and

an operation state of said mobile device; and

send a notification to said authorized third-party if one or more notification thresholds are met.

14. The control module of claim 13, wherein said one or more notification thresholds are configurable by said authorized third-party, wherein said one or more notification thresholds comprise one or more of:

a vehicle operation time threshold;

a vehicle geographic location range threshold;

a vehicle speed threshold; and

a vehicle condition threshold.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving said first indication of vehicle operation using said signal detector comprises receiving said first indication of vehicle operation from one or more of:

an on-board diagnostic system of said vehicle;

an ignition system of said vehicle;

a transmission of said vehicle;

a navigation system of said vehicle;

a global positioning system;

an electrical system of said vehicle; and

a power train control module of said vehicle.

15. A method for mitigating use of a mobile device feature of a mobile device during vehicle operation, comprising:

receiving a first indication of vehicle operation using a signal detector operably coupled to a vehicle;

generating a first disablement indicator based at least upon said first indication of vehicle operation using a disablement indicator generation component operably coupled with said signal detector;

transmitting said first disablement indicator to a proximate mobile device using a mobile device communicator communicatively coupled with said mobile device and operably coupled with said disablement indicator generation component, wherein;

receipt of said first disablement indicator by said mobile device results in a disablement component operating on said mobile device enabling a user-interface cover; and

enabling said user-interface cover mitigates a mobile device operator accessing an activator for a first feature on said mobile device.

16. The method of claim 15, comprising creating a short-range, wireless, personal area network between said mobile device communicator and said mobile device in said vehicle.

17. The method of claim 15, comprising:

receiving a second indication of vehicle operation using said signal detector; and

performing one of;

transmitting a second disablement indicator to said mobile device based at least upon said second indication of vehicle operation, wherein receipt of said second disablement indicator by said mobile device results in said disablement component disabling said user-interface cover; and

ceasing transmission of said first disablement indicator to said mobile device based at least upon said second indication of vehicle operation, wherein cessation of receipt of said first disablement indicator by said mobile device results in said disablement component disabling said user-interface cover.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein:

said first indication of vehicle operation comprises an indication that said vehicle is in a driving condition; and

said second indication of vehicle operation comprises an indication that said vehicle is in a non-driving condition.

20. A system for mitigating use of a mobile device feature during vehicle operation, comprising:

a control component operably coupled with a vehicle, and communicatively coupled with a proximate mobile device using a short-range wireless personal area network, said control component configured to;

receive a first indication of a vehicle operation state, comprising a driving condition, and receive a second indication of a vehicle operation state, comprising a non-driving condition, from one of;

an on-board diagnostic system of said vehicle;

an ignition system of said vehicle;

a transmission of said vehicle;

a navigation system of said vehicle;

a global positioning system of said vehicle;

an electrical system of said vehicle; and

a power train control module of said vehicle;

transmit said first indication and said second indication to said mobile device, wherein;

receipt of said first indication by said mobile device results in a disablement component operating on said mobile device enabling a user-interface cover; and

enabling said user-interface cover mitigates a mobile device operator accessing an activator for a first feature on said mobile device; and

receipt of said second indication by said mobile device results in said disablement component disabling said user-interface cover; and

said disablement component is configured to cause an alert to be sent to a desired third-party if at least a portion of said disablement component is deactivated without authorization.