APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR DETECTING THE PRESENCE AND CONTROLLING THE OPERATION OF MOBILE DEVICES WITHIN A VEHICLE

• US 20140179351A1
• Filed: 03/03/2014
• Published: 06/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Driving Management Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Driving Management Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Hannon, Marwan
• Granted Patent: US 9,369,196 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/21 using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/55 Remote control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/589 Wireless data transfers
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/1537 Displays on a manual operation element
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/21 using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/212 displaying on manual operation elements, e.g. on a knob
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/80 Arrangements for controlling instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/81 for controlling displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/85 Arrangements for transferring vehicle- or driver-related data
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 37/00 Dashboards as road-vehicle superstructure sub-units B62D25/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18506 Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/16 for telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/22 for communication related to vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/415 based on motion status or velocity, e.g. for disabling use of mobile phones in a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/45 characterized by including monitoring of the target or target signal, e.g. in reactive jammers or follower jammers for example by means of an alternation of jamming phases and monitoring phases, called "look-through mode"
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• 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 4/48 : for in-vehicle communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/02 : Access restriction performed under specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 : based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 : Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 : Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 : from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method for determining the presence of a mobile device located in a predetermined detection zone within a vehicle are disclosed. A detection module receives a communication signal, determines that the communication signal was transmitted by a mobile device located within a predetermined detection zone within a vehicle, and a control module transmits a control signal to the mobile device located within the predetermined detection zone. The system further includes a monitoring logic to monitor a functional system of the vehicle activating the transmission of the control signal by the control module when the monitored functional system is activated and the detection module determines that the communication signal was transmitted by the mobile device located within the predetermined detection zone.

Claims

1. A system for detecting the presence of a mobile device within a vehicle, the system comprising:

a control module to transmit a probing signal; and

a detection module to receive a signal indicating the presence of a mobile device within a predetermined detection zone of a vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the detection module detects an echo signal in response to the probing signal, wherein the echo signal indicates the presence of the mobile device within the predetermined detection zone.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the detection module detects a signal transmitted by the mobile device in response to the probing signal, wherein the signal indicates the presence of the mobile device within the predetermined detection zone.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined detection zone is in proximity to the driver seat portion of the vehicle.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the control module and the detection module are combined in one circuit.

6. A method of detecting the presence of a mobile device within a vehicle, the method comprising:

transmitting, by a control module, a probing signal; and

receiving, by a detection module, a signal indicating the presence of a mobile device within a predetermined detection zone of a vehicle.

7. The method of claim 6, comprising:

receiving, by the detection module, an echo signal in response to the probing signal, wherein the echo signal indicates the presence of the mobile device within the predetermined detection zone.

8. The method of claim 6, comprising:

receiving, by the detection module, a signal transmitted by the mobile device in response to the probing signal, wherein the signal indicates the presence of the mobile device within the predetermined detection zone.