System for Safe Texting While Driving
First Claim
1. A cellular phone service providing system operated by a plurality of service providers and a third party for selectively disabling text messaging for individual cell phones, wherein a plurality of processors operate the system according to a computerized method comprising:
- registering a first cell phone belonging to a driver of a motor vehicle as a master phone;
determining at least a position and velocity of the master phone;
establishing an envelope relative to the master phone that encompasses cell phones of passengers who may be riding within the motor vehicle;
providing information parameters for the master phone to a third party;
receiving information parameters for at least a second cell phone from a third party;
comparing time stamped information parameters for the master phone envelope with time stamped information parameters for the at least a second cell phone;
determining that at least a location and velocity of the at least a second cell phone places the at least a second cell phone within the envelope of the master phone;
disabling texting for the master phone when the velocity of the master phone exceeds a disable threshold; and
allowing text messaging for the at least a second cell phone regardless of its velocity.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods are described to disable texting while driving a moving vehicle. The position and speed of a user'"'"'s cell phone are compared with that of a registered master phone. If the position and speed track that of the master phone, it is assumed that the user is a passenger and not a driver, and texting is enabled for that user. Texting at speed is disabled for a master phone user who may be an ordinary citizen or may be a professional driver of a mass transit vehicle. The user of a master phone may utilize a different service provider than a passenger. Information parameter measurements such as for example one or more of cell phone position, velocity, and direction of travel, are time stamped and then passed between service providers and a third party.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A cellular phone service providing system operated by a plurality of service providers and a third party for selectively disabling text messaging for individual cell phones, wherein a plurality of processors operate the system according to a computerized method comprising:
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registering a first cell phone belonging to a driver of a motor vehicle as a master phone; determining at least a position and velocity of the master phone; establishing an envelope relative to the master phone that encompasses cell phones of passengers who may be riding within the motor vehicle; providing information parameters for the master phone to a third party; receiving information parameters for at least a second cell phone from a third party; comparing time stamped information parameters for the master phone envelope with time stamped information parameters for the at least a second cell phone; determining that at least a location and velocity of the at least a second cell phone places the at least a second cell phone within the envelope of the master phone; disabling texting for the master phone when the velocity of the master phone exceeds a disable threshold; and allowing text messaging for the at least a second cell phone regardless of its velocity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A cellular phone service providing system operated by a plurality of service providers and a third party for selectively disabling text messaging for individual cell phones, wherein a plurality of processors operate the system according to a computerized method comprising:
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disabling texting for a registered master phone when a velocity of the registered master phone exceeds a disable threshold; receiving from a first cellular service provider time stamped information parameters for the registered master phone; receiving from a second cellular service provider time stamped information parameters for at least a second cell phone; comparing the time stamped information parameters for the registered master phone with the time stamped information parameters for the at least a second cell phone to determine if the at least a second cell phone is within an envelope of the registered master phone; and if the result of the comparing places the at least a second cell phone within the envelope of the registered master phone, allowing texting for the at least a second cell phone regardless of its velocity. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A cellular phone service providing system operated by a plurality of service providers and a third party for selectively disabling text messaging for individual cell phones, wherein a plurality of processors operate the system according to a computerized method comprising:
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disabling texting for a registered master phone when a velocity of the registered master phone exceeds a disable threshold; comparing time stamped information parameters for the registered master phone with time stamped information parameters for at least a second cell phone to determine if the at least a second cell phone is within an envelope of the registered master phone; if the result of the comparing places the at least a second cell phone within the envelope of the registered master phone, allowing texting for the at least a second cell phone regardless of its velocity; and wherein the time stamped information parameters are communicated among the plurality of service providers and the third party. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification