DISABLING WIRELESS TELEPHONE USE WHILE IN VEHICLE

• US 20150111560A1
• Filed: 12/22/2014
• Published: 04/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: John L. Rogitz
• Original Assignee: John L. Rogitz
• Inventors: Rogitz, John L.
• Application Number:
  US14/579,125
• Publication Number:
  US 20150111560A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• 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 64/006 with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities

Abstract

A method includes determining that a wireless telephone is in a moving vehicle using, e.g., speed as calculated by the telephone using GPS signals or co-location of the telephone with a vehicle as might be determined by receiving the vehicle'"'"'s position via Bluetooth. Use of the telephone is selectively denied if it is determined that the telephone is in a vehicle.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

at least one computer memory that is not a transitory signal and that includes instructions which when executed by a digital processor configure the digital processor for;

receiving a first position signal from a position sensor of a wireless telephone;

receiving a second position signal from the position sensor;

determining whether the first and second position signals indicate a speed satisfying a threshold, such that the speed is determined based the first position signal and the second position signal; and

selectively denying at least some service to the telephone responsive to a determination that the first and second position signals indicate that the speed is greater than the threshold.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the instructions when executed by the processor configure the processor for:

using plural position signals from the telephone or from the vehicle to determine a speed;

determining whether the speed satisfies a threshold;

responsive to a determination that the speed satisfies the threshold, selectively denying at least some service to the telephone; and

responsive to a determination that the speed does not satisfy the threshold, determining that the telephone is not in a moving vehicle and consequently not selectively denying at least some service to the telephone.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the determining act is executed by the wireless telephone.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the determining act is executed by a telephony system communicating with the wireless telephone.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the denying act is executed by a wireless telephony system.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the system causes a busy signal to be returned to callers of the wireless telephone when it is determined that the telephone is in the vehicle.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the instructions when executed by the processor configure the processor to, responsive to a determination that the telephone is in a moving vehicle, present an audible and/or visual message indicating denial of service.

8. The device of claim 3, wherein the instructions when executed by the processor configure the processor to, responsive to a determination that the telephone is in a moving vehicle and responsive to receiving an authorized use signal, enable full use of the telephone.

9. The device of claim 1, comprising a wireless telephone holding the computer memory.

10. Device, comprising:

a computer memory that is not a transitory wave and that includes instructions which when executed by a processor configure the processor to;

determine whether a speed as indicated by signals from a position receiver of a wireless communication device or of a vehicle exceeds a threshold; and

responsive to a determination that the speed exceeds the threshold, automatically send a report thereof to a central server separate from the telephone and accessible to law enforcement.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the instructions when executed by the processor configure the processor to, responsive to a determination that the speed exceeds the threshold, disable at least some service to and/or from the telephone.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the instructions when executed by the processor configure the processor to not disable calls responsive to a determination that the threshold is exceeded under a condition that the processor receives a moving use authorized signal.

13. The device of claim 10, comprising a wireless telephone holding the computer memory.

14. A device comprising:

a computer memory that is not a transitory wave and that includes instructions which when executed by a processor configure the processor to;

receive a first position signal from a position sensor of a mobile telephone;

receive a second position signal from a position sensor of a vehicle;

using the first and second position signals to determine whether a position of the mobile telephone substantially matches a position of a vehicle;

responsive to a determination that the position of the telephone substantially matches the position of a vehicle, disable at least some service to and/or from the telephone; and

responsive to a determination that the position of the telephone does not substantially match a position of a vehicle, not disable service to and/or from the telephone.

15. The device of claim 14, comprising a wireless telephone holding the computer memory

16. The device of claim 14, wherein the instructions when executed by the processor configure the processor to:

determine a speed using plural position signals from the position receiver of the telephone and/or the position sensor of the vehicle;

responsive to a determination that the speed meets a threshold, disable at least some service to and/or from the telephone.

17. The device of claim 14, wherein the instructions when executed by the processor configure the processor to:

not disable service responsive to a determination that the positions substantially match under a condition in which the processor receives a moving use authorized signal.

18. The device of claim 14, comprising a short range transceiver for receiving the moving use authorized signal.

19. The device of claim 14, comprising a short range transceiver for receiving the position of a vehicle.

20. The device of claim 16, wherein the instructions when executed by the processor configure the processor to:

responsive to a determination that the speed meets the threshold, automatically send a report thereof.