VEHICLE OPERATOR SPECIFIC USER DEVICE MANAGEMENT

• US 20150148018A1
• Filed: 11/26/2013
• Published: 05/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Rose, Amy Leigh, Crowe, John Scott, Loebach, James C., Peterson, Nathan J.
• Application Number:
  US14/089,818
• Publication Number:
  US 20150148018A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 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: H04W 4/48 for in-vehicle communication

Abstract

An embodiment provides a method, including: detecting, in a vehicle, a user device is proximate to a receiver device of the vehicle; determining, using a processor, that the user device is associated with a current operator of the vehicle; permitting access to the vehicle; and disabling a communication capability of the user device. Other aspects are described and claimed.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

detecting, in a vehicle, a user device is proximate to a receiver device of the vehicle;

determining, using a processor, that the user device is associated with a current operator of the vehicle;

permitting access to the vehicle; and

disabling a communication capability of the user device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining comprises using a proximity metric to associate the user device with a current operator of the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the proximity metric is wireless signal strength detected by the receiver device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining comprises associating an identifier of the user device with a known operator identifier.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting comprises using near field communication between the user device and the receiver device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting comprises using short range wireless communication between the user device and the receiver device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication capability of the user device is SMS text messaging capability.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing an indication that the communication capability of the user device has been disabled.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising re-enabling the communication capability of the user device responsive to an event.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the event is selected from the group of events consisting of stopping the vehicle and determining that the user device is no longer associated with the current operator of the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein to permit access to the vehicle includes one or more of permitting the user device to unlock a door of the vehicle and permitting the user device to start the vehicle.

19. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to re-enable the communication capability of the user device responsive to an event, wherein the event is selected from the group of events consisting of stopping the vehicle and determining that the user device is no longer associated with the current operator of the vehicle.

12. A vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle body;

a motor to propel the vehicle body;

a receiver device disposed within the vehicle body;

a processor; and

a memory device storing instructions executable by the processor to;

detect a user device is proximate to the receiver device;

determine that the user device is associated with a current operator of the vehicle;

permit access to the vehicle; and

disable a communication capability of the user device.

13. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein to determine comprises using a proximity metric to associate the user device with a current operator of the vehicle.

14. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the proximity metric is wireless signal strength detected by the receiver device.

15. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein to determine comprises associating an identifier of the user device with a known operator identifier.

16. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein to detect comprises using near field communication between the user device and the receiver device.

17. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein to detect comprises using short range wireless communication between the user device and the receiver device.

18. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the communication capability of the user device is SMS text messaging capability.

20. A program product, comprising:

a storage medium comprising computer readable program code, the computer readable program code comprising;

computer readable program code configured to detect, in a vehicle, a user device is proximate to a receiver device of the vehicle;

computer readable program code configured to determine, using a processor, that the user device is associated with a current operator of the vehicle;

computer readable program code configured to permit access to the vehicle; and

computer readable program code configured to disable a communication capability of the user device.