METHODS AND SYSTEMS TO ENSURE THAT THE USER OF A TOUCH OR KEYPAD OPERATED DEVICE WITHIN A MOVING VEHICLE MUST USE TWO HANDS FOR DEVICE OPERATION

• US 20150148019A1
• Filed: 11/26/2013
• Published: 05/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Extreme Networks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Inventors: Michaelis, Paul Roller
• Granted Patent: US 9,143,602 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• 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 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

Systems and methods are directed to configuring a portable electronic device such that a user of the portable electronic device is required to use two hands to operate the portable electronic device. In some configurations, the portable electronic device determines whether the portable electronic device is moving at a rate of speed that is greater than a predetermined threshold before requiring the user to use two hands. Alternatively, or in addition, a function, feature, and/or application of the portable electronic device may be inhibited such that two hands are required. Once the portable electronic device determines that the user is using two hands, an operation, feature, function, and/or application may then be enabled although still be inhibited.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining whether a portable electronic device is moving at a rate greater than a predetermined threshold;

in response to determining that the portable electronic device is moving at a rate greater than the predetermined threshold, disabling a first operation of the portable electronic device;

receiving an indication of two-handed operation being used to operate the portable electronic device; and

while the portable electronic device is moving at a rate greater than the predetermined threshold and in response to receiving the indication of two-handed operation being used to operate the portable electronic device, enabling the first operation of the portable electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the indication of two-handed operation being used to operate the portable electronic device comprises:

determining whether a finger portion from each of two hands have contacted the portable electronic device within a predefined time period.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

identifying a user based on a fingerprint of the finger portion from at least one of the two hands; and

based on the identification, determining at least one operation of the portable electronic device to enable.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining a cadence associated with a detected first fingerprint portion at a first location from a first of the two hands and a detected first fingerprint portion at a second location from the first of the two hands;

determining whether the cadence is less than a predetermine threshold;

in response to determining that the cadence is less than the predetermine threshold, maintaining the at least one operation of the portable electronic device in an enabled state; and

in response to determining that the cadence is greater than the predetermined threshold, disabling the at least one operation of the portable electronic device.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the predetermined threshold is a speed.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the indication of two-handed operation being used to operate the portable electronic device comprises:

detecting a contact between a first finger portion and the portable electronic device;

detecting a contact between a second finger portion and the portable electronic device;

determining whether the first finger portion and the second finger portion are from different hands; and

in response to determining that the first finger portion and the second finger portion are from different hands, at least one of (i) maintaining the first operation of the portable electronic device in an enabled state, and (ii) enabling the first operation of the portable electronic device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first finger portion is detected at a contact sensor on the portable electronic device.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the indication that at least one hard key on the mobile is pressed comprises the first finger portion being detected.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first operation of the portable electronic device is text messaging.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the portable electronic device is moving at a rate less than or equal to the predetermined threshold; and

enabling the first operation of the portable electronic device.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising processor executable instructions operable to perform the method of claim 1.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a second operation based on one or more of a profile, a recipient of a communication, and a public safety requirement; and

regardless of whether an indication of two-handed operation being used to operate the portable electronic device is received, maintaining the second operation as enabled based on one or more of the profile, the recipient of the communication, and the public safety requirement.

13. A system for controlling at least one of a feature and a function of a portable electronic device while the portable electronic device is moving at a rate greater than a predetermined threshold, the system comprising:

the portable electronic device;

a movement analyzer configured to determine whether the portable electronic device is moving at a rate greater than the predetermined threshold;

a hand portion detector configured to determine whether two-handed operation is being used during the operation of the portable electronic device; and

a controller configured to enable and disable an operation of the portable electronic device, while the portable electronic device is moving at a rate greater than the predetermined threshold, based on whether the hand portion detector determines whether two-handed operation is being used during the operation of the portable electronic device.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the hand portion detector is configured to determine whether two-handed operation is being used during the operation the portable electronic device by determining whether a fingerprint portion from each of two hands have contacted the portable electronic device within a predefined time period.

15. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

an identifier engine configured to identify a user based on the fingerprint portion from at least one of the two hands and further determine the operation of the portable electronic device to disable based on the identification of the user.

16. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

a cadence determination engine configured to determine a cadence associated with a detected first fingerprint portion at a first location from a first of the two hands and a detected first fingerprint portion at a second location from the first of the two hands, wherein in response to determining that the cadence is less than the predetermine threshold, the controller maintains the at least one operation of the portable electronic device in an enabled state; and

wherein in response to determining that the cadence is greater than the predetermined threshold, the controller disables the at least one operation of the portable electronic device.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the hand detector is further configured to configured to detect a contact between a first finger portion and the portable electronic device, detect a contact between a second finger portion and the portable electronic device, determine whether the first finger portion and the second finger portion are from different hands, wherein in response to determining that the first finger portion and the second finger portion are from different hands by the hand detector, the controller at least one of (i) maintains the first operation of the portable electronic device in an enabled state, and (ii) enables the first operation of the portable electronic device.

18. A system for controlling at least one of a feature and a function of a portable electronic device while the portable electronic device is moving at a rate greater than a predetermined threshold, the system comprising:

the portable electronic device;

a protective shell configured to receive the portable electronic device, wherein the protective shell is communicatively coupled to the portable electronic device;

a movement analyzer configured to determine whether the portable electronic device is moving at a rate greater than the predetermined threshold;

a hand detector configured to determine whether two-handed operation is being used during the operation of the portable electronic device by determining whether at least one hand portion from each of two hands is in contact with a sensor located on the protective shell; and

a controller configured to enable and disable an operation of the portable electronic device, while the portable electronic device is moving at a rate greater than the predetermined threshold, based on whether the hand detector determines whether two-handed operation is being used during the operation of the portable electronic device.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the at least one operation of the portable electronic device is text messaging.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the portable electronic device is further configured such that the removal of the protective shell disables one or more operations of the portable electronic device.