OPERATOR/PASSENGER SELECTIVE VEHICLE INSTRUMENT LOCKS

• US 20150258894A1
• Filed: 03/12/2014
• Published: 09/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Crowe, John Scott, Peterson, Nathan J., Rose, Amy Leigh, Lee-Baron, Jennifer
• Granted Patent: US 9,481,248 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/195 Blocking or enabling display functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/195 Blocking or enabling display functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/736 the user being the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/739 the user being the passenger
• 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 35/29 Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/654 the user being the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/656 the user being a passenger

Abstract

An embodiment provides a method, including: receiving input via a sensor positioned within a vehicle; determining, using the senor input, a passenger is within the vehicle; and analyzing the input received via the sensor to selectively disable a feature of an information handling device within the vehicle. In some embodiments, different sets of instruments or features thereof may be selectively disabled depending on the presence of a driver and/or passenger. Other aspects are described and claimed.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving input via a sensor positioned within a vehicle;

determining, using the senor input, a passenger is within the vehicle; and

analyzing the input received via the sensor to selectively disable a feature of an information handling device within the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining if input received via the information handling device is passenger input; and

responsive determining the input received via the information handling device is passenger input, committing an action associated with the information handling device input.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising responsive to determining the input received via the information handling device is not passenger input, blocking an action associated with the information handling device input.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing an indication that a feature of the information handling device has been disabled.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving input via a sensor comprises receiving sensor input indicative of a passenger positioned in a passenger compartment.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving input via a sensor comprises receiving sensor input indicative of a driver contacting an element in a driver compartment of the vehicle at predetermined positions.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the predetermined positions are positions on a steering wheel of the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing a set of instruments that are operable via the information handling device and that are selectively disabled.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising adjusting the set of instruments that are selectively disabled using the input received via the sensor.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein:

the adjusting comprises implementing a default wherein a number of features of the instruments that are selectively disabled is increased;

the analyzing the input received via the sensor comprises determining if a passenger is providing the input to the information handling device; and

responsive to determining the passenger provided the input, unlocking a feature that was selectively disabled.

11. A vehicle, comprising:

a driver compartment;

a passenger compartment proximately located to the driver compartment;

an information handling device disposed within the vehicle;

a sensor;

a processor operatively coupled to the sensor and the information handling device; and

a memory that stores instructions executable by the processor to;

receive input via the sensor positioned within a vehicle;

determine, using the senor input, a passenger is within the vehicle; and

analyze the input received via the sensor to selectively disable a feature of the information handling device within the vehicle.

12. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

determine if input received via the information handling device is passenger input; and

responsive determining the input received via the information handling device is passenger input, commit an action associated with the information handling device input.

13. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to, responsive to determining the input received via the information handling device is not passenger input, block an action associated with the information handling device input.

14. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to provide an indication that a feature of the information handling device has been disabled.

15. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein to receive input via a sensor comprises receiving sensor input indicative of a passenger positioned in a passenger compartment.

16. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein to receive input via a sensor comprises receiving sensor input indicative of a driver contacting an element in a driver compartment of the vehicle at predetermined positions.

17. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the predetermined positions are positions on a steering wheel of the vehicle.

18. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to establish a set of instruments that are operable via the information handling device and that are selectively disabled.

19. The vehicle of claim 18, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to adjust the set of instruments that are selectively disabled using the input received via the sensor.

20. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory that stores instructions executable by the processor to;

receive input via a sensor positioned within a vehicle;

determine, using the senor input, a passenger is within the vehicle; and

analyze the input received via the sensor to selectively disable a feature of an information handling device within the vehicle.