Method and Apparatus for Selective Mobile Application Lockout

• US 20160088469A1
• Filed: 09/18/2014
• Published: 03/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Racha, Srini, Gersabeck, David Marvin
• Granted Patent: US 9,854,432 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6075 adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle H04M1/6058 takes precedence; arrangements for holding telephones in a vehicle B60R11/0241
• 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 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/48 for in-vehicle communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities

Abstract

A system includes a processor configured to determine that an application is running in a foreground. The processor is also configured to receive a mobile device speed. The processor is additionally configured to determine if the mobile device speed is above a predetermined threshold. Also, the processor is configured to determine if an interface threshold has been exceeded and lock out the application from use if the mobile device speed is above the predetermined threshold and the interface threshold has been exceeded.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a processor, in communication with a mobile device interface, configured to;

receive a mobile device speed;

determine if the mobile device speed is above a predetermined threshold;

determine if an interface-usage threshold of the interface has been exceeded; and

lock out a foreground application from use if the mobile device speed is above the predetermined threshold and the interface-usage threshold has been exceeded.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to receive the mobile device speed by determining a rate of change in detected GPS coordinates.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to unlock a locked-out application if the mobile device speed falls below the predetermined threshold.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to unlock a locked-out application if application interface-usage falls below the interface-usage threshold.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface-usage threshold includes use of a typing input.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface-usage threshold includes an aggregated amount of input within a predetermined amount of time.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the predetermined amount of time varies with a level of driver distraction.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein an allowable aggregated amount of input varies with a level of driver distraction.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the level of driver distraction is dependent on at least one of a speed, traffic level or environmental condition.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the level of driver distraction is dependent on at least one of a speed, traffic level or environmental condition.

11. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving a mobile device speed;

determining if the mobile device speed is above a predetermined threshold;

determining if an interface-usage threshold has been exceeded; and

locking out a foreground application from use if the mobile device speed is above the predetermined threshold and the interface-usage threshold has been exceeded.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein receiving the mobile device speed includes determining a rate of change in detected GPS coordinates.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising unlocking a locked-out application if the mobile device speed falls below the predetermined threshold or if application interface-usage falls below the interface-usage threshold.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the interface-usage threshold includes use of a typing input.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the interface-usage threshold includes an aggregated amount of input within a predetermined amount of time.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, storing instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to perform a computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving a mobile device speed;

determining if the mobile device speed is above a predetermined threshold;

determining if an interface-usage threshold has been exceeded; and

locking out a foreground application from use if the mobile device speed is above the predetermined threshold and the interface-usage threshold has been exceeded.

17. The storage medium of claim 16, wherein receiving the mobile device speed includes determining a rate of change in detected GPS coordinates.

18. The storage medium of claim 16, the method further comprising unlocking a locked-out application if the mobile device speed falls below the predetermined threshold or if application interface-usage falls below the interface-usage threshold.

19. The storage medium of claim 16, wherein the interface-usage threshold includes use of a typing input.

20. The storage medium of claim 16, wherein the interface-usage threshold includes an aggregated amount of input within a predetermined amount of time.