METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LIMITING THE USE OF A MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE

• US 20160174132A1
• Filed: 07/10/2014
• Published: 06/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ciaran Hynes
• Original Assignee: Ciaran Hynes
• Inventors: Hynes, Ciaran
• Application Number:
  US14/903,974
• Publication Number:
  US 20160174132A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 1/72436 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: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/37 Managing security policies for mobile devices or for controlling mobile applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A computer-implemented method is disclosed for controlling access to a mobile device operated by a user. The method includes the steps of determining a whether a physical speed of a mobile device exceeds a predefined threshold, and limiting the user'"'"'s access to the mobile device responsive to whether the physical speed of the mobile device exceeds the predefined threshold. The step of limiting the user'"'"'s access to the mobile device includes the steps of locking the mobile device if the mobile device is configured to receive no notices, and allowing conditional access to the mobile device if the mobile device is configured to receive notices

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for controlling access to a mobile device operated by a user, said method comprising the steps of:

determining a whether a physical speed of a mobile device exceeds a predefined threshold;

limiting the user'"'"'s access to the mobile device responsive to whether the physical speed of the mobile device exceeds the predefined threshold, said step of limiting the user'"'"'s access to the mobile device including the steps of;

locking the mobile device if the mobile device is configured to receive no notices; and

allowing conditional access to the mobile device if the mobile device is configured to receive notices.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said method further includes the step of determining a physical speed of the mobile device.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said step of determining the physical speed of the mobile device includes acquiring a vehicle speed from an On-Board Diagnostics (OBM) system of a vehicle.

4. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said step of determining the physical speed of the mobile device includes acquiring a vehicle speed from a Global Positioning System (GPS) transceiver.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of limiting access to the mobile device further includes the steps of:

sending a notice request to a mobile device management (MDM) server;

receiving a device lock command from the MDM server in response to the notice request; and

locking the mobile device in response to the device lock command.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of allowing conditional access to the mobile device includes the steps of presenting the user with an Attention Verification Test (AVT) to determine whether the user is entitled to access of the mobile device, and determining whether to allow limited access to the mobile device based at least in part on the user'"'"'s response to the AVT.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said method further includes the step of providing access to the mobile device for a predetermined period of time when the user'"'"'s response to the ACT demonstrates that the user is entitled to access of the mobile device.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said method further includes the step of providing access to the mobile device for a predefined period of time when the physical speed is determined to not exceed the predefined threshold speed.

9. One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media including stored thereon executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a mobile device operated by a user, cause the mobile device to at least:

determine a physical speed at which the mobile device is moving;

limiting the user'"'"'s access to the mobile device upon determining that the physical speed of the mobile device exceeds a predefined threshold, wherein said step of limiting the user'"'"'s access includes the steps of;

locking the mobile device if the mobile device is configured to receive no notices;

allowing conditional access to the mobile device if the mobile device is configured to receive notices; and

providing access to the mobile device for the predefined period upon determining that the physical speed of the mobile device does not exceed the predefined threshold speed.

10. The one or more computer-readable storage media as claimed in claim 9, wherein said step of allowing conditional access to the mobile device includes allowing the user to access one or more applications associated with the mobile device if the user is determined to be a passenger of a vehicle.

11. The one or more computer-readable storage media as claimed in claim 9, wherein said step of allowing conditional access to the mobile device includes denying the user access to the mobile device if the user is determined to be a driver or a vehicle.

12. The one or more computer-readable storage media as claimed in claim 9, wherein said step of limiting the user'"'"'s access to the mobile device is responsive, at least in part, to one or more commands from a mobile device management (MDM) server.

13. A device configured to control access to the device by a user, said device comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory, wherein said memory includes instructions executable by one or more processors to cause the device to at least;

determine whether a physical speed of a mobile device exceeds a predefined threshold speed; and

upon determining that the physical speed of a mobile device exceeds the predefined threshold speed, limiting the user'"'"'s access to the mobile device, said limiting of the user'"'"'s access including

locking the mobile device if the mobile device is configured to receive no notices; and

allowing conditional access to the mobile device if the mobile device is configured to receive notices.

14. The device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the physical speed at which the mobile device is moving is determined by acquiring the threshold speed from an On-Board Diagnostics (OBM) system of a vehicle.

15. The device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the limiting of a user'"'"'s access to the mobile device is responsive, at least in part, on one or more commands from a mobile device management (MDM) server.

16. The device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the allowing of conditional access to the mobile device includes determining whether the user is as driver or a vehicle.