Text Message Control System

• US 20160183069A1
• Filed: 12/17/2014
• Published: 06/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Allstate Insurance Company (Allstate Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Allstate Insurance Company (Allstate Corporation)
• Inventors: Wilson, Thomas J., Biemer, Edward A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,743,260 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]

Abstract

Methods, computer-readable media, software, and apparatuses provide a system for controlling access to text messaging capabilities of a mobile computing device of a user while the user is driving. The mobile computing device may be configured to restrict a user from sending or receiving text messages while the user is driving depending on a current driving situation. Whether a user can send or receive text messages may further depend on a priority of the text message or a priority level of a sender or intended recipient of the text message. The system may include devices for collecting information regarding the vehicle and its surroundings and for determining the current driving situation based on the collected information. Further, the system may include devices for maintaining records of the restrictions placed on text messaging and of rewards earned for agreeing to be subject to such restrictions.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a mobile computing device associated with a vehicle and comprising a cellular network interface configured to receive or send a text message over a cellular network; and

a network computing device, comprising a network interface, and configured to;

obtain, from the mobile computing device or another network computing device, information indicating a driving situation related to the vehicle at a time at which the mobile computing device receives a particular text message;

determine an access level based on the obtained information; and

transmit the access level to the mobile computing device;

wherein the mobile computing device is configured to;

determine a priority level of the particular text message or of a sender of the particular text message; and

determine whether to output the particular text message based on the access level and the priority level.

2. The system of claim 1,

wherein the mobile computing device is further configured to determine a priority score based on at least one of the priority level of the particular text message or the priority level of the sender of the particular text message, and

wherein the network computing device is further configured to determine a safety score based on the obtained information and the access level is determined based on the safety score.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile computing device is configured to determine that a user associated with the mobile computing device is driving the vehicle.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the mobile computing device is configured to communicate with another device within the vehicle to obtain information indicating whether the user is driving the vehicle.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile computing device is configured to, based on the access level, block the particular text message from being displayed while a user associated with the mobile computing device is driving.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile computing device is configured to, based on the access level, convert the particular text message into an audio file and play the audio file while a user associated with the mobile computing device is driving.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile computing device is configured to, based on the access level or a second access level, prevent a user, associated with the mobile computing device, from creating or sending a text message while the user is driving.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile computing device is configured to:

prompt a user, associated with the mobile computing device, to record an audio message if the user attempts to create a new text message while the user is driving;

convert the audio message to create an outgoing text message; and

send the outgoing text message.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile computing device is configured to:

receive a verbal instruction to create an outgoing text message;

record an audio message;

convert the audio message into the outgoing text message; and

send the outgoing text message.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the mobile computing device is further configured to:

prior to sending the outgoing text message, play the audio message for a user to review; and

prior to sending the outgoing text message, receive an approval from the user to send the outgoing text message.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the mobile computing device is further configured to:

prior to sending the outgoing text message, play an audio file that is created from text of the outgoing text message for a user to review; and

prior to sending the outgoing text message, receive an approval from the user to send the outgoing text message.

12. The system of claim 1,

wherein the obtained information is obtained based on a location of the mobile computing device, and

wherein the obtained information comprises at least one of real-time weather information, real-time traffic information, or real-time road condition information.

13. A computing device, comprising:

a network interface configured to communicate with a server and a mobile computing device while the mobile computing device is traveling within a vehicle; and

at least one processor configured to cause the computing device to;

obtain, from the server, information indicating a driving situation related to the vehicle at a time at which the mobile computing device receives a particular text message;

determine, based on the obtained information, an access level for controlling how the mobile computing device outputs the particular text message; and

transmit the access level to the mobile computing device.

14. The computing device of claim 13, wherein the at least one processor is configured to further cause the computing device to maintain a record of the transmission of the access level.

15. The computing device of claim 13, wherein the at least one processor is configured to further cause the computing device to, in response to transmitting the access level, determine whether a user associated with the mobile computing device has earned a reward.

16. The computing device of claim 13,

wherein the at least one processor is configured to further cause the computing device to transmit a location of the mobile computing device to the server to request the obtained information, and

wherein the obtained information comprises at least one of weather information for the location of the mobile computing device, traffic information for the location of the mobile computing device, road condition information for the location of the mobile computing device.

17. The computing device of claim 13, wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the computing device to determine the access level further based on a driving history of a driver of the vehicle.

18. The computing device of claim 13, wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the computing device to determine the access level further based on information in an insurance policy of a user associated with the mobile computing device.

19. A method, comprising:

determining, by a computing device, whether a user is a driver of a vehicle;

determining a driving situation with respect to the vehicle based on information obtained from a device on the vehicle and information obtained from a server remote from the vehicle;

determining a priority level of a sender of an incoming text message or an intended recipient of an outgoing text message;

determining, based on the driving situation and priority level, a level of access to text messaging capabilities of a mobile computing device associated with the driver of the vehicle; and

controlling access to the text messaging capabilities of the mobile computing device in accordance with the level of access.

20. The method of claim 19,

wherein controlling access to the text messaging capabilities comprises:

blocking the driver from typing the outgoing text message and allowing the driver to generate the outgoing text message by speaking, or

converting the incoming text message into an audio message and playing the audio message, and

wherein determining the driving situation comprises calculating a score quantifying a degree of safety of the driving situation.