APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR DETECTING THE PRESENCE AND CONTROLLING THE OPERATION OF MOBILE DEVICES WITHIN A VEHICLE
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus, system, and method for determining the presence of a mobile device located in a predetermined detection zone within a vehicle are disclosed. A detection module receives a communication signal, determines that the communication signal was transmitted by a mobile device located within a predetermined detection zone within a vehicle, and a control module transmits a control signal to the mobile device located within the predetermined detection zone. The system further includes a monitoring logic to monitor a functional system of the vehicle activating the transmission of the control signal by the control module when the monitored functional system is activated and the detection module determines that the communication signal was transmitted by the mobile device located within the predetermined detection zone.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1-20. -20. (canceled)
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21. A system for determining a presence of a mobile device located in a predetermined detection zone of a vehicle, the system comprising:
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a plurality of detection/control systems, each of the plurality of the detection/control systems comprising; a transmitter configured to transmit a probing signal within the vehicle; a detection module comprising a sensor and configured to receive a return signal from the mobile device located within the vehicle in response to the mobile device receiving the probing signal and determine that the mobile device is located within a predetermined detection zone of the vehicle, wherein the predetermined detection zone is defined as a three-dimensional zone in or in proximity of a driver seat side of a vehicle; and a control module coupled to the detection module, the control module configured to transmit the control signal to the mobile device located within the predetermined detection zone when the return signal indicates the mobile device received the probing signal at or above a predetermined signal strength corresponding to the mobile device being located within the predetermined detection zone, wherein at least one of the plurality of detection/control systems is configured to transmit the probing signal within the vehicle, and wherein at least one of the plurality of detection/control systems is configured to transmit the control signal to the mobile device when the mobile device is located within the predetermined zone of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A system for determining a presence of a mobile device located in a predetermined detection zone of a vehicle, the system comprising:
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a plurality of detection/control systems, each of the plurality of the detection/control systems comprising; a detection module comprising a sensor and configured to receive a signal from the mobile device located within the vehicle and determine that the mobile device is located within a predetermined detection zone of the vehicle, wherein the predetermined detection zone is defined as a three-dimensional zone in or in proximity of a driver seat side of a vehicle; and a control module coupled to the detection module, the control module configured to transmit a control signal to the mobile device located within the predetermined detection zone when the signal is at or above a predetermined signal strength corresponding to the mobile device being located within the predetermined detection zone wherein at least one of the plurality of detection/control systems is configured to transmit the control signal to the mobile device when the mobile device is located within the predetermined zone of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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29. A method for determining a presence of a mobile device located in a predetermined detection zone within a vehicle, the method comprising:
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providing a plurality of detection/control systems, each of the plurality of the detection/control systems comprising; a detection module comprising a sensor module configured to receive a signal from a mobile device and convert the signal into an electrical signal corresponding to a location of the mobile device; and a controller module, comprising a transmitter; transmitting, by a transmitter of at least one of the plurality of detection/control systems, a probing signal to the mobile device; receiving, by a detection module of the at least one of the plurality of detection/control systems, a return signal from the mobile device; determining, by a controller of the at least one of the plurality of detection/control systems, a location of the mobile device based on the return signal from the mobile device; transmitting, by the transmitter of the at least one of the plurality of detection/control systems, at least one control signal to the mobile device when the location of the mobile device is determined to be within the predetermined detection zone; receiving, by the mobile device, the at least one control signal; and disabling, by the mobile device, at least one mobile device function upon receipt of the at least one control signal. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method for determining a presence of a mobile device located in a predetermined detection zone within a vehicle, the method comprising:
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providing a plurality of detection/control systems, each of the plurality of the detection/control systems comprising; a detection module comprising a sensor module configured to receive a signal from a mobile device and convert the signal into an electrical signal corresponding to a location of the mobile device; and a controller module, comprising a transmitter; transmitting, by the mobile device, a signal; receiving, by a sensor module of at least one of the detection/control systems, the signal from the mobile device; determining, by a controller of the at least one detection/control system, a location of the mobile device based on the signal received from the mobile device; transmitting, by a transmitter of the at least one detection/control system, at least one control signal to the mobile device when the location of the mobile device is determined to be within the predetermined detection zone; receiving, by the mobile device, the at least one control signal; and disabling, by the mobile device, at least one mobile device function upon receipt of the at least one control signal. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40)
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Specification