SYSTEM, DEVICE, AND METHOD FOR TRACKING AND MONITORING MOBILE PHONE USAGE TO DETER AND PREVENT SUCH USAGE AND FOR GENERATING AN AUDIBLE ALARM AND/OR VISUAL ALARM TO MAINTAIN COMPLIANCE

• US 20170310816A1
• Filed: 03/10/2017
• Published: 10/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stephen Rhyne
• Original Assignee: Stephen Rhyne
• Inventors: Rhyne, Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 10,009,455 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724098 Interfacing with an on-board device of a vehicle for hands-free speaking in vehicles H04M1/6075
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/46 for vehicle-to-vehicle communication [V2V]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/48 for in-vehicle communication

Abstract

A system, device, and method for tracking and monitoring mobile phone usage to deter and prevent such usage and for generating an audible alarm and/or visual alarm to maintain compliance are disclosed. The system comprises a device and software on a user'"'"'s mobile phone to monitor the mobile phone'"'"'s usage and to prevent and/or interfere with certain of its functions while a vehicle is being operated. The device is capable of producing an audible alarm and/or visual alarm and recording information about the different states of the device, which can be transmitted to the mobile phone software. The device, in combination with the mobile phone software, can record information about certain behaviors the user engages in on the mobile phone while operating a vehicle. The system, device, and method include generating an audible alarm and/or visual alarm when the user is not complying with certain prescribed protocols.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring or preventing use of one or more of a plurality of functions of a mobile phone of a user when the user is in a vehicle, comprising:

a device comprising one or more vehicle state sensors, a wireless transmitter and a microchip configured to receive and store data; and

the mobile phone of the user, comprising a wireless receiver and software,

wherein data from the one or more vehicle state sensors are used to determine a vehicle state, the wireless transmitter of the device communicates the vehicle state to the mobile phone via the receiver and an audible alarm is generated when the user is violating certain prescribed protocols.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein a visual alert is generated when the user is not maintaining compliance with or is violating certain prescribed protocols.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the user violating prescribed protocols includes one or more of:

not connecting the device and the mobile phone software when the vehicle is turned on;

exiting the mobile phone software while driving;

stopping the connection between the mobile phone software and the device while driving;

putting the mobile phone software in the background of the mobile phone while driving; and

engaging in certain prohibited mobile phone functions while driving.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the microchip is further configured to record the number of times the audible alarm is generated and the total amount of time that the audible alarm is generated.

5. A process for monitoring or preventing use of one or more of a plurality of functions of a mobile phone of a user having monitoring software when the user is in a vehicle having a monitoring device, comprising the steps of:

determining whether the user has violated one or more prescribed protocols; and

,

generating an audible alarm when the user violates the one or more prescribed protocols,

wherein the prescribed protocols include one or more of;

not connecting the device and the mobile phone software when the vehicle is turned on;

exiting the mobile phone software while driving;

stopping the connection between the mobile phone software and the device while driving;

putting the mobile phone software in the background of the mobile phone while driving; and

engaging in certain prohibited mobile phone functions while driving.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the device further comprises a vehicle state sensor, and the device determines a vehicle is turned on through the vehicle state sensor and generates an audible alarm if the user does not connect the device and mobile phone software.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein a visual alert is generated when the user violates one or more of the prescribed protocols.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the device is further configured to record the number of times the audible alarm is generated and the total amount of time that the audible alarm is generated.

9. A system for monitoring and recording use of one or more of a plurality of functions of a mobile phone of a user when the user is in a vehicle, comprising:

a device comprising one or more vehicle state sensors, a wireless transmitter and a microchip configured to receive and store data; and

the mobile phone of the user, comprising a wireless receiver and software,

wherein data from the one or more vehicle state sensors are used to determine a vehicle state, the wireless transmitter of the device communicates the vehicle state to the mobile phone via the receiver and the software monitors use of one or more of the plurality of functions of the mobile phone and records use of the one or more of the plurality of functions of the mobile phone and the vehicle state received from the device.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein an audible alarm is generated in response to violations of prescribed protocols, including one or more of:

not connecting the device and the mobile phone software when the vehicle is turned on;

exiting the mobile phone software while driving;

stopping the connection between the mobile phone software and the device while driving;

putting the mobile phone software in the background of the mobile phone while driving; and

engaging in certain prohibited mobile phone functions while driving.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the vehicle state sensor comprises a microchip configured to determine when the microchip starts receiving electricity from the vehicle'"'"'s battery and when the microchip stops receiving electricity from the vehicle'"'"'s battery.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the vehicle state sensor comprises an accelerometer for measuring vehicle vibrations.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the device is operationally engaged with any electrical circuitry in the vehicle that receives electricity directly or indirectly from the battery of the vehicle.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein a user'"'"'s use of one or more of the plurality of functions of the mobile phone is viewable by an administrator.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein

the mobile phone further comprises a GPS sensor;

and

the mobile phone software further comprises a speed check feature, whereby the user requests through an application interface on the mobile phone that the software determine whether the user is traveling under a defined speed threshold, the software periodically acquires data from the GPS sensor to determine if the mobile phone is moving at a speed under the speed threshold and the software monitors and records use of one or more of the plurality of functions of the mobile phone in response to the data received from the GPS sensor, allowing full functionality of the mobile phone if the phone is moving under the speed threshold and monitoring and recording use of one or more of the plurality of functions of the mobile phone if the mobile phone is moving over the speed threshold.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein

the mobile phone further comprises a motion sensor;

and

the mobile phone application further comprises a motion check feature, whereby the software application periodically acquires data from the motion sensor to determine if the mobile phone is in motion and the software application monitors and records use of one or more of the plurality of functions of the mobile phone in response to the data received from the motion sensor, allowing full functionality of the mobile phone if the phone is not in motion and monitoring and recording use one or more of the plurality of functions of the mobile phone if the mobile phone is in motion.

17. The system of claim 9, wherein the software is configured to determine if the user is a driver of the vehicle.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein

the device further comprises a unique number for identifying the device;

the mobile phone further comprises a unique identifier for identifying the mobile phone;

the wireless transmitter of the device communicates the unique number of the device to the mobile phone via the receiver; and

the software uses the unique number and the unique identifier to determine if the user is a driver of the vehicle.

19. The system of claim 9, wherein

the microchip is further configured to record the number of times the audible alarm is generated and the total amount of time that the audible alarm is generated;

and

the software generates a user score based on the number of times and the total amount of time that the audible alarm is generated and on the usage of one or more of a plurality of functions of the mobile phone.

20. A system for preventing use of one or more of a plurality of functions of a mobile phone of a user when the user is in a vehicle, comprising:

a device comprising one or more vehicle state sensors, a wireless transmitter and a microchip configured to receive and store data; and

the mobile phone of the user, comprising a wireless receiver and software,

wherein data from the one or more vehicle state sensors are used to determine a vehicle state, the wireless transmitter of the device communicates the vehicle state to the mobile phone via the receiver and the software prevents one or more of the plurality of functions of the mobile phone in response to the vehicle state received from the device.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein an audible alarm is generated in response to violations of prescribed protocols, including one or more of:

not connecting the device and the mobile phone software when the vehicle is turned on;

exiting the mobile phone software while driving;

stopping the connection between the mobile phone software and the device while driving;

putting the mobile phone software in the background of the mobile phone while driving; and

engaging in certain prohibited mobile phone functions while driving.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the vehicle state sensor comprises a microchip configured to determine when the microchip starts receiving electricity from the vehicle'"'"'s battery and when the microchip stops receiving electricity from the vehicle'"'"'s battery.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the vehicle state sensor comprises an accelerometer for measuring vehicle vibrations.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein the device is operationally engaged with any electrical circuitry in the vehicle that receives electricity directly or indirectly from the battery of the vehicle.

25. The system of claim 20, wherein a user'"'"'s use of one or more of the plurality of functions of the mobile phone is viewable by an administrator.

26. The system of claim 20, wherein

the mobile phone further comprises a GPS sensor;

and

the mobile phone software further comprises a speed check feature, whereby the user requests through an application interface on the mobile phone that the software determine whether the user is traveling under a defined speed threshold, the software periodically acquires data from the GPS sensor to determine if the mobile phone is moving at a speed under the speed threshold and the software prevents use of one or more of the plurality of functions of the mobile phone in response to the data received from the GPS sensor, allowing full functionality of the mobile phone if the phone is moving under the speed threshold and preventing use of one or more of the plurality of functions of the mobile phone if the mobile phone is moving over the speed threshold.

27. The system of claim 20, wherein

the mobile phone further comprises a motion sensor;

and

the mobile phone application further comprises a motion check feature, whereby the software application periodically acquires data from the motion sensor to determine if the mobile phone is in motion and the software application prevents use of one or more of the plurality of functions of the mobile phone in response to the data received from the motion sensor, allowing full functionality of the mobile phone if the phone is not in motion and preventing use one or more of the plurality of functions of the mobile phone if the mobile phone is in motion.

28. The system of claim 20, wherein the software is configured to determine if the user is a driver of the vehicle.

29. The system of claim 20, wherein

the device further comprises a unique number for identifying the device;

the mobile phone further comprises a unique identifier for identifying the mobile phone;

the wireless transmitter of the device communicates the unique number of the device to the mobile phone via the receiver; and

the software uses the unique number and the unique identifier to determine if the user is a driver of the vehicle.

30. The system of claim 20, wherein

the microchip is further configured to record the number of times the audible alarm is generated and the total amount of time that the audible alarm is generated;

and

the software generates a user score based on the number of times and the total amount of time that the audible alarm is generated and on the usage of one or more of a plurality of functions of the mobile phone.