Access control for vehicle mounted communications devices
First Claim
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1. A utilization control system for limiting access by the operator of a vehicle to programmable computer having ports for delivering output signals to communications devices mounted on said vehicle comprising:
- at least one vehicle motion condition detector providing signals indicative of current motion of said vehicle and of potential motion of said vehicle;
at least one signal processor responsive to signals provided by said at least one detector indicative of vehicle motion and potential vehicle motion to generate blanking signals;
at least one vehicle mounted communications device; and
at least one blanking device associated with said signal processor and said communications device responsive to said blanking signals and configured to shut down output from the computer ports to said communications device to prevent utilization or interaction with said at least one communications device by said vehicle operator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed is a controller to prevent access or utilization by a vehicle operator to communications devices installed on the vehicle when the vehicle is in motion thereby reducing distractions of the operator.
129 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A utilization control system for limiting access by the operator of a vehicle to programmable computer having ports for delivering output signals to communications devices mounted on said vehicle comprising:
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at least one vehicle motion condition detector providing signals indicative of current motion of said vehicle and of potential motion of said vehicle; at least one signal processor responsive to signals provided by said at least one detector indicative of vehicle motion and potential vehicle motion to generate blanking signals; at least one vehicle mounted communications device; and at least one blanking device associated with said signal processor and said communications device responsive to said blanking signals and configured to shut down output from the computer ports to said communications device to prevent utilization or interaction with said at least one communications device by said vehicle operator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A utilization control system for limiting access by the operator of the vehicle to communications devices mounted on said vehicle comprising:
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a vehicle motion condition detector providing signals indicative of current motion of said vehicle and of potential motion of said vehicle said detector comprising a transmission park/neutral switch; a programmable digital computer used as a communication device on board said vehicle; and an optical isolater circuit in the signal path between said vehicle motion condition detector and said programmable digital computer, said computer being programmed to be responsive to said signals indicative of motion and of potential motion to generate blanking signals applied to said digital computer and limiting said operator'"'"'s utilization of said computer. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method, executed by a computer, comprising:
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detecting a vehicle motion condition of a vehicle, wherein the vehicle motion condition indicates whether it is possible for the vehicle to be currently in motion; and in response to die vehicle motion condition indicating that it is possible for the vehicle to be currently in motion, disabling communications through at least one port of the computer with at least one peripheral device associated with the computer so as to prevent interaction of the computer with a user of the computer. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification