System and method for enabling safe hands-free operation of a wireless telephone in a vehicle
First Claim
1. A method for operating wireless devices in vehicles, the method comprising:
- monitoring a relationship between a wireless device and a vehicle by evaluating geographical location information that specifies a geographical location of the wireless device and that specifies a geographical location of the vehicle, wherein the geographical location information is generated for each of the wireless device and the vehicle by at least one location system, to determine the relationship by comparing the geographical location of the wireless device to the geographical location of the vehicle; and
enabling operation of the wireless device in a hands-free mode if the relationship satisfies a condition.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for using a wireless telephone in a vehicle in a hands-free mode. The wireless telephone and the vehicle have corresponding mating units. When a predetermined condition is satisfied while the mating units are not united, one of the wireless telephone and the vehicle is disabled. The predetermined condition can be one of several situations. For example, one condition may be that an attempt is being made to use the wireless telephone in the vehicle while the vehicle is moving. Another condition may be that an attempt is being made to move the vehicle while the wireless telephone is being used in a wireless communication session within the vehicle. When the mating units are united, the vehicle functions normally and the wireless telephone operates in a hands-free mode.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for operating wireless devices in vehicles, the method comprising:
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monitoring a relationship between a wireless device and a vehicle by evaluating geographical location information that specifies a geographical location of the wireless device and that specifies a geographical location of the vehicle, wherein the geographical location information is generated for each of the wireless device and the vehicle by at least one location system, to determine the relationship by comparing the geographical location of the wireless device to the geographical location of the vehicle; and enabling operation of the wireless device in a hands-free mode if the relationship satisfies a condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for using a wireless telephone in a vehicle, the method comprising:
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determining presence of the wireless telephone within the vehicle by finding a geographic location of the wireless telephone, finding a geographic location of the vehicle, and comparing the geographic location of the wireless telephone to the geographic location of the vehicle; and enabling a hands-free mode of the wireless telephone if the wireless telephone is present within the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for operating wireless devices in vehicles, the system comprising:
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means for determining a positional relationship between a wireless device and a vehicle by generating position data for the wireless device and generating position data for the vehicle and by comparing the position data for the wireless device to the position data of the vehicle; means for defining a condition based on the positional relationship for enabling a hands-free mode; and means for enabling the wireless device to operate in the hands-free mode where the positional relationship of the wireless device being in the vehicle is satisfied. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A storage medium containing processor-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising:
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comparing geographical location information obtained for a mobile device and geographical location information obtained for a vehicle to determine a positional relationship between the mobile device and the vehicle; and enabling a hands-free mode of operation of the mobile device if the positional relationship indicates that the mobile device is located within the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification