System and method for motion-based control of electronic devices

• US 7,983,840 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2006
• Issued: 07/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: III Holdings 4, LLC
• Original Assignee: Hi-Tech Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Kaelin, Michael, Pair, Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby; Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US11/473,330
• Publication Number:
  US 20070010943A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,852 Days
• Field of Search: 701207-209, 701/213, 701/21, 701/36, 340989-993, 34235701-35712, 4554561-4566
• US Class Current: 701/213
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/164 Infotainment
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/195 Blocking or enabling display functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/197 Blocking or enabling of input functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/29 Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/52 Determining velocity

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method and system for disabling distracting features of electronic devices in a moving vehicle in order to enhance vehicle operator safety. A safety controller system may be operatively connected with a motion monitor within a vehicle and with a computing device in communication with the motion monitor. The safety controller system may include a motion monitor communication component for continuously receiving data from the motion monitor, which may be a GPS system installed within the vehicle. The safety controller system may additionally include a feature disabling module for disabling a feature of the electronic device based on detected motion conditions determined from the received data and a feature enabling module for enabling the feature of the electronic device based on a detected lack of motion determined from the received data.

Claims

1. A safety controller system operatively connected with a motion monitor within a vehicle and with a computing device in communication with the motion monitor, wherein the safety controller system is operative to remove a distracting feature of an electronic device from a vehicle operator environment under predetermined conditions, the safety controller system comprising:

a motion monitor communication component for continuously receiving data from the motion monitor;

a feature disabling module for disabling the distracting feature of the electronic device based on detected motion conditions determined from the received data; and

a feature enabling module for enabling the distracting feature of the electronic device based on a detected lack of motion determined from the received data.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the motion monitor comprises a GPS receiver.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the distracting feature comprises a screen display.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising vehicle operator control components for facilitating vehicle operator control of the safety controller system.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the vehicle operator control components comprise a temporary view component that allows a vehicle operator to temporarily view the distracting feature during vehicle motion.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising system administrator components for facilitating setting of the predetermined conditions.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the system administrator components comprise a speed adjustment component for allowing selection of a threshold speed to be met prior to activation of the feature disabling module.

8. The system of claim 6, further comprising a stop time adjustment component for allowing pre-selection of a set time period for delaying enablement of a distracting feature after lack of motion is determined.

9. The system of claim 6, further comprising a logo customization component for allowing selection of a display in place of the distracting feature.

10. The system of claim 2, further comprising a signal quality monitoring component for monitoring HDOP prior to confirming motion conditions.

11. The system of claim 2, further comprising a port sharing component for allowing the safety controller system to share a GPS port.

12. A method for removing a distracting feature of an electronic device from a vehicle operator environment under predetermined conditions, the method implementing a safety controller operatively connected with a motion monitor within a vehicle and with a computing device in communication with the motion monitor, the method comprising:

receiving motion data from a motion monitor within the vehicle;

evaluating the motion data against the predetermined conditions in order to determine if the motion data match the predetermined conditions;

activating a feature disabling module upon determining that the motion data match predetermined conditions in order to deactivate the distracting feature;

conducting real time evaluation of motion data to determine if the motion data cease to match the predetermined conditions; and

activating a feature enabling module to enable the distracting feature if the motion data cease to match the predetermined conditions.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein receiving the motion data comprises receiving GPS data from a GPS receiver.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the distracting feature comprises a screen display.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising providing vehicle operator control components for facilitating vehicle operator control of the safety controller system.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing a temporary view component that allows a vehicle operator to temporarily view the distracting feature during vehicle motion.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising providing system administrator components for facilitating setting of the predetermined conditions.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising providing a speed adjustment component for allowing selection of a threshold speed to be met prior to activation of the feature disabling module.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising providing a stop time adjustment component for allowing pre-selection of a set time period for delaying enablement of the distracting feature after lack of motion is determined.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising providing a logo customization component for allowing selection of a customized display in place of the distracting feature.

21. The method of claim 13, further comprising monitoring HDOP prior to confirming motion conditions.

22. The method of claim 13, further comprising allowing the safety controller system to share a GPS port.

30. The method of claim 18, further comprising providing a logo customization component for allowing selection of a customized display in place of the screen display.

23. A method for removing a distracting screen display of an electronic device from a vehicle operator environment under predetermined conditions, the method implementing a safety controller operatively connected with a motion monitor within a vehicle and with a computing device in communication with the motion monitor, the method comprising:

receiving motion data from a motion monitor within a vehicle;

evaluating the motion data against the predetermined conditions to determine if the motion data match the predetermined conditions;

activating a screen display disabling module upon determining that the motion data match the predetermined conditions in order to deactivate the distracting screen display; and

displaying a diagnostic screen including motion data.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein receiving the motion data comprises receiving GPS data from a GPS receiver.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising providing vehicle operator control components for facilitating vehicle operator control of the safety controller system.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising providing a temporary view component that allows a vehicle operator to temporarily view the distracting screen display during vehicle motion.

27. The method of claim 23, further comprising providing system administrator components for facilitating setting of the predetermined conditions.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising providing a speed adjustment component for allowing selection of a threshold speed to be met prior to activation of the screen display disabling module.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising providing a stop time adjustment component for allowing pre-selection of a set time period for delaying enablement of the screen display after lack of motion is determined.