Vehicle computer link to mobile phone

• US 8,213,962 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2009
• Issued: 07/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Carr, Jeffrey Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Corsaro, Nick
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, MAHENDRA R
• Application Number:
  US12/506,920
• Publication Number:
  US 20110021213A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,078 Days
• Field of Search: 455/513, 455/456, 370/328, 361/679.56, 361/727, 257/E21.318, 257/E21.266, 257/E23.118, 257/E21.279, 257/E23.127, 703/13, 210/456
• US Class Current: 455/456.4
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication

Abstract

A method is implemented by a mobile device associated with a short-range wireless network in a vehicle. The method includes identifying a paired device within the short-range wireless network, the paired device having access to a vehicle information system, and receiving, from the paired device, vehicle status information from the vehicle information system. The mobile device determines if the vehicle status information triggers a safety mode for the mobile device and disables particular features or components of the mobile device based on the determination.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

identifying, by a mobile device, a paired device within a short-range wireless network associated with a vehicle,

the paired device having access to a vehicle information system;

receiving, by the mobile device and from the paired device, vehicle status information from the vehicle information system;

determining, by the mobile device, whether the vehicle status information triggers a safety mode for the mobile device when the vehicle is in motion and the mobile device is within a safety zone,

the safety zone being within the vehicle;

disabling, by the mobile device and while the vehicle is in motion, a display of the mobile device when the vehicle status information triggers the safety mode for the mobile device;

receiving, by the mobile device, seat sensor information from the vehicle information system;

determining, by the mobile device, whether the mobile device is in possession of a passenger of the vehicle based on the seat sensor information; and

enabling, by the mobile device, the display of the mobile device when the mobile device is in the possession of the passenger.

2. The method of claim 1, where the vehicle status information includes one or more of:

an indication of motion of the vehicle,

an indication of a transmission position of the vehicle,

an indication of starting an engine of the vehicle, or

door sensor information.

3. The method of claim 1,

where an effective range of the short-range network defines an area for the safety zone.

4. The method of claim 1, where the mobile device includes:

a radiotelephone,

a personal communications system (PCS) terminal,

a personal digital assistant (PDA),

a laptop computer;

a multimedia player,

a gaming device,

binoculars, or

a camera.

5. The method of claim 1, where identifying the paired device within the short-range wireless network comprises:

using a version of a Bluetooth protocol or a version of a Wi-Fi protocol to identify the paired device within the short-range wireless network.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the paired device and by the mobile device, additional vehicle status information from the vehicle information system;

determining whether the additional vehicle status information triggers discontinuing of the safety mode for the mobile device; and

restoring operation of the display of the mobile device when the additional vehicle status information triggers the discontinuing of the safety mode for the mobile device.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

allowing, by the mobile device, one or more other features of the mobile device to remain operational when the vehicle status information triggers the safety mode for the mobile device,

the one or more other features comprising at least one of;

a voice-activated application of the mobile device, or

a hands-free tool of the mobile device.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, based on the vehicle status information, whether the vehicle is within a particular distance of another vehicle; and

disabling an additional feature, of the mobile device, when the vehicle is within the particular distance of the other vehicle,

the additional feature being different from the display.

7. A mobile device comprising:

a memory; and

a processor to;

identify, via a short-range wireless connection, a computing device associated with a vehicle,

receive, via the short-range wireless connection, vehicle status information from the computing device,

determine whether the vehicle status information triggers a safety mode for the mobile device when the vehicle is in motion and the mobile device is within a safety zone,

the safety zone being within the vehicle,

disable, while the vehicle is in motion, a display of the mobile device when the vehicle status information triggers the safety mode for the mobile device,

receive seat sensor information from the computing device,

determine whether the mobile device is in possession of a passenger of the vehicle based on the seat sensor information, and

enable the display of the mobile device when the mobile device is in the possession of the passenger.

8. The mobile device of claim 7, where the vehicle status information includes one or more of:

an indication of motion of the vehicle,

an indication of a transmission position of the vehicle,

door sensor information,

a vehicle speed in relation to a posted speed limit, or

a vehicle speed in relation to a proximity to another vehicle.

9. The mobile device of claim 7,

where an effective range of the short-range wireless connection defines an area for the safety zone.

10. The mobile device of claim 7, where, when identifying the computing device, the processor is to:

use a version of a Bluetooth protocol or a version of a Wi-Fi protocol to identify the computing device via the short-range wireless connection.

11. The mobile device of claim 7, where the mobile device comprises one or more of:

a radiotelephone,

a personal communications system (PCS) terminal,

a personal digital assistant (PDA), or

a laptop computer.

12. The mobile device of claim 7, where the processor is further to:

receive, via the short-range wireless connection, additional vehicle status information from the computing device, and

restore operation of the display of the mobile device based on the additional vehicle status information.

13. The mobile device of claim 7, where the processor is further to:

notify another device in communication with the mobile device that the display is disabled.

14. A mobile device comprising:

a memory; and

a processor to;

receive vehicle status information from a computer within a vehicle,

determine whether the vehicle status information triggers a safety mode for the mobile device while the vehicle is in motion and the mobile device is within a safety zone,

the safety zone being within the vehicle,

disable a display of the mobile device when the vehicle status information triggers the safety mode for the mobile device while the vehicle is in motion,

receive seat sensor information from the computer;

determine whether the mobile device is in possession of a passenger of the vehicle based on the seat sensor information; and

enable the display of the mobile device when the mobile device is in the possession of the passenger.

15. The mobile device of claim 14, where the mobile device comprises one or more of:

a radiotelephone,

a personal communications system (PCS) terminal,

a personal digital assistant (PDA),

a laptop computer,

a multimedia player,

a gaming device,

binoculars, or

a camera.

16. The mobile device of claim 14, where the vehicle status information includes one or more of:

an indication of motion of the vehicle,

an indication of a transmission position of the vehicle,

or

door sensor information.

17. An electronic device comprising:

a memory; and

a processor to;

identify a paired device within a short-range wireless network associated with a vehicle;

receive, from the paired device, vehicle status information;

determine whether the vehicle status information triggers a safety mode for the electronic device when the vehicle is in motion and the electronic device is within a safety zone,

the safety zone being within the vehicle;

disable a display of the electronic device when the vehicle status information triggers the safety mode;

receive seat sensor information from the paired device;

determine whether the electronic device is in possession of a passenger of the vehicle based on the seat sensor information; and

enable the display of the electronic device when the electronic device is in the possession of the passenger.

18. The electronic device of claim 17,

where the vehicle status information is different from the seat sensor information.