Limiting user device functionality during motor vehicle operation

• US 8,320,884 B1
• Filed: 12/14/2011
• Issued: 11/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Evans, Ryan, Khanna, Nitin M., Dheenathayalu, Umashanker
• Primary Examiner(s): Hu, Jinsong
• Assistant Examiner(s): Georgewill, Opiribo
• Application Number:
  US13/325,224
• Time in Patent Office: 349 Days
• Field of Search: 455/418, 455/557, 455/411, 345/156, 345/173, 340/506
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/10 Automotive applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724634 With partially locked states, e.g. when some telephonic functional locked states or applications remain accessible in the locked states
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion

Abstract

A user device receives information associated with the user device, and detects movement of the user device. The user device also determines whether the movement is greater than a threshold velocity, and determines, when the movement is greater than the threshold velocity, whether the user device is located in a moving motor vehicle based on the information associated with the user device. The user device further places functionality of the user device in a semi-locked state when the user device is located in a moving motor vehicle.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

maintaining, by a user device, functionality of the user device when the user device is not located in a moving vehicle;

receiving, by the user device, information associated with the user device,

the information including travel purchase information associated with the user device;

detecting, by the user device, movement of the user device;

determining, by the user device, whether the movement is greater than a threshold velocity;

determining, when the movement is greater than the threshold velocity, whether the user device is located in the moving vehicle based on the information associated with the user device;

placing the functionality of the user device into a semi-locked state when the user device is located in a moving vehicle;

providing for display, by the user device, an unlock mechanism on a display of the user device when the functionality of the user device is in the semi-locked state,

the unlock mechanism including at least one of an icon, a link, or a button;

enabling, by the user device, particular functions of the user device when the functionality of the user device is in the semi-locked state;

detecting, by the user device, a first contact, by a user of the user device, on the unlock mechanism;

enabling, by the user device, additional functions of the user device when the first contact remains in contact with the unlock mechanism,

the additional functions being different from the particular functions;

detecting, by the user device, a second contact, by the user, on one or more keys associated with one of the additional functions; and

performing, by the user device, the one of the additional functions based on the second contact on the one or more keys.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the user device is stationary when the movement is less than or equal to the threshold velocity; and

maintaining the functionality of the user device when the user device is determined to be stationary.

3. The method of claim 1, where the information further includes:

calendar information associated with the user device.

10. The method of claim 1, where the travel purchase information includes an indication regarding whether a user of the user device is traveling on a particular day.

11. The method of claim 1, where the additional functions include one or more of a texting application, an email application, or an Internet-based application.

12. The method of claim 1, where the particular functions include a phone application.

13. The method of claim 1,

where the first contact is by a first hand of the user, and

where the second contact is by a second hand of the user.

14. The method of claim 1, where displaying the unlock mechanism includes:

displaying unlock instructions on a display of the user device,

the unlock instructions instructing a user, of the user device, to select and hold the unlock mechanism.

4. A user device comprising:

a processor to;

maintain functionality of the user device when the user device is not located in a moving vehicle;

receive information associated with the user device,

detect movement associated with the user device,

determine whether the movement is greater than a threshold velocity,

determine, when the movement is greater than the threshold velocity, whether the user device is located in the moving vehicle based on the information associated with the user device,

place the functionality of the user device into a semi-locked state when the user device is located in a moving vehicle,

the semi-locked state preventing a user of the user device from utilizing texting applications, email applications, and Internet-based applications,

provide for display an unlock mechanism on a display of the user device when the functionality of the user device is in the semi-locked state,

the unlock mechanism including at least one of an icon, a link, or a button,

enable particular functions of the user device when the functionality of the user device is in the semi-locked state,

detect additional functions of the user device when the first finger remains in contact with the unlock mechanism,

the additional functions being different from the particular functions,

detect contact by a second finger, of a second hand, on one or more keys associated with one of the additional functions, and

perform the one of the additional functions based on the contact of the second finger on the one or more keys.

5. The user device of claim 4, where the processor is further to:

maintain the functionality of the user device when the movement is less than or equal to the threshold velocity.

6. The user device of claim 4, where the information includes one or more of:

travel purchases information associated with the user device, or calendar information associated with the user device.

15. The user device of claim 4, where the additional functions include one or more functions that require at least one of menu operations or keypad operations.

16. The user device of claim 4, where the additional functions include one or more of a texting application, an email application, or an Internet-based application.

17. The user device of claim 4, where the particular functions include a phone application.

18. The user device of claim 4, where, when displaying the unlock mechanism, the processor is to:

provide for display instructions that instruct a user, of the user device, to select and hold the unlock mechanism.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising:

one or more instructions that, when executed by a processor of a user device, cause the processor to;

maintain functionality of the user device when the user device is not located in a moving vehicle,

retrieve information associated with the user device,

detect movement of the user device,

determine whether the movement is greater than a threshold velocity,

determine, when the movement is greater than the threshold velocity, whether the user device is located in the moving vehicle based on the information associated with the user device, and

place the functionality of the user device into a semi-locked state when the user device is located in the moving vehicle,

provide for display an unlock mechanism on a display of the user device when the functionality of the user device is in the semi-locked state,

the unlock mechanism including at least one of an icon, a link, or a button,

enable particular functions of the user device when the functionality of the user device is in the semi-locked state,

detect contact by a first finger, of a first hand, on the unlock mechanism,

enable specific functions of the user device when the when the first finger remains in contact with the unlock mechanism,

the specific functions being different from the particular functions,

detect contact by a second finger, of a second hand, on one or more keys associated with one of the specific functions, and

perform the one of the specific functions based on the contact of the second finger on the one or more keys.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, further comprising:

one or more instructions that, when executed by the processor of the user device, cause the processor to;

determine that the user device is stationary when the movement is less than or equal to the threshold velocity, and

maintain the functionality of the user device when the user device is stationary.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, where the information includes one or more of:

travel purchase information associated with the user device, or

calendar information associated with the user device.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, where the additional functions include one or more functions that require at least one of menu operations or keypad operations.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, where the particular functions include a phone application.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, where the one or more instructions to display the unlock mechanism include:

one or more instructions that, when executed by the processor of the user device, cause the processor to;

provide for display instructions that instruct a user, of the user device, to select and hold the unlock mechanism.