System for selectively disabling cell phone text messaging function
First Claim
1. For use in a motor vehicle having a driver door providing access for a driver, a selective cell phone text messaging function disabling system, comprising a signal broadcasting system and a cell phone, and wherein:
- a. said cell phone has a selectively deactivatable text messaging functionality and comprises;
i. a sensor adapted to receive characteristic signals from said signal broadcasting system;
ii. a central processing unit in communication with said sensor and including an internal memory configured to store machine executable instructions, said central processing unit being operable to execute said instructions to detect and process said characteristic signals and to enable and disable said text messaging functionality; and
b. said signal broadcasting system comprises an emitter configured to emit characteristic signals in a transmission zone proximate said driver door, said signal broadcasting system being activated upon opening of said driver door, first and second characteristic signals being emitted during alternate activations of said signal broadcasting system; and
c. said cell phone is configured to;
i. detect said first characteristic signal received by said sensor;
ii. disable said text messaging functionality in response to detection of said first characteristic signal;
iii. thereafter to detect a second characteristic signal received by said sensor; and
iv. re-enable said text messaging functionality in response to detection of said second characteristic signal,d. said broadcast signal is a simple signal that commands said cell phone text messaging functionality off during entry through said driver door and turns on said cell phone text messaging functionality during exit through said driver door; and
e. said signal broadcasting system turns on a dash indicator light in the dashboard of said vehicle upon transmission of said first characteristic signal and said sensor enabled cell phone turns on a phone indicator light in the cell phone upon receipt of said first characteristic signal;
whereby a driver of said motor vehicle is inhibited from text messaging while driving to thereby provide a higher level of safety for the driver and others on the roadway, and cell phones of passengers entering said vehicle through doors other than said driver-side door have text messaging functionality available.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A selective cell phone text messaging function disabling system prevents a vehicle occupant from text messaging while driving. Other occupants of the vehicle can text message using their cell phones. The driver'"'"'s cell phone text messaging functionality is turned off by a signal broadcasting system as the driver enters the vehicle through the driver-side door. When the driver exits the vehicle through the driver-side door, the cell phone resumes its texting capability, preserving text messaging functionality while the driver is not operating the vehicle.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. For use in a motor vehicle having a driver door providing access for a driver, a selective cell phone text messaging function disabling system, comprising a signal broadcasting system and a cell phone, and wherein:
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a. said cell phone has a selectively deactivatable text messaging functionality and comprises; i. a sensor adapted to receive characteristic signals from said signal broadcasting system; ii. a central processing unit in communication with said sensor and including an internal memory configured to store machine executable instructions, said central processing unit being operable to execute said instructions to detect and process said characteristic signals and to enable and disable said text messaging functionality; and b. said signal broadcasting system comprises an emitter configured to emit characteristic signals in a transmission zone proximate said driver door, said signal broadcasting system being activated upon opening of said driver door, first and second characteristic signals being emitted during alternate activations of said signal broadcasting system; and c. said cell phone is configured to; i. detect said first characteristic signal received by said sensor; ii. disable said text messaging functionality in response to detection of said first characteristic signal; iii. thereafter to detect a second characteristic signal received by said sensor; and iv. re-enable said text messaging functionality in response to detection of said second characteristic signal, d. said broadcast signal is a simple signal that commands said cell phone text messaging functionality off during entry through said driver door and turns on said cell phone text messaging functionality during exit through said driver door; and e. said signal broadcasting system turns on a dash indicator light in the dashboard of said vehicle upon transmission of said first characteristic signal and said sensor enabled cell phone turns on a phone indicator light in the cell phone upon receipt of said first characteristic signal; whereby a driver of said motor vehicle is inhibited from text messaging while driving to thereby provide a higher level of safety for the driver and others on the roadway, and cell phones of passengers entering said vehicle through doors other than said driver-side door have text messaging functionality available. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for deactivating a text messaging functionality of a cell phone carried by a driver operating a motor vehicle assumed to comprise:
- (i) a driver door providing access for the driver and (ii) a signal broadcasting system adapted to emit characteristic signals in a transmission zone proximate said driver door, and the cell phone being assumed capable to;
(i) receive and process the characteristic signals and (ii) selectively enable and disable the text messaging functionality, the method comprising;a. activating said signal broadcasting system to emit a first characteristic signal during a first opening of said driver door; b. first detecting with said cell phone said emission of said first characteristic signal; c. disabling said text messaging functionality of said cell phone in response to said first detecting of said first characteristic signal; d. thereafter, activating said signal broadcasting system to emit a second characteristic signal during the next subsequent opening of said driver door; e. second detecting with said cell phone said emission of said second characteristic signal; and f. re-enabling said text messaging functionality of said cell phone in response to said second detecting of said emission of said second characteristic signal; where said first characteristic signal comprises a first authentication code and said second characteristic signal comprises a second authentication code; and
said first and second activation codes are changed at each activation of said signal broadcasting system to emit a said first characteristic signal. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
- (i) a driver door providing access for the driver and (ii) a signal broadcasting system adapted to emit characteristic signals in a transmission zone proximate said driver door, and the cell phone being assumed capable to;
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21. For use in a motor vehicle having a driver door providing access for a driver, a selective cell phone text messaging function disabling system, comprising a signal broadcasting system and a cell phone, and wherein:
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a. said cell phone has a selectively deactivatable text messaging functionality and comprises; i. a sensor adapted to receive characteristic signals from said signal broadcasting system; ii. a central processing unit in communication with said sensor and including an internal memory configured to store machine executable instructions, said central processing unit being operable to execute said instructions to detect and process said characteristic signals and to enable and disable said text messaging functionality; and b. said signal broadcasting system comprises an emitter configured to emit characteristic signals in a transmission zone proximate said driver door, said signal broadcasting system being activated upon opening of said driver door, first and second characteristic signals being emitted during alternate activations of said signal broadcasting system; and c. said cell phone is configured to; i. detect said first characteristic signal received by said sensor; ii. disable said text messaging functionality in response to detection of said first characteristic signal; iii. thereafter to detect a second characteristic signal received by said sensor; and iv. re-enable said text messaging functionality in response to detection of said second characteristic signal, d. said signal broadcasting system turns on a dash indicator light in the dashboard of said vehicle upon transmission of said first characteristic signal and said sensor enabled cell phone turns on a phone indicator light in the cell phone upon receipt of said first characteristic signal; whereby a driver of said motor vehicle is inhibited from text messaging while driving to thereby provide a higher level of safety for the driver and others on the roadway, and cell phones of passengers entering said vehicle through doors other than said driver-side door have text messaging functionality available. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification