Dual-mode vehicle mobile phone disabler

• US 8,478,237 B1
• Filed: 10/31/2011
• Issued: 07/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Stenta
• Original Assignee: Robert Stenta
• Inventors: Stenta, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Siddiqui, Kashif
• Application Number:
  US13/285,163
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• Field of Search: 455410-411, 455/414.1, 455419-420, 455/550.1, 455/552.1, 4555561-557, 4555691-5692, 455/575.9, 3404255-42636, 340/438, 340/439
• US Class Current: 455/410
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces

Abstract

A system prevents operation of a land vehicle having an interior when a communication functionality of a mobile phone is in use within the interior. The system includes a power source and a dual-mode mobile phone disabler including a processor powered by the power source and an antenna operably connected to the processor. Before the vehicle is on, the antenna detects a communication signal from the mobile phone within the interior when the communication functionality including communication with a cell site is in use. In response, the processor prevents the vehicle from being turned on until the antenna detects no use of the communication functionality. The communication signal indicates use of the communication functionality. After the vehicle is on, the processor, via the antenna, periodically communicates with the mobile phone within the interior to keep disabled the communication functionality. When the vehicle is off, the antenna ceases to communicate.

Claims

1. A system for effectively preventing operation of a land vehicle having an interior when at least one communication functionality of a mobile phone is in use within the interior, the system comprising:

a power source;

a dual-mode mobile phone disabler including

a processor powered by the power source,

an antenna operably connected to the processor,

wherein in a first mode, prior to the vehicle being turned on, the processor, via the antenna, searches for and detects a communication signal from the mobile phone within the interior of the vehicle when the at least one communication functionality of the mobile phone is in use and in response to the detected communication signal, the processor prevents the vehicle from being turned on until the processor, via the antenna, detects no use of the at least one communication functionality of the mobile phone, the at least one communication functionality includes communication with a cell site, the communication signal is indicative of use of the at least one communication functionality, and

wherein in a second mode, after the vehicle has been turned on, the processor, via the antenna, periodically communicates with the mobile phone within the interior of the vehicle to keep disabled the at least one communication functionality of the mobile phone and upon the vehicle being turned off, the antenna ceases to communicate, the disabler entering the second mode upon completion of the first mode and the first mode upon completion of the second mode.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one communication functionality excludes communication with an emergency response entity via the cell site and a global positioning satellite.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein in the first mode the processor permits the vehicle to be turned on when the mobile phone via the at least one communication functionality is in communication with an emergency response entity via the cell site and in the second mode the antenna ceases to communicate when the mobile phone via the at least one communication functionality attempts to communicate with the emergency response entity via the cell site.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the power source is a battery, the at least one communication functionality includes direct communication with another mobile phone within the interior.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the battery is attached to the vehicle, the at least one communication functionality excludes communication with a global positioning satellite.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising an ignition switch and a vehicle ignition system, the switch activates the ignition system, wherein the mobile phone disabler is operably connected to the ignition switch and the ignition system, in the first mode the processor prevents the vehicle from being turned on by deactivating the ignition system until the processor via the antenna detects no use of the at least one communication functionality of the mobile phone.

7. A dual-mode land vehicle mobile phone disabler for use within an interior of a land vehicle having an ignition switch with a first position and a second position, the disabler comprising:

an antenna;

a processor operably connected to the antenna, when the ignition switch is set to the first position, the processor, via the antenna, searches for a communication link between a mobile phone within the interior and a cell site;

a means for immediately disabling operation of the ignition switch when the communication link is detected; and

a means for continuously sending a disable signal via the antenna to the mobile phone within the interior during a first mode when the ignition switch is set to the first position and ceasing the sending of the disable signal during a second mode when the ignition switch is set to the second position, the disable signal prevents the mobile phone within the interior from establishing the link with the site, the means entering the second mode upon completion of the first mode and the first mode upon completion of the second mode.

8. The disabler of claim 7, wherein the link excludes communication with a global positioning satellite and an emergency response entity via the cell site.

9. The disabler of claim 8, further comprising a power source powering the processor, the means for immediately disabling operation of the ignition switch and the means for continuously sending a disable signal.

10. The disabler of claim 9, wherein the power source is a battery, the means for immediately disabling operation of the ignition switch disables the switch when a direct communication link between the mobile phone within the interior and another mobile phone within the interior is detected.

11. The disabler of claim 10, wherein the battery is attached to the vehicle, the first position is an on position and the second position is an off position.

12. A method for effectively preventing operation of a land vehicle having an interior when a mobile phone within the interior is in communication with a cell site, the method comprising:

prior to the vehicle being turned on, during a first mode of a dual mode phone disabler, searching, via the phone disabler, for a communication link between the phone within the interior and the cell site;

detecting, during the first mode, via the disabler, the link;

preventing, during the first mode, via the disabler, the vehicle from being turned on until the link is severed;

allowing, via the disabler, the vehicle to be turned on when the link is severed;

periodically communicating, during a second mode of the disabler, with the phone within the interior to prevent the phone within the interior from establishing the link with the site; and

ceasing, during the second mode, via the disabler, communicating with the phone within the interior when the vehicle is turned off, the disabler entering the second mode upon completion of the first mode and the first mode upon completion of the second mode.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the link excludes communication with an emergency response entity via the site and a global positioning satellite.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising searching for a direct connection link between the mobile phone within the interior and another mobile phone within the interior, preventing the vehicle from being turned on until the direct connection link is severed.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the vehicle includes an ignition switch and a vehicle ignition system, the switch activates the ignition system, wherein the mobile phone disabler is operably connected to the ignition switch and the ignition system, in the first mode the processor prevents the vehicle from being turned on by deactivating the ignition system until the processor via the antenna detects no use of the at least one communication functionality of the mobile phone.