Method and system for using a hands-free-audio profile to limit use of a wireless communication device

• US 8,548,441 B1
• Filed: 09/14/2009
• Issued: 10/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Jones, Bryce A., McMullen, Michael P., Nelson, Rodney D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Siddiqui, Kashif
• Application Number:
  US12/559,235
• Time in Patent Office: 1,478 Days
• Field of Search: 455/187, 455/414, 455426-428, 455456-462
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6075 adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle H04M1/6058 takes precedence; arrangements for holding telephones in a vehicle B60R11/0241
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

The described systems and methods allow for safer operation of a wireless communication device (WCD). The methods may be carried out at the WCD or at a wireless-communications network that interfaces to the WCD. A hands-free-audio (HFA) profile associated with the WCD may be set to enabled or disabled. A speed-condition of the WCD is determined and compared to a speed-threshold. If the speed-condition is greater than the speed-threshold and the HFA profile is enabled, then the WCD is operable to engage in wireless communications (e.g., voice calls or text messaging) via an HFA device associated with the WCD. If the speed-condition is greater than the speed-threshold and the HFA profile is set to disabled, then the WCD may prevent and/or postpone wireless communications from occurring. After the speed-condition is determined to be less than the speed-threshold, previously received communications (e.g., text messages) may be presented via the WCD.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

storing, at a non-transitory computer-readable data storage device of a wireless communication device, a hands-free-audio profile of the wireless communication device, computer-readable data that indicates a threshold speed, and computer-readable data that indicates a threshold time, wherein the hands-free-audio profile can be switched from an enabled state to a disabled stated and from the disabled stated to the enabled state;

determining, using a processor of the wireless communication device, a most-recent speed-condition of the wireless communication device, wherein the most-recent speed-condition indicates whether the wireless communication device is moving at a speed greater than the threshold speed and indicates an amount of consecutive time that the wireless communication device has been stationary or moving at a speed less than the threshold speed;

monitoring, at the processor of the wireless communication device, a state of the hands-free-audio profile;

receiving, at the wireless communication device, a message that indicates an incoming voice call is available for connecting to the wireless communication device;

if the hands-free-audio profile monitored by the processor is set to the disabled state and the amount of consecutive time is less than the threshold amount of time, then executing, using the processor, computer-readable program instructions to prevent the incoming voice call from being answered at the wireless communication device; and

if the hands-free-audio profile monitored by the processor is set to the enabled state and the amount of consecutive time is less than the threshold amount of time, then, executing, using the processor, computer-readable program instructions that prevent the incoming voice call from being answered in a non-hands-free-audio mode of the wireless communication device and to answer the incoming voice call using a hands-free-audio mode of the wireless communication device.

2. The method of claim 1,

wherein receiving the message comprises the wireless communication device receiving a wireless page message that indicates the incoming voice call is available for connecting to the wireless communication device.

3. The method of claim 1,

wherein, if the hands-free-audio profile monitored by the processor is set to the disabled state and the most-recent speed condition alternatively indicates that the wireless communication device has been moving at a speed less than the threshold speed for an amount of time greater than or equal to the threshold time, then, executing, using the processor, computer-readable program instructions that allow the incoming voice call to be answered via a non-hands-free-audio mode of the wireless communication device,

wherein, if the hands-free-audio profile monitored by the processor is set to the enabled state and the most-recent speed condition alternatively indicates that the wireless communication device has been moving at a speed less than the threshold speed for an amount of time greater than or equal to the threshold time, then, executing, using the processor, computer-readable program instructions that allow the incoming voice call to be answered using the hands-free-audio mode of the wireless communication device or the non-hands-free-audio mode of the wireless communication device,

wherein, if the hands-free-audio profile monitored by the processor is set to the disabled state and the most-recent speed-condition determined by the processor indicates the wireless communication device is moving at a speed greater than the threshold speed, then executing, using the processor, computer-readable program instructions to prevent the incoming voice call from being answered at the wireless communication device, and

wherein, if the hands-free-audio profile monitored by the processor is set to the enabled state and the most-recent speed-condition determined by the processor indicates the wireless communication device is moving at a speed greater than the threshold speed or the amount of consecutive time is less than the threshold amount of time, then, executing, using the processor, computer-readable program instructions that prevent the incoming voice call from being answered in a non-hands-free-audio mode of the wireless communication device and to answer the incoming voice call using a hands-free-audio mode of the wireless communication device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the most-recent speed-condition of the wireless communication device occurs prior to receiving the message that indicates the incoming voice call is available for connecting to the wireless communication device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the most-recent speed-condition of the wireless communication device occurs after receiving the message that indicates the incoming voice call is available for connecting to the wireless communication device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

executing, using the processor, computer-readable program instructions that prevent the wireless communication device from initiating a voice call if the hands-free-audio profile is set to the disabled state and the most-recent speed-condition indicates that the wireless communication device is moving at a speed greater than the threshold speed; and

executing, using the processor, computer-readable program instructions that allow the wireless communication device to initiate an outgoing voice call using the hands-free audio mode if the hands-free-audio profile is set to the enabled state and the most-recent speed-condition indicates that the wireless communication device is moving at a speed greater than the threshold speed.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication device prevents the incoming voice call from being answered at the wireless communication device by preventing a user interface of the wireless communication device from presenting an alert that indicates the incoming voice call is available for answering, and the wireless communication device sending via an air interface a message that causes the incoming voice call to be switched to a voice mail server so that a caller can record a voice mail message for a user of the wireless communication device.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the threshold speed depends upon an age of a person that uses the wireless communication device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the threshold speed for an age less than a given age is less than the threshold speed for an age greater than the given age.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the threshold speed is 0 kilometers per hour.

7. A method comprising:

storing, at a non-transitory computer-readable data storage device of a wireless communication device, a hands-free-audio profile of the wireless communication device, computer-readable data that indicates a threshold speed, and computer-readable data that indicates a threshold time, wherein the hands-free-audio profile can be switched from an enabled state to a disabled stated and from the disabled stated to the enabled state;

determining, using a processor of the wireless communication device, a most-recent speed-condition of the wireless communication device, wherein the most-recent speed-condition indicates whether the wireless communication device is moving at a speed greater than the threshold speed and indicates an amount of consecutive time that the wireless communication device has been stationary or moving at a speed less than the threshold speed;

monitoring, at the processor of the wireless communication device, a state of the hands-free-audio profile;

receiving, at the wireless communication device, a message destined for the wireless communication device;

if the hands-free-audio profile monitored by the processor is set to the disabled state and the amount of consecutive time is less than the threshold amount of time, then postponing presentation of the message at the wireless communication device; and

if the hands-free-audio profile monitored by the processor is set to the enabled state and the most-recent speed-condition determined by the processor indicates the wireless communication device is moving at a speed greater than the threshold speed, then allowing presentation of the message using a hands-free-audio mode of the wireless communication device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the message is selected from the group consisting of a text message, a short message service (SMS) message, a multimedia messaging service (MMS) message, an enhanced message service (EMS) message, and a text message comprising a message-waiting indicator.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the message-waiting-indicator comprises data that indicates that a voice mail message or a facsimile is available for sending to the wireless communication device or that the wireless communication device missed a voice call that was placed to the wireless communication device.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

after postponing presentation of the message, determining, using the processor, a subsequent most-recent speed-condition of the wireless communication devices;

if the hands-free-audio profile is set to the disabled state and the subsequent most-recent speed-condition indicates an amount of consecutive time, greater than or equal to the threshold time, that the wireless communication device has been moving at a speed less than the threshold speed, then allowing presentation of the message using a non-hands-free-audio mode of the wireless communication device, and

if the hands-free-audio profile is set to the enabled state and the subsequent most-recent speed-condition indicates an amount of consecutive time, greater than or equal to the threshold time, that the wireless communication device has been moving at a speed less than the threshold speed, then allowing presentation of the message using the hands-free-audio mode of the wireless communication device or the non-hands-free-audio mode of the wireless communication device.

11. The method of claim 7,

if the hands-free-audio profile is set to the enabled state and the amount of consecutive time is less than the threshold amount of time, then allowing presentation of the message using the hands-free-audio mode of the wireless communication device but not via a non-hands-free-audio mode of the wireless communication device, and

if the hands-free-audio profile monitored by the processor is set to the disabled state and the most-recent speed-condition determined by the processor indicates the wireless communication device is moving at a speed greater than the threshold speed, then postponing presentation of the message at the wireless communication device.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

if the hands-free-audio profile monitored by the processor is set to the disabled state and if the amount of consecutive time is greater than or equal to the threshold amount of time, then allowing presentation of the message using a non-hands-free-audio mode of the wireless communication device, and

if the hands-free-audio profile monitored by the processor is set to the enabled state and if the amount of consecutive time is greater than or equal to the threshold amount of time, then allowing presentation of the message using the hands-free-audio mode of the wireless communication device or via the non-hands-free-audio mode of the wireless communication device.

13. A wireless communication device comprising:

a computer-readable data storage device storing computer-readable program instructions, a hands-free-audio profile, data that indicates a threshold speed, and data that indicates a threshold time, wherein the hands-free-audio profile can be switched from an enabled state to a disabled state and from the disabled state to the enabled state;

a processor that executes the computer-readable program instructions; and

a communication interface configured to receive a message that indicates an incoming voice call is available for connecting to the wireless communication device,

wherein the program instructions comprise first program instructions that are executable by the processor to determine a most-recent speed-condition of the wireless communication device, wherein the most-recent speed-condition indicates whether the wireless communication device is moving at a speed greater than the threshold speed and indicates an amount of consecutive time that the wireless communication device has been stationary or moving at a speed less than the threshold speed,

wherein the program instructions comprise second program instructions that are executable by the processor to prevent the incoming voice call from being answered by the wireless communication device, wherein the processor executes the second program instructions in response to (i) the communication interface receiving the message and (ii) a determination that the hands-free-audio profile is set to the disabled state and the amount of consecutive time is less than the threshold amount of time, and

wherein the program instructions comprise third program instructions that are executable by the processor to answer the incoming voice call using a hands-free audio mode of the wireless communication device, wherein the processor executes the third program instructions in response to (i) the communication interface receiving the message and (ii) a determination that the hands-free-audio profile is set to the enabled state and or the amount of consecutive time is less than the threshold amount of time.

14. The system of claim 13,

wherein the program instructions comprise fourth program instructions that are executable if the hands-free-audio profile is set to the disabled state and the amount of consecutive time is greater than or equal to the threshold amount of time,

wherein execution of the fourth program instructions allows the incoming voice call to be answered via a non-hands-free-audio mode of the wireless communication device but not via the hands-free-audio mode of the wireless communication device,

wherein the program instructions comprise fifth program instructions that are executable if the hands-free-audio profile is set to the enabled state and the amount of consecutive time is greater than or equal to the threshold amount of time, and

wherein execution of the fifth program instructions allows the incoming voice call to be answered via the hands-free-audio mode of the wireless communication device or the non-hands-free-audio mode of the wireless communication device.

21. The system of claim 13,

wherein the processor also executes the second program instructions in response to (i) the communication interface receiving the message and (ii) a determination that the hands-free-audio profile is set to the disabled state and the most-recent speed-condition indicates that the wireless communication device is moving at a speed greater than the threshold speed, and

wherein the processor executes the third program instructions in response to (i) the communication interface receiving the message and (ii) a determination that the hands-free-audio profile is set to the enabled state and the most-recent speed-condition indicates that the wireless communication device is moving at a speed greater than the threshold speed.

15. A wireless communication device comprising:

a computer-readable data storage device storing computer-readable program instructions, a hands-free-audio profile, data that indicates a threshold speed, and data that indicates a threshold time, wherein the hands-free-audio profile can be switched from an enabled state to a disabled state and from the disabled state to the enabled state;

a processor that executes the computer-readable program instructions; and

a communication interface configured to receive a message that is destined for the wireless communication device,

wherein the program instructions comprise first program instructions that are executable by the processor to determine a most-recent speed-condition of the wireless communication device, wherein the most-recent speed-condition indicates whether the wireless communication device is moving at a speed greater than the threshold speed and indicates an amount of consecutive time that the wireless communication device has been stationary or moving at a speed less than the threshold speed,

wherein the program instructions comprise second program instructions that are executable by the processor to cause presentation of the received message to be postponed, wherein the processor executes the second program instructions in response to (i) the communication interface receiving the message and (ii) a determination that the hands-free-audio profile is set to the disabled state and the amount of consecutive time is less than the threshold amount of time, and

wherein the program instructions comprise third program instructions that are executable by the processor to cause the received message to be presented using a hands-free audio mode of the wireless communication device, wherein the processor executes the third program instructions in response to (i) the communication interface receiving the message and (ii) a determination that the hands-free-audio profile is set to the enabled state and the amount of consecutive time is less than the threshold amount of time.

16. The system of claim 15,

wherein the message comprises a text message,

wherein the execution of the third program instructions converts the text message to an audible message, and

wherein execution of the third program instructions causes the communication interface to transmit the audible message to a hands-free-audio device associated with the wireless communication device so as to allow presentation of the audible message via the hands-free-audio device.

22. The wireless communication device of claim 15,

wherein the processor also executes the second program instructions in response to (i) the communication interface receiving the message and (ii) a determination that the hands-free-audio profile is set to the disabled state and the most-recent speed-condition indicates that the wireless communication device is moving at a speed greater than the threshold speed, and

wherein the processor also executes the third program instructions in response to (i) the communication interface receiving the message and (ii) a determination that the hands-free-audio profile is set to the enabled state and the most-recent speed-condition indicates that the wireless communication device is moving at a speed greater than the threshold speed.