Safety features for portable electronic device

• US 8,565,820 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2012
• Issued: 10/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2005
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Longhorn Automotive Group LLC (Alpha Alpha Intellectual Partners LLC)
• Original Assignee: Mykee Acquisitions LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Riemer, Michael S., Barbera, Melvin A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vuong, Quochien B
• Application Number:
  US13/560,863
• Publication Number:
  US 20120289217A1
• Time in Patent Office: 452 Days
• Field of Search: 455/344, 455/345, 455/550.1, 455/556.1, 455/557, 455/565, 455/567, 455/568.1, 455/569.1, 455/569.2, 455/575.1, 455/575.9, 340/441, 340/525, 340/575, 340/576, 340/901
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information

Abstract

A portable device includes a safety feature that prevents some forms of use when the device is moving. The device may detect its speed or movement, compare that to a threshold, and provide a response or blocking function upon exceeding that threshold. The device may be a cell phone configured to disable transmission and reception of voice/text, conceal its display screen, and disable incorporated features and functions, if the cell phone is moving faster than walking speed or the movement is uncharacteristic of walking. The blocking function may be partially overridden based on a safety policy, which can be managed and customized. The introduction of hands-free devices may serve to override a blocking function and enable other functions.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device system, comprising:

a portable electronic device configured to provide a plurality of functions;

a motion detection logic configured to receive data from a motion detector and to communicate one or more signals indicative of movements of the portable electronic device unrelated to speed;

a safety logic configured to receive the one or more signals;

a threshold logic configured to compare the movements to one or more thresholds and generate one or more threshold signals; and

a safety policy of the portable electronic device, the safety policy indicating a consumer preference relating to modification of one or more functions from the plurality of functions;

wherein the portable electronic device is configured to modify a behavior of the one or more functions in accordance with the safety policy based on the one or more threshold signals.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device comprises one or more from the group consisting of a cellular phone, a telecommunications device, a mobile device, a data processing device, a portable digital assistant (PDA), a laptop computer, a netbook, a smartbook, or an MP3 player.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising an alert system configured to send an alert to one or more recipients according to one or more events defined in the safety policy.

4. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein the alert comprises one or more from the group consisting of an audial alert and a text alert.

5. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein the one or more recipients include a consumer of the portable electronic device and a second consumer.

6. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein the one or more functions include a voice communication function, wherein the alert system is configured to send the alert to a second consumer in response to the portable electronic device receiving a voice communication from the second consumer.

7. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein the one or more functions include a text messaging function, wherein the alert system is configured to send the alert to a second consumer in response to the portable electronic device receiving a text communication from the second consumer.

8. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein the text communication comprises one or more from the group consisting of a text message, an email, a multimedia message, and an instant message.

9. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein the safety policy includes account information for one or more third-party websites, wherein the alert comprises a status message posted on the one or more third-party websites.

10. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein the one or more recipients include a third-party application.

11. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein the third-party application is located within the portable electronic device.

12. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein the third-party application is located remotely to the portable electronic device.

13. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein the alert includes additional information comprising one or more of a status information of the portable electronic device, an advertising content, a sponsorship content, and another form of content.

14. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a dashboard displayed on a display of a computer or the portable electronic device, the dashboard configured to receive one or more edits to the safety policy.

15. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein the one or more edits comprise one or more of deletion of the safety policy, creation of a new safety policy, and modification of the safety policy or the new safety policy.

16. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein the dashboard is configured to receive one or more edits to one or more administrative safety policies.

17. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein the dashboard is configured to assign a policy from the one or more administrative safety policies to a second consumer.

18. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein the dashboard is configured to modify remotely a behavior of a function from the one or more functions.

19. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein the dashboard is configured to send a query to the portable electronic device to obtain a status information of the portable electronic device.

20. The system as recited in claim 19, wherein the one or more functions include a text messaging function, wherein the query comprises a text communication sent to the portable electronic device.

21. The system as recited in claim 20, wherein the text communication is comprises one or more from the group consisting of an email, a text message, a multimedia message, an instant message, and another form of message.

22. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the safety policy includes a keypad access policy of the portable electronic device.

23. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the safety policy defines the one or more threshold signals.

24. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device includes one or more third-party applications, wherein the safety policy defines a modification of behavior of the one or more third-party applications in response to the one or more threshold signals.

25. The system as recited in claim 24, wherein the modification of behavior of the one or more third-party applications includes suppression of an alert associated with the one or more third-party applications or conversion of the alert into an audible announcement with a text to speech converter.

26. The system as recited in claim 1, the portable electronic device including a list of contacts, wherein the safety policy defines a priority level for one or more contacts from the list of contacts.

27. The system as recited in claim 26, wherein the one or more functions invoked in response to an action initiated by a contact from the list of contacts, and wherein the portable electronic device is configured to modify the behavior of the one or more functions based on the priority level of the contact.

28. The system as recited in claim 26, wherein a ring tone invoked in response to an action initiated by a contact from the list of contacts is based on the priority level of the contact.

29. The system as recited in claim 26, further comprising an alert system, wherein an audible alert played in response to an action initiated by a contact from the list of contacts is based on the priority level of the contact.

30. The system as recited in claim 29, wherein the audible alert is configured to play a contact information associated with the contact.

31. The system as recited in claim 30, wherein the contact information includes a name of the contact, a phone number of the contact, and the priority level of the contact.

32. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the data from the motion detector includes positioning data for the portable electronic device.

33. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the motion detector comprises a GPS data receiver.

34. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the motion detector comprises an accelerometer.

35. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the motion detector comprises a navigation system.

36. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the safety policy defines one or more additional events, wherein the portable electronic device is configured to modify the behavior of the one or more functions in response to occurrence of the one or more additional events.

37. The system as recited in claim 36, wherein the portable electronic device is in communication with one or more hands-free devices, wherein the one or more additional events include detecting the one or more hands-free devices.

38. The system as recited in claim 37, wherein the one or more hands-free devices include a BLUETOOTH system.

39. The system as recited in claim 36, wherein the one or more additional events comprise one or more of the group consisting of detection of the presence of a charger, detection of the presence of a cradle, detection of the presence of a BLUETOOTH system, detection of the presence of a navigation device, detection of the presence of a token mechanism associated with a vehicle, and occurrence of a calendar event.

40. The system as recited in claim 36, wherein an event entry is stored on a safety log associated with the portable electronic device in response to the one or more additional events.

41. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein a threshold entry is stored on a safety log associated with the portable electronic device in response to the one or more threshold signals.

42. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device includes a speaker and a microphone, the system further comprising a set of voice services, wherein the set of voice services is configured to control the one or more functions based on one or more voice commands.

43. The system as recited in claim 42, wherein the set of voice services is located within the portable electronic device.

44. The system as recited in claim 42, wherein the set of voice services is located remotely to the portable electronic device.

45. The system as recited in claim 42, wherein the set of voice services is configured to override the modification of the behavior of the one or more functions.

46. The system as recited in claim 42, wherein the set of voice services is configured to control one or more third-party applications within the portable electronic device and one or more remote third-party applications during modification of the behavior of the one or more third-party applications and the one or more remote third-party applications.

47. The system as recited in claim 42, wherein the one or more functions include a text messaging function, wherein a text to speech converter converts a text communication received by the portable electronic device into audio played by the portable electronic device system.

48. The system as recited in claim 42, wherein the one or more functions include a text messaging function, wherein a speech to text converter converts audio to a text communication.

49. The system as recited in claim 42, wherein the one or more functions include a voice communication function, and wherein the one or more voice commands are interpreted as a command to perform at least one of answering a voice communication initiated by a second consumer and received by the portable electronic device, listening to a contact information associated with the second consumer, listening to voice mail messages, and initiating a second voice communication to a third consumer.

50. The system as recited in claim 42, wherein the one or more functions include a text messaging function, wherein the one or more voice commands are interpreted as a command to perform at least one of listening to a text communication received by the portable electronic device and converted to audio with a text to speech converter, listening to a contact information associated with the text communication, dictating audio converted to a second text communication with a speech to text converter, and responding to the text communication.

51. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more functions include a voice communication function, wherein the safety policy defines a modification of a ring-back tone played to a second consumer initiating a voice communication to the portable electronic device.

52. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more functions include a voice communication function, wherein the safety policy defines a modification of a voice mail greeting played to a second consumer initiating a voice communication to the portable electronic device.

53. A method comprising:

detecting movements of a portable electronic device unrelated to speed, the portable electronic device configured to provide a plurality of functions;

comparing the movements to one or more thresholds;

determining whether the movements are in excess of the one or more thresholds; and

modifying a behavior of one or more functions from the plurality of functions in response to determining that the movements exceed the one or more thresholds and in accordance with a definable safety policy.

54. The method as recited in claim 53, wherein the portable electronic device comprises one or more from the group consisting of a cellular phone, a telecommunications device, a mobile device, a data processing device, a portable digital assistant (PDA), a laptop computer, a netbook, a smartbook, or an MP3 player.

55. The method as recited in claim 53, further comprising sending an alert to one or more recipients according to one or more events defined in the safety policy.

56. The method as recited in claim 55, wherein the alert comprises one or more from the group consisting of an audial alert and a text alert.

57. The method as recited in claim 55, wherein the one or more recipients include a consumer of the portable electronic device and a second consumer.

58. The method as recited in claim 55, wherein the one or more functions include a voice communication function, wherein sending the alert includes sending the alert to a second consumer in response to the portable electronic device receiving a voice communication from the second consumer.

59. The method as recited in claim 55, wherein the one or more functions include a text messaging function, wherein sending the alert includes sending the alert to a second consumer in response to the portable electronic device receiving a text communication from the second consumer.

60. The method as recited in claim 59, wherein the text communication comprises one or more from the group consisting of a text message, an email, a multimedia message, and an instant message.

61. The method as recited in claim 55, wherein the safety policy includes account information for one or more third-party websites, wherein sending the alert includes posting the alert as a status message on the one or more third-party websites.

62. The method as recited in claim 55, wherein the one or more recipients include a third-party application.

63. The method as recited in claim 62, wherein the third-party application is located within the portable electronic device.

64. The method as recited in claim 62, wherein the third-party application is located remotely to the portable electronic device.

65. The method as recited in claim 55, wherein the alert includes additional information comprising one or more of a status information of the portable electronic device, an advertising content, a sponsorship content, and another form of content.

66. The method as recited in claim 53, further comprising:

displaying a dashboard on a display of the portable electronic device, wherein the dashboard is configured to receive one or more edits to the safety policy.

67. The method as recited in claim 66, wherein the one or more edits comprise one or more of deletion of the safety policy, creation of a new safety policy, and modification of the safety policy or the new safety policy.

68. The method as recited in claim 66, wherein the dashboard is configured to receive one or more edits to one or more administrative safety policies.

69. The method as recited in claim 68, further comprising assigning a policy from the one or more administrative safety policies to a second consumer.

70. The method as recited in claim 66, further comprising remotely modifying a behavior of a function from the one or more functions.

71. The method as recited in claim 66, further comprising sending a query to the portable electronic device to obtain a status information of the portable electronic device.

72. The method as recited in claim 71, wherein the one or more functions include a text messaging function, wherein the query comprises a text communication sent to the portable electronic device.

73. The method as recited in claim 72, wherein the text communication comprises one or more from the group consisting of an email, a text message, a multimedia message, an instant message, and another form of message.

74. The method as recited in claim 53, wherein the safety policy includes a keypad access policy of the portable electronic device.

75. The method as recited in claim 53, wherein the safety policy defines the one or more thresholds.

76. The method as recited in claim 53, wherein the portable electronic device includes one or more third-party applications, the method further comprising modifying an application behavior of the one or more third-party applications in response to determining that the movements exceed the one or more thresholds.

77. The method as recited in claim 76, wherein modifying the application behavior of the one or more third-party applications comprises:

suppressing an alert associated with the one or more third-party applications; and

converting the alert into an audible announcement with a text to speech converter.

78. The method as recited in claim 53, wherein the portable electronic device includes a list of contacts wherein the safety policy comprises a priority level of one or more contacts from the list of contacts.

79. The method as recited in claim 78, further comprising modifying the behavior of the one or more functions invoked in response to an action initiated by a contact from the list of contacts based on the priority level of the contact.

80. The method as recited in claim 78, further comprising modifying a ring tone invoked in response to an action initiated by a contact from the list of contacts based on the priority level of the contact.

81. The method as recited in claim 78, further comprising playing an audible alert invoked in response to an action initiated by a contact from the list of contacts based on the priority level of the contact.

82. The method as recited in claim 81, wherein playing the audible alert includes playing a contact information associated with the contact.

83. The method as recited in claim 82, wherein the contact information includes a name of the contact, a phone number of the contact, and the priority level of the contact.

84. The method as recited in claim 53, wherein detecting movements includes receiving data from a motion detector, wherein the data received from the motion detector includes positioning data for the portable electronic device.

85. The method as recited in claim 53, wherein detecting movements includes receiving data from a motion detector, wherein the motion detector comprises a GPS data receiver.

86. The method as recited in claim 53, wherein detecting movements includes receiving data from a motion detector, wherein the motion detector comprises an accelerometer.

87. The method as recited in claim 53, wherein detecting movements includes receiving data from a motion detector, wherein the motion detector comprises a navigation system.

88. The method as recited in claim 53, further comprising:

modifying the behavior of the one or more functions in response to determining an occurrence of one or more additional events defined in the safety policy.

89. The method as recited in claim 88, wherein the one or more additional events include detecting use of one or more hands-free devices in combination with the portable electronic device.

90. The method as recited in claim 89, wherein the one or more hands-free devices include a BLUETOOTH system.

91. The method as recited in claim 88, wherein the one or more additional events comprise one or more of the group consisting of detection of the presence of a charger, detection of the presence of a cradle, detection of the presence of a BLUETOOTH system, detection of the presence of a navigation device, detection of the presence of a token mechanism associated with a vehicle, and an occurrence of calendar event.

92. The method as recited in claim 88, further comprising storing an event entry on a safety log associated with the portable electronic device in response to the one or more additional events.

93. The method as recited in claim 53, further comprising storing a threshold entry on a safety log associated with the portable electronic device in response to the one or more thresholds.

94. The method as recited in claim 53, wherein the portable electronic device includes a speaker and a microphone, wherein modifying the behavior of the one more functions includes enabling control of the one or more functions with a set of voice services.

95. The method as recited in claim 94, wherein the set of voice services is located within the portable electronic device.

96. The method as recited in claim 94, wherein the set of voice services is located remotely to the portable electronic device.

97. The method as recited in claim 94, further comprising overriding the behavior of the one or more functions with the set of voice services.

98. The method as recited in claim 94, further comprising enabling use of one or more third-party applications within the portable electronic device and one or more remote third-party applications with the set of voice services.

99. The method as recited in claim 94, wherein the one or more functions include a text messaging function, the method further comprising:

converting a text communication received by the portable electronic device into audio with a text to speech converter; and

playing the audio.

100. The method as recited in claim 94, wherein the one or more functions include a text messaging function, further comprising:

receiving audio; and

converting the audio to a text communication with a speech to text converter.

101. The method as recited in claim 94, wherein the one or more functions include a voice communication function, wherein enabling control of the one or more functions with a set of voice services comprises at least one of:

interpreting one or more voice commands as a command to answer a voice communication initiated by a second consumer and received by the portable electronic device;

interpreting one or more voice commands as a command to listen to a contact information associated with the second consumer;

interpreting one or more voice commands as a command to listen to voice mail messages; and

interpreting one or more voice commands as a command to initiate a second voice communication to a third consumer.

102. The method as recited in claim 94, wherein the one or more functions include a text messaging function, wherein enabling control of the one or more functions with a set of voice services comprises:

converting a text communication received by the portable electronic device to an audio with a text to speech converter; and

interpreting one or more voice commands as a command to perform one or more of playing the audio, playing a contact information associated with the text communication, converting dictated audio to a second text communication with a speech to text converter, and responding to the text communication.

103. The method as recited in claim 53, wherein the one or more functions include a voice communication function, the method further comprising modifying a ring-back tone played to a second consumer initiating a voice communication to the portable electronic device, wherein the manner in which the ring-back tone is modified is defined in the safety policy.

104. The method as recited in claim 53, wherein the one or more functions include a voice communication function, the method further comprising modifying a voice mail greeting played to a second consumer initiating a voice communication to the portable electronic device, wherein the manner in which the voice mail greeting is modified is defined in the safety policy.

105. A system comprising:

means for detecting movements of a portable electronic device unrelated to speed, the portable electronic device configured to provide a plurality of functions, wherein the portable electronic device includes one or more applications;

means for comparing the movements to one or more thresholds;

means for determining whether the movements are in excess of the one or more thresholds;

means for modifying a behavior of one or more functions from the plurality of functions in response to determining that the movements exceed the one or more thresholds and in accordance with a definable safety policy; and

means for modifying an application behavior of the one or more applications in response to determining that the movements exceed the one or more thresholds.

106. The system as recited in claim 105, wherein the portable electronic device comprises one or more from the group consisting of a cellular phone, a telecommunications device, a mobile device, a data processing device, a portable digital assistant (PDA), a laptop computer, a netbook, a smartbook, or an MP3 player.

107. The system as recited in claim 105, further comprising:

means for sending an alert to one or more recipients according to one or more events defined in the safety policy.

108. The system as recited in claim 107, wherein the one or more recipients include a third-party application.

109. The system as recited in claim 105, further comprising:

means for displaying a dashboard on a display of the portable electronic device, wherein the dashboard is configured to receive one or more edits to the safety policy.

110. The system as recited in claim 105, wherein the one or more applications comprise one or more third-party applications, the application behavior is an application behavior of one of the one or more third-party applications.

111. The system as recited in claim 110, wherein the means for modifying the application behavior of the one or more third-party applications comprises:

means for suppressing an alert associated with the one or more third-party applications; and

means for converting the alert into an audible announcement with a text to speech converter.

112. The system as recited in claim 105, wherein the portable electronic device includes a speaker and a microphone, wherein the means for modifying the behavior of the one more functions comprises means for enabling control of the one or more functions with a set of voice services.

113. The system as recited in claim 112, further comprising:

means for enabling use of one or more third-party applications within the portable electronic device and one or more remote third-party applications with the set of voice services.

114. A computer readable medium having instructions embodied thereon, the instructions comprising:

instructions to detect movements of a portable electronic device unrelated to speed, the portable electronic device configured to provide a plurality of functions, wherein the portable electronic device includes one or more applications;

instructions to compare the movements to one or more thresholds;

instructions to determine whether the movements are in excess of the one or more thresholds;

instructions to modify a behavior of one or more functions from the plurality of functions in response to determining that the movements exceed the one or more thresholds and in accordance with a definable safety policy; and

instructions to modify an application behavior of the one or more applications in response to determining that the movements exceed the one or more thresholds.

115. The computer readable medium as recited in claim 114, wherein the portable electronic device comprises one or more from the group consisting of a cellular phone, a telecommunications device, a mobile device, a data processing device, a portable digital assistant (PDA), a laptop computer, a netbook, a smartbook, or an MP3 player.

116. The computer readable medium as recited in claim 114, the instructions further comprising:

instructions to send an alert to one or more recipients according to one or more events defined in the safety policy.

117. The computer readable medium as recited in claim 116, wherein the one or more recipients include a third-party application.

118. The computer readable medium as recited in claim 114, the instructions further comprising:

instructions to display a dashboard on a display of the portable electronic device, wherein the dashboard is configured to receive one or more edits to the safety policy.

119. The computer readable medium as recited in claim 114, wherein the one or more applications comprise one or more third-party applications, the application behavior is an application behavior of one of the one or more third-party applications.

120. The computer readable medium as recited in claim 119, wherein the instructions to modify the application behavior of the one or more third-party applications comprise:

instructions to suppress an alert associated with the one or more third-party applications; and

instructions to convert the alert into an audible announcement with a text to speech converter.

121. The computer readable medium as recited in claim 114, wherein the portable electronic device includes a speaker and a microphone, wherein the instructions to modify the behavior of the one more functions includes instructions to enable control of the one or more functions with a set of voice services.

122. The computer readable medium as recited in claim 121, the instructions further comprising:

instructions to enable use of one or more third-party applications within the portable electronic device and one or more remote third-party applications with the set of voice services.