System and method for monitoring and restricting the usage of a mobile communication device

• US 8,676,268 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2010
• Issued: 03/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Anzen Electronics, LLC
• Original Assignee: Steven J. Riggs
• Inventors: Riggs, Steven J., Skertic, Richard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Siddiqui, Kashif
• Application Number:
  US12/868,213
• Publication Number:
  US 20120052834A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,301 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 455/565
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections

Abstract

A system and methodology for monitoring and restricting the use of a mobile communication device while operating a moving vehicle is disclosed. The mobile communications device environmental/geometrical context and the vehicle environmental/geometrical context are self determined, shared and stored locally. This information context is used to restrict a mobile communication device communication channel when motion conditions have been met. Further methods are disclosed to allow the mobile communication device to function normally when local vehicle location and synchronization have been established or an emergency communication channel initiated.

Claims

1. A method of inhibiting the use of a mobile communication device while in motion comprising the acts of:

(a) The mobile communication device;

(i) repeatedly obtaining time stamped mobile device GPS data of its location, storing the current environmental/geometrical context in computer memory; and

,

(ii) said mobile communication device self-determining its movement from said mobile device GPS data given its environmental/geometrical context, and

(iii) initially inhibiting at least one transmitting, receiving and on-going communication channel of the mobile communications device in response to said act of self-determining the mobile communications device'"'"'s velocity reaching a minimum velocity value; and

(b) having a communications synchronization between;

(i) said mobile communications device; and

(ii) a separate vehicle communication device which has a GPS sensor to obtain vehicle GPS data of its location;

(c) wherein, when said mobile communication device both;

(i) has said communication synchronization between it and said vehicle communication device to compare the mobile device GPS data of the mobile communication device to the vehicle GPS data of the vehicle communication device; and

,

(ii) is outside a vicinity in the vehicle corresponding to the driver location based on the comparison of the mobile device GPS data of the mobile communication device and the vehicle GPS data of the vehicle communication device, then said vehicle communication device signals said mobile communication device and suspends said inhibiting of said at least one communication channel of the mobile communications device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method performed establishes a synchronization communication channel with said vehicle communication device and transmits the mobile communication device environmental/geometrical context to said vehicle communication device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle communication device determines its location and movement context, storing the environmental/geometrical context of the vehicle communication device along with the other environmental/geometrical context of the synchronized mobile communication device, and determining the mobile communication device level of risk for the user and transmit that level to the synchronized mobile communication device.

4. The method of claim 1, and further comprising the acts of receiving an indication of the level of risk in order to grant the moving synchronized mobile communication device full access to all communications channels and functions or to keep all communication channels and functions inhibited.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein, the environmental/geometrical context of a synchronized mobile communication device is further enhanced through a signal strength algorithm to determine the geometrical context of the synchronized mobile communication device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the inhibiting of all communication channels and functions are suspended by the establishment of an emergency communication channel.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein a minimum speed requirement must be achieved by the mobile communications device before all communication channels and functions are inhibited.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a graphic or tone indication of the mobile communication device that all communication channels and functions are inhibited.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one application program or function having a primary function that is non-communication is inhibited in response to said act of self-determining the mobile communications devices velocity reaching said minimum velocity value.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said vehicle communication device:

(i) repeatedly obtains time stamped vehicle GPS data of its location, and stores that location data in computer memory; and

,

(ii) said vehicle communication device self-determines its location and movement from said vehicle GPS data.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the mobile communication device transmits its environmental/geometrical context to said vehicle communication device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said vehicle communication device uses said vehicle GPS data in determining the geometrical context of the mobile communication device as to whether the mobile communication device is within a defined area of the vehicle.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the GPS sensor of the vehicle communication device repeatedly obtains time stamped vehicle GPS data of its location and stores the current environmental/geometrical context in a computer memory.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein said vehicle communication device signals said mobile communication device and suspends said inhibiting of said at least one communication channel of the mobile communication device with a permission signal sent from the vehicle.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein initially inhibiting at least one transmitting, receiving and on-going communication channel of the mobile communications device further comprises self-inhibiting at least one transmitting, receiving and on-going communication channel of the mobile communications device.

13. A mobile communication device for inhibiting its use while in motion comprising:

(a) A mobile communication device adapted for;

(i) repeatedly obtaining time stamped mobile device GPS data of its location, and storing the current environmental/geometrical context in computer memory; and

,

(ii) said mobile communication device self-determining its movement from said mobile device GPS data given its environmental/geometrical context, and

(iii) initially inhibiting at least one transmitting, receiving and on-going communication channel of the mobile communications device in response to said act of self-determining the mobile communications device'"'"'s velocity reaching a minimum velocity value; and

(b) wherein said mobile communications device is adapted for communications synchronization between;

(i) said mobile communications device; and

, (ii) a separate vehicle communication device which has a GPS sensor to obtain vehicle GPS data of its location;

(c) wherein said mobile communications device is adapted for use when said mobile communication device both;

(i) has said communication synchronization between it and said vehicle communication device to compare the mobile device GPS data of the mobile communication device to the vehicle GPS data of the vehicle communication device; and

,

(ii) is outside a vicinity in the vehicle corresponding to the driver location based on the comparison of the mobile device GPS data of the mobile communication device and the vehicle GPS data of the vehicle communication device, then said vehicle communication device signals said mobile communication device and suspends said inhibiting of said at least one communication channel of the mobile communications device.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein at least one application program or function having a primary function that is non-communication is inhibited in response to said self-determining the mobile communications device'"'"'s velocity reaching said minimum velocity value.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the inhibiting of all communication channels and functions are suspended by the establishment of an emergency communication channel.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein a minimum speed requirement must be achieved by the mobile communications device before all communication channels and functions are inhibited.

20. A method of inhibiting the use of a mobile communication device in a vehicle while in motion, the method comprising the steps of:

repeatedly obtaining time stamped mobile device GPS data of the location of a mobile communications device;

obtaining vehicle GPS data of the location of a vehicle communication device;

comparing the mobile device GPS data to the vehicle GPS data to determine if the mobile communication device is outside a vicinity of the vehicle corresponding to a driver location; and

if the mobile communication device is outside a vicinity of the vehicle corresponding to the driver location, sending a signal from the vehicle communication device to the mobile communication device to suspend an inhibition of at least one communication channel of the mobile communications device based on the comparison of the mobile device GPS data and the vehicle GPS data.