System and method for controlling an occupant communication device based on driver status

• US 8,718,866 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2008
• Issued: 05/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Miller, Thomas Lee, Shutko, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): PIPALA, EDWARD J
• Application Number:
  US12/138,976
• Publication Number:
  US 20090312901A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,153 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/29, 701/32, 701/35, 701/36, 701/37, 701/41, 701/49, 701/29.1, 701/70, 701/93, 701/29.6, 701/31.5, 701/33.2, 701/33.3, 701/34.2, 340/425.5, 340/426.1, 340/430, 340/438, 340/439, 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 307/10.2, 307/10.3, 307/10.4, 307/10.5, 307/10.6
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01546 using belt buckle sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/045 by limiting or cutting the electrical supply to the propulsion unit
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/241 whereby access privileges are related to the identifiers

Abstract

A system for controlling the operation of at least one of commanding an occupant communication device and entering data into the occupant communication device based on whether a driver is a primary or a secondary driver is provided. A controller is configured to receive a driver status signal indicative of whether the driver is the primary driver or the secondary driver. The controller is configured to determine whether the driver of the vehicle is one of the primary and the secondary driver based on the at least one driver status signal. The controller is configured to selectively control the operation of at least one of commanding the occupant communication device and entering data into the occupant communication device based on whether the driver of the vehicle is the primary driver or the secondary driver.

Claims

1. A system for controlling an operation of at least one of commanding an occupant communication device and entering data into the occupant communication device that is operably coupled to a vehicle, wherein at least one primary key is configured to be assigned to a primary driver and at least one secondary key is configured to be assigned to a secondary driver, the system comprising:

a key ignition device positioned on at least one of the primary key and the secondary key and being configured to transmit at least one driver status signal indicative of whether the driver is one of the primary driver and the secondary driver; and

a controller configured to;

receive the at least one driver status signal;

determine whether the driver of the vehicle is one of the primary and the secondary driver based on the at least one driver status signal;

selectively control the operation of the at least one of commanding the occupant communication device and entering data into the occupant communication device based on whether the driver of the vehicle is one of the primary driver and the secondary driver; and

allow the driver of the vehicle to perform the operation of the at least one of commanding the occupant communication device and entering data into the occupant communication device with voice input in response to determining that the driver of the vehicle is the secondary driver.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is capable of allowing the driver to enable/disable the operation of the at least one of commanding the occupant communication device and entering data into the occupant communication device in response to determining that the driver of the vehicle is the primary driver.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is further configured to prevent the driver from disabling the operation of the at least one of commanding and entering data into the occupant communication device in response to determining that the driver of the vehicle is the secondary driver.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is further configured to prevent the driver of the vehicle from performing the operation of the at least one of commanding the occupant communication device and entering data entry into the occupant communication device via touch entry in response to determining that the driver of the vehicle is the secondary driver.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the occupant communication device includes one of a cellular phone, a text messaging device, and a music playback device.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is further configured to allow the driver of the vehicle to perform the operation of the at least one of commanding the occupant communication device and entering data entry into the occupant communication device via touch entry in response to determining that the driver of the vehicle is the secondary driver and to receiving a vehicle speed signal indicating that a speed of the vehicle is less than or equal to a predetermined vehicle speed.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is further configured to prevent the driver of the vehicle from performing the operation of the at least one of commanding the occupant communication device and entering data entry into the occupant communication device via touch entry in response to determining that the driver of the vehicle is the secondary driver and to receiving a vehicle speed signal indicating that a speed of the vehicle is greater than a predetermined vehicle speed.

8. A method for controlling an operation of at least one of commanding an occupant communication device and entering data into the occupant communication device that is operably coupled to a vehicle, wherein at least one primary key is configured to be assigned to a primary driver and at least one secondary key is configured to be assigned to a secondary driver, the method comprising:

receiving at least one driver status signal indicative of whether the driver is one of the primary driver and the secondary driver from a key ignition device positioned on at least one of the primary key and the secondary key;

determining whether the driver of the vehicle is one of the primary and the secondary driver based on the at least one driver status signal;

selectively controlling, at a controller, the operation of the at least one of commanding the occupant communication device and entering data into the occupant communication device based on whether the driver of the vehicle is one of the primary driver and the secondary driver; and

allowing the driver of the vehicle to perform the operation of the at least one of commanding the occupant communication device and entering data into the occupant communication device via voice input in response to determining that the driver of the vehicle is the secondary driver.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising allowing the driver to enable/disable the operation of the at least one of commanding the occupant communication device and entering data into the occupant communication device in response to determining that the driver of the vehicle is the primary driver.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising preventing the driver from disabling the operation of the at least one of commanding and entering data into the occupant communication device in response to determining that the driver of the vehicle is the secondary driver.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising preventing the driver of the vehicle from performing the operation of the at least one of commanding the occupant communication device and entering data entry into the occupant communication device via touch entry in response to determining that the driver of the vehicle is the secondary driver.

12. The method of claim 8 further comprising allowing the driver of the vehicle to perform to the operation of the at least one of commanding the occupant communication device and entering data entry into the occupant communication device via touch entry in response to determining that the driver of the vehicle is the secondary driver and to receiving a vehicle speed signal indicating that a speed of the vehicle is less than or equal to a predetermined vehicle speed.

13. The method of claim 8 further comprising preventing the driver of the vehicle from performing the operation of the at least one of commanding the occupant communication device and entering data entry into the occupant communication device via touch entry in response to determining that the driver of the vehicle is the secondary driver and to receiving a vehicle speed signal indicating that a speed of the vehicle is greater than a predetermined vehicle speed.

14. A system for controlling an operation of at least one of commanding an occupant communication device and entering data into the occupant communication device in a vehicle, the system comprising:

a first controller configured to associate at least one primary key to a primary driver and to associate at least one secondary key to a secondary driver and to generate at least one driver status signal indicative of whether the driver is one of the primary driver and the secondary driver; and

a second controller configured to;

receive the at least one driver status signal;

determine whether the driver of the vehicle is one of the primary and the secondary driver based on the at least one driver status signal;

selectively control the operation of the at least one of commanding the occupant communication device and entering data into the occupant communication device based on whether the driver of the vehicle is one of the primary driver and the secondary driver; and

enable the driver of the vehicle to perform the operation of the at least one of commanding the occupant communication device and entering data into the occupant communication device via voice input in response to determining that the driver of the vehicle is the secondary driver.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the second controller is capable of allowing the driver to enable/disable the operation of the at least one of commanding the occupant communication device and entering data into the occupant communication device in response to determining that the driver of the vehicle is the primary driver.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein the second controller is further configured to prevent the driver from disabling the operation of the at least one of commanding the occupant communication device and entering data into the occupant communication device in response to determining that the driver of the vehicle is the secondary driver.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein the second controller is further configured to prevent the driver of the vehicle from performing the operation of the at least one of commanding the occupant communication device and entering data entry into the occupant communication device via touch entry in response to determining that the driver of the vehicle is the secondary driver.

18. A system for operating an occupant communication device in a vehicle, the system comprising:

an ignition device being configured to transmit a driver status signal indicative of a driver being one of a primary driver and a secondary driver; and

a controller being configured to;

receive the driver status signal;

receive a vehicle speed signal indicative of a speed of the vehicle; and

enable an operation of the occupant communication device in the event the driver is the secondary driver and the speed of the vehicle is less than a predetermined speed.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the controller is further configured to enable the operation of the occupant communication device via touch entry in the event the driver is the secondary driver and the speed of the vehicle is less than the predetermined speed.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein the controller is further configured to enable the driver to at least one of command the occupant communication device and enter data into the occupant communication device with only voice input in the event the driver of the vehicle is the secondary driver and the speed of the vehicle is greater than the predetermined speed.

21. An apparatus for operating a communication device, the apparatus comprising:

a controller configured to;

receive a driver status signal from an ignition device indicative of a driver being one of a primary driver and a secondary driver;

receive a first signal indicative of a speed of a vehicle; and

enable an operation of the communication device if the driver is the secondary driver and the speed of the vehicle is less than a predetermined speed.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the controller is further configured to enable the driver to at least one of command the communication device and enter data into the communication device with only voice input in the event the driver of the vehicle is the secondary driver and the speed of the vehicle is greater than the predetermined speed.

23. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the controller is further configured to enable the operation of the communication device via touch entry in the event the driver is the secondary driver and the speed of the vehicle is less than the predetermined speed.