Methods, systems, and computer program products for managing operation of an automotive vehicle

• US 8,773,251 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2011
• Issued: 07/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uatc, LLC (Uber Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sitting Man LLC
• Inventors: Morris, Robert Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Swarthout, Brent
• Application Number:
  US13/024,466
• Publication Number:
  US 20120206255A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,244 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425.5, 340/439, 340/468, 340/438, 340/575, 340/576, 455/1, 455/422, 455/517, 455/67.7, 455/418, 455/414.1
• US Class Current: 340/439
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0232 for measuring vehicle parameters and indicating critical, abnormal or dangerous conditions

Abstract

Methods and systems are described for managing operation of an automotive vehicle. Vehicle information, about an automotive vehicle, is received. The automotive vehicle has a current operational configuration for constraining an operation of the automotive vehicle. Device information, about a portable electronic device, is received. A detection is made, based on the vehicle information and the device information, that an operator of the automotive vehicle is a device user of the portable electronic device. In response to the detection, change information is sent to change the current operational configuration to alter a constraint on the operation of the automotive vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for managing operation of an automotive vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving first information about an automotive vehicle that indicates at least one aspect of automobile vehicle movement, wherein the automotive vehicle has a current operational configuration for allowing a first operation of the automotive vehicle;

receiving second information about a portable electronic device;

determining whether the automotive vehicle and the portable electronic device are at least capable of being communicatively coupled via at least one of a communications interface, a network port, or a protocol; and

sending, in response to receiving the first information about the automotive vehicle that indicates the at least one aspect of the automobile vehicle movement, change information to change the current operational configuration to alter a constraint on the first operation of the automotive vehicle, which results in disabling at least one aspect of a display device of the automotive vehicle and preventing a device user of the portable electronic device from accessing functionality that utilizes a network interface of the automotive vehicle.

2. A computer program product embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium, comprising:

code for receiving first information about an automotive vehicle that indicates at least one aspect of automobile vehicle movement, wherein the automotive vehicle has a current operational configuration for allowing a first operation of the automotive vehicle;

code for receiving second information about a portable electronic device;

code for determining whether the automotive vehicle and the portable electronic device are at least capable of being communicatively coupled via at least one of a communications interface, a network port, or a protocol; and

code for sending, in response to receiving the first information about the automotive vehicle that indicates the at least one aspect of the automobile vehicle movement, change information to change the current operational configuration to alter a constraint on the first operation of the automotive vehicle, which results in disabling at least one aspect of a display device of the automotive vehicle and preventing a device user of the portable electronic device from accessing functionality that utilizes a network interface of the automotive vehicle.

3. The computer program product of claim 2 wherein the computer program product is operable such that the at least one aspect of automobile vehicle movement relates to at least one of a rate of acceleration, a speed, or a direction.

4. The computer program product of claim 2 wherein the computer program product is operable such that the at least one of the communications interface, the network port, or the protocol includes the communications interface.

5. The computer program product of claim 2 wherein the computer program product is operable such that the at least one of the communications interface, the network port, or the protocol includes the protocol.

6. The computer program product of claim 2 wherein the computer program product is operable such that the first information includes vehicle information.

7. The computer program product of claim 2 wherein the computer program product is operable such that the second information includes device information.

8. The computer program product of claim 2 wherein the computer program product is operable such that the determining whether the automotive vehicle and the portable electronic device are at least capable of being communicatively coupled includes determining whether the automotive vehicle and the portable electronic device are communicatively coupled.

9. The computer program product of claim 2 wherein the computer program product is operable such that the change information is sent as a function of the determining whether the automotive vehicle and the portable electronic device are at least capable of being communicatively coupled.

10. The computer program product of claim 2 wherein the computer program product is operable for detecting that an operator of the automotive vehicle is the device user of the portable electronic device.

11. The computer program product of claim 2 wherein the computer program product is operable such that the disabling the at least one aspect of the display device includes preventing, at least in part, presentation of data.

12. The computer program product of claim 2 wherein the computer program product is operable such that the network interface includes a network adapter.

13. The computer program product of claim 2 wherein the computer program product is operable such that the network interface includes a network interface for interfacing a personal area network.

14. The computer program product of claim 2 wherein the computer program product is operable such that the functionality involves receiving data.

15. The computer program product of claim 2 wherein the computer program product is operable such that the functionality involves receiving data from a service node.

16. The computer program product of claim 2 wherein the computer program product is operable such that the functionality involves text messaging.

17. The computer program product of claim 2 wherein the computer program product is operable such that the current operational configuration is changed automatically.

18. The computer program product of claim 2 wherein the computer program product is operable such that the current operational configuration is changed based on a type of the portable electronic device.

19. The computer program product of claim 2 wherein the computer program product is operable such that the current operational configuration is changed based on a capability of the portable electronic device.

20. The computer program product of claim 2 wherein the computer program product is operable such that the current operational configuration is changed based on an application of the portable electronic device.

21. The computer program product of claim 2 wherein the computer program product is operable such that the current operational configuration is changed to prevent interaction with the portable electronic device by the device user.

22. The computer program product of claim 2 wherein the computer program product is operable such that the current operational configuration is changed to prevent one or more operations from being performed by the portable electronic device.

23. The computer program product of claim 2 wherein the computer program product is operable such that the functionality utilizes at least one of the communications interface, the network port, or the protocol.

24. An apparatus, comprising:

a component configured for use in an automobile vehicle, the component configured for;

receiving first information about an automotive vehicle that indicates at least one aspect of automobile vehicle movement, wherein the automotive vehicle has a current operational configuration for allowing a first operation of the automotive vehicle;

receiving second information about a portable electronic device;

determining whether the automotive vehicle and the portable electronic device are at least capable of being communicatively coupled via at least one of a communications interface, a network port, or a protocol; and

sending, in response to receiving the first information about the automotive vehicle that indicates the at least one aspect of the automobile vehicle movement, change information to change the current operational configuration to alter a constraint on the first operation of the automotive vehicle, which results in disabling at least one aspect of a display device of the automotive vehicle and preventing a device user of the portable electronic device from accessing functionality that utilizes a network interface of the automotive vehicle.