Method for controlling mobile communications

• US 8,805,349 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2011
• Issued: 08/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Frye, Mark S., Ames, Michael B., Hopper, Derek, Nicolini, Daniele
• Primary Examiner(s): MILLER, BRANDON J
• Application Number:
  US13/197,609
• Publication Number:
  US 20120282906A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,105 Days
• Field of Search: 455418-420, 4554561-4566, 455 411- 413, 455/569.2
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]

Abstract

A method for controlling mobile communications involves establishing an RFID connection between an RFID tag disposed on or at a predefined location inside a cabin area of a vehicle and an RFID reader attached to a mobile communications device. Upon breaking the RFID connection, an application resident on the device recognizes that the device is no located in the predefined location. A message is automatically sent to an entity outside of the vehicle, where the message indicates that the device is no longer located at the predefined location inside the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for controlling mobile communications, comprising:

establishing a radio frequency connection between i) a detector operatively disposed on or at a predefined location inside a cabin area of a vehicle and ii) a mobile communications device only when the mobile communications device is in or at the predefined location;

by a telematics unit of the vehicle in communication with the mobile communications device, identifying a driver of the vehicle utilizing identification information of the mobile communications device, the driver being identified as an authorized user other than a vehicle owner;

upon breaking the radio frequency connection, recognizing that the mobile communications device is no longer located in or at the predefined location inside the cabin area of the vehicle; and

automatically sending a message directly to the vehicle owner, the message indicating that the mobile communications device is no longer located in or at the predefined location inside the cabin area of the vehicle.

2. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the detector is a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag including identification information of the vehicle, and upon establishing the radio frequency connection, the method further comprises automatically adjusting a functionality of the mobile communications device via the application resident on the mobile communications device.

3. The method as defined in claim 2 wherein prior to automatically adjusting the functionality of the mobile communications device, the method further comprises:

establishing a data connection between the mobile communications device and a facility;

during the data connection, requesting a profile of the driver utilizing the vehicle identification information; and

downloading the profile to the mobile communications device during the data connection;

wherein the profile includes information pertaining to the adjusting of the functionality of the mobile communications device.

4. The method as defined in claim 2 wherein prior to automatically adjusting the functionality of the mobile communications device, the method further comprises:

establishing a connection between the mobile communications device and the Internet; and

while connected to the Internet, utilizing the identification information of the vehicle user to retrieve a profile of the vehicle owner from a remotely accessible page.

5. The method as defined in claim 2 wherein prior to establishing the radio frequency connection, the method further comprises:

downloading a profile of the driver from any of an outside facility or a remotely accessible page to the mobile communications device; and

utilizing the downloaded profile to adjust the functionality of the mobile communications device upon establishing the radio frequency connection.

6. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein after establishing the radio frequency connection and after a predetermined amount of time of non-use of the mobile communications device, the method further comprises enabling the mobile communications device to enter into a sleep mode.

7. The method as defined in claim 6 wherein after the mobile communications device enters into the sleep mode, the method further comprises waking up the mobile communications device in response to a trigger.

8. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising playing an audible warning message in the vehicle or displaying a text-based warning message on an in-vehicle display unit in response to recognizing that the mobile communications device is no longer located at the predefined location inside the cabin area of the vehicle.

9. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein:

the predefined location includes a mobile device holder operatively disposed inside the cabin area of the vehicle;

the mobile device holder is selected from the group consisting of a vehicle door storage pocket, a tray formed in a center console of the vehicle, and a cup holder of the vehicle; and

the detector is operatively attached to the mobile device holder.

10. A method for controlling mobile communications, comprising:

establishing a radio frequency identification (RFID) connection between i) an RFID tag operatively disposed on or at a predefined location inside a cabin area of a vehicle and ii) an RFID reader operatively attached to a mobile communications device, wherein the RFID tag includes identification information of the vehicle;

upon establishing the RFID connection, establishing a short range wireless connection with a telematics unit operatively disposed in the vehicle;

downloading a profile of a vehicle user to the mobile communications device from one of i) the telematics unit, or ii) a telematics call center through the telematics unit;

via the application resident on the mobile communications device, utilizing the downloaded profile to adjust a functionality of the mobile communications device;

upon breaking the RFID connection, recognizing, by an application resident on the mobile communications device, that the mobile communications device is no longer located at the predefined location inside the cabin area of the vehicle; and

automatically sending a message to an entity outside of the vehicle, the message indicating that the mobile communications device is no longer located at the predefined location inside the cabin area of the vehicle.

11. The method as defined in claim 10 wherein upon one of establishing or breaking the RFID connection, the method further comprises:

notifying the telematics unit that the mobile communications device is no longer located in the predefined location inside the cabin area of the vehicle; and

in response to the notifying, via the telematics unit, activating a preset operational mode of the vehicle.

12. The method as defined in claim 11, further comprising:

identifying an operator of the vehicle upon establishing the short range wireless connection between the telematics unit and the mobile communications device; and

selecting the preset operational mode of the vehicle based on the identification of the vehicle operator.

13. The method as defined in claim 11 wherein the preset operational mode of the vehicle includes any of a modification to an in-vehicle component or a vehicle system.

14. The method as defined in claim 10 wherein upon establishing the short range wireless connection, the method further comprises:

via the telematics unit, monitoring a then-current vehicle speed; and

in response to a trigger, sending a data message from the telematics unit to the mobile device, the data message including a command to activate the adjusting of the functionality of the mobile communications device.

15. The method as defined in claim 10 wherein upon establishing the RFID connection, the method further comprises sending an other message to the outside entity, the other message indicating that the mobile communications device is located in or at the predefined location inside the cabin area of the vehicle.

16. The method as defined in claim 10 wherein the predefined location includes a mobile device holder operatively disposed inside the cabin area of the vehicle, and wherein the RFID tag is operatively attached to the holder.

17. A system for controlling mobile communications, comprising:

a mobile communications device to receive and send messages, the mobile communications device being associated with an operator of a mobile vehicle;

a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader operatively attached to the mobile communications device;

a location previously identified inside a cabin area of a vehicle, the location to receive the mobile communications device;

an RFID tag operatively attached to the location, the RFID tag to establish an RFID connection with the RFID reader when the mobile communications device is within an RFID reading range with the RFID tag;

an application resident on the mobile communications device to recognize that the mobile communications device is no longer located in the location when the RFID connection is broken;

an outside entity including a respective communications device to receive a message from the mobile communications device when the RFID connection is broken;

a telematics unit operatively disposed in the vehicle;

a short range wireless communications unit associated with the telematics unit and utilized, by the telematics unit, to establish a short range wireless connection with the mobile communications device; and

a profile containing any of user-selected preferences or services stored in the telematics unit, the profile being downloaded to the mobile communications device upon establishing the short range wireless connection.

18. The system as defined in claim 17 wherein the mobile communications device includes a functionality that is adjustable via the application resident on the mobile communications device when the RFID connection is established.

19. The system as defined in claim 18, further comprising any of an outside facility or a remotely accessible page from which a profile of a vehicle user may be retrieved, by the mobile communications device, upon establishing the RFID connection.

20. The system as defined in claim 17, further comprising a vehicle speed sensor in selective and operative communication with the telematics unit, the vehicle speed sensor to generate vehicle speed data to be utilized by the telematics unit to determine when the vehicle has reached a predefined vehicle speed, wherein the telematics unit to send a data message to the mobile communications device that includes a command to activate an adjustment to the functionality of the mobile communications device upon making a determination that the vehicle has reached the predefined vehicle speed.

21. The system as defined in claim 20 wherein the telematics unit includes a processor including computer readable code encoded on a computer readable medium for activating a preset operational mode of the vehicle in response to receiving a notification, from the mobile communications device utilizing the short range wireless connection, that the RFID connection has been established.

22. The system as defined in claim 17 wherein the application resident on the mobile communications device includes:

computer readable code for enabling the mobile communications device to enter into a sleep mode after a predetermined amount of time of non-use of the mobile communications device has passed since establishing the RFID connection; and

computer readable code for enabling the mobile communications device to wake up in response to a trigger.

23. The system as defined in claim 17 wherein the location is a mobile communications device holder operatively disposed inside the cabin area of the vehicle, and wherein the RFID tag is operatively attached to the holder.