System and method for preventing driver use of a mobile device

• US 9,094,800 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2013
• Issued: 07/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cellco Partnership, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.), Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cellco Partnership, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Ren, Xin
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, CONGVAN
• Application Number:
  US13/915,344
• Publication Number:
  US 20140364153A1
• Time in Patent Office: 777 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.1, 455/456.4, 455/466, 455/457, 455/569.1, 455/569.2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/51 Relative positioning
• 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 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/48 for in-vehicle communication

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed for restricting driver access to mobile devices while driving. The system includes an interface which facilities communicating with the vehicle and communicates with mobile devices present in the vehicle. The system determines the location of each mobile device in the vehicle in order to identify the mobile device belonging to the driver. If the vehicle is currently moving, functions of the driver'"'"'s mobile device can be restricted or limited, while allowing passengers full access to their mobile devices.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

establishing a link to a mobile device located within a vehicle;

retrieving specification data from the vehicle;

determining a location for the mobile device within the vehicle including performing an acoustic ranging process between the mobile device and an acoustic transmission unit positioned at a predetermined location within the vehicle, the acoustic ranging process including

transmitting a first acoustic wave by the mobile device,

receiving the first acoustic wave by the mobile device and the acoustic transmission unit,

waiting a predetermined time interval,

transmitting a second acoustic wave by the acoustic transmission unit,

receiving the second acoustic wave by the mobile device, and

calculating the distance between the mobile device and the acoustic transmission unit;

collecting, in real-time, location data for at least one of the mobile device and the vehicle;

analyzing the location data; and

restricting at least one operation of the mobile device if the mobile device is located within a predetermined location within the vehicle and analysis of the location data indicates vehicle movement.

2. A method of claim 1, further comprising establishing a connection to the vehicle.

3. A method of claim 2, wherein the step of establishing a connection comprises establishing a connection to a data communication port of the vehicle.

4. A method of claim 1, wherein the step of collecting location data comprises collecting vehicle operation data.

5. A method of claim 1, wherein the step of collecting location data comprises collecting global positioning system (GPS) data from the vehicle.

6. A method of claim 1, wherein:

establishing a link comprises establishing a link to all mobile devices located within the vehicle; and

determining a location comprises determining a location for all mobile devices located within the vehicle.

7. A method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined location is selected based on a driver position.

8. A method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined location is selected based on a maximum distance between a driver position and the acoustic transmission unit.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the restriction of at least one operation of the mobile device includes using control signals directly integrated into a control logic of the mobile device.

10. An apparatus comprising:

an interface for communicating with a vehicle;

a memory for storing at least specification data for one or more vehicles;

a transmitter for outputting acoustic waves at predetermined frequencies;

a receiver for receiving acoustic waves;

a wireless transceiver for communicating with at least one of a mobile device and a service provider network; and

a controller for controlling operation of at least the interface, the memory, the transmitter, the receiver, and the wireless transceiver, the controller being programmed to;

establish a link to the at least one mobile device located within the vehicle;

retrieve specification data from the vehicle;

determine a location for the mobile device within the vehicle, including performing an acoustic ranging process between the mobile device and the transmitter and the receiver, the acoustic ranging process including

causing transmission a first acoustic wave by the mobile device,

causing reception of the first acoustic wave by the mobile device and the acoustic transmission unit,

waiting a predetermined time interval,

causing transmission of a second acoustic wave by the acoustic transmission unit,

causing reception of the second acoustic wave by the mobile device, and

calculating the distance between the mobile device and the acoustic transmission unit;

collect, in real-time, location data from at least one of the mobile device and the vehicle;

analyze the location data; and

restrict at least one operation of the mobile device if the mobile device is located within a predetermined location inside the vehicle and analysis of the location data indicates vehicle movement.

11. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

the interface is configured for connection to a vehicle OBD-II port, and

the controller is further programmed to collect vehicle operation data via the OBD-II port.

12. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein the wireless transceiver is capable of communicating with the mobile device and/or service provider network using at least one cellular communication protocol.

13. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein the location data comprises GPS data from the mobile device.

14. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein the controller is programmed to determine a location for all mobile devices located within the vehicle.

15. A method of claim 10, wherein the predetermined location is selected based on a driver position.

16. A method of claim 10, wherein the predetermined location is selected based on a maximum distance between a driver position and apparatus.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the restriction of at least one operation of the mobile device includes using control signals directly integrated into a control logic of the mobile device.