Driving cannot text noncontrolling cell phone app system and method

• US 9,124,720 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2013
• Issued: 09/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lisa Marie West
• Original Assignee: Lisa Marie West
• Inventors: West, Lisa Marie
• Primary Examiner(s): Siddiqui, Kashif
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bassinan, Obidon
• Application Number:
  US13/970,389
• Publication Number:
  US 20150050966A1
• Time in Patent Office: 743 Days
• Field of Search: 455/569.2, 455/418, 455/419, 455/466
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/236 including keys on side or rear faces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails

Abstract

A non-intrusive cellular phone app eliminates a need for the driver to respond to a received text message while driving. The app does not interfere with the normal functioning of the cellular phone. The app sends an immediate response text message to a sender of a received text message that the owner of the cellular phone is driving and can'"'"'t text. The app notifies the driver of the identity of the sender only by any of a variety of means, most of which do not require the attention or the action of the driver. Action by the driver may be taken later under safe conditions using the normal functioning of the cellular phone.

Claims

1. A programmed application (app) system on a cellular phone of a driver to eliminate a need for the driver to respond to a received text message while driving, the app system programmed separately from the cellular phone operations not interfering with the normal functioning of the cellular phone, the system comprising:

driver actuated means for activating a programmed “

driving can'"'"'t text”

application (app) on a driver'"'"'s cellular phone to put the app in a driving mode to eliminate a need for a driver to respond to a received text message while driving, the app programmed separately from the cellular phone operations to prevent interfering with the normal operation of the cellular phone;

driver perceivable means for indicating to the driver that the “

driving can'"'"'t text”

app is turned on in the driving mode;

programmed means for sending an automatic pre-programmed response text message to reply to a sender of a received text message immediately when the received text message is received on the driver'"'"'s cellular phone in the driving mode to notify the sender of the received text message that the driver is driving and can'"'"'t text while driving in a “

driving can'"'"'t text”

automatic response text message, the automatic response text message requiring no action by the driver and eliminating the need for the driver to respond immediately to the received text message since the automatic response text message has already been sent to the sender;

programmed means for notifying the driver that a text message was received and that an automatic response text message was sent to the sender of the received text message;

programmed means for independent functioning of the “

driving can'"'"'t text”

app without interfering with the normal functioning of the driver'"'"'s cellular phone to allow full use of the driver'"'"'s cellular phone as needed and as judged safe by the driver, preferably after the driver has stopped driving, the “

driving can'"'"'t text”

app providing an immediate response text message to the sender, thereby eliminating the need for any immediate action by the driver.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the driver actuated means for activating a programmed “

driving can'"'"'t text”

application (app) on a driver'"'"'s cellular phone to put the app in a driving mode is turned on after a text message has been received on the cellular phone and the system immediately activates the programmed means for sending an automatic pre-programmed response text message to reply to a sender of a received text message.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the driver actuated means for activating a programmed “

driving can'"'"'t text”

application (app) on the driver'"'"'s cellular phone to put the app in a driving mode comprises at least one activation means taken from the list of activation means including a built-in tension press recessed button built into the cellular phone, a phone-attached tension press recessed button attached to the cellular phone, a case-attached tension press recessed button on a cellular phone case, a timed touch virtual button on a cellular phone screen, a swipe activation device attached to the cellular phone swiped by a mating radio frequency technology swipe activation device on a dashboard, a swipe activation device attached to the cellular phone swiped by a mating radio frequency technology swipe activation device on a keychain.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the programmed means for indicating to the driver that the “

driving can'"'"'t text”

app is turned on in the driving mode comprises at least one indication means taken from the list of indication means including a sound indication through at least one cellular phone microphone, which sound indication may include at least one sound indication taken from a list of sound indications including a simulated spoken indication, a recorded voice indication, at least one tone, and at least one musical passage;

a visual indication on the cellular phone screen which may include at least one visual indication including a symbol, a light indication, and a visual worded indication; and

at least one vibrational indication.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the programmed means for notifying the driver that a text message was received and that an automatic response text message was sent to the sender of the received text message comprises at least one of the notification means taken from the list of notification means including at least one large visual on the cellular phone screen, a message written in large type on the cellular phone screen, at least one sound transmitted over at least one listening means on the cellular phone, a verbal message transmitted over at least one of the listening means on the cellular phone, vibration of the cellular phone.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the programmed means for notifying the driver of an identity of the sender of the received text message comprises at least one of the notification means taken from the list of notification means including at least one large visual on the cellular phone screen, a message written in large type on the cellular phone screen, a large photo image of the sender, at least one sound transmitted over at least one listening means on the cellular phone, a verbal message transmitted over at least one of the listening means on the cellular phone, and vibration of the cellular phone.

13. The system of claim 1 further comprising programmed means for recognizing a received text message to the cellular phone and recognizing an identity of a sender of the received text message.

14. The system of claim 13 further comprising programmed means for notifying the driver of an identity of the sender of the received text message.

7. A method for eliminating a need for a driver to respond to a received text message while driving using a programmed application (app) system on the driver'"'"'s cellular phone programmed separately from the cellular phone operations, the method not interfering with the normal functioning of the cellular phone, the method comprising:

a first step of activating a programmed “

driving can'"'"'t text”

programmed application (app) on a driver'"'"'s cellular phone to put the app in a driving mode to eliminate a need for a driver to respond to a received text message while driving, the app programmed separately from the cellular phone operations net to prevent interfering with the normal operation of the cellular phone;

a second step of indicating to the driver that the “

driving can'"'"'t text”

app is turned on in the driving mode;

a third step of sending an automatic pre-programmed response text message to reply to a sender of a received text message immediately when the received text message is received on the driver'"'"'s cellular phone to notify the sender of the received text message that the driver is driving and can'"'"'t text while driving in a “

driving can'"'"'t text”

automatic response text message, the automatic response text message requiring no action by the driver and eliminating the need for the driver to respond immediately to the received text message since the automatic response text message has already been sent to the sender;

a fourth step of notifying the driver that a text message was received thereby confirming that an automatic response text message was sent to the sender of the received text message;

wherein the steps of the method are carried out by independent functioning of the “

driving can'"'"'t text”

app without interfering with the normal functioning of the driver'"'"'s cellular phone to allow full use of the driver'"'"'s cellular phone as needed and as judged safe by the driver, preferably after the driver has stopped driving, the “

driving can'"'"'t text”

app providing an immediate response text message to the sender, thereby eliminating the need for any immediate action by the driver.

8. The method of claim 7 comprising carrying out the first step of activating the app after a text message has already been received on the cellular phone immediately activating the programmed means for sending an automatic pre-programmed response text message to reply to a sender of a received text message.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the first step is carried out using a method for activating a programmed “

driving can'"'"'t text”

application (app) on a driver'"'"'s cellular phone to put the app in a driving mode comprising at least one activation method taken from the list of activation methods including pressing a tension press recessed button built into the cellular phone, pressing a tension press recessed button attached to the cellular phone, pressing a tension press recessed button on a cellular phone case, pressing a timed touch virtual button on a cellular phone screen, swiping a swipe activation device attached to the cellular phone swiped by a mating swipe activation device on a dashboard, swiping a swipe activation device attached to the cellular phone swiped by a mating swipe activation device on a keychain.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the second step of indicating to the driver that the “

driving can'"'"'t text”

app is turned on in the driving mode comprises at least one indication method taken from the list of indication methods including transmitting a sound indication on at least one sound transmitter of the cellular phone, transmitting a simulated spoken indication on at least one sound transmitter of the cellular phone, transmitting a recorded voice indication on at least one sound transmitter of the cellular phone, displaying on the cellular phone screen a visual symbol indication, displaying on the cellular phone screen a light indication, displaying on the cellular phone screen a visual worded indication, and producing in the cellular phone a vibrational indication.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the fourth step of notifying the driver that a text message was received and that an automatic response text message was sent to the sender of the received text message comprises carrying out at least one of the notification methods taken from the list of notification methods including displaying at least one large visual on the cellular phone screen, displaying a message written in large type on the cellular phone screen, transmitting at least one sound transmitted over at least one of the listening means on the cellular phone, transmitting a verbal message transmitted over at least one of the listening means on the cellular phone, causing a vibration of the cellular phone.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of notifying the driver of the identity of the sender of the received text message comprises carrying out at least one of the notification methods taken from the list of notification methods including displaying at least one large visual on the cellular phone screen, displaying a message written in large type on the cellular phone screen, displaying a large photo image of the sender, transmitting at least one sound transmitted over at least one of the listening means on the cellular phone, transmitting a verbal message transmitted over at least one of the listening means on the cellular phone, and causing a vibration of the cellular phone.

15. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of recognizing a received text message to the cellular phone and recognizing an identity of a sender of the received text message.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of notifying the driver of an identity of the sender of the received text message.