Method and system for restoring mobile device functions

• US 9,172,811 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2012
• Issued: 10/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Tadayon, Saied, Halavi, Maryam
• Primary Examiner(s): Cumming, William D
• Application Number:
  US13/461,959
• Publication Number:
  US 20120214469A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,273 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/418
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/21 for calibration; for correcting measurements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/16 Threshold monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/14 with services dependent on location where the service is an information service H04M2242/15; services independent of location H04M3/42229
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53 Centralised arrangements for recording incoming messages , i.e. mailbox systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• 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 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 using location based information parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring

Abstract

This provides for controlling mobile device functions and features. For example, it limits or disables the use of some of mobile device features which could cause distraction to the user, when the user is engaged in another activity. In an example, it enables other mobile device features based on occurrence of events related to the user or environment. Another example addresses controlling the mobile device features, such as SMS, while the user is in a vehicle or driving. Another example restricts the ability of the driver of a vehicle to text, while the vehicle is in motion, by automatically disabling the texting ability of mobile device within and around the perimeter of the driver'"'"'s seat. Other variations, examples, improvements, detection mechanisms, models, techniques, calculations, verification mechanisms, and features are also described in details.

Claims

1. A mobile communication device, said mobile communication device comprising:

a first antenna configured to receive data communication via a wireless network; and

a first module configured to receive a first code from a short-range wireless transmitter at an in-range vicinity of said short-range wireless transmitter via a second detector, determine a first signal power level indicator, based on a first wireless signal detected by said second detector from said short-range wireless transmitter, in case said first code indicates an in-range status and said first signal power level indicator indicates a deactivation range, modify a first set of function related to said data communication corresponding to said mobile communication device, determine a second signal power level indicator, based on a second wireless signal detected by said second detector from said short-range wireless transmitter, and in case said second signal power level indicator indicates an activation range, restore a second set of function related to said data communication corresponding to said mobile communication device,

wherein said first module runs in said mobile communication device and said short-range wireless transmitter is outside of said first mobile communication device.

2. The mobile communication device as recited in claim 1, wherein said first set of function related to said data communication is a subset of said second set of function related to said data communication.

3. The mobile communication device as recited in claim 1, wherein said second set of function related to said data communication is a subset of said first set of function related to said data communication.

4. The mobile communication device as recited in claim 1, wherein said first module restores said second set of function related to said data communication after an expiration of a time period corresponding to said modification of said first set of function related to said data communication.

5. The mobile communication device as recited in claim 1, wherein said

first module is further configured to receive a second code from a short-range wireless transmitter via a second detector.

6. The mobile communication device as recited in claim 5, wherein in case said second code is a restoring code, said first module is further configured to restore a third set of function related to said data communication corresponding to said mobile communication device.

7. The mobile communication device as recited in claim 5, wherein said first code or said second code is based on a status of a vehicle associated with said short-range wireless transmitter.

8. The mobile communication device as recited in claim 5, wherein said first code or said second code is based on a speed of a vehicle associated with said short-range wireless transmitter.

9. The mobile communication device as recited in claim 5, wherein said first code or said second code is based on weather parameters.

10. The mobile communication device as recited in claim 1, wherein said first module is further configured to forward a third set of function related to said data communication corresponding to said mobile communication device to a designated communication device,

wherein said third set of function related to said data communication is a subset of said first set of function related to said data communication.

11. The mobile communication device as recited in claim 10, wherein said first module is further configured to restore said third set of function related to said data communication corresponding to said mobile communication device.

12. The mobile communication device as recited in claim 11, wherein said third set of function related to said data communication is a subset of said second set of function related to said data communication.

13. A mobile communication system, said mobile communication system comprising:

a first antenna configured to receive data communication via a wireless network, and communicate a first code between a first short-range wireless transmitter and said mobile communication system via a second antenna of said mobile communication system, at an in-range vicinity of said first short-range wireless transmitter; and

a first module configured to determine a first in-range event, based on a first wireless signal transmitted between said first short-range wireless transmitter and said second antenna, modify a first set of function related to said data communication corresponding to said mobile communication system, determine an out-range event, based on second wireless signal transmitted between said first short-range wireless transmitter and said second antenna, and restore a second set of function related to said data communication corresponding to said mobile communication system,

wherein said first short-range wireless transmitter is outside of said first mobile communication system.

14. The mobile communication system as recited in claim 13, wherein said mobile communication system receives a modification indicator to modify said first set of function related to said data communication.

15. The mobile communication system as recited in claim 14, wherein said modification indicator is received from a data service provider.

16. The mobile communication system as recited in claim 14, wherein said modification indicator is received from a controller via said first short-range wireless transmitter.

17. The mobile communication system as recited in claim 13, wherein said first module is further configured to compare a signal power level indicator of said transmitted second wireless signal with an activation range value.

18. The mobile communication system as recited in claim 13, wherein said first module restores said second set of function related to said data communication after an expiration of a time period corresponding to said modification of said first set of function related to said data communication.

19. The mobile communication system as recited in claim 13, wherein said first module is further configured to determine a second in-range event, based on a third wireless signal transmitted between a second short-range wireless transmitter and said second antenna.

20. The mobile communication system as recited in claim 13, wherein said first short-range wireless transmitter maintains its wireless signal output power level.