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Systems and methods for warning a vehicle occupant of probable unsafe texting

  • US 9,324,121 B2
  • Filed: 10/19/2015
  • Issued: 04/26/2016
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2009
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A computerized method wherein one or more processors operate a system for warning a vehicle occupant operating a cell phone of probable unsafe texting, the method comprising the steps of:

  • receiving at least position information for the vehicle occupant'"'"'s cell phone from a first service provider;

    receiving at least position information for at least a second cell phone in the vicinity of the vehicle occupant'"'"'s cell phone from a second service provider;

    wherein the at least position information for the vehicle occupant'"'"'s cell phone and the at least position information for the at least a second cell phone are each time-stamped and then compared to determine if the vehicle occupant'"'"'s cell phone and the at least a second cell phone are within the same envelope;

    for all cell phones thus determined according to the at least their position information to be within the envelope containing the vehicle occupant'"'"'s phone, accessing a database to determine which cell phones in the envelope belong to licensed drivers and which do not;

    analyzing activity for the cell phones determined to be within the envelope to determine whether each cell phone'"'"'s user is texting;

    warning the vehicle occupant of probable unsafe texting under the following conditions;

    (i) the vehicle occupant is determined to be a licensed driver;

    (ii) the vehicle occupant is determined to be within the envelope; and

    (iii) the activity for the vehicle occupant'"'"'s cell phone falls into one of the following categories;

    (a) the vehicle occupant'"'"'s cell phone is determined to be the only phone within the envelope that is texting;

    (b) the vehicle occupant'"'"'s cell phone is determined to be texting, and any other cell phones in the envelope that are determined to be texting belong to users with no drivers license; and

    (c) the vehicle occupant'"'"'s cell phone is determined to be texting and the phones of all other licensed drivers within the envelope are determined to be texting.

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