Apparatus, system, and method for detecting the presence and controlling the operation of mobile devices within a vehicle

• US 9,379,805 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2014
• Issued: 06/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Driving Management Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Driving Management Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Hannon, Marwan
• Primary Examiner(s): GESESSE, TILAHUN
• Application Number:
  US14/195,276
• Publication Number:
  US 20140179356A1
• Time in Patent Office: 848 Days
• Field of Search: 455/553.1, 455/550.1, 455/456.4
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/21 using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/55 Remote control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/589 Wireless data transfers
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/212 displaying on manual operation elements, e.g. on a knob
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/80 Arrangements for controlling instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/81 for controlling displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/85 Arrangements for transferring vehicle- or driver-related data
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18506 Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/16 for telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/22 for communication related to vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/415 based on motion status or velocity, e.g. for disabling use of mobile phones in a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/45 characterized by including monitoring of the target or target signal, e.g. in reactive jammers or follower jammers for example by means of an alternation of jamming phases and monitoring phases, called "look-through mode"
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• 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 4/48 for in-vehicle communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/02 Access restriction performed under specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 : Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 : Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 : from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method for determining the presence of a mobile device located in a predetermined detection zone within a vehicle are disclosed. A detection module receives a communication signal, determines that the communication signal was transmitted by a mobile device located within a predetermined detection zone within a vehicle, and a control module transmits a control signal to the mobile device located within the predetermined detection zone. The system further includes a monitoring logic to monitor a functional system of the vehicle activating the transmission of the control signal by the control module when the monitored functional system is activated and the detection module determines that the communication signal was transmitted by the mobile device located within the predetermined detection zone.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a mobile device within a vehicle, the method comprising:

transmitting, by a detection module, a probing signal within the vehicle, wherein the probing signal is configured to detect the presence of a mobile device within the vehicle;

receiving, by the detection module, a return signal from the mobile device located within the vehicle in response to the mobile device receiving the probing signal;

determining, by the detection module, that the mobile device is located within a predetermined detection zone within the vehicle, wherein the predetermined detection zone is defined as a three-dimensional zone in or in proximity of a driver seat side of a vehicle;

transmitting, by the detection module, a detection signal to the control module when the return signal indicates the mobile device received the probing signal at or above a predetermined signal strength corresponding to the mobile device being located within the predetermined detection zone; and

transmitting, by a control module, a control signal to the mobile device located within the predetermined detection zone, wherein the control signal is configured to control one or more operations of the mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1,

wherein receiving, by the detection module, a return signal from the mobile device comprises receiving, by the detection module, a signal from the mobile device indicating the location of the mobile device within the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the return signal comprises an echo signal reflected by the mobile device.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the return signal comprises a response signal transmitted by the mobile device.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising transmitting, by the detection module, a detection signal to the control module when a voltage potential derived from the received signal equals or exceeds a predetermined value, wherein the voltage potential of the predetermined value indicates the presence of the mobile device within the predetermined detection zone.

6. The method of claim 5, comprising:

harvesting, by the detection module, energy in the received signal; and

generating, using the energy in the received signal, a voltage potential corresponding to the location of the mobile device within the detection zone.

7. The method of claim 1, comprising:

monitoring, by the control module, a functional system of the vehicle; and

transmitting, by the control module, the control signal when the monitored functional system of the vehicle is activated and the detection module determines that the signal was transmitted by the mobile device located within the predetermined detection zone.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the functional system of the vehicle is any one of an ignition system, a transmission system, a sensor, or any combination thereof.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the control signal is configured to disable one or more operations of the mobile device.

10. The method of claim 1, comprising redirecting, by the control signal, one or more operations of the mobile device to one or more systems of the vehicle.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

a receiver configured to receive the return signal from the mobile device, wherein the return signal indicates the location of the mobile device within the vehicle.

12. An apparatus for controlling operation of a mobile device within a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit a probing signal within the vehicle, wherein the probing signal is configured to detect the presence of a mobile device within the vehicle;

a detection module configured to receive a return signal from the mobile device located within the vehicle in response to the mobile device receiving the probing signal and determine that the mobile device is located within a predetermined detection zone of the vehicle, wherein the predetermined detection zone is defined as a three-dimensional zone in or in proximity of a driver seat side of a vehicle; and

a control module coupled to the detection module, the control module configured to transmit a control signal to the mobile device located within the predetermined detection zone when the return signal indicates the mobile device received the probing signal at or above a predetermined signal strength corresponding to the mobile device being located within the predetermined detection zone

wherein the control signal is configured to control one or more operations of the mobile device.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the return signal comprises an echo signal reflected by the mobile device.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the return signal comprises a response signal transmitted by the mobile device.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the detection module is configured to transmit a detection signal to the control module when a voltage potential derived from the received signal equals or exceeds a predetermined value, wherein the voltage potential of the predetermined value indicates the presence of the mobile device within the predetermined detection zone.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, comprising an energy harvester configured to harvest energy in the received signal and generate a voltage potential corresponding to the location of the mobile device within the detection zone.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the control module is configured to monitor a functional system of the vehicle, and wherein the control module is configured to transmit the control signal when the monitored functional system of the vehicle is activated and the detection module determines that the signal was transmitted by the mobile device located within the predetermined detection zone.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the control signal is configured to disable one or more operations of the mobile device.