Methods and systems for disabling one or more text messaging features while driving

• US 9,462,110 B1
• Filed: 11/25/2015
• Issued: 10/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Schlesener, Matthew C., Mauer, Brian D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Khan, Suhail
• Application Number:
  US14/952,157
• Time in Patent Office: 314 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• 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 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for disabling text messaging while driving. In one embodiment, a mobile station makes a first determination that it is moving at greater than a threshold rate. The mobile station makes a second determination that, while it is moving at greater than the threshold rate, an outgoing text message reflects more than a threshold degradation in typing proficiency. In response to making the first and second determinations, the mobile station disables one or more text-messaging features.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

a mobile station making a first determination that the mobile station is moving at greater than a threshold rate;

the mobile station making a second determination that, while the mobile station is moving at greater than the threshold rate, outgoing text messaging from the mobile station reflects more than a threshold degradation in typing proficiency; and

in response to making the first and second determinations, the mobile station performing at least one action selected from the group consisting of (i) disabling visible presentation of received text messages and (ii) disabling manual keying of text messages.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile station comprises at least one of a cell phone and a personal digital assistant (PDA).

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the outgoing text messaging comprises outgoing Short Message Service (SMS) messaging, and wherein the received text messages are SMS messages.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile station making the first determination comprises the mobile station detecting more than a threshold number of handoffs in a particular amount of time.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile station making the first determination comprises (i) the mobile station determining translational rate of motion of the mobile station, and (ii) the mobile station determining that its translational rate of motion exceeds the threshold rate.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile station making the first determination comprises the mobile station using a positioning technology.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the positioning technology comprises Global Positioning System (GPS) technology.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile station making the first determination comprises the mobile station using a motion sensor.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile station making the second determination comprises:

the mobile station maintaining data reflecting a first level of typing proficiency;

the mobile station determining a current level of typing proficiency reflected by the outgoing text messaging; and

the mobile station determining that the current level is lower than the first level by more than a proficiency threshold.

10. The method of claim 9, carried out with respect to at least one typing-proficiency metric selected from the group of metrics consisting of number of misspellings, frequency of misspellings, number of uses of a backspace function, frequency of using the backspace function, number of corrections made, frequency of correcting entered text, typing speed, and input of at least one incorrect letter positioned adjacent a correct letter on a user interface.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the first level corresponds to historical data reflecting an actual typing proficiency of a user of the mobile station.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the first level corresponds to data reflecting average typing proficiency of multiple users.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one action comprises disabling visible presentation of received text messages.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising, in response to making the first and second determinations, the mobile station enabling audible presentation of received text messages.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one action comprises disabling manual keying of text messages.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising, in response to making the first and second determinations, the mobile station enabling audible input of text messages.

17. A mobile station comprising:

a wireless-communication interface;

a processor; and

data storage having stored therein instructions executable by the processor for carrying out functions including;

making a first determination that the mobile station is moving at greater than a threshold rate;

making a second determination that, while the mobile station is moving at greater than the threshold rate, outgoing text messaging from the mobile station reflects more than a threshold degradation in typing proficiency; and

in response to making the first and second determinations, causing the mobile station to perform at least one action selected from the group consisting of (i) disabling visible presentation of received text messages and (ii) disabling manual keying of text messages.

18. The mobile station of claim 17, wherein the at least one action comprises disabling visible presentation of received text messages, and wherein the functions further comprise, in response to making the first and second determinations, causing the mobile station to enable audible presentation of received text messages.

19. The mobile station of claim 17, wherein the at least one action comprises disabling manual keying of text messages, and wherein the functions further comprise, in response to making the first and second determinations, causing the mobile station to enable audible input of text messages.

20. A method comprising:

determining a current rate of movement of a mobile station;

determining that the current rate of movement of the mobile station exceeds a threshold rate of movement;

in response to determining that the current rate of movement of the mobile station exceeds the threshold rate of movement, evaluating a current level of typing proficiency with respect to at least one outgoing text message;

as a result of evaluating the current level of typing proficiency with respect to the at least one outgoing text message, determining that the current level of typing proficiency is substandard; and

in response to determining that the current level of typing proficiency is substandard, disabling an ability of the mobile station to accept manually keying entry of outgoing text messages.