Device of a vehicle for restoring one or more functions or available choices for a mobile communication device

• US 9,497,324 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2012
• Issued: 11/15/2016
• 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:
  US13/461,955
• Publication Number:
  US 20120220283A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,658 Days
• Field of Search: 455/412.1, 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
• 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 local device of a vehicle for restoring one or more functions or available choices for a mobile communication device, said local device comprising:

a features ranges module selected from a group consisting of (i) software stored in a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium executable by a processor of said local device, (ii) hardware, (iii) firmware, and (iv) a combination thereof, and configured, when the processor executes the software, and/or the hardware or the firmware performs logic determination, to provide a first description and a first dependency relationship for a first function for said mobile communication device, provide a second description and a second dependency relationship for a second function for said mobile communication device, provide a first activation range value and a first deactivation range value for said first function in a first memory unit, and provide a second activation range value and a second deactivation range value for said second function in a second memory unit; and

an action controller module selected from a group consisting of (i) software stored in a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium executable by the processor of said local device, (ii) hardware, (iii) firmware, and (iv) a combination thereof, and configured, when the processor executes the software associated with said action controller module, and/or the hardware or the firmware associated with said action controller module performs logic determination, to receive location information of said mobile communication device from a location detection module, modify a first set of one or more functions or available choices for said mobile communication device, based on said location information of said mobile communication device, said first deactivation range value, and said second deactivation range value, and restore a second set of one or more functions or available choices for said mobile communication device, based on said location information of said mobile communication device, said first activation range value, and said second activation range value.

2. The local device as recited in claim 1, wherein said second function is dependent on said first function.

3. The local device-as recited in claim 2, wherein said second function is modified based on modification of said first function.

4. The local device-as recited in claim 1, wherein said location detection module comprises an antenna, sensor, detector, reflector, or receiver.

5. The local device as recited in claim 1, wherein said second set of one or more functions or available choices for said mobile communication device is a subset of said first set of one or more functions or available choices for said mobile communication device.

6. A local device of a vehicle for notification regarding one or more functions or available choices for a mobile communication device, said local device comprising:

a features ranges module selected from a group consisting of (i) software stored in a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium executable by a processor of said local device, (ii) hardware, (iii) firmware, and (iv) a combination thereof, and configured, when the processor executes the software, and/or the hardware or the firmware performs logic determination, to provide a first activation range value and a first deactivation range value for a first function of a first mobile communication device in a first memory unit, and provide a second activation range value and a second deactivation range value for a second function of said first mobile communication device in a second memory unit; and

an action controller module selected from a group consisting of (i) software stored in a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium executable by the processor of said local device, (ii) hardware, (iii) firmware, and (iv) a combination thereof, and configured, when the processor executes the software associated with said action controller module, and/or the hardware or the firmware associated with said action controller module performs logic determination, to receive location information of said first mobile communication device from a location detection module, modify said second function of said first mobile communication device, based on said location information of said first mobile communication device and said second deactivation range value, communicate a status of said first mobile communication device to a second communication device, and send or receive communications via said first mobile communication device, based on said first function of said first mobile communication device.

7. The local device as recited in claim 6, wherein said status indicates location of said first mobile communication device.

8. The local device as recited in claim 6, wherein said status indicates said modification of said second function of said first mobile communication device.

9. The local device as recited in claim 6, wherein said status indicates availability status of said first function of said first mobile communication device.

10. The local device as recited in claim 6, wherein said action controller module is further configured to modify said first function of said first mobile communication device, based on said location information of said first mobile communication device and said first deactivation range value.

11. The local device as recited in claim 6, wherein said action controller module is further configured to

modify functionality related to one or more of following:

keyboard, text processing, text display, text storing, text receiving, text sending, voice receiving, forwarding message, or voice sending.

12. The local device as recited in claim 6, wherein said action controller module is further configured to send multiple notifications to a predetermined person, entity, or device periodically.

13. The local device as recited in claim 6, wherein said action controller module is further configured to send multiple notifications to a predetermined person, entity, or device at different frequencies or time intervals.

14. The local device as recited in claim 6, wherein said action controller module is further configured to send multiple notifications to multiple persons, entities, or devices based on a predetermined list.

15. A local device of a vehicle for communicating a message regarding one or more functions or available choices for a mobile communication device, said local device comprising:

a features ranges module selected from a group consisting of (i) software stored in a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium executable by a processor of said local device, (ii) hardware, (iii) firmware, and (iv) a combination thereof, and configured, when the processor executes the software associated with said action controller module, and/or the hardware or the firmware associated with said action controller module performs logic determination, to provide a first activation range value and a first deactivation range value for a first function of a first mobile communication device in a first memory unit, and provide a second activation range value and a second deactivation range value for a second function of said first mobile communication device in a second memory unit; and

an action controller module selected from a group consisting of (i) software stored in a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium executable by the processor of said local device, (ii) hardware, (iii) firmware, and (iv) a combination thereof, and configured, when the processor executes the software, and/or the hardware or the firmware performs logic determination, to receive location information of said first mobile communication device from a location detection module, mark said second function of said first mobile communication device for modification, based on said location information of said first mobile communication device and said second deactivation range value, in case of a usage or attempted usage of said second function of said first mobile communication device by a user, communicate a message or warning about said usage or attempted usage of said second function of said first mobile communication device, and send or receive communications via said first mobile communication device, based on said first function of said first mobile communication device.

16. The local device as recited in claim 15, wherein said message or warning is communicated to said user, said user'"'"'s parent, said user'"'"'s employer, an authority, police, or a designated entity or person.

17. The local device as recited in claim 15, wherein said message or warning is stored in a computing device or a memory device.

18. The local device as recited in claim 15, wherein said message or warning comprises time-stamp or number of occurrences of said usage or attempted usage.

19. The local device as recited in claim 15, wherein said message or warning is communicated via one or more of following:

text, telephone call, ring, audio, multimedia, movies, video, siren, vibration, light, flashing light, predetermined message, or customized message.