Mobile device lock-out system

• US 9,571,631 B1
• Filed: 03/09/2016
• Issued: 02/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saferide Acquisition Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Saferide, Llc
• Inventors: Rownin, Scott D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rampuria, Sharad
• Application Number:
  US15/064,767
• Time in Patent Office: 342 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.4, 455418-420, 455/575.9, 455/569.2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/48 for in-vehicle communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities

Abstract

A mobile electronic device that is operable to at least partially disable functionality of the mobile electronic device in response to receiving an indication that a vehicle is in motion. In one or more implementations, the electronic device includes a memory operable to store one or more modules and a processor communicatively coupled to the touch-sensitive display and to the memory. The processor is operable to execute the one or more modules to detect presence of a lock-out device and to receive an indication that a vehicle is in motion. The processor is also operable to execute the one or more modules to cause the mobile electronic device to be at least partially inoperable in response to receiving the indication and detecting presence of the lock-out device.

Claims

1. A mobile electronic device comprising:

a memory operable to store one or more modules;

a processor communicatively coupled to the memory, the processor operable to execute the one or more modules to;

detect a presence of a lock-out device;

receive an indication that a vehicle is in motion, the vehicle including the mobile electronic device;

in response to receiving the indication and detecting the presence of the lock-out device, cause the mobile electronic device to be at least partially inoperable.

2. The mobile electronic device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a touch-sensitive display, the touch-sensitive display configured to receive one or more inputs, wherein the processor is operable to execute the one or more modules to cause the touch-sensitive display to be at least partially inoperable in response to receiving the indication.

3. The mobile electronic device as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least one of an accelerometer or a global positioning system receiver, wherein the processor is operable to execute the one or more modules to determine whether the mobile electronic device is moving.

4. The mobile electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the lock-out device comprises at least one of an accelerometer or a global positioning system receiver.

5. The mobile electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the indication is transmitted by a transceiver, the transceiver communicatively coupled to the lock-out device.

6. The mobile electronic device as recited in claim 5, wherein the transceiver comprises at least one of a Bluetooth transceiver, a near field communication transceiver, or a Wi-Fi transceiver.

7. The mobile electronic device as recited in claim 5, wherein the processor is operable to execute the one or more modules to cause the mobile electronic device to be at least partially inoperable when the indication includes a unique identifier assigned to the lock-out device.

8. A lock-out system comprising:

a lock-out device configured to detect motion of a vehicle, the lock-out device configured to communicatively couple to the vehicle;

a mobile electronic device communicatively coupled to the lock-out device, the mobile electronic device comprising;

a memory operable to store one or more modules;

a processor communicatively coupled to the memory, the processor operable to execute the one or more modules to;

detect a presence of a lock-out device;

receive an indication that a vehicle is in motion from the lock-out device; and

in response to receiving the indication and detecting the presence of the lock-out device, cause the mobile electronic device to be at least partially inoperable.

9. The lock-out system as recited in claim 8, further comprising a touch-sensitive display, the touch-sensitive display configured to receive one or more inputs, wherein the processor is operable to execute the one or more modules to cause the touch-sensitive display to be at least partially inoperable in response to receiving the indication.

10. The lock-out system as recited in claim 8, further comprising at least one of an accelerometer or a global positioning system receiver, wherein the processor is operable to execute the one or more modules to determine whether the mobile electronic device is moving.

11. The lock-out system as recited in claim 8, further comprising a transceiver communicatively coupled to the lock-out device and the mobile electronic device, the transceiver configured to transmit the indication from the lock-out device to the mobile electronic device.

12. The lock-out system as recited in claim 11, wherein the transceiver comprises at least one of a Bluetooth transceiver, a near field communication transceiver, or a Wi-Fi transceiver.

13. The lock-out system as recited in claim 11, wherein the processor is operable to execute the one or more modules to cause the mobile electronic device to be at least partially inoperable when the indication includes a unique identifier assigned to the lock-out device.

14. The lock-out system as recited in claim 11, wherein the processor is operable to execute the one or more modules to prevent generation of at least one audible alert while the vehicle is in motion.

15. A method comprising:

detecting presence of a lock-out device;

receiving an indication that a vehicle is in motion at a mobile electronic device;

at least partially disabling functionality of the mobile electronic device in response to receiving the indication and detecting presence of the lock-out device;

determining whether the vehicle is still in motion; and

restoring the disabled functionality when the vehicle is determined to be no longer in motion.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the indication is generated by a lock-out device.

17. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the lock-out device comprises at least one of an accelerometer or a global positioning system receiver.

18. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the indication is transmitted by a transceiver, the transceiver communicatively coupled to the lock-out device.

19. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the transceiver comprises at least one of a Bluetooth transceiver, a near field communication transceiver, or a Wi-Fi transceiver.

20. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein at least partially disabling functionality of the mobile electronic device in response to receiving the indication further comprises at least partially disabling detection of touch inputs to the touch-sensitive display.