Mode changing of a mobile communication device and vehicle settings when the mobile communications device is in proximity to a vehicle

• US 9,661,125 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2015
• Issued: 05/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LYFT Incorporated
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zellner, Samuel
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TIMOTHY X
• Application Number:
  US14/930,987
• Publication Number:
  US 20160057276A1
• Time in Patent Office: 567 Days
• Field of Search: 455418
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6075 adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle H04M1/6058 takes precedence; arrangements for holding telephones in a vehicle B60R11/0241
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• 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

Abstract

A driver of a vehicle is identified and a command is sent to a mobile communications device that is associated with the identified driver and that is in proximity of the vehicle to force the mobile communications device to change modes such as to enter a hands-free or other suitable mode. The driver may be identified through one or more techniques including biometric sensing, key detection, switch controls, and so forth. Additionally, the driver and/or feature settings preferred by the current driver may be identified by receiving data from the mobile communications device. The data may identify the driver ID with preferred feature settings, the mobile communications device which has an association to a driver ID with preferred feature settings, or the data may specify the preferred feature settings.

Claims

1. A system for controlling features of a vehicle, the system comprising:

a mobile device associated with a driver of the vehicle; and

a vehicular system comprising;

a processor; and

a memory coupled with the processor, the memory comprising executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising;

receiving an indication of a user associated with the mobile device when the mobile device comes into proximity with the vehicular system;

based on the indication received from the mobile device, instructing the vehicular system to cause a feature of the vehicular system to enter an active mode;

detecting an override from a second mobile device associated with a non-driver coupled with the vehicular system; and

responsive to detecting the override, instructing the vehicular system to release the mobile device from the active mode.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the feature comprises seat position or steering wheel position.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicular system obtains an identification of the mobile device via a cradle connection of the mobile device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicular system obtains an identification of the mobile device via a short range radio frequency communication.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise maintaining an association of identifications of mobile devices to features of the vehicle.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the feature comprises cruise control.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise redirecting control of a feature of the vehicle based on the proximity with the vehicular system and information received from the mobile device.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the feature comprises a camera output.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the feature comprises a virtual keypad.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise redirecting control of a feature of the mobile device to the vehicular system based on the proximity with the vehicular system, the feature of the mobile device comprising output of a display of the mobile device.

11. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising computer executable instructions that when executed by a computing device cause said computing device to effectuate operations comprising:

receiving an indication of a user associated with a mobile device associated with a driver of a vehicle when the mobile device comes into proximity with a vehicular system of the vehicle;

based on the indication received from the mobile device, instructing the vehicular system to cause a feature of the vehicular system to enter an active mode;

detecting an override from a second mobile device coupled with the vehicular system; and

responsive to detecting the override, instructing the vehicular system to release the mobile device from the active mode.

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the feature comprises position of a pedal.

13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the vehicular system obtains an identification of the mobile device via a cradle connection of the mobile device.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise redirecting control of a feature of the vehicle based on the proximity with the vehicular system and the information received from the mobile device.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the feature comprises a camera output.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the feature comprises a virtual keypad.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise redirecting control of a feature of the mobile device to the vehicular system based on the proximity with the vehicular system, the feature of the mobile device comprising output of a display of the mobile device.

18. A method comprising:

communicatively connecting with a mobile device when the mobile device associated with a driver of a vehicle comes into close proximity with a vehicular system of the vehicle;

receiving information from the mobile device, the information comprising an indication of a user associated with the mobile device;

based on the information received from the mobile device, instructing the vehicular system to cause a feature of the vehicular system to enter an active mode when the mobile device is in close proximity with the vehicular system;

detecting an override to the active mode change from a second mobile device associated with a non-driver coupled with the vehicular system; and

responsive to detecting the override, instructing the vehicular system to release the mobile device from the active mode.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the vehicular system obtains an identification of the mobile device via a short range radio frequency communication.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising maintaining an association of identifications of mobile devices to features of the vehicle.