Apparatus, system, and method for inhibiting operation of mobile devices within a zone

• US 9,692,880 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2016
• Issued: 06/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Driving Management Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Driving Management Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Hannon, Marwan
• Primary Examiner(s): Sarwar, Babar
• Application Number:
  US15/087,194
• Publication Number:
  US 20160295006A1
• Time in Patent Office: 453 Days
• Field of Search: 4554042, 4554121-4122, 455418-4221, 4555521, 455 411- 412, 4554561-457
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• 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 1/724634 With partially locked states, e.g. when some telephonic functional locked states or applications remain accessible in the locked states
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatus for inhibiting a function of a mobile device in a predetermined detection zone are disclosed. A method includes receiving, by a mobile device, a first communication signal when the mobile device is located within a predetermined field of transmission, determining that the first communication signal was transmitted by a first beacon of a plurality of beacons, and inhibiting at least one function of the mobile device upon determining that the first communication signal was transmitted by the first beacon.

Claims

1. A method for inhibiting a function of a mobile device in a predetermined detection zone, the method comprising:

receiving, by a mobile device located within a first predetermined field of transmission, a first communication signal;

determining that the first communication signal was transmitted by a first beacon of a plurality of beacons;

inhibiting at least one function of the mobile device upon determining that the first communication signal was transmitted by the first beacon;

receiving, by a mobile device located within a second predetermined field of transmission, a second communication signal;

determining that the second communication signal was transmitted by a second beacon of the plurality of beacons located within the predetermined detection zone;

inhibiting the at least one function of the mobile device upon determining that the second communication signal was transmitted by the second beacon;

receiving, by a mobile device located within a third predetermined field of transmission, a third communication signal;

determining that the third communication signal was transmitted by a third beacon of the plurality of beacons located within the predetermined detection zone;

inhibiting at least one function of the mobile device upon determining that the third communication signal was transmitted by the third beacon;

receiving, by a mobile device located within a fourth predetermined field of transmission, a fourth communication signal;

determining that the fourth communication signal was transmitted by the first beacon;

receiving, by a mobile device located within a fifth predetermined field of transmission, a fifth communication signal;

determining that the first communication signal was transmitted by the second beacon;

receiving, by a mobile device located within a sixth predetermined field of transmission, a sixth communication signal;

determining that the sixth communication signal was transmitted by the third beacon;

determining that the mobile device is in a location defined by an intersection of the fourth predetermined field of transmission, the fifth predetermined field of transmission, and the sixth predetermined field of transmission; and

inhibiting the at least one function of the mobile device upon determining that the mobile device is in the location defined by the intersection of the fourth predetermined field of transmission, the fifth predetermined field of transmission, and the sixth predetermined field of transmission.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one function of the mobile device is a text messaging service function or a display screen function.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first predetermined field of transmission overlaps the second predetermined field of transmission.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second predetermined field of transmission overlaps the third predetermined field of transmission.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device located within the first predetermined detection zone receiving the first communication signal comprises the mobile device located within the first predetermined detection zone continuously receiving the first communication signal, and the method further comprising permitting the at least one function of the mobile device following a predetermined time period after the mobile device no longer receives the first communication signal.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first predetermined field of transmission is adjustable according to a parameter of the first beacon.

7. A method for inhibiting a function of a mobile device in a predetermined detection zone, comprising:

receiving, by a mobile device located within a first predetermined field of transmission, a first communication signal;

determining that the first communication signal was transmitted by a first beacon of a plurality of beacons;

inhibiting at least one function of the mobile device upon determining that the first communication signal was transmitted by the first beacon;

receiving, by a mobile device located within a second predetermined field of transmission, a second communication signal;

determining that the second communication signal was transmitted by a second beacon of the plurality of beacons located within the predetermined detection zone;

inhibiting the at least one function of the mobile device upon determining that the second communication signal was transmitted by the second beacon;

receiving, by a mobile device located within a third predetermined field of transmission, a third communication signal;

determining that the third communication signal was transmitted by a third beacon;

receiving, by the mobile device located within the predetermined detection zone, a fourth communication signal;

determining that the fourth communication signal was transmitted by a fourth beacon;

receiving, by the mobile device located within the predetermined detection zone, a fifth communication signal;

determining that the fifth communication signal was transmitted by a fifth beacon;

determining that the third communication signal, the fourth communication signal, and the fifth communication signal are received simultaneously by the mobile device; and

inhibiting the at least one function of the mobile device upon determining that the third communication signal, the fourth communication signal, and the fifth communication signal are received within a predetermined period of time by the mobile device.

8. A system for inhibiting a function of a mobile device in a predetermined detection zone, the system comprising:

a plurality of beacons comprising a first beacon and a second beacon; and

wherein the first beacon is configured to transmit a first communication signal within a first predetermined field of transmission to a mobile device located within the first predetermined field of transmission of the first beacon and to cause the mobile device to inhibit at least one function of the mobile device based on the first communication signal transmitted by the first beacon; and

wherein the second beacon is configured to transmit a second communication signal within a second predetermined field of transmission to the mobile device located within the second predetermined field of transmission of the second beacon and to cause the mobile device to inhibit at least one function of the mobile device based on the second communication signal transmitted by the second beacon;

wherein the plurality of beacons comprises a third beacon;

wherein the third beacon is configured to transmit a third communication signal within a third predetermined field of transmission to a mobile device located within the third predetermined field of transmission of the third beacon and is configured to cause the mobile device to inhibit at least one function of the mobile device based on the third communication signal transmitted by the third beacon;

wherein the first beacon is configured to transmit a fourth communication signal within a fourth predetermined field of transmission;

wherein the second beacon is configured to transmit a fifth communication signal within a fifth predetermined field of transmission;

wherein the third beacon is configured to transmit a sixth communication signal within a sixth predetermined field of transmission; and

wherein the first beacon, the second beacon, and the third beacon are configured to cause the mobile device to inhibit at least one function of the mobile device based on determining that the mobile device is in the location defined by the intersection of the fourth predetermined field of transmission, the fifth predetermined field of transmission, and the sixth predetermined field of transmission.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of beacons is permanently attached to a walkway.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the first predetermined field of transmission is adjustable according to a first parameter of the first beacon and wherein the second predetermined field of transmission is adjustable according to a second parameter of the second beacon.

11. A communications apparatus for inhibiting a function of a mobile device in a predetermined detection zone, the apparatus comprising:

a mobile device; and

a control module associated with the mobile device;

wherein the control module is configured to receive a first communication signal transmitted by a first beacon of a plurality of beacons from a mobile device located within a first predetermined field of transmission of the first beacon;

wherein the control module is configured to inhibit at least one function of the mobile device based on the first communication signal transmitted by the first beacon;

wherein the control module is configured to inhibit a text messaging service function or display screen function of the mobile device;

wherein the control module is configured to receive a second communication signal transmitted by a second beacon of the plurality of beacons for a mobile device located within a second predetermined field of transmission of the second beacon;

wherein the control module is configured to inhibit at least one function of the mobile device based on the second communication signal transmitted by the second beacon;

wherein the control module is configured to receive a third communication signal transmitted by a third beacon from a mobile device located within a third predetermined zone of transmission of the third beacon;

wherein the control module is configured to inhibit at least one function of the mobile device based on the third communication signal transmitted by the third beacon;

wherein the control module is configured to receive a fourth communication signal transmitted by the first beacon for a mobile device located within a fourth predetermined zone of transmission of the first beacon;

wherein the control module is configured to receive a fifth communication signal transmitted by the second beacon for a mobile device located within a fifth predetermined zone of transmission of the second beacon;

wherein the control module is configured to receive a sixth communication signal transmitted by the third beacon for a mobile device located within a sixth predetermined zone of transmission of the third beacon; and

wherein the control module is configured to inhibit the at least one function of the mobile device based on determining that the mobile device is in a location defined by the intersection of the fourth predetermined field of transmission, the fifth predetermined field of transmission, and the sixth predetermined field of transmission.