Text message control system

• US 9,743,260 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2014
• Issued: 08/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Allstate Insurance Company (Allstate Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Allstate Insurance Company (Allstate Corporation)
• Inventors: Wilson, Thomas J., Biemer, Edward A.
• Primary Examiner(s): MANOHARAN, MUTHUSWAMY GANAPATHY
• Application Number:
  US14/573,800
• Publication Number:
  US 20160183069A1
• Time in Patent Office: 979 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]

Abstract

Methods, computer-readable media, software, and apparatuses provide a system for controlling access to text messaging capabilities of a mobile computing device of a user while the user is driving. The mobile computing device may be configured to restrict a user from sending or receiving text messages while the user is driving depending on a current driving situation. Whether a user can send or receive text messages may further depend on a priority of the text message or a priority level of a sender or intended recipient of the text message. The system may include devices for collecting information regarding the vehicle and its surroundings and for determining the current driving situation based on the collected information. Further, the system may include devices for maintaining records of the restrictions placed on text messaging and of rewards earned for agreeing to be subject to such restrictions.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a mobile computing device associated with a vehicle and comprising a cellular network interface configured to receive or send a text message over a cellular network; and

a network computing device, comprising a network interface, and configured to;

obtain, from the mobile computing device or another network computing device, information indicating a driving situation related to the vehicle;

determine an access level based on the obtained information; and

transmit the access level to the mobile computing device;

wherein the mobile computing device is configured to;

determine that a user associated with the mobile computing device is attempting to send a first outgoing text message during a drive;

determine a first message priority level of the first outgoing text message;

determine a first recipient priority level of a first recipient of the first outgoing text message;

based on the access level, the first message priority level, and the first recipient priority level, block the user from sending the first outgoing text message and set a reminder regarding the first outgoing text message;

determine that the drive has ended; and

in response to determining that the drive has ended and based on the reminder, prompt the user to send the first outgoing text message.

2. The system of claim 1,

wherein the mobile computing device is configured to determine the first recipient priority level of the first recipient based on whether the first recipient is on a list of priority recipients,

wherein the network computing device is further configured to determine a safety score based on the obtained information, and

wherein the access level is determined based on the safety score.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile computing device is configured to determine that the user is driving the vehicle.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the mobile computing device is configured to communicate with another device within the vehicle to obtain information indicating whether the user is driving the vehicle.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile computing device is configured to, based on the access level, block a first incoming text message from being displayed while the user is driving.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile computing device is configured to, based on the access level, convert a first incoming text message into an audio file and play the audio file while the user is driving.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile computing device is configured to:

receive a second access level;

determine that the user is attempting to send a second outgoing text message;

determine a second message priority level of the second outgoing text message;

determine a second recipient priority level of a second recipient of the second outgoing text message; and

based on the second access level, the second message priority level, and the second recipient priority level, allow the user to send the second outgoing text message.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile computing device is configured to:

prompt the user to record an audio message if the user attempts to create a second outgoing text message while the user is driving;

convert the audio message to create the second outgoing text message; and

send the second outgoing text message.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile computing device is configured to:

receive a verbal instruction to create a second outgoing text message;

record an audio message;

convert the audio message into the second outgoing text message; and

send the second outgoing text message.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the mobile computing device is further configured to:

prior to sending the second outgoing text message, play the audio message for the user to review; and

prior to sending the second outgoing text message, receive an approval from the user to send the second outgoing text message.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the mobile computing device is further configured to:

prior to sending the second outgoing text message, play an audio file that is created from text of the second outgoing text message for the user to review; and

prior to sending the second outgoing text message, receive an approval from the user to send the second outgoing text message.

12. The system of claim 1,

wherein the obtained information is obtained based on a location of the mobile computing device, and

wherein the obtained information comprises at least one of real-time weather information, real-time traffic information, or real-time road condition information.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the network computing device is further configured to, in response to transmitting the access level, determine whether the user has earned a reward.

14. The system of claim 1,

wherein the network computing device is further configured to transmit a location of the mobile computing device to a server to request the obtained information indicating the driving situation related to the vehicle, and

wherein the obtained information comprises at least one of weather information for the location of the mobile computing device, traffic information for the location of the mobile computing device, or road condition information for the location of the mobile computing device.

15. The system of claim 1,

wherein the obtained information comprises at least one of weather information for a location of the mobile computing device, traffic information for the location of the mobile computing device, or road condition information for the location of the mobile computing device, and

wherein the network computing device is configured to determine the access level further based on a driving history of a driver of the vehicle.

16. The system of claim 1,

wherein the obtained information comprises at least one of weather information for a location of the mobile computing device, traffic information for the location of the mobile computing device, or road condition information for the location of the mobile computing device, and

wherein the network computing device is configured to determine the access level further based on information in an insurance policy of the user associated with the mobile computing device.

17. A computing device, comprising:

a network interface configured to receive or send a text message over a cellular network and communicate with a server while the computing device is traveling within a vehicle; and

at least one processor configured to cause the computing device to;

receive, from the server, an access level that is determined based on information indicating a driving situation related to the vehicle;

determine that a user associated with the computing device is attempting to send a first outgoing text message during a drive;

determine a first message priority level of the first outgoing text message;

determine a first recipient priority level of a first recipient of the first outgoing text message;

based on the access level, the first message priority level, and the first recipient priority level, block the user from sending the first outgoing text message and set a reminder regarding the first outgoing text message;

determine that the drive has ended; and

in response to determining that the drive has ended and based on the reminder, prompt the user to send the first outgoing text message.

18. The computing device of claim 17, wherein the at least one processor is configured to further cause the computing device to:

receive, from the server, a second access level that is determined based on additional information indicating a second driving situation related to the vehicle;

determine that the user is attempting to send a second outgoing text message during the drive;

determine a second message priority level of the second outgoing text message;

determine a second recipient priority level of a second recipient of the second outgoing text message; and

based on the second access level, the second message priority level, and the second recipient priority level, allow the user to send the second outgoing text message.

19. A method, comprising:

determining, by a mobile computing device, whether a user of the mobile computing device is a driver of a vehicle;

receiving, by the mobile computing device, a first incoming text message;

in response to the receiving the first incoming text message, determining a first driving situation with respect to the vehicle based on information obtained from a device on the vehicle and information obtained from a server remote from the vehicle;

determining a first sender priority level of a first sender of the first incoming text message;

determining, based on the first driving situation and the first sender priority level, a first level of access to text messaging capabilities of the mobile computing device;

based on the first level of access, storing the first incoming text message and blocking access to the first incoming text message until a specific event occurs;

determining that the driver is attempting to send a first outgoing text message;

based on the determining that the driver is attempting to send the first outgoing text message, determining a second driving situation with respect to the vehicle;

determining a first message priority level of the first outgoing text message;

determining a first recipient priority level of a first recipient of the first outgoing text message;

determining, based on the second driving situation, the first message priority level, and the first recipient priority level, a second level of access to the text messaging capabilities of the mobile computing device;

based on the second level of access, setting a reminder to prompt the user regarding the first outgoing text message after a drive ends,

receiving, by the mobile computing device, a second incoming text message;

in response to the receiving the second incoming text message, determining a second driving situation with respect to the vehicle based on information obtained from the device on the vehicle and information obtained from the server remote from the vehicle;

determining a second priority level of a second sender of the second incoming text message, the second sender being different from the first sender;

determining, based on the second driving situation and the second priority level, a second level of access to the text messaging capabilities of the mobile computing device; and

based on the second level of access, converting the second incoming text message into an audio message and playing the audio message.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving, by the mobile computing device, a second incoming text message;

in response to the receiving the second incoming text message, determining a third driving situation with respect to the vehicle based on information obtained from the device on the vehicle and information obtained from the server remote from the vehicle;

determining a second sender priority level of a second sender of the second incoming text message, the second sender being different from the first sender;

determining, based on the third driving situation and the second sender priority level, a third level of access to the text messaging capabilities of the mobile computing device; and

based on the third level of access, converting the second incoming text message into an audio message and playing the audio message;

determining that the driver is attempting to send a second outgoing text message;

based on the determining that the driver is attempting to send the second outgoing text message, determining a fourth driving situation with respect to the vehicle;

determining a second message priority level of the second outgoing text message;

determining a second recipient priority level of a second recipient of the second outgoing text message;

determining, based on the fourth driving situation, the second message priority level, and the second recipient priority level, a fourth level of access to the text messaging capabilities of the mobile computing device; and

based on the fourth level of access, allowing the driver to send the second outgoing text message.