Method for temporarily blocking incoming and outgoing wireless communication for a mobile phone

• US 9,749,084 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2017
• Issued: 08/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kevin Otto
• Original Assignee: Kevin Otto
• Inventors: Otto, Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, John J
• Application Number:
  US15/402,053
• Publication Number:
  US 20170201342A1
• Time in Patent Office: 232 Days
• Field of Search: 455 1, 455418, 455410, 4555692, 4555691, 455 6711, 455 411, 455 412
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/16 for telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/22 for communication related to vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/415 based on motion status or velocity, e.g. for disabling use of mobile phones in a vehicle
• 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 1/72418 for supporting emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device

Abstract

A method for temporarily blocking incoming and outgoing wireless communication is provided with a mobile-phone disrupting unit and a motion sensor in a vehicle. A current speed of the vehicle is monitored with the motion sensor and then a plurality of communication disrupting signals is emitted by the mobile-phone disrupting unit if the current speed of the vehicle exceeds a minimum-speed threshold. When the current speed drops to the minimum-speed threshold or a lower speed, the process of emitting the plurality of disrupting signals is disabled so that the user can utilize the mobile phone. The mobile-phone disrupting unit and the motion sensor is either operatively integrated into the vehicle or housed within a self-containing enclosure.

Claims

1. A method for temporarily blocking incoming and outgoing wireless communication for a mobile phone comprises the steps of:

providing a vehicle with a mobile-phone disrupting unit and a motion sensor, wherein the mobile-phone disrupting unit stores a minimum-speed threshold;

monitoring a current speed of the vehicle with the motion sensor;

sending the current speed of the vehicle from the motion sensor to the mobile-phone disrupting unit;

emitting a plurality of communication disrupting signals with the mobile-phone disrupting unit,

if the current speed of the vehicle is greater than the minimum-speed threshold;

disabling the plurality of communication disrupting signals with the mobile-phone disrupting unit,

if the current speed of the vehicle is less than or equal to the minimum-speed threshold;

providing the vehicle with an input/output (I/O) user interface, wherein the I/O user interface is electronically connected to the mobile-phone disrupting unit;

receiving a desired value for the minimum-speed threshold through the I/O user interface; and

designating the desired value as the minimum-speed threshold with the mobile-phone disrupting unit.

2. The method for temporarily blocking incoming and outgoing wireless communication for a mobile phone, the method as claimed in claim 1 comprises the steps of:

providing a self-containing enclosure, wherein the mobile-phone disrupting unit and the motion sensor are housed within the self-containing enclosure; and

positioning the self-containing enclosure within the vehicle.

3. The method for temporarily blocking incoming and outgoing wireless communication for a mobile phone, the method as claimed in claim 2, wherein a portable power source is electrically connected to the mobile-phone disrupting unit and the motion sensor and is housed within the self-containing enclosure.

4. The method for temporarily blocking incoming and outgoing wireless communication for a mobile phone, the method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mobile-phone disrupting unit and the motion sensor are operatively integrated into the vehicle.

5. The method for temporarily blocking incoming and outgoing wireless communication for a mobile phone, the method as claimed in claim 4, wherein a car battery for the vehicle is electrically connected to the mobile-phone disrupting unit and the motion sensor.

6. The method for temporarily blocking incoming and outgoing wireless communication for a mobile phone, the method as claimed in claim 1 comprises the steps of:

prompting to input an emergency notification through the I/O user interface,

if the current speed of the vehicle is greater than the minimum-speed threshold; and

disabling the plurality of communication disrupting signals with the mobile-phone disrupting unit,

if the emergency notification is inputted through the I/O user interface.

7. The method for temporarily blocking incoming and outgoing wireless communication for a mobile phone, the method as claimed in claim 6 comprises the steps of:

providing the vehicle with a global positioning system (GPS) module and a wireless communication module, wherein the GPS module is electronically connected to the mobile-phone disrupting unit;

providing an emergency contact information stored on the mobile-phone disrupting unit;

retrieving a current location of the vehicle from the GPS module,

if the emergency notification is inputted through the I/O user interface; and

sending the current location of the vehicle to the emergency contact information through the wireless communication module.

8. The method for temporarily blocking incoming and outgoing wireless communication for a mobile phone, the method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the minimum-speed threshold is a pre-defined value.

9. The method for temporarily blocking incoming and outgoing wireless communication for a mobile phone, the method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mobile-phone disrupting unit is a radio frequency (RF) disruptor.

10. The method for temporarily blocking incoming and outgoing wireless communication for a mobile phone, the method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the motion sensor is mounted onto a wheel of the vehicle and is radially offset from a center axis of the wheel.