Distracted driver prevention systems and methods

• US 9,796,391 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2014
• Issued: 10/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Olson, Brian, Rados, Steven R., Hughes, Kent W., Sanjeev, Kumar, Polehn, Donna L., Chiang, David, Krishnaswamy, Nithya
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Hai
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yu, Royit
• Application Number:
  US14/512,856
• Publication Number:
  US 20160101784A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,107 Days
• Field of Search: 340576
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/195 Blocking or enabling display functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/56 using mobile devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/741 Instruments adapted for user detection
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/29 Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/65 Instruments specially adapted for specific vehicle types or users, e.g. for left- or right-hand drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/654 the user being the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/80 Arrangements for controlling instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/08 related to drivers or passengers

Abstract

A user device may be used to prevent a user from driving a vehicle while distracted by the user device. The user device may create a user profile, determine whether the user is driving, and collect usage data while the user is driving. The user profile may include information regarding the driver'"'"'s propensity to be distracted while driving and the usage data may include information on whether the user is actually distracted by the user device. The user device may determine whether the driver is distracted based on the user profile and the usage data, and may respond in one or more ways, such as by alerting the driver with an audio signal, disabling a feature of the user device, logging instances of user distraction with a diagnostics device, activating a braking system of the vehicle, warning nearby drivers about the driver being distracted, and more.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

collecting, by a mobile device, usage data that is indicative of whether a user, of the mobile device, is looking at the mobile device;

determining, by the mobile device, whether the user is driving a vehicle by;

determining whether the user is located in a driver'"'"'s seat of the vehicle, the determining of whether the user is located in the driver'"'"'s seat of the vehicle comprising;

collecting first image data of an environment surrounding the user device,

comparing the first image data to second image data that includes one or more images consistent with the user being located in the driver'"'"'s seat,

communicating with a diagnostics device of the vehicle to determine a distance between the diagnostics device and the mobile device,

comparing the distance to a threshold distance, and

determining, based on the comparing of the first image data to the second image data and the comparing of the distance to the threshold distance, whether the user is located in the driver'"'"'s seat; and

analyzing, by the mobile device and when it is determined that the user is driving the vehicle, the usage data to determine whether the driver is distracted by the mobile device itself by comparing the usage data to a distraction threshold; and

when it is determined that the driver is distracted by the mobile device while driving the vehicle, disabling, by the mobile device, a feature of the mobile device to prevent the user from being distracted by the mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the usage data comprises at least one of:

information communicated between the mobile device and a network to which the mobile device is connected,

information communicated between the mobile device and the user of the mobile device, or

at least one internal process performed by the mobile device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the usage data comprises an orientation of the mobile device in conjunction with image data collected by the mobile device of the user looking at a display of the mobile device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the orientation of the mobile device is determined by the mobile device based on information from an accelerometer of the mobile device and at least one of:

information from a front-side camera, or

information from a back-side camera of the mobile device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first image data comprises at least one of:

a seat belt of the vehicle,

a steering wheel of the vehicle;

a feature of a driver console of the vehicle,

a gear shifter of the vehicle,

a center console of the vehicle

a glove compartment of the vehicle,

a rearview mirror of the vehicle,

a back seat of the vehicle,

a front seat of the vehicle,

a window of the vehicle, or

a passenger within the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

when the vehicle is not moving for a period of time, determine whether the user is driving, by;

determining whether the user is located in a driver'"'"'s seat of the vehicle, and

determining whether the vehicle is stopped at a traffic light or in a traffic jam.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a user profile based on the profile information received from the user and profile information received from an application server, the profile information from the application server comprising profile information corresponding to at least one user that is analogous to the user,

wherein the analyzing of the usage data is based on the user profile.

8. The method of claim 1, where the analyzing of the usage data to determine whether the driver is distracted by the mobile device comprises determining whether the usage data exceeds a distraction threshold within a pre-selected time interval.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

defining the distraction threshold based on at least one of;

a user profile associated with the user of the mobile device,

stored information indicating whether the user has a propensity for being distracted by the mobile device while driving,

comparing a time, a duration, or a route, to information identifying a time, duration, or route where the user has been distracted by the mobile device previously,

comparing a time, a duration, or a route, to information identifying a time, duration, or route where an—

analogous user has been distracted by another mobile device previously,

a type of media that is being played in the vehicle,

an orientation of the mobile device,

comparing a type of information being communicated, by the mobile device and to a wireless telecommunication network, to another type of information that was previously communicated, by the mobile device and to the wireless telecommunication network, and that is associated with the user being distracted by the mobile device previously,

comparing a type of information recently received, by the mobile device and from the wireless telecommunication network, to another type of information that was previously received, by the mobile device and from the wireless telecommunication network, and that is associated with the user being distracted by the mobile device,

comparing a type of information recently communicated, by the mobile device and to the user, to another type of information that was previously communicated, by the mobile device and to the user, and that is associated with the user being distracted by the mobile device, or

comparing a type of information recently received, by the mobile device and from the user, to another type of information that was previously received, by the mobile device and from the user, and that is associated with the user being distracted by the mobile device previously.

10. The method of claim 1, comprising least one of:

communicating the usage data to a diagnostics device of the vehicle,

communicating an instance of distraction to the diagnostics device of the vehicle,

producing an audio signal to notify the user to not use the mobile device while driving,

requesting the vehicle to activate a braking system of the vehicle,

requesting the vehicle to turn off an engine of the vehicle,

requesting the vehicle to activate an automated driving feature of the vehicle,

warning drivers of other vehicles that the user is distracted by the mobile device,

contacting a guardian of the user about the driving being distracted by the mobile device,

contacting an employer of the user about the driving being distracted by the mobile device, or

contacting local law enforcement about the user being distracted by the mobile device.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

subsequently enabling the disabled feature of the mobile device upon determining that the user is no longer driving the vehicle.

12. A system, comprising:

a mobile device, comprising;

a non-transitory memory device storing;

a plurality of processor-executable instructions; and

a processor configured to execute the processor-executable instructions, wherein executing the processor-executable instructions causes the processor to;

collect usage data that is indicative of whether a user, of the mobile device, is looking at the mobile device,

determine whether the user is driving a vehicle by;

determining whether the user is located in a driver'"'"'s seat of the vehicle, the determining of whether the user is located in the driver'"'"'s seat of the vehicle comprising;

collecting first image data of an environment surrounding the user device,

comparing the first image data to second image data that includes one or more images consistent with the user being located in the driver'"'"'s seat,

communicating with a diagnostics device of the vehicle to determine a distance between the diagnostics device and the mobile device,

comparing the distance to a threshold distance, and

determining, based on the comparing of the first image data to the second image data and the comparing of the distance to the threshold distance, whether the user is located in the driver'"'"'s seat; and

analyze, when it is determined that the user is driving the vehicle, the usage data to determine whether the driver is distracted by the mobile device itself by comparing the usage data to a distraction threshold, and

when it is determined that the driver is distracted by the mobile device while driving the vehicle, disable a feature of the mobile device to prevent the user from being distracted by the mobile device while driving.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein executing the processor-executable instructions causes the processor to:

define the distraction threshold based on at least one of;

a user profile associated with the user of the mobile device,

stored information indicating whether the user has a propensity for being distracted by the mobile device while driving,

comparing a time, a duration, or a route, to information identifying a time, duration, or route where the user has been distracted by the mobile device previously,

comparing a time, a duration, or a route, along which the vehicle is moving, to information identifying a time, duration, or route where an analogous user has been distracted by another mobile device previously,

a type of media that is being played in the vehicle,

an orientation of the mobile device,

comparing a type of information being communicated, by the mobile device and to a wireless telecommunication network, to another type of information that was previously communicated, by the mobile device and to the wireless telecommunication network, and that is associated with the user being distracted by the mobile device previously,

comparing a type of information recently received, by the mobile device and from the wireless telecommunication network, to another type of information that was previously received, by the mobile device and from the wireless telecommunication network, and that is associated with the user being distracted by the mobile device,

comparing a type of information recently communicated, by the mobile device and to the user, to another type of information that was previously communicated, by the mobile device and to the user, and that is associated with the user being distracted by the mobile device, or

comparing a type of information recently received, by the mobile device and from the user, to another type of information that was previously received, by the mobile device and from the user, and that is associated with the user being distracted by the mobile device previously.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein executing the processor-executable instructions causes the processor to perform at least one of the following:

communicate the usage data to a diagnostics device of the vehicle,

communicate an instance of distraction to the diagnostics device of the vehicle,

produce an audio signal to notify the user to not use the mobile device while driving,

request the vehicle to activate a braking system of the vehicle,

request the vehicle to turn off an engine of the vehicle,

request the vehicle to activate an automated driving feature of the vehicle,

warn drivers of other vehicles that the user is distracted by the mobile device while driving,

contact a guardian of the user about the driving while being distracted by the mobile device,

contact an employer of the user about the driving while being distracted by the mobile device, or

contact local law enforcement about the user being distracted by the mobile device.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the usage data comprises:

an orientation of the mobile device, and

image data collected by the mobile device of the user looking at a display of the mobile device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the orientation of the mobile device is determined by the mobile device based on information from an accelerometer of the mobile device and at least one of:

information from a front-side camera, or

information from a back-side camera of the mobile device.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein executing the processor-executable instructions causes the processor to:

when the vehicle is not moving, determine whether the user is driving, by;

determining whether the user is located in a driver'"'"'s seat of the vehicle, and

determining whether the vehicle is stopped at a traffic light or in a traffic jam.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions, the instructions comprising:

a plurality of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors associated with a device, cause the one or more processors to;

generate a user profile, the user profile comprising instructions for a mobile device to prevent a user from driving a vehicle while distracted by the mobile device,

collect usage data that is indicative of whether a user, of the mobile device, is looking at the mobile device,

determine whether the user is driving a vehicle by;

determining whether the user is located in a driver'"'"'s seat of the vehicle, the determining of whether the user is located in the driver'"'"'s seat of the vehicle comprising;

collecting first image data of an environment surrounding the user device,

comparing the first image data to second image data that includes one or more images consistent with the user being located in the driver'"'"'s seat,

communicating with a diagnostics device of the vehicle to determine a distance between the diagnostics device and the mobile device,

comparing the distance to a threshold distance, and

determining, based on the comparing of the first image data to the second image data and the comparing of the distance to the threshold distance, whether the user is located in the driver'"'"'s seat; and

analyze, when it is determined that the user is driving the vehicle, the usage data to determine whether the driver is distracted by the mobile device itself by comparing the usage data to a distraction threshold,

when it is determined that the driver is distracted by the mobile device while driving the vehicle, disable a feature of the mobile device, in accordance with the instructions of the user profile, to prevent the user from being distracted by the mobile device while driving,

monitor movements of the mobile device after disabling the feature of the mobile device, and

enable the disabled feature of the mobile device upon determining that, based on the monitored movements of the mobile device, the user is no longer driving the vehicle.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the plurality of instructions cause the one or more processors to:

define the distraction threshold based on at least one of;

a user profile associated with the user of the mobile device,

stored information indicating whether the user has a propensity for being distracted by the mobile device while driving,

comparing a time, a duration, or a route, along which the vehicle is moving, to information identifying a time, duration, or route where the user has been distracted by the mobile device previously,

comparing a time, a duration, or a route, along which the vehicle is moving, to information identifying a time, duration, or route where an analogous user has been distracted by another mobile device previously,

a type of media that is being played in the vehicle,

an orientation of the mobile device,

comparing a type of information being communicated, by the mobile device and to a wireless telecommunication network, to another type of information that was previously communicated, by the mobile device and to the wireless telecommunication network, and that is associated with the user being distracted by the mobile device previously,

comparing a type of information recently received, by the mobile device and from the wireless telecommunication network, to another type of information that was previously received, by the mobile device and from the wireless telecommunication network, and that is associated with the user being distracted by the mobile device,

comparing a type of information recently communicated, by the mobile device and to the user, to another type of information that was previously communicated, by the mobile device and to the user, and that is associated with the user being distracted by the mobile device, or

comparing a type of information recently received, by the mobile device and from the user, to another type of information that was previously received, by the mobile device and from the user, and that is associated with the user being distracted by the mobile device previously.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the plurality of instructions cause the one or more processors to:

communicate the usage data to a diagnostics device of the vehicle,

communicate an instance of distraction to the diagnostics device of the vehicle,

produce an audio signal to notify the user to not use the mobile device while driving,

request the vehicle to activate a braking system of the vehicle,

request with the vehicle to turn off an engine of the vehicle,

request the vehicle to activate an automated driving feature of the vehicle,

warn drivers of other vehicles that the user is distracted by the mobile device while driving,

contact a guardian of the user about the driving while being distracted by the mobile device,

contact an employer of the user about the driving while being distracted by the mobile device, or

contact local law enforcement about the user being distracted by the mobile device.