Method and device to prohibit communications which require active participation by the driver of a vehicle

• US 9,820,215 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2016
• Issued: 11/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jason Tzannes, Ryan Wittman
• Original Assignee: Jason Tzannes, Ryan Wittman
• Inventors: Tzannes, Jason, Wittman, Ryan
• Primary Examiner(s): VO, NGUYEN THANH
• Application Number:
  US15/368,994
• Publication Number:
  US 20170086129A1
• Time in Patent Office: 344 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/48 Transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/64 Automatic arrangements for answering calls; Automatic arrangements for recording messages for absent subscribers; Arrangements for recording conversations centralised dictation systems H04M11/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

Operating a vehicle while texting, using applications or using a mobile device has been shown to be very dangerous and increase the likelihood of accidents. An exemplary embodiment relates to a method, techniques and a system that can prohibit the use of a mobile device by the driver while driving. An exemplary embodiment relates to the fields of communications and control and combines the use of social media and smartphones to create methods to prohibit the use of specific communications on the mobile device including but not limited to texting, etc.

Claims

1. A system for communicating between a mobile device and a controlling device comprising:

a first transceiver, comprising a first transmitter and a first receiver, in the controlling device capable of sending an identifying code or receiving an identifying code;

a second receiver in the controlling device capable of receiving a message indicating that texting is disabled in a mobile device from a second transmitter in the mobile device; and

a controller, connected to the first transceiver, that enables the first transceiver to send or receive the identifying code;

wherein said controller enables the first transceiver upon receipt of said message by the second receiver; and

wherein the first transceiver and the second receiver use different frequency bands and the second receiver and second transmitter use the same frequency bands.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first transceiver uses a wireless protocol.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the second transmitter and second receiver use a wired link or a wireless protocol.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the identifying code is unique to one of:

the mobile device or the controlling device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein texting includes any communications that require active participation by the user of the mobile device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the controlling device is a key that controls an electronic device or a vehicle.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the key is embedded in a phone case connected to the mobile device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the controlling device is a module in an electronic device that controls a vehicle.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the receipt of the message is confirmed by the controller by accessing a memory location.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device operates an app that enables a user of the mobile device to request that the second transmitter transmit a message to the second receiver indicating the status of texting in the mobile device.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the status of texting is determined by observing a memory location in the mobile device.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises one or more hardware components.

13. A system of communications between a mobile device and a controlling device comprising:

a first transmitter in the mobile device capable of sending a message to a first receiver in the controlling device that indicates whether texting is enabled or disabled in the mobile device;

a second transmitter in the controlling device capable of connecting to the Internet; and

a CPU in the controlling device connected to the second transmitter, that enables communications by the second transmitter only when the message received by the first receiver indicates that texting in the mobile device is disabled;

wherein the first and second transmitters use different frequency bands and the first transmitter and first receiver use the same frequency bands.

14. The system of claim 13, where the second transmitter is capable of connecting to the Internet using a WiFi protocol or cellular protocol.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the controlling device is a vehicle or a module, comprising hardware and software, in a vehicle.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein texting includes any communications that require active participation by the user of the mobile device.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the mobile device operates an app that enables a user of the mobile device to request that the first transmitter send a message indicating the status of texting in the mobile device.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the indication that texting in the mobile device has been or has not been disabled is determined by the CPU by accessing a memory location.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the CPU, based on the contents of the message received at the first receiver, is capable of further initiating an alarm notifying that texting has not been disabled.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the CPU is a central processing unit capable of storing, recalling and processing information related to the controlling device.