Vehicle wireless device detection

• US 10,178,524 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2017
• Issued: 01/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: StopCell, LLC
• Original Assignee: StopCell, LLC
• Inventors: Chalmers, Jeremy, Morgan, Keith, Stewart, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Navar, Erica
• Application Number:
  US15/717,693
• Publication Number:
  US 20180070214A1
• Time in Patent Office: 468 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• 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: H04K 3/45 characterized by including monitoring of the target or target signal, e.g. in reactive jammers or follower jammers for example by means of an alternation of jamming phases and monitoring phases, called "look-through mode"
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/68 using passive jamming, e.g. by shielding or reflection shielding of apparatus or components against electric or magnetic field H05K9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/38 for collecting sensor information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/48 for in-vehicle communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals

Abstract

The disclosure includes an apparatus comprising a diagnostic unit configured to communicate with a rules engine to determine whether a transmission detected in a vehicle is classified as unauthorized wireless device usage based on characteristics of RF signals received by a Detector Module collocated with the vehicle, geographic location data, and, optionally, additional secondary data, such determination being made by an external Rules Engine that is in communication with the Detector Module. The Rules Engine can provide instructions to and modify various threshold values used for preliminary RF signal analysis by the Detector Module.

Claims

1. A method for reporting wireless device use within a vehicle comprising:

initiating operation of a detector module within a vehicle when a vehicle engine is in operation;

using the detector module, repeatedly scanning an RF spectrum at a first time interval, wherein the RF spectrum comprises a plurality of RF bands, wherein each one of the plurality of RF bands has an associated signal energy threshold and wherein the signal thresholds are nonidentical;

using the detector module, measuring a second time interval over which a received RF signal exceeds at least one of the signal energy thresholds;

using the detector module, determining that a detection event has occurred by determining if the second time interval exceeds a time threshold;

using the detector module, counting a number of the detection events that occurs within a third time interval;

using the detector module, preparing a signal data packet comprising a band identifier and the number of detection events occurring within the third time interval, wherein the band identifier comprises information related to the RF band of the received RF signal;

transmitting the signal data packet from the detector module to a rules engine located remotely from the vehicle;

transmitting GPS data associated with the vehicle to the rules engine;

using the rules engine, determining if a notification condition exists using the GPS data and the signal data packet;

transmitting a first instruction from the rules engine to the detector module when a notification condition exists; and

performing of the first instruction by the detector module, wherein the signal thresholds, the time threshold, and at least one of the group consisting of the first time interval, the second time interval, and the third time interval are configurable by the rules engine.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the GPS data is transmitted by the detector module.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the secondary data comprises global positioning system data.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein a notification condition exists if the transmitted data indicates wireless device use and the global positioning system data indicate that the vehicle is moving.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of transmitting a second instruction from the rules engine to a shielding device if the notification condition exists.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the second instruction is not transmitted to the shielding device when both an emergency condition exists and the notification condition exists.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein a notification condition does not exist if the transmitted data indicates wireless device use and the secondary data indicates that a passenger is present in the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving identifying transmission data at the detector module, wherein the identifying transmission data comprises a device-specific identifier.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the identifying transmission data is Bluetooth data.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the device-specific identifier is compared to an identifier archive stored on the database of the detector module, and wherein data related to the RF signal is not transmitted to the Rules Engine if the device-specific identifier is present in the identifier archive.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein content of the identifier archive is modified by the rules engine.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein content of the identifier database is modified on receipt of a code from the wireless device by the rules engine.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein content of the identifier database is modified on receipt of user input to the rules engine, wherein the user is not an occupant of the vehicle.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the device-specific identifier is compared to an identifier archive stored on the database of the detector module, and wherein a notification condition exists if the device-specific identifier is not present in the identifier archive.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein content of the identifier archive is modified by the rules engine.

16. The method claim 14, wherein content of the identifier database is modified on receipt of user input to the rules engine, wherein the user is not an occupant of the vehicle.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the instruction comprises a directive to play an audio file stored on a database of the detector module.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of updating the stored threshold value by the Rules Engine.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of updating firmware of the detector module by the rules engine.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the rules engine is communicatively coupled to a plurality of detector modules, and wherein each detector module is collocated with a different vehicle.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving of the RF signal is suspended during transmitting of the data.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the detector module comprises a plurality of RF detectors, and wherein each of the plurality of RF detectors has an associated stored threshold value.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the plurality of RF detectors comprises at least one narrow band detector.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the plurality of RF detectors comprises at least one broad band detector.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the plurality of RF detector comprises at least one narrow band detector and at least one broad band detector.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal characteristic comprises signal strength.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal characteristic comprises signal duration.