Mobile device communication access and hands-free device activation

• US 10,863,019 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2019
• Issued: 12/08/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Allstate Solutions Private Limited (Allstate Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Allstate Solutions Private Limited (Allstate Corporation)
• Inventors: Pandurangarao, Anil Kumar
• Primary Examiner(s): Karikari, Kwasi
• Application Number:
  US16/287,022
• Publication Number:
  US 20190199851A1
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/023 for transmission of signals between vehicle parts or subsystems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/08 related to drivers or passengers
• 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 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72484 wherein functions are triggered by incoming communication events
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/005 Transmission of information for alerting of incoming communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup

Abstract

Apparatuses, systems, and methods are provided for analyzing an incoming telephonic event (e.g., call, message, and/or notification) to a mobile device during operation of a vehicle in relation to a combination of factors to determine if the incoming telephonic event is to be allowed to be received during vehicle operation. The mobile device associated with a driver of the vehicle may receive the incoming telephonic event during operation of the vehicle. An incoming telephonic event analysis application operating on the mobile device may apply a soft block preventing the incoming telephonic event from being displayed on the mobile device. Based on the incoming telephonic event data, vehicle operational data, user preferences, hands-free device activation, and driver and road ratings, the incoming telephonic event analysis application may determine whether or not to maintain the soft block or allow the incoming telephonic event to be displayed on the mobile device during operation of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an on-board computer of a vehicle, wherein the vehicle is associated with a driver, and wherein the on-board computer is configured to transmit, to a mobile device, an incoming telephonic event analysis application activation command;

a server configured to calculate and transmit, to the mobile device, a calculated driver risk score and a calculated road risk score; and

the mobile device, comprising;

at least one processor; and

at least one memory storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the mobile device to;

in response to receiving the incoming telephonic event analysis application activation command from the on-board computer, activate an incoming telephonic event analysis application;

pair with a hands-free device;

receive an incoming telephonic event;

transmit, to a telematics device associated with the vehicle and based on the received incoming telephonic event, a data transmittal control command;

receive, from the server, the calculated driver risk score and the calculated road risk score;

activate, based on the calculated driver risk score and the calculated road risk score, the hands-free device; and

transmit, to the activated hands-free device, the incoming telephonic event.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the on-board computer is further configured to transmit, to the mobile device, an incoming telephonic event analysis application deactivation command, and

wherein the computer-readable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the mobile device to:

in response to receiving the incoming telephonic event analysis application deactivation command from the on-board computer, deactivate the incoming telephonic event analysis application.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the incoming telephonic event analysis application activation command is associated with a positive vehicle ignition event of the vehicle, and

wherein the incoming telephonic event analysis application deactivation command is associated with a negative vehicle ignition event of the vehicle.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer-readable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the mobile device to:

allow the driver to respond to the incoming telephonic event for a predetermined period of time; and

output countdown updates corresponding to a termination of the predetermined period of time.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer-readable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the mobile device to:

receive an additional incoming telephonic event;

prevent, based on the calculated driver risk score and the calculated road risk score, the additional incoming telephonic event from being displayed; and

generate a rollup comprising data associated with the additional incoming telephonic event.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the on-board computer is further configured to transmit, to the mobile device, an incoming telephonic event analysis application deactivation command, and

wherein the computer-readable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the mobile device to output the rollup after receiving the incoming telephonic event analysis application deactivation command.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the data transmittal control command is configured to instruct the telematics device to transmit vehicle operational data and environmental conditions data to the server for calculating a driver risk score and a road risk score.

7. A system comprising:

an on-board computer of a vehicle, wherein the vehicle is associated with a driver, and wherein the on-board computer is configured to transmit, to a mobile device, an incoming telephonic event analysis application activation command; and

the mobile device, comprising;

at least one processor; and

at least one memory storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the mobile device to;

in response to receiving the incoming telephonic event analysis application activation command from the on-board computer, activate an incoming telephonic event analysis application;

pair with a hands-free device;

receive an incoming telephonic event;

apply, based on an active operative state of the vehicle, a soft block on the incoming telephonic event;

determine whether a velocity of the vehicle at a time of receipt of the incoming telephonic event is less than a predetermined velocity threshold;

determine whether the incoming telephonic event is associated with an allowable individual or entity;

determine whether the incoming telephonic event is a third incoming telephonic event;

based on at least one of the velocity of the vehicle at the time of receipt of the incoming telephonic event being less than the predetermined velocity threshold, the incoming telephonic event being associated with the allowable individual or entity, and the incoming telephonic event being the third incoming telephonic event, remove the soft block on the incoming telephonic event;

in response to removing the soft block on the incoming telephonic event, activate the hands-free device; and

transmit, to the activated hands-free device, the incoming telephonic event.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the instructions further cause the mobile device to:

receive, from one or more of a vehicle sensor, a GPS device, a telematics device, the on-board computer, and an incoming telephonic event analysis system, vehicle velocity data corresponding to the time of receipt of the incoming telephonic event.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the incoming telephonic event analysis application activation command is associated with a positive vehicle ignition event of the vehicle.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the on-board computer is further configured to transmit, to the mobile device, an incoming telephonic event analysis application deactivation command, and

wherein the instructions further cause the mobile device to:

in response to receiving the incoming telephonic event analysis application deactivation command, deactivate the incoming telephonic event analysis application.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the incoming telephonic event analysis application deactivation command is associated with a negative vehicle ignition event of the vehicle.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the instructions further cause the mobile device to:

responsive to removing the soft block on the incoming telephonic event, display the incoming telephonic event; and

allow the driver to respond to the incoming telephonic event for a predetermined period of time.

13. A method comprising:

receiving, by a mobile device and from an on-board computer of a vehicle, an incoming telephonic event analysis application activation command, wherein the vehicle is associated with a driver;

in response to receiving the incoming telephonic event analysis application activation command, activating an incoming telephonic event analysis application;

receiving an incoming telephonic event;

applying, based on an active operative state of the vehicle, a soft block on the incoming telephonic event;

receiving, from a server, a calculated driver risk score and a calculated road risk score; and

based on the calculated driver risk score and the calculated road risk score, removing the soft block on the incoming telephonic event.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the incoming telephonic event analysis application activation command is associated with a positive vehicle ignition event of the vehicle.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving, from the on-board computer, an incoming telephonic event analysis application deactivation command; and

in response to receiving the incoming telephonic event analysis application deactivation command, deactivating the incoming telephonic event analysis application.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the incoming telephonic event analysis application deactivation command is associated with a negative vehicle ignition event of the vehicle.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

responsive to removing the soft block on the incoming telephonic event, displaying the incoming telephonic event; and

allowing the driver to respond to the incoming telephonic event for a predetermined period of time.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving an additional incoming telephonic event;

preventing, based on the calculated driver risk score and the calculated road risk score, the additional incoming telephonic event from being displayed; and

generating a rollup comprising data associated with the additional incoming telephonic event.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

receiving, from the on-board computer, an incoming telephonic event analysis application deactivation command; and

outputting the rollup after receiving the incoming telephonic event analysis application deactivation command.