Medthod And Apparatus For Controlling Use Of Mobile Phone While Operating Motor Vehicle

• US 20090221279A1
• Filed: 11/13/2008
• Published: 09/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Douglas A. Rutledge
• Original Assignee: Douglas A. Rutledge
• Inventors: Rutledge, Douglas A.
• Application Number:
  US12/270,784
• Publication Number:
  US 20090221279A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/418
• 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: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information

Abstract

A method and apparatus for controlling use of mobile communication device while operating a vehicle, wherein the mobile communication device (MS) uses one or more ways to determine its speed while moving in order to alter the default behavior of the device based on a stored safety policy. Using existing technologies such as Global Positioning System (GPS), Assisted GPS (AGPS), Location-Based Services (LBS), Global System for Mobile (GSM), Code Division for Multiple Access (CDMA), or an accelerometer, a MS determines the current or last known state of motion to modify the behavior of the MS based on its speed and a stored safety policy. The human interface of the MS is altered to inform the user of the modification, features and functions can be disabled and enabled, the user is prompted to change their behavior, and automatic functions take place. The logging functions of the MS can be enhanced to record the motion state of the MS while using any feature of the MS.

Claims

1. A method of controlling one or more features of a mobile communication device, the method comprising:

determining a speed at which the mobile communication device is moving;

disabling one or more features of the mobile communication device based on the determined speed; and

enabling one or more features of the mobile communication device based on the determined speed.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the speed at which the mobile communication device is moving is determined using one or more of GPS, AGPS and LBS technology.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the mobile communication device is moving in excess of a first speed; and

disabling a text-messaging feature of the mobile communication device if the mobile communication device is traveling in excess of the first speed.

4. A method whereby a mobile communications device determines its speed and stores that value for the purpose of altering the behavior of the device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein a mobile communications device determines and maintains a motion state or a state of motion,

wherein the motion state or the state of motion is the calculated or stored value of the last known speed which can be updated or examined at any given moment.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the mobile communications device stores a threshold as a value expressed as speed.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein a hold timer is stored as a value expressed in standard time units that indicates the time since the device'"'"'s speed drops below the threshold value in order to continue altering the device'"'"'s features or functions.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein if a device'"'"'s features are blocked while driving, the hold timer value is used to continue blocking features while stopped at to prevent its use for this short period where the vehicle may temporarily reduce speed below the threshold.

9. The method of claim 5, where an exception list is stored to allow the device to bypass certain safety features.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein, when the device is in any motion state an exception is provided for allowing the device to place calls to emergency numbers.

11. A method of claim 5, wherein a safety policy is stored on the device comprising configuration and/or rules needed to determine the various actions the device should take based on the motion state.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the safety policy allows the device to be configured to permit, deny, or alter the use of any feature or function.

13. A method of claim 5, wherein a mobile communications device prevents the user from creating text messages or e-mail based on the speed of the device.

14. A method of claim 5, wherein the mobile communications device provides a prompt to use a hands-free option during a call.

15. The method of claim 5, wherein the mobile communication device provides for enforcing or encouraging the use of a wired or wireless headset.

16. A method of claim 5, where an automatic reply is used to respond to an incoming message based on the user'"'"'s inability to reply while the device is in motion.

17. A method of claim 5, where the device is powered off when a predetermined speed is reached to enforce regulations for turning off the transmitter of any mobile communications device.

18. A method of claim 5, where the logging functions of the device are enhanced to record the speed of the device while using any features of the device.

19. A method of claim 5, where the logging functions of the device includes recording the use of hands-free technologies.

20. A method of claim 5, where one or more feature or function of the device is altered based on speed.