Prevention against Texting and other Keyboard Operations While Driving

• US 20100297929A1
• Filed: 12/23/2009
• Published: 11/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Harris Technology LLC
• Original Assignee: Harris Technology LLC
• Inventors: Harris, Scott C.
• Application Number:
  US12/646,297
• Publication Number:
  US 20100297929A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/1
• 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 3/68 using passive jamming, e.g. by shielding or reflection shielding of apparatus or components against electric or magnetic field H05K9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10

Abstract

Prevention against some, but not all, users in a vehicle using the keyboard on a device while driving. This can prevent the driver texting while driving, or can prevent the driver entering the destination on a GPS while driving.

Claims

11. A method, comprising:

electronically forming a sector within a vehicle associated with a driver; and

electronically preventing the driver from operating a keyboard of an electronic device only when in said sector and when said vehicle is moving.

12. A method as in claim 11, wherein said electronically preventing comprises using a camera to detect information about the user being in said sector.

13. A method as in claim 11, wherein said electronically preventing comprises using an active jammer to prevent operations in said sector.

14. An electronic device, comprising:

a keyboard which accepts commands that allow controlling said electronic device;

a hand detector that includes a first part detecting a first hand of a user and a second part that detects a second hand of the user; and

a controller, that allows operation of said keyboard only when said first part and said second part both detect hands of the user.

15. A device as in claim 14 wherein said controller detects an electronic value which indicates that both the first part and second part have both been touched by separate user hands.

16. A device as in claim 14, wherein said hand detector is on a back surface of the electronic device.

17. A device as in claim 14, wherein said hand detector is on side surfaces forming edges of the electronic device.

21. A device as in claim 14, wherein said device also detects motion, and prevents said keyboard only when said motion is detected.

22. A device as in claim 14, further comprising a touch detector on an automobile, and said operation of the keyboard is prevented unless touch is detected both on said electronic device and on said automobile.

23. A device as in claim 14, wherein said device is a portable device.

24. A device as in claim 14, wherein said device is mounted in an automobile.

25. A device as in claim 24 wherein said first part is on said device and said second part is on said automobile.

18. A device as in claim than 14, wherein said controller detects that the device is in an automobile.

19. A device as in claim 18, wherein said controller prevents operating said keyboard only when detecting that the device is within range of said automobile.

20. A device as in claim than 18 wherein said controller includes a part which communicates with an automobile mounted electronics part to determine that it is within range of the automobile.

26. A method comprising:

detecting movement in a vehicle; and

responsive to said detecting movement, preventing use of a keyboard in the vehicle by only the driver of the vehicle, but not by other occupants of the vehicle.

1. A system, comprising:

a motion detector, operating to detecting motion of a portable device; and

an operation terminating part, which automatically electronically prevents a keyboard of the portable device from being operated while said motion is detected, without preventing non-drivers of the vehicle from operating the keyboard on portable device.

2. A system as in claim 1, wherein said operation terminating part is in the portable device.

3. A system as in claim 1, wherein said operation terminating part is in a vehicle that is in communication with the portable device.

4. A system as in claim 2, wherein said operating terminating part determines if a user is in a safe zone within the vehicle, and allows a user within a safe zone within the vehicle to operate the keyboard on the portable device, but prevents users who are outside the safe zone from allowing the portable device.

5. A system as in claim 1, wherein said portable device is a portable phone.

6. A system as in claim 5, wherein said operating terminating part prevents sending texts on the portable phone of the driver while the vehicle is moving.

7. A system as in claim 1, wherein said operating terminating part determines a location of the user and determines from said location whether the user is a driver or not a driver.

8. A system as in claim 7, wherein said operating terminating part uses a last known location to determine whether keyboard use should be blocked or allowed when a current location cannot be determined.

9. A system as in claim 7, wherein said operating terminating part uses a camera to determine whether keyboard use should be blocked or allowed when a current location cannot be determined.

10. A system as in claim 1, wherein said operating terminating part includes a hand detector which detects that the portable device is being touched with two hands, and prevents operation of the device unless it is being touched with two hands.

27. A method as in claim 26, wherein said preventing comprises requiring detection of two hands of a user being used to operate said keyboard.

28. A method as in claim 26, wherein said preventing comprises forming a short range communication area within the vehicle that prevents the use of the keyboard within that short range communication area.

29. A method as in claim 26, wherein said preventing comprises detecting a portable device within a line of sight of a detector within said vehicle, and preventing use of the keyboard when outside that short range communication area.

29-1. A method as in claim 27, further comprising detecting a user'"'"'s hand on a steering wheel of the vehicle, and preventing use of the keyboard when the user'"'"'s hand is not detected on the steering wheel.

30. A system, comprising:

a picture obtaining device that obtains a picture of a driver'"'"'s face in a vehicle; and

an operation prevention part that detects a first face when keyboard use is attempted on an electronic device, and prevents use of the keyboard when the first face matches the driver'"'"'s face.

31. A system as in claim 30, further comprising a movement detector which detects movement, and wherein said operation prevention part only prevents use of the keyboard responsive to detecting movement.

32. A system as in claim 30, wherein said picture obtaining device is on the vehicle.