METHOD FOR LIMITING THE USE OF A MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE

• US 20120289214A1
• Filed: 12/20/2011
• Published: 11/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 10N2 Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: 10N2 Technologies
• Inventors: Hynes, Ciaran, McKenna, Brendan
• Granted Patent: US 9,060,072 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for limiting the use of a mobile communications device, the mobile communications device comprising a user interface, the steps of the method comprising determining the physical speed at which the mobile communications device is travelling; comparing the physical speed to a preset threshold speed; and limiting the functionality of the mobile communications device if the physical speed thereof is above preset threshold speed.

Claims

1. A method for limiting the use of a mobile communications device, the mobile communications device comprising a user interface, the steps of the method comprising:

determining the physical speed at which the mobile communications device is travelling;

comparing the physical speed to a preset threshold speed;

limiting the functionality of the mobile communications device if the physical speed thereof is above preset threshold speed, wherein

the mobile communications device comprises a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM); and

the steps of the method are carried out by a SIM Application Tool Kit (SAT) application running on the SIM.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the method comprises additional steps of:

presenting an attention verification test to a user via the user interface;

receiving a user response to the attention verification test via the user interface; and

restoring the functionality of the mobile communications device if an appropriate user response is received.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2 in which the method comprises the further step of presenting a further attention verification test to the user via the user interface after a preset delay has expired when an inappropriate user response is received.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3 further comprising the step of increasing the time period of the preset delay if a further inappropriate user response is received.

5. A method as claimed in claim 2 in which the attention verification test comprises a plurality of sub-tests.

6. A method as claimed in claim 2 in which an appropriate user response comprises a plurality of responses received within a preset time limit.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the step of limiting the functionality of the mobile communications device comprises the SAT application substantially monopolizing the user interface.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the step of limiting the functionality of the mobile communications device comprises limiting user-initiated functionality.

9. A SIM adapted to carry out the method of any previous claim.

10. A method for limiting the use of a mobile communications device equipped with a global positioning service (GPS) receiver, the mobile communications device comprising a user interface, the steps of the method comprising:

determining whether the GPS receiver on the mobile device is on or off; and

limiting the functionality of the mobile communications device if the GPS receiver is off.

11. A method as described in claim 10 wherein the mobile phone is entirely disabled until the GPS receiver is turned on.