Method for automobile safe wireless communications

• US 7,065,349 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2003
• Issued: 06/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Naitel Group, Inc., Nattel Group Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Nattel Group Incorporated
• Inventors: Patel, Rajesh, Nath, Sanjeev
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson, Matthew D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WEST, LEWIS G
• Application Number:
  US10/673,725
• Publication Number:
  US 20050070245A1
• Time in Patent Office: 995 Days
• Field of Search: 455/569.2, 455/41.2, 455/345, 455/418, 455/419, 455/420, 340/438, 340/463, 701/36
• US Class Current: 455/419
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/06 indicating a condition of sleep, e.g. anti-dozing alarms
• 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 1/66 with means for preventing unauthorised or fraudulent calling verifying user identity or authority in secret or secure digital communications H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72418 for supporting emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information

Abstract

A method and system for preventing an operator of a vehicle from using a handheld wireless communication device without a hands-free communication device associated therewith when the vehicle is in motion.

Claims

1. A method for a service provider providing wireless communication services to a user on a handheld wireless communication device, comprising the steps of:

forwarding communication signals from and to the handheld wireless communication device;

receiving information sent from the handheld wireless communication device, wherein the received information indicates a length of a period during which the user uses the handheld wireless communication device while driving a moving vehicle by overriding a restriction on the use of the handheld wireless communication device issued based on a detected potentially safety hazardous condition; and

penalizing the user of the handheld wireless communication device based on the received information.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the handheld wireless communication device comprises:

a cellular phone, a PDA, and/or a mobile personal computer.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle comprises:

an automobile, a truck, a bus, a train, a tractor, a crane, a 2- or 3-wheel conveyance, a motorcycle, or a floating device, such as a boat, a ship or an airplane.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the potentially safety hazardous condition comprises at least one of:

the handheld wireless communication device is turned on in the vehicle while the vehicle is moving at a certain velocity above zero; and

the handheld wireless communication device is turned on in the moving vehicle and is not attached to a hands-free communication device.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of penalizing is determined according to at feast one of:

a service agreement between the service provider and the user; and

a government regulation.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of penalizing includes:

imposing a higher rate of service charge for the length of the period during which the user overrides the restriction on the use of the handheld wireless communication device; and

reporting to an authority that the user has overridden a restriction on the use of the handheld wireless communication device while driving when a potentially safety hazardous condition is detected.