System and method for detecting use of a wireless device in a moving vehicle

• US 7,876,205 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2007
• Issued: 01/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Inthinc Technology Solutions Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Inthinc Technology Solutions Incorporated
• Inventors: Catten, Jonathan C., McClellan, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Goins; Davetta W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Labbees; Edny
• Application Number:
  US11/866,247
• Publication Number:
  US 20090085728A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,211 Days
• Field of Search: 340/576, 340/439, 180/271, 180/272, 455/569.2, 455/238.1
• US Class Current: 340/439
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/16 for telephony
• 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: 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 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/04 including near field communication means, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed

Abstract

A system and method for detecting use of a wireless device is disclosed. In one embodiment, wireless device activity data is received from a wireless network. User account data is searched using selected parameters from the wireless device activity data to identify one or more subscribers that are or were using a wireless device. One or more subscriber vehicles or vehicle monitoring systems associated with each of the one or more subscribers are identified. Vehicle operation data from one or more vehicle monitoring systems is received. The vehicle operation data is used to determine whether any of the one or more subscriber vehicles were moving during use of an associated wireless device.

Claims

1. A method for detecting use of a wireless device in a moving vehicle, comprising:

receiving data indicative of use of a wireless device on a wireless network;

identifying user account data corresponding to the received data indicative of use of the wireless device;

identifying one or more vehicle monitoring systems associated with the user account data, each of the vehicle monitoring systems mounted in a vehicle and configured to monitor operation of the vehicle;

receiving vehicle operation data from the one or more vehicle monitoring systems; and

detecting use of the wireless device in a moving vehicle based on the received vehicle operation data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the data indicative of use of a wireless device includes a location identifying where a wireless device was used, or a time when the wireless device was used, or both.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving data identifying wireless devices that are located in or near a particular vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing mentoring feedback to a driver upon detection of use of the wireless device in the moving vehicle.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the wireless devices that are located in or near a particular vehicle are determined using a short-range communications system, an RFID system, or a Bluetooth system or a combination of one or more short-range, RFID and Bluetooth systems.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a request to the wireless network to terminate or block communications to the associated wireless device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the data indicative of use of the wireless device is real-time data, near real-time data, or historical data.