Integrated systems and method for preventing mobile computing device use while driving

• US 8,204,649 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2010
• Issued: 06/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: University of Utah Research Foundation (State of Utah)
• Original Assignee: University of Utah Research Foundation (State of Utah)
• Inventors: Zhou, Xuesong, Curry, Wallace M. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kim T
• Application Number:
  US12/758,637
• Publication Number:
  US 20110093161A1
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 701/29.1, 701/31.5, 701/36
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0604 Throttle position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0638 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0666 Engine power
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/08 Interaction between the driver and the control system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724098 Interfacing with an on-board device of a vehicle for hands-free speaking in vehicles H04M1/6075
• 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

Abstract

A system and method for controlling use of a mobile computing device in a vehicle are disclosed. The method comprises monitoring a vehicle-key system comprising a vehicle and a vehicle key having a particular code to determine when the vehicle has been activated using the vehicle key. An operational state of the vehicle is identified based on information received from an OBD port in the vehicle. The operational state of the vehicle is communicated to the mobile computing device. Use of selected device features on the mobile computing device are controlled based on the particular code of the vehicle key when the operational state of the vehicle indicates that the vehicle is outside of selected parameters.

Claims

1. A system for controlling use of a mobile computing device in a vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle diagnostic detection device having a connector configured to connect to an on-board-diagnostic (OBD) port in the vehicle;

a wireless communication module configured to transmit selected information from the vehicle diagnostic detection device;

a vehicle key configured to communicate with the vehicle;

a vehicle key code configured to associate the vehicle key with a particular user of the vehicle; and

a mobile computing device configured to identify when the vehicle is activated using the vehicle key having the vehicle key code, wherein selected device features of the mobile computing device are controlled when the vehicle is activated using the vehicle key; and

a vehicle status module configured to operate on the mobile computing device, wherein the mobile computing device receives the selected information transmitted by the wireless communication module and the vehicle status module interprets the selected information and limits functionality of the mobile computing device of the particular user when the selected information communicates that the vehicle is operating outside of selected criteria.

2. A system as in claim 1, wherein the mobile computing device is configured to identify when the vehicle is activated through communication with the vehicle key.

3. A system as in claim 1, wherein the mobile computing device is configured to identify when the vehicle is activated through communication with the vehicle.

4. A system as in claim 1, wherein the vehicle diagnostic detection device is powered through at least one of the OBD port and a 12 VDC port in the vehicle.

5. A system as in claim 1, wherein the vehicle status module is comprised of at least one of software, firmware, and hardware.

6. A system as in claim 1, wherein the vehicle status module is configured to identify when the vehicle is activated using the vehicle key having the vehicle key code and communicate that information to the mobile computing device.

7. A system as in claim 1, wherein the vehicle key code is incorporated in the mobile computing device to enable the mobile computing device to be used as the vehicle key for the vehicle.

8. A system as in claim 1, wherein the vehicle status module is further configured to store information received from the vehicle diagnostic detection device.

9. A system as in claim 8, wherein the information received at the vehicle status module from the vehicle diagnostic detection device is selected from the group consisting of vehicle speed, engine revolutions per minute, engine load, throttle position, and fuel system data.

10. A system as in claim 1, wherein the vehicle status module is further configured to transmit information received from the vehicle diagnostic detection device to a predetermined location.

11. A system as in claim 10, wherein the information is transmitted to at least one of a guardian and an insurance company.

12. A system as in claim 1, wherein the vehicle status module is configured to disable use of selected functions on the mobile computing device when a vehicle speed is greater than a predetermined speed, as received at the OBD port.

13. A system as in claim 1, wherein the vehicle status module is configured to disable use of functions selected from the group consisting of email, texting, gaming, received phone calls, web browsing, and transmitted phone calls.

14. A system as in claim 1, wherein the vehicle status module is configured to wirelessly pair the mobile computing device to the vehicle diagnostic detection device.

15. A system as in claim 14, wherein the vehicle status module is further configured to transmit a warning to a desired location when the pair between the mobile computing device and the vehicle diagnostic detection device has been severed.

16. A system as in claim 1, wherein the vehicle status module is further configured to transmit a vehicle'"'"'s odometer reading at a beginning and an ending of each vehicle operation to enable a person receiving data from the vehicle status module to determine whether the vehicle was operated without the vehicle status module in operation on the mobile computing device.

17. A system as in claim 1, wherein the vehicle diagnostic detection device is further configured to record a vehicle'"'"'s odometer reading at a beginning and an ending of each vehicle operation.

18. A system as in claim 17, wherein the vehicle diagnostic detection device is further configured to transmit a usage violation warning to the vehicle status module if a vehicle'"'"'s beginning odometer reading is not substantially the same as a previous ending odometer reading.

19. A system as in claim 18, wherein the vehicle status module is configured to transmit the usage violation warning to at least one of a guardian and an insurance company.

20. A method for controlling use of a mobile computing device in a vehicle, comprising:

monitoring a vehicle-key system comprising a vehicle and a vehicle key having a particular code to determine when the vehicle has been activated using the vehicle key;

identifying an operational state of the vehicle based on information received from a vehicle diagnostic detection device configured to connect to an on-board-diagnostic (OBD) port in the vehicle;

communicating the operational state of the vehicle to the mobile computing device; and

controlling use of selected device features on the mobile computing device based on the particular code of the vehicle key when the operational state of the vehicle indicates that the vehicle is outside of selected parameters.