Wireless handset vehicle safety interlock

• US 8,275,395 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2011
• Issued: 09/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Embarq Holdings Company LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Howarter, Jamie Christopher, Lesher, Charles Michael, Sweeney, Jeffrey, Morrill, Robert J., Hull, Heather
• Primary Examiner(s): Afshar, Kamran
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fahnert, Marisol
• Application Number:
  US13/232,489
• Publication Number:
  US 20120077457A1
• Time in Patent Office: 377 Days
• Field of Search: 4554141-4144, 455/418, 4554561-4566, 455/457
• US Class Current: 455/456.4
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72424 with manual activation of emergency-service functions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device

Abstract

A method and device for controlling the operability of a transmitter on a mobile communications device by determining if the mobile communications device is located proximate to an operator'"'"'s seat of a vehicle. A condition parameter of the mobile communications device may be determined. The transmitter on the mobile communications device may be disabled in response to the mobile communications device being located proximate to an operator'"'"'s seat of a vehicle and further in response to the determined condition parameter. The transmitter on the mobile communications device may be enabled, in response to determining that the mobile communications device is not located in a restricted location.

Claims

1. A method for controlling the operability of a transmitter on a mobile communications device, said method comprising:

determining if the mobile communications device is located proximate to an operator'"'"'s seat of a vehicle using a signal strength sensor located within a steering wheel of the vehicle;

determining a condition parameter of the mobile communications device;

disabling the transmitter on the mobile communications device in response to the mobile communications device being located proximate to an operator'"'"'s seat of a vehicle and further in response to the determined condition parameter; and

enabling the transmitter on the mobile communications device in response to determining that the mobile communications device is not located in a restricted location.

2. The method according to claim 1, further including, in response to the mobile communications device being located proximate to an operator'"'"'s seat of a vehicle, enabling the transmitter if the condition parameter is not indicative of a restriction being necessary.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein disabling the transmitter on the mobile communications device further comprises disabling the transmitter in response to the determined condition parameter being indicative of a restriction being necessary.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining a condition parameter includes determining whether the mobile communications device is in motion.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising, determining that an accident or emergency has occurred.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein, in response to determining that an accident or emergency has occurred, enabling the transmitter on the mobile communications device.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising, determining a precise location of the mobile communications device within the vehicle based on a strength of a signal received by the signal strength sensor located within the steering wheel.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining a transmission status of a vehicle.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein, in response to determining the transmission status, setting the condition parameter accordingly.

10. A mobile communications device, said mobile communications device comprising:

a processor;

a memory;

an input/output (I/O) unit;

said processor configured to;

determine if the mobile communications device is located proximate to an operator'"'"'s seat of a vehicle using a signal strength sensor located within a steering wheel of the vehicle;

determine a condition parameter of the mobile communications device;

disable a transmitter on the mobile communications device in response to the mobile communications device being located proximate to an operator'"'"'s seat of a vehicle and further in response to the determined condition parameter; and

enable the transmitter on the mobile communications device in response to determining that the mobile communications device is not located in a restricted location.

11. The mobile communications device according to claim 10, wherein said processor is further configured to enable the transmitter, in response to the mobile communications device being located proximate to an operator'"'"'s seat of a vehicle, if the condition parameter is not indicative of a restriction being necessary.

12. The mobile communications device according to claim 10, wherein in disabling the transmitter on the mobile communications device, said processor is further configured to disable the transmitter on the mobile communications device in response to the determined condition parameter being indicative of a restriction being necessary.

13. The mobile communications device according to claim 10, wherein in determining a condition parameter, said processor is further configured to determine whether the mobile communications device is in motion.

14. The mobile communications device according to claim 10, wherein said processor is further configured to determine that an accident or emergency has occurred.

15. The mobile communications device according to claim 14, wherein, in response to determining that an accident or emergency has occurred, the processor is further configured to enable the transmitter on the mobile communications device.

16. The mobile communications device according to claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to determine a precise location of the mobile communications device within the vehicle based on a strength of a signal received by the signal strength sensor located within the steering wheel.

17. The mobile communications device according to claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to determine a transmission status of a vehicle.

18. The mobile communications device according to claim 17, wherein, in response to determining the transmission status, the processor is further configured to set the condition parameter accordingly.

19. A vehicle control system, said vehicle control system comprising:

a processor;

a memory;

an input/output (I/O) unit in communications with a mobile communications device;

said processor configured to;

determine if the mobile communications device is located proximate to an operator'"'"'s seat of a vehicle using a signal strength sensor located within a steering wheel of the vehicle;

receive a condition parameter of the mobile communications device;

send a request to disable a transmitter on the mobile communications device in response to the mobile communications device being located proximate to an operator'"'"'s seat of a vehicle and further in response to the received condition parameter; and

send a request to enable the transmitter on the mobile communications device in response to determining that the mobile communications device is not located in a restricted location.

20. The vehicle control system according to claim 19, wherein said processor is further configured to send a request to enable the transmitter, in response to the mobile communications device being located proximate to an operator'"'"'s seat of a vehicle, if the condition parameter is not indicative of a restriction being necessary.