Controlling use of a communications device in accordance with motion of the device

• US 8,385,982 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2009
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Demblewski, Michael, Blanda, Joseph Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): WANG-HURST, KATHY W
• Application Number:
  US12/642,919
• Publication Number:
  US 20110151830A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,163 Days
• Field of Search: 455/419, 455/418, 455/414.1, 455/569.1, 455/569.2, 455/456.1, 455/456.3
• US Class Current: 455/569.1
• 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 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information

Abstract

A wireless communications device is controlled in accordance with motion thereof. If the device is determined to be in motion, such as in a vehicle, use of the device is restricted. Discrimination between vehicular motion and ambulatory motion is provided. While in motion, use of the device can be allowed under specific exception conditions. Exception conditions include the device being used by a passenger of a vehicle, a 911 call, or a call to a designated number. The ability to control the device in accordance with motion thereof can be remotely activated and deactivated, thus allowing, for example, parental control of a device belong to a child.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining if a communication device is in motion;

when it is determined that the communications device is not in motion, allowing use of the communications device;

when it is determined that the communications device is in motion;

determining that the communications device is currently in use; and

determining a type of the use of the communications device;

when it is determined that the type of the use is not a voice call;

determining if an exception condition exists;

when it is determined that an exception condition exists, allowing the use of the communications device; and

when it is determined that an exception condition does not exist, restricting the use of the communications device by preventing text from being entered on the communications device and allowing a text message to be sent via the communications device;

when it is determined that the type of the use is a voice call;

determining if a hands free apparatus is in use;

when it is determined that the hands free apparatus is in use, allowing the use of the communications device;

when it is determined that the hands free apparatus is not in use;

determining if an exception condition exists;

when it is determined that an exception condition exists, allowing the use of the communications device; and

when it is determined that an exception condition does not exist, restricting the use of the communications device by preventing text from being entered on the communications device and allowing a text message to be sent via the communications device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining if the communications device is in motion utilizes a global positioning system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the exception condition comprises at least one of:

the communications device is being used by a passenger in a moving vehicle;

use of the communications device constitutes emergency use;

or

a 911 call is being made via the communications device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein restricting the use of the communications device further comprises at least one of:

preventing a voice call from being sent via the communications device;

preventing a multimedia message from being sent via the communications device;

or

preventing a connection to a network via the communications device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the hands free apparatus comprises at least one of:

a headset in communications with the communications device;

or

the communications device configured in a speaker phone configuration.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein an ability to control the communications device in accordance with motion of the communications device is remotely enableable and disableable.

7. A communications device comprising:

memory comprising executable instructions; and

a processor coupled to the memory, when the processor executes the executable instructions, the processor effectuates operations comprising;

determining if the communication device is in motion;

when it is determined that the communications device is not in motion, allow use of the communications device;

when it is determined that the communications device is in motion;

determining that the communications device is currently in use; and

determining a type of the use of the communications device;

when it is determined that the type of the use is not a voice call;

determining if an exception condition exists;

when it is determined that an exception condition exists, allowing the use of the communications device; and

when it is determined that an exception condition does not exist, restricting the use of the communications device by preventing text from being entered on the communications device and allowing a text message to be sent via the communications device;

when it is determined that the type of the use is a voice call;

determining if a hands free apparatus is in use;

when it is determined that the hands free apparatus is in use, allowing the use of the communications device;

when it is determined that the hands free apparatus is not in use;

determining if an exception condition exists;

when it is determined that an exception condition exists, allowing the use of the communications device; and

when it is determined that an exception condition does not exist, restricting the use of the communications device by preventing text from being entered on the communications device and allowing a text message to be sent via the communications device.

8. The communications device of claim 7, wherein the exception condition comprises at least one of:

the communications device is being used by a passenger in a moving vehicle;

use of the communications device constitutes emergency use;

or

a 911 call is being made via the communications device.

9. The communications device of claim 7, the operations further comprising restricting the use of the communications device by at least one of:

preventing a voice call from being sent via the communications device;

preventing a multimedia message from being sent via the communications device;

or

preventing a connection to a network via the communications device.

10. The communications device of claim 7, wherein the hands free apparatus comprises at least one of:

a headset in communications with the communications device;

or

the communications device configured in a speaker phone configuration.

11. The communications device of claim 7, wherein an ability to control the communications device in accordance with motion of the communications device is remotely enableable and disableable.

12. The communications device of claim 7, wherein a global positioning system is utilized to determine if the communications device is in motion.

13. A tangible processor-readable storage medium having at least one executable instruction stored thereon, the at least one executable instruction, when executed by a processor cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising:

determining if the communication device is in motion;

when it is determined that the communications device is not in motion, allowing use of the communications device;

when it is determined that the communications device is in motion;

determining that the communications device is currently in use; and

determining a type of the use of the communications device;

when it is determined that the type of the use is not a voice call;

determining if an exception condition exists;

when it is determined that an exception condition exists, allowing use of the communications device; and

when it is determined that an exception condition does not exist, restricting use of the communications device by preventing text from being entered on the communications device and allowing a text message to be sent via the communications device;

when it is determined that the type of the use is a voice call;

determining if a hands free apparatus is in use;

when it is determined that the hands free apparatus is in use, allowing the use of the communications device;

when it is determined that the hands free apparatus is not in use;

determining if an exception condition exists;

when it is determined that an exception condition exists, allowing the use of the communications device; and

when it is determined that an exception condition does not exist, restricting the use of the communications device by preventing text from being entered on the communications device and allowing a text message to be sent via the communications device.

14. The tangible processor-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein determining if the communications device is in motion utilizes a global positioning system.

15. The tangible processor-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the exception condition comprises at least one of:

the communications device is being used by a passenger in a moving vehicle;

the use of the communications device constitutes emergency use;

or

a 911 call is being made via the communications device.

16. The tangible processor-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein restricting the use of the communications device comprises at least one of:

preventing a voice call from being sent via the communications device;

preventing a multimedia message from being sent via the communications device;

or

preventing a connection to a network via the communications device.

17. The tangible processor-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the hands free apparatus comprises at least one of:

a headset in communications with the communications device;

or

the communications device configured in a speaker phone configuration.

18. The tangible processor-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein an ability to control the communications device in accordance with motion of the communications device is remotely enableable and disableable.