Systems and methods for automatically disabling mobile device usage while driving

• US 8,428,973 B1
• Filed: 05/29/2009
• Issued: 04/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Original Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Inventors: Hopkins, John C. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Hai
• Application Number:
  US12/474,589
• Time in Patent Office: 1,425 Days
• Field of Search: 705/4
• US Class Current: 705/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance

Abstract

A system implemented on one or more processors for automatically disabling mobile device usage while driving may comprise at least one subsystem configured for determining whether a mobile device is traveling at a speed greater than a predetermined threshold and at least one subsystem configured for disabling a functionality of the mobile device if it is determined that the mobile device is traveling at a speed greater than the predetermined threshold. The at least one subsystem configured for determining whether a mobile device is traveling at a speed greater than a predetermined threshold may comprise at least one subsystem configured for receiving output data from an accelerometer on the mobile device and at least one subsystem configured for using said data to determine a current speed of the mobile device.

Claims

1. A system implemented on one or more processors for automatically disabling mobile device usage while driving comprising:

at least one subsystem configured for determining whether a mobile device is traveling at a speed greater than a predetermined threshold and maintaining a record of the determination;

at least one subsystem configured for disabling a functionality of the mobile device if it is determined that the mobile device is traveling at a speed greater than the predetermined threshold; and

at least one subsystem for automatically relaying a message to a third party indicating the functionality is disabled.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one subsystem configured for determining whether a mobile device is traveling at a speed greater than a predetermined threshold comprises:

at least one subsystem configured for receiving output data from an accelerometer on the mobile device; and

at least one subsystem configured for using said data to determine a current speed of the mobile device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one subsystem configured for disabling a functionality of the mobile device comprises at least one subsystem configured for switching off the functionality internally within the mobile device if it is determined that the mobile device is traveling at a speed greater than the predetermined threshold.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one subsystem configured for disabling a functionality of the mobile device comprises at least one subsystem configured for blocking a transmission from the mobile device at a mobile device switching center if it is determined that the mobile device is traveling at a speed greater than the predetermined threshold by information received at the mobile device switching center.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the disabled functionality of the mobile device is one or more of the following:

voice, text messaging, multimedia messaging service, email, web browsing, chat functionality, video playback, sound, camera functionality, airplane mode, mobile device power, and all mobile device functionality.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one subsystem configured for determining whether the mobile device is traveling at a speed less than a predetermined threshold; and

at least one subsystem configured for enabling the disabled functionality if it is determined that the mobile device is traveling at a speed less than the predetermined threshold.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one subsystem configured for communicating information regarding whether the mobile device is traveling at a speed greater than a predetermined threshold to an insurance company.

8. A non-transitory computer readable medium for automatically disabling mobile device usage while driving comprising computer executable instructions for:

determining whether a mobile device is traveling at a speed greater than a predetermined threshold;

determining whether there is a transmission in progress on the mobile device if it is determined that the mobile device is traveling at a speed greater than the predetermined threshold;

maintaining a record of the speed and transmission determinations; and

playing an audio warning on the mobile device if it is determined that there is a transmission in progress on the mobile while the mobile device is traveling at a speed greater than the predetermined threshold.

9. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the transmission in progress is a telephone call.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, further comprising computer executable instructions for disabling a functionality of the mobile device if it is determined that the mobile device is traveling at a speed greater than the predetermined threshold.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, further comprising computer executable instructions for giving the user of the mobile device a predetermined time limit in the audio warning before disabling the functionality of the mobile device.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, further comprising computer executable instructions for:

determining whether the mobile device is traveling at a speed less than a predetermined threshold; and

enabling the disabled functionality if it is determined that the mobile device is traveling at a speed less than the predetermined threshold.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12, further comprising computer executable instructions for displaying a notification message on the mobile device indicating functionality is restored before at a point of the enabling of the functionality.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the disabled functionality of the mobile device is one or more of the following:

voice, text messaging, multimedia messaging service, email, web browsing, chat functionality, video playback, sound, camera functionality, airplane mode, mobile device power, and all mobile device functionality.

15. A system implemented on one or more processors for automatically disabling mobile device usage while driving comprising:

at least one subsystem configured for receiving information at an insurance provider regarding whether the mobile device is traveling at a speed greater than a predetermined threshold;

at least one subsystem configured for automatically adjusting an automobile insurance premium based on said information regarding whether the mobile device is traveling at a speed greater than a predetermined threshold; and

at least one subsystem configured for enabling a feature on the mobile device for determining whether a mobile device is traveling at a speed greater than a predetermined threshold based on information received at the insurance provider regarding whether an automobile key associated with the mobile device is inserted into an automobile ignition and maintaining a record of the speed determination and automobile key insertion information.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the information comprises information regarding a frequency that the cell phone was traveling greater than a predetermined threshold.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the at least one subsystem configured for automatically adjusting an automobile insurance premium comprises:

at least one subsystem configured for automatically updating an insurance premium in a customer database if a mobile device associated with the customer was traveling at a speed greater than a predetermined threshold over a predetermined period of time; and

at least one subsystem configured for billing the customer according to the updated insurance premium.

18. The system of claim 15, further comprising at least one subsystem configured for automatically providing an insurance premium discount for a customer who subscribes to having their mobile device monitored to determine whether the mobile device is traveling at a speed greater than a predetermined threshold.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising at least one subsystem configured for obtaining information regarding whether a customer has subscribed to having their mobile device monitored to determine whether the mobile device is traveling at a speed greater than a predetermined threshold from a bill payment system of the insurance provider.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the received information at the insurance provider regarding whether the mobile device is traveling at a speed greater than a predetermined threshold originates from an accelerometer in the mobile device.

21. A non-transitory computer readable medium for automatically disabling mobile device usage while driving comprising computer executable instructions for:

enabling a feature on a mobile device for determining whether a mobile device is traveling at a speed greater than a predetermined threshold based on whether an automobile key associated with the mobile device is inserted into an automobile ignition and maintaining a record of the speed determination and automobile key insertion information; and

determining whether the mobile device is traveling at a speed greater than a predetermined threshold if the feature on the mobile device for determining whether a mobile device is traveling at a speed greater than a predetermined threshold is enabled.

22. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 21, further comprising computer executable instructions for communicating information to an insurance provider regarding whether the mobile device is traveling at a speed greater than a predetermined threshold.

23. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 21, further comprising computer executable instructions for disabling a functionality of the mobile device if it is determined that the mobile device is traveling at a speed greater than the predetermined threshold.

24. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 23, wherein the computer executable instructions for disabling a functionality of the mobile device comprise computer executable instructions for switching off the functionality internally within the mobile device if it is determined that the mobile device is traveling at a speed greater than the predetermined threshold.

25. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 21, wherein the computer executable instructions for disabling a functionality of the mobile device comprise computer executable instructions for blocking a transmission from the mobile device at a mobile device switching center if it is determined that the mobile device is traveling at a speed greater than the predetermined threshold by information received at the mobile device switching center.

26. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 21, further comprising computer executable instructions for sending a notification to a device of a user remote from a user of the mobile device if it is determined that the mobile device is traveling at a speed greater than the predetermined threshold.

27. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 21, wherein the computer executable instructions for determining whether a mobile device is traveling at a speed greater than a predetermined threshold comprise:

computer executable instructions for receiving output data from an accelerometer on the mobile device; and

computer executable instructions for using said data to determine a current speed of the mobile device.