Wireless handset vehicle safety interlock database

• US 8,433,343 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2008
• Issued: 04/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property 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:
  US12/346,488
• Publication Number:
  US 20100167714A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,582 Days
• Field of Search: 4554141-4144, 455/418, 4554561-4566, 455/457
• US Class Current: 455/456.4
• 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 1/72418 for supporting emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/24 Transfer of terminal data

Abstract

A method and database management system for controlling the operability of a mobile communications device. A geographical location of a vehicle may be determined. A database comprising records correlating location information with mobile communications device laws may be accessed. Based upon the determined geographical location and accessed database record, a determination may be made as to whether the use of a mobile communications device within the vehicle should be restricted. The capabilities of the mobile communications device that are currently available may be configured, in response to the restriction determination.

Claims

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

determining a geographical location of a vehicle;

accessing a database comprising records correlating location information with mobile communications device laws;

determining, based upon the determined geographical location and based upon the accessed database record correlating location information with mobile communications device laws, whether use of the mobile communications device should be restricted within the vehicle; and

configuring the capabilities of the mobile communications device that are currently available, in response to the restriction determination based upon the determined geographical location and based upon the accessed database record correlating location information with mobile communications device laws.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the geographical location of the vehicle is determined in response to a global positioning system of a vehicle.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the database records are accessed from a remote location.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the database records are accessed from within the mobile communications device.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising, determining whether use of a text messaging feature should be restricted.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising, determining whether the use of hands-free equipment should be restricted.

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

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein, in response to determining that an emergency has occurred, enabling the operability of the mobile communications device.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising, determining whether the vehicle is in motion.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising, determining whether the vehicle is in park.

11. A database management system, said database management system comprising:

a processor;

a memory;

data;

said data being stored by memory and accessibly by the processor;

said processor configured to;

determine a geographical location of a vehicle;

access a database comprising records correlating location information with mobile communications device laws;

determine, based upon the determined geographical location and based upon the accessed database record correlating location information with mobile communications device laws, whether use of a mobile communications device should be restricted within the vehicle; and

configure the capabilities of the mobile communications device that are currently available, in response to the restriction determination based upon the determined geographical location and based upon the accessed database record correlating location information with mobile communications device laws.

12. The database management system according to claim 11, wherein, in determining a geographical location of the mobile communications device, the processor is further configured to receive information from a global positioning system of the vehicle in order to make a location determination.

13. The database management system according to claim 11, wherein, in accessing a database, the processor is further configured to access the database records from a remote location.

14. The database management system according to claim 11, wherein, in accessing the database records, the processor is further configured to access database records from within the mobile communications device.

15. The database management system according to claim 11, wherein, in determining whether the use of the mobile communications device should be restricted, the processor is further configured to determine whether use of a text messaging feature should be restricted.

16. The database management system according to claim 11, wherein, in determining whether use of the mobile communications device should be restricted, the processor is further configured to determine whether the use of hands-free equipment should be restricted.

17. The database management system according to claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to determine that an emergency has occurred.

18. The database management system according to claim 17, wherein, in response to determining that an emergency has occurred, the processor is further configured to enable the operability of the mobile communications device.

19. The database management system according to claim 11, wherein, in setting the capabilities of the wireless communications device that are currently available, the mobile communications device is further configured to determine whether the vehicle is in motion.

20. The database management system according to claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to determine whether the vehicle is in park.