Managing device functionality during predetermined conditions

• US 8,712,429 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2008
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2008
• 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: Nagorniak, David B.
• Primary Examiner(s): MATHARU, MANPREET S
• Application Number:
  US12/208,975
• Publication Number:
  US 20100062788A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,056 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/456.1, 455/456.2, 455/456.3, 340/669, 340/670, 702/142, 702/143
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

Functionality of a mobile device depends on detected speed of the mobile device. Global positioning system (GPS) technology or tower triangulation may be used to estimate the speed of a mobile device. In addition, the geographic location of the mobile device may be estimated. A set of rules regarding when functionality of the mobile device should be limited is accessed and if the mobile device exceeds a threshold speed or is located in a restricted area, selected features of the mobile device are disabled. Incoming calls and outgoing calls may be restricted according to local regulations. Other features such as emergency dialing, hands-free operation of the mobile device, and playing audio files (e.g., MP3 music files) may remain functional regardless of the geographic location or estimated speed of the mobile device.

Claims

1. A mobile device, comprising:

a processor; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising;

retrieving parental controls governing operational features of the mobile device;

determining a location and a speed at which the mobile device travels;

storing a database that associates different locations to functional restrictions;

querying the database for the location;

determining the location matches a school zone in the database;

retrieving an illegal functionality from the database that is associated with the school zone;

determining the speed exceeds zero;

disabling one of the operational features of the mobile device that corresponds to the illegal functionality in response to the location matching the school zone at any speed;

querying the parental controls for the speed at which the mobile device travels;

retrieving parental rules associated with excessive speed; and

modifying another one of the operational features of the mobile device according to the parental rules.

2. The mobile device of claim 1, further comprising a global positioning system module to receive global positioning system signals.

3. The mobile device of claim 2, wherein the operations further comprise determining, from the global positioning system signals, the location of the mobile device.

4. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise enabling hands-free operation regardless of the speed of the mobile device.

5. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise disabling a manual incoming call answering feature.

6. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise disabling a call dialing by hand.

7. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise enabling emergency number dialing regardless of the speed of the mobile device.

8. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise enabling 911 calls regardless of the speed of the mobile device.

9. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise disabling outgoing text messages.

10. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise disabling incoming text messages.

11. The mobile device of claim 4, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining estimated distances between the mobile device and a plurality of cellular towers; and

triangulating the location based on the estimated distances.

12. A method comprising:

determining, by a processor, locations and an estimated speed at which a wireless communication device travels;

determining the locations encircle a coverage area of a single cellular tower;

retrieving from memory a threshold speed;

storing a database that associates different locations to functional restrictions;

querying the database for one of the locations;

determining the one of the locations match a school zone in the database;

retrieving an illegal functionality from the database that is associated with the school zone;

determining, by the processor, the estimated speed exceeds zero;

disabling one of the operational features of the mobile device that corresponds to the illegal functionality in response to the one of the locations matching the school zone at any speed;

disabling a set of the operational features of the mobile device in response to the locations encircling the coverage area of the single cellular tower;

retrieving parental controls governing operational features of the mobile device;

querying the parental controls for the speed at which the mobile device travels;

retrieving parental rules associated with excessive speed; and

modifying another one of the operational features of the wireless communications device according to the parental rules.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising maintaining emergency calls to an emergency number regardless of the estimated speed.

14. The method according to claim 12, further comprising maintaining availability of hands-free features of the wireless communication device regardless of the estimated speed.

15. A memory storing instructions, which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

determining locations and an estimated speed at which a wireless communication device travels;

determining the locations encircle a coverage area of a single cellular tower;

determining the speed exceeds a threshold;

storing a database that associates different locations to functional restrictions;

querying the database for one of the locations;

determining the one of the locations match a school zone in the database;

retrieving an illegal functionality from the database that is associated with the school zone;

retrieving parental controls governing operational features of the wireless communication device;

disabling one of the operational features of the mobile device that corresponds to the illegal functionality in response to the one of the locations matching the school zone at any speed;

disabling a set of the operational features of the mobile device in response to the locations encircling the coverage area of the single cellular tower;

querying the parental controls for the speed at which the wireless communication device travels;

retrieving parental rules associated with excessive speed; and

modifying another one of the operational features of the wireless communication device according to the parental rules.

16. The memory of claim 15, wherein the operations include maintaining availability of an emergency number communication service regardless of the estimated speed.

17. The memory of claim 15, wherein the operations include maintaining availability of hands-free features of the wireless communication device when the estimated speed exceeds the threshold speed.