Method and system for controlling a mobile communication device in a moving vehicle

• US 8,761,821 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2010
• Issued: 06/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Katasi LLC
• Original Assignee: Katasi LLC
• Inventors: Tibbitts, Scott Ferrill, Nabkel, Jafar
• Primary Examiner(s): TRINH, TAN H
• Application Number:
  US12/841,077
• Publication Number:
  US 20110021234A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,434 Days
• Field of Search: 455/418, 455/456.1, 455/517, 455/26.1, 455/41.2, 455/456, 455/419, 455/414.1, 455/410, 455/456.4, 455/421, 455/411, 455/432, 455/457, 455/565, 455/88, 455/63, 455/66, 455/67.3, 455/569.2, 455/575.9, 455/405, 340/425.5, 340/539.22, 340/438, 340/439, 340/441, 340/426, 340/539, 340/466, 701/1, 701/36, 701/93, 701/97, 701/200, 701/300, 701/33, 342/463, 342/70, 342/357.09
• US Class Current: 455/517
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/22 for communication related to vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/415 based on motion status or velocity, e.g. for disabling use of mobile phones in a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724098 Interfacing with an on-board device of a vehicle for hands-free speaking in vehicles H04M1/6075
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• 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 4/40 for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/48 for in-vehicle communication
• 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

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a method and system for detecting, monitoring and/or controlling one or more of mobile services for a mobile communication device (also referred to herein as a Controllable Mobile Device or CMD), and in particular, when the device is being used and the vehicle, operated by the user of the device, is moving. The present method and system determines whether the vehicle is being operated by a user that may also have access to a mobile communication device which, if used concurrently while the vehicle is in operation, may lead to unsafe operation of the vehicle. If the mobile services control system determines that a vehicle operator has potentially unsafe access to a mobile communication device, the mobile services control system may restrict operator access to one or more services that would otherwise be available to the operator via the mobile communication device.

Claims

1. A mobile services control system for controlling use of one or more services provided by a wireless mobile communication device, comprising:

an in-vehicle detection subsystem for detecting the mobile communication device within a vehicle, the in-vehicle detection subsystem including;

(a) one or more detectors for wirelessly detecting a location of the mobile communication device and identifying the mobile communication device that has been registered with the system and associated with the in-vehicle detection subsystem;

(b) a vehicle operation detector that determines one or more characteristics indicative of the vehicle being operated by a user;

wherein the mobile communication device moves independently from the in-vehicle detection subsystem;

computational equipment that uses a first input indicative of the location of the mobile communication device to determine whether the mobile communication device is present, a second input indicative of the one or more characteristics to determine whether the vehicle is being operated by a user, and a third input to determine whether the mobile communication device is registered with the system and associated with the in-vehicle detection subsystem, and when the mobile communication device is present, the vehicle is being operated by a user, and the mobile communication device is registered with the system and associated with the in-vehicle detection system, the computational equipment communicates with a wireless service provider for the mobile communication device for notifying the provider to restrict access to the services provided by the mobile communication device or the computational equipment communicates with the mobile communication device to restrict access to the services provided by the mobile communication device.

2. The mobile services control system of claim 1, wherein the in-vehicle detection subsystem includes a wireless communication interface for communicating with a wireless network external to the vehicle for transmitting data comprising at least one of an identification of the mobile communication device, an identification of the in-vehicle detection subsystem, and at least one of the characteristics, wherein the data is accessed by at least one component of the computational equipment for notifying the provider to restrict access to the services provided by the mobile communication device or the data is accessed by at least one component of the computational equipment for notifying the mobile communication device to restrict access to services provided by the mobile communication device.

3. The mobile services control system of claim 2, wherein the wireless network and the wireless service provider are independently operated.

4. The mobile services control system of claim 2, wherein the communication interface only intermittently transmits additional data indicating whether the vehicle is being operated by a user.

5. The mobile services control system of claim 2, wherein the computational equipment comprises a data management system for storing identifications comprising one or more of (i) a subscriber for subscribing to the mobile services control system, (ii) the mobile communication device wherein the mobile communication device is identified with the subscriber, and (iii) the vehicle or the in-vehicle detection subsystem.

6. The mobile services control system of claim 5, wherein the data management system is operated independently of the wireless service provider and the wireless network.

7. The mobile service control system of claim 5, wherein the subscriber is notified with a communication comprising one of a text message, e-mail message, alert message, notification message, and a report when a user overrides a restriction on the access to one of the services.

8. The mobile services control system of claim 2, wherein the computational equipment uses a communication between the mobile communication device and one or more base stations for the wireless service provider to determine a particular location of the mobile communication device, and a communication between the interface and the wireless network for determining a particular location of the vehicle, wherein when the particular location of the mobile communication device and the particular location of the vehicle are spaced apart, the wireless service provider is not notified to restrict access to the services provided by the mobile communication device or the mobile communication device is not notified to restrict access to services provided by the mobile communication device.

9. The mobile service control system of claim 8, wherein one of location information from the mobile communication device, location information from the in-vehicle detection subsystem, a signal strength, a signal time delay, or an identification of one of the base stations is used in determining the particular location of the mobile communication device.

10. The mobile service control system of claim 8, wherein one of location information from the mobile communication device, location information from the in-vehicle detection subsystem, a signal strength, a signal time delay, or an identification of one of the base stations of a wireless network is used in determining the particular location of the vehicle or the in-vehicle detection subsystem.

11. The mobile service control system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle operation detector receives vehicle movement data from one or more of a key on signal, key off signal, and vehicle movement detectors, wherein the movement detectors are configured to detect one or more of a vehicle acceleration, velocity, and a vehicle vibration indicative of vehicle use.

12. The mobile services control system of claim 1, wherein the one or more services comprises at least one of texting, playing a game, voice calls, viewing a video or information provided via a communication network.

13. The mobile services control system of claim 1, wherein an identity of the mobile communication device registered with the system is obtained with information stored in a database comprising at least one of information identifying each subscriber subscribing to services provided by the mobile services control system, information identifying the in-vehicle detection subsystem for a specific vehicle managed/owned by the subscriber, and information identifying the mobile communication device for the subscriber.

14. The mobile service control system of claim 1, wherein a subscriber is notified with a communication comprising one or more of a text message, e-mail message, alert message, notification message, and a report when both a use of one or more services of the mobile communication device is being provided by the mobile communication device and characteristics indicative of the vehicle being operated by a user are detected.

15. A mobile services control system for controlling use of one or more services provided by a wireless mobile communication device, comprising:

an in-vehicle detection subsystem for detecting characteristics of a vehicle, the in-vehicle detection subsystem including a vehicle operation detector that determines one or more characteristics indicative of the vehicle being operated by a user;

wherein the mobile communication device moves independently from the in-vehicle detection subsystem;

a wireless interface for wirelessly connecting the in-vehicle detection subsystem to a wireless network independent of the vehicle, wherein the mobile services control system is configured for detecting characteristics of the mobile communication device including whether one or more services is being provided by the mobile communication device; and

computational equipment, external to the vehicle, that uses a first input of the characteristics to identify when the vehicle is being operated by a user, a second input to determine when one or more services is provided by the mobile communication device, and a third input to determine whether the mobile communication is registered with the system and associated with the in-vehicle detection subsystem, and when the vehicle is being operated by a user, one or more services provided by the mobile communication device is being used, and the mobile communication device is registered with the system and associated with the in-vehicle detection subsystem, the computational equipment is operable to report on a use of one or more services provided by the mobile communication device.

16. The mobile services control system of claim 15, wherein the in-vehicle detection subsystem includes a wireless communication interface for communicating with a wireless network external to the vehicle for transmitting data comprising at least one of an identification of the mobile communication device and an identification of the in-vehicle detection subsystem, and

wherein the one or more characteristics indicative of the vehicle being operated by a user comprises at least one of a key on signal, a key off signal, a vehicle acceleration, a velocity, and a direction and a vehicle vibration indicative of vehicle use.

17. The mobile services control system of claim 15, wherein the reports on use of one or more services provided by the mobile communication device comprises a communication comprising one or more of a text message, e-mail message, alert message, notification message, and a report.

18. A mobile services control system for controlling use of one or more services provided by a wireless mobile communication device, comprising:

an in-vehicle detection subsystem in a vehicle configured to determine one or more characteristics indicative of a state of the vehicle, wherein the mobile communication device moves independently from the in-vehicle detection subsystem;

a service decision system external to the vehicle, wherein the service decision system is configured to receive the characteristics from the in-vehicle detection subsystem, and wherein the service decision system is configured to determine whether the mobile communication device is in the vehicle;

a safe driving registration system operational to receive from one or more equipment interfaces data to register the mobile communication device with the system and associate the mobile communication device with the in-vehicle detection subsystem,

wherein the service decision system uses a first input to determine whether the mobile communication device is present in the vehicle and a second input from the safe driving registration system to determine whether the mobile communication is registered with the system and associated with the in-vehicle detection subsystem, and when both the mobile communication is present in the vehicle and the mobile communication is registered with the system and associated with the in-vehicle detection subsystem, the service decision system communicates with a wireless service provider for the mobile communication device for restricting access to the services provided by the mobile communication device or communicates directly with the mobile communication device for restricting access to the services.

19. The mobile services control system of claim 18, wherein the safe driving registration system is operational to receive real time updates and changes to the registration data.

20. The mobile services control system of claim 18, wherein the safe driving registration system is operational to make changes to the registration data based on a predetermined schedule.

21. The mobile services control system of claim 18, wherein one of the in-vehicle detection subsystem system, the service decision system and the safe driving registration system and the wireless service provider are independently operated.

22. The mobile service control system of claim 18, wherein a subscriber is notified with a communication comprising one or more of a text message, e-mail message, alert message, notification message, and a report when both a use of one or more services of the mobile communication device is being provided by the mobile communication device and when characteristics indicative of the vehicle being operated by a user are detected.

23. The mobile services control system of claim 18, wherein the in-vehicle detection subsystem comprises a wireless communication interface for communicating with a wireless network external to the vehicle for transmitting data comprising at least one of an identification of the mobile communication device, an identification of the in-vehicle detection subsystem, and at least one of the characteristics, wherein the data is accessed by at least one component of the service decision system for notifying the provider to restrict access to the services provided by the mobile communication device or the data is accessed by at least one component of the service decision system for notifying the mobile communication device to restrict access to services provided by the mobile communication device.

24. The mobile services control system of claim 23, wherein the safe driving registration system comprises a data management system for storing identifications comprising at least one of (i) a subscriber for subscribing to the mobile services control system, (ii) the mobile communication device wherein the mobile communication device is identified with the subscriber, and (iii) the vehicle or the in-vehicle detection subsystem.

25. The mobile service control system of claim 18, wherein the in-vehicle detection subsystem comprises a vehicle operation detector that is configured to receive vehicle movement data from one or more of a key on signal, key off signal, and vehicle movement detectors, wherein the movement detectors are configured to detect one or more of a vehicle acceleration, velocity, and a vehicle vibration indicative of vehicle use.

26. The mobile services control system of claim 18, wherein the service decision system uses a communication between the mobile communication device and one or more base stations for the wireless service provider to determine a particular location of the mobile communication device, and a communication between an interface and a wireless network for determining a particular location of the vehicle, wherein when the particular location of the mobile communication device and the particular location of the vehicle are spaced apart, the wireless service provider is not notified to restrict access to the services provided by the mobile communication device or the mobile communication device is not notified to restrict access to services provided by the mobile communication device.

27. The mobile service control system of claim 26, wherein one or more of location information from the mobile communication device, location information from the in-vehicle detection subsystem, a signal strength, a signal time delay, or an identification of one of the base stations is used in determining the particular location of the mobile communication device.

28. The mobile service control system of claim 26, wherein one or more of location information from the mobile communication device, location information from the in-vehicle detection subsystem, a signal strength, a signal time delay, or an identification of one of the base stations of a wireless network is used in determining the particular location of the vehicle or the in-vehicle detection subsystem.

29. The mobile service control system of claim 18, wherein a subscriber is notified with a communication comprising one or more of a text message, e-mail message, alert message, notification message, and a report when a user overrides a restriction on the access to one of the services.