Disabling wireless telephone use while in vehicle

• US 8,965,394 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2008
• Issued: 02/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John L. Rogitz
• Original Assignee: John L. Rogitz
• Inventors: Rogitz, John L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Lester
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gu, Andy
• Application Number:
  US12/142,330
• Publication Number:
  US 20090318169A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,441 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.4
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• 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 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/006 with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities

Abstract

A method includes determining that a wireless telephone is in a moving vehicle using, e.g., speed as calculated by the telephone using GPS signals or co-location of the telephone with a vehicle as might be determined by receiving the vehicle'"'"'s position via Bluetooth. Use of the telephone is selectively denied if it is determined that the telephone is in a vehicle.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining that a wireless telephone is in a moving vehicle;

receiving a first position signal from the vehicle, wherein the first position signal is received from the vehicle or a position receiver installed on the vehicle;

receiving a second position signal from the wireless telephone;

determining whether the first and second position signals represent substantially the same location;

determining whether a speed is greater than a threshold, wherein the speed is determined based on at least one of the first position signal or the second position signal; and

selectively denying at least some telephony service to the telephone responsive to a determination that the first and second position signals represent substantially the same location and that the speed is greater than the threshold.

2. Method of claim 1, wherein the determining act is executed by using successive position signals from the telephone over time to determine that a speed of the telephone exceeds a threshold.

3. Method of claim 1, wherein the determining act is executed by the wireless telephone.

4. Method of claim 1, wherein the determining act is executed by a telephony system communicating with the wireless telephone.

5. Method of claim 1, wherein the denying act is executed by a wireless telephony system.

6. Method of claim 5, wherein the system causes a busy signal to be returned to callers of the wireless telephone when it is determined that the telephone is in the vehicle.

7. Method of claim 1, wherein responsive to a determination that the telephone is in the vehicle, an audible and/or visual message is displayed on the wireless telephone indicating denial of service in response to a user of the wireless telephone attempting an outgoing call.

8. Method of claim 3, wherein responsive to a determination that the telephone is in the vehicle, use is enabled if the telephone receives an authorized use signal.

9. A wireless telephone, comprising:

a wireless telephony transceiver;

a position receiver configured to receive a first position signal corresponding to the position of the wireless telephone;

a short-range transceiver configured to receive a second position signal corresponding to the position of a vehicle, wherein the second position signal is received from the vehicle or a position receiver installed on the vehicle;

a processor communicating with the wireless telephony transceiver, the short-range transceiver and the position receiver; and

a tangible computer storage medium accessible to the processor and bearing logic to cause the processor

to determine whether the two position signals represent substantially the same location,

to determine whether a speed as indicated by signals from the position receiver exceeds a threshold, and,

in response to a determination that a speed as indicated by signals from the position receiver exceeds a threshold, to cause the telephone to automatically send a report thereof to a central server separate from the telephone and accessible to law enforcement.

10. The telephone of claim 9, wherein responsive to a determination that the speed exceeds the threshold, the processor disables at least some calls to and/or from the telephone.

11. The telephone of claim 10, wherein the processor does not disable calls responsive to a determination that the threshold is exceeded under a condition that the processor receives a moving use authorized signal.

12. The telephone of claim 11, comprising a short range transceiver for receiving the moving use authorized signal.

13. A storage device for controlling a wireless telephone, comprising:

a computer storage medium that is not a transitory signal and that includes instructions executable by a processor to configure the processor to;

receive a first position signal from the vehicle, wherein the first position signal is received from the vehicle or a position receiver installed on the vehicle;

receive a second position signal from a position receiver of the wireless telephone;

determine whether the position corresponding to the second position signal substantially matches the position of the automotive vehicle,

determine whether a speed is greater than a threshold, wherein the speed is determined based on at least two position signals from the position receiver of the wireless telephone or two position signals from a position receiver of the automotive vehicle, and

disable at least some calls to and/or from the telephone responsive to a determination that the first and second position signals represent substantially the same location and that the speed is greater than the threshold.

14. The telephone of claim 13, wherein responsive to a determination that the speed exceeds the threshold, the processor disables at least some calls to and/or from the telephone.

15. The telephone of claim 14, wherein the processor does not disable calls responsive to a determination that the positions substantially match under a condition in which the processor receives a moving use authorized signal.

16. The telephone of claim 15, comprising a short range transceiver for receiving the moving use authorized signal.

17. The telephone of claim 16, comprising a short range transceiver for receiving the position of a vehicle.

18. The telephone of claim 13, wherein responsive to a determination that the speed exceeds the threshold, the telephone automatically sends a report thereof.