Method and system for controlling mobile communication device interactions

• US 9,204,267 B2
• Filed: 01/04/2013
• Issued: 12/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Truvu Mobile, LLC
• Original Assignee: Truvu Mobile, LLC
• Inventors: Sturges, Stephen Best, Sturges, Scott Loren, Schwartz, Steven Curtis
• Primary Examiner(s): Gonzalez, Amancio
• Application Number:
  US13/734,637
• Publication Number:
  US 20130172027A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,061 Days
• Field of Search: 455/412.1, 455/412.2, 455/413, 455/569.1, 455/569.2, 455/563, 455/567, 455/550.1, 455/79, 455/420, 455/414.1, 455/414.2, 455/414.3, 455/414.4, 455/379, 455/428.03, 455/432
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

A system and method for processing incoming communications to a mobile device for presenting a user with information related to an incoming message and permitting the user to respond in a pre-selected manner. An incoming message is received and if a mobile device is in motion, information relating to the incoming message is shown on a display. In response to an incoming message a user issues a selected command. Selected commands result further action relating to the message including a reading of the incoming message, the return of a pre-configured response to a sender or placement of a call to a message sender.

Claims

1. A method of handling incoming messages on a mobile device comprising:

receiving an incoming message in the form of a phone call, text, voice mail or other communication from a sender;

determining if the mobile device is in motion in excess of a predetermined velocity, and when the mobile device is determined to be in motion in excess of the predetermined velocity, carrying out the following steps;

providing limited information regarding the incoming message on a display, the limited information being selected from one or more of the group consisting of information identifying the sender of the incoming message, an avatar for the sender;

mode of communication for the incoming message, and a subject of the incoming message; and

providing a user with options to manage the message;

the options including the following;

issuing a command, resulting in storing the incoming message for later review and replying to the sender with a predefined message;

issuing a command, resulting in the call being answered through a hands-free system;

or

issuing a command resulting in the incoming message being read to the user.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the user prepares a response to an incoming message by dictating the response.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the user response is converted to a text for transmission.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined information is removed from the display when the user does not select one of the options within a specified time period.

5. A message processing system comprising:

a display;

a mobile communication device;

a control module wherein the control module is configured to process messages incoming from a sender to the mobile communication device and display information regarding an incoming message on the display and wherein the control module is configured with pre-selected actions in response to the incoming message, wherein, when the incoming message is detected, the control module determines if the mobile communication device is in motion in excess of a predetermined velocity;

when the mobile communication device is determined to be in motion in excess of the predetermined velocity, the control module limits the information displayed to information selected from one or more of the group consisting of information identifying the sender of the incoming message, an avatar for the sender;

mode of communication for the incoming message, and a subject of the incoming message; and

wherein, when the mobile communication device is determined to be in motion in excess of the predetermined velocity, the control module provides a user with options for responding to the incoming message, the options including;

issuing a command, resulting in the control module storing the incoming message for later review and replying to the sender with a predefined message;

issuing a command, resulting in the control module routing the incoming message to a hands-free phone system when the message is a call or dialing a phone number for the sender on the hands free phone system when the incoming message is a text communication or a voice mail;

or

issuing a command resulting the control module reading the incoming message to the user.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the control module is a hardware unit separate from the mobile device.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein the control module is a software application operating on the mobile device.

8. The message processing system of claim 5, wherein the control module removes the displayed information from the display when the user does not select one of the options within a specified time period.

9. The message processing system of claim 5, wherein said control module has preselected numbers and limits the sending or receipt of any communications except to the preselected numbers when the mobile communication device is determined to be in motion in excess of the predetermined velocity.

10. The message processing system of claim 5, wherein the display is selected from the group consisting of a heads-up display and an in-dash display, and wherein said control module prevents full text being displayed from text communications when the mobile communication device is determined to be in motion in excess of the predetermined velocity.

11. A message processing system comprising:

a display, wherein the display is selected from the group consisting of a heads-up display and an in-dash display;

a mobile communication device;

an application control module installed on the mobile device wherein the application is configured to process a message incoming from a sender to the mobile communication device and display information regarding the incoming message on the display and wherein the control module is configured with pre-selected actions in response to the incoming message, wherein, when the incoming message is detected, the control module determines if the mobile communication device is in motion in excess of a predetermined velocity;

when the mobile communication device is determined to be in motion in excess of the predetermined velocity, said control module prevents full text being displayed from text communications and limits the information displayed to information selected from one or more of the group consisting of information identifying the sender of the incoming message, an avatar for the sender;

mode of communication for the incoming message, and a subject of the incoming message; and

wherein, when the mobile communication device is determined to be in motion in excess of the predetermined velocity, the control module provides a user with options for responding to the incoming message, the options including;

issuing a command, resulting in the control module storing the incoming message for later review and replying to the sender with a predefined message;

issuing a command, resulting in the control module routing the incoming message to a hands-free phone system when the message is a call or dialing a phone number for the sender on the hands free phone system when the incoming message is a text communication or a voice mail;

or

issuing a command resulting in the control module reading the incoming message to the user.

12. The message processing system of claim 11, wherein the control module removes the displayed information from the display when the user does not select one of the options within a specified time period.

13. The message processing system of claim 11, wherein said control module has preselected numbers and limits the sending or receipt of any communications except to the preselected numbers when the mobile communication device is determined to be in motion in excess of the predetermined velocity.