System for disabling a mobile phone in a vehicle

• US 9,769,309 B1
• Filed: 05/03/2016
• Issued: 09/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2016
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Christine Durham
• Original Assignee: Christine Durham
• Inventors: Durham, Christine
• Primary Examiner(s): SIVJI, NIZAR N
• Application Number:
  US15/144,994
• Time in Patent Office: 504 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The system for disabling a mobile phone in a vehicle is adapted for use with an automobile. The system for disabling a mobile phone in a vehicle is further adapted for use with a cellular phone. The system for disabling a mobile phone in a vehicle is a Bluetooth beacon that transmits a Bluetooth signal when engine of the automobile is running. A background application loaded on the cellular phone continuously monitors for a signal from the beacon and, when it senses the signal from the beacon the application shuts down the all wireless communication, with the exception of Bluetooth communication, and visual displays from the cellular phone until: 1) the beacon stops transmitting; or, 2) the cellular phone connects to a Bluetooth based hands free device. The system for disabling a mobile phone comprises a beacon and an application.

Claims

1. An communication auxiliary comprising:

a beacon and an application;

wherein the communication auxiliary is for use with an automobile;

wherein the communication auxiliary is for use with a cellular phone;

wherein the application is loaded on the cellular phone;

wherein the beacon is adapted to be installed in the automobile;

wherein the beacon is a Bluetooth based beacon;

wherein the beacon transmits a signal when an engine of the automobile is running;

wherein the beacon is an electronic device;

wherein the beacon further comprises a logic module and a first Bluetooth transceiver;

wherein the logic module is connected to the first Bluetooth transceiver;

wherein the logic module is a programmable electronic device;

wherein the first Bluetooth transceiver is an electronic communications device that uses Bluetooth protocols;

wherein the first Bluetooth transceiver is linked to the cellular phone;

wherein the beacon is wired into the electrical system of the automobile;

wherein the application is a programmed set of instructions that are loaded on to the cellular phone;

wherein the cellular phone implements the programmed set of instructions;

wherein the application monitors the beacon;

wherein the logic module is connected to the ignition of the automobile;

wherein the logic module monitors the ignition of the automobile;

wherein when the logic module determines that the engine is running the logic module the logic module generates a signal through the first Bluetooth transceiver;

wherein when the application detects the signal generated through the first Bluetooth transceiver all non-Bluetooth communication protocols and user interfaces are turned off;

wherein the application is a programmed set of instructions that are loaded on to the cellular phone;

wherein the application checks whether the cellular phone is connected to a Bluetooth hands free device;

wherein if the application determines that the cellular phone is connected to the Bluetooth hands free device the application continues to monitor the that the connection to the Bluetooth hands free device is maintained;

wherein the application checks for a signal from the first Bluetooth transceiver;

wherein if a signal is detected from the first Bluetooth transceiver and a connection does not exist to a Bluetooth hands free device the application shuts down all wireless communication except for Bluetooth connections;

wherein if a signal is detected from the first Bluetooth transceiver and a connection does not exist to a Bluetooth hands free device the application shuts down all audio and visual displays of the cellular phone.

2. The communication auxiliary according to claim 1 wherein the application runs continuously as a background process on the cellular phone.

3. The communication auxiliary according to claim 2 wherein the first Bluetooth transceiver is an electronic communications device that uses Bluetooth protocols.

4. The communication auxiliary according to claim 3 wherein the first Bluetooth transceiver is linked to the cellular phone.

5. The communication auxiliary according to claim 4 wherein the beacon is wired into the electrical system of the automobile.

6. An communication auxiliary comprising:

a beacon and an application;

wherein the communication auxiliary is adapted for use with an automobile;

wherein the communication auxiliary is adapted for use with a cellular phone;

wherein the application is loaded on the cellular phone;

wherein the beacon is adapted to be installed in the automobile;

wherein the beacon further comprises a logic module and a first Bluetooth transceiver;

wherein the logic module is connected to the first Bluetooth transceiver;

wherein the first Bluetooth transceiver is an electronic communications device that uses Bluetooth protocols;

wherein the logic module is a programmable electronic device;

wherein the logic module logic module monitors the ignition of the automobile to determine whether the engine is running;

wherein if the logic module determines the engine is running the logic module turns on the first Bluetooth transceiver in order to transmit the signal;

wherein if the logic module determines that the engine is not running the logic module turns off the first Bluetooth transceiver in order to discontinue transmission of the signal;

wherein the application runs continuously as a background process on the cellular phone;

wherein the application is a programmed set of instructions that are loaded on to the cellular phone;

wherein the application checks whether the cellular phone is connected to a Bluetooth hands free device;

wherein if the application determines that the cellular phone is connected to the Bluetooth hands free device the application continues to monitor the that the connection to the Bluetooth hands free device is maintained;

wherein the application checks for a signal from the first Bluetooth transceiver;

wherein if a signal is detected from the first Bluetooth transceiver and a connection does not exist to a Bluetooth hands free device the application shuts down all wireless communication except for Bluetooth connections;

wherein if a signal is detected from the first Bluetooth transceiver and a connection does not exist to a Bluetooth hands free device the application shuts down all audio and visual displays of the cellular phone;

wherein the application is a programmed set of instructions that are loaded on to the cellular phone;

wherein the application checks whether the cellular phone is connected to a Bluetooth hands free device;

wherein if the application determines that the cellular phone is connected to the Bluetooth hands free device the application continues to monitor the that the connection to the Bluetooth hands free device is maintained;

wherein the application checks for a signal from the first Bluetooth transceiver;

wherein if a signal is detected from the first Bluetooth transceiver and a connection does not exist to a Bluetooth hands free device the application shuts down all wireless communication except for Bluetooth connections;

wherein if a signal is detected from the first Bluetooth transceiver and a connection does not exist to a Bluetooth hands free device the application shuts down all audio and visual displays of the cellular phone.

7. The communication auxiliary according to claim 6 wherein the application runs continuously as a background process on the cellular phone.

8. The communication auxiliary according to claim 7 wherein the beacon is wired into the electrical system of the automobile.