Patent · US Active

Locking-out a driver handheld mobile device during driving of a vehicle for texting and browsing

US9661127B1 · kind B1 · utility

16Cited by
8References
19Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateAug 11, 2016
Grant dateMay 23, 2017
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 11, 2036

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04M1/72436
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Lock-out mechanisms for driver handheld mobile devices are provided to prevent operation of one or more functions of handheld mobile devices by drivers when operating vehicles based on device location data and device motion data within a vehicle by wirelessly communicating with at least one wireless station access point located inside of the vehicle. The lock-out mechanisms disable the ability of a handheld mobile device to perform certain functions, such as texting or browsing, while one is driving. In one embodiment, a handheld mobile device may provide a lock-out mechanism without requiring any modifications or additions to a vehicle by using a motion analyzer, a mobile device position locator and a lock-out mechanism. In other embodiments, the handheld mobile device may provide a lock-out mechanism with modifications or additions to the vehicle, including the use of wireless signals transmitted by the vehicle or by a wireless station access point disposed within the vehicle.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.