Device of a vehicle for restoring one or more functions or available choices for a mobile communication device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9497324-B2
Application number	US-201213461955-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 2, 2012
Priority date	Oct 31, 2009
Publication date	Nov 15, 2016
Grant date	Nov 15, 2016

Abstract

This provides for controlling mobile device functions and features. For example, it limits or disables the use of some of mobile device features which could cause distraction to the user, when the user is engaged in another activity. In an example, it enables other mobile device features based on occurrence of events related to the user or environment. Another example addresses controlling the mobile device features, such as SMS, while the user is in a vehicle or driving. Another example restricts the ability of the driver of a vehicle to text, while the vehicle is in motion, by automatically disabling the texting ability of mobile device within and around the perimeter of the driver's seat. Other variations, examples, improvements, detection mechanisms, models, techniques, calculations, verification mechanisms, and features are also described in details.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A local device of a vehicle for restoring one or more functions or available choices for a mobile communication device, said local device comprising:
a features ranges module selected from a group consisting of (i) software stored in a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium executable by a processor of said local device, (ii) hardware, (iii) firmware, and (iv) a combination thereof, and configured, when the processor executes the software, and/or the hardware or the firmware performs logic determination, to provide a first description and a first dependency relationship for a first function for said mobile communication device, provide a second description and a second dependency relationship for a second function for said mobile communication device, provide a first activation range value and a first deactivation range value for said first function in a first memory unit, and provide a second activation range value and a second deactivation range value for said second function in a second memory unit; and
an action controller module selected from a group consisting of (i) software stored in a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium executable by the processor of said local device, (ii) hardware, (iii) firmware, and (iv) a combination thereof, and configured, when the processor executes the software associated with said action controller module, and/or the hardware or the firmware associated with said action controller module performs logic determination, to receive location information of said mobile communication device from a location detection module, modify a first set of one or more functions or available choices for said mobile communication device, based on said location information of said mobile communication device, said first deactivation range value, and said second deactivation range value, and restore a second set of one or more functions or available choices for said mobile communication device, based on said location information of said mobile communication device, said first activation range value, and said second activation range value.

2. The local device as recited in claim 1 , wherein said second function is dependent on said first function.

3. The local device-as recited in claim 2 , wherein said second function is modified based on modification of said first function.

4. The local device-as recited in claim 1 , wherein said location detection module comprises an antenna, sensor, detector, reflector, or receiver.

5. The local device as recited in claim 1 , wherein said second set of one or more functions or available choices for said mobile communication device is a subset of said first set of one or more functions or available choices for said mobile communication device.

6. A local device of a vehicle for notification regarding one or more functions or available choices for a mobile communication device, said local device comprising:
a features ranges module selected from a group consisting of (i) software stored in a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium executable by a processor of said local device, (ii) hardware, (iii) firmware, and (iv) a combination thereof, and configured, when the processor executes the software, and/or the hardware or the firmware performs logic determination, to provide a first activation range value and a first deactivation range value for a first function of a first mobile communication device in a first memory unit, and provide a second activation range value and a second deactivation range value for a second function of said first mobile communication device in a second memory unit; and
an action controller module selected from a group consisting of (i) software stored in a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium executable by the processor of said local device, (ii) hardware, (iii) firmware, and (iv) a combination thereof, and configured, when the processor executes the software associated with said action controller module, and/or the hardware or the firmware associated with said action controller module performs logic determination, to receive location information of said first mobile communication device from a location detection module, modify said second function of said first mobile communication device, based on said location information of said first mobile communication device and said second deactivation range value, communicate a status of said first mobile communication device to a second communication device, and send or receive communications via said first mobile communication device, based on said first function of said first mobile communication device.

7. The local device as recited in claim 6 , wherein said status indicates location of said first mobile communication device.

8. The local device as recited in claim 6 , wherein said status indicates said modification of said second function of said first mobile communication device.

9. The local device as recited in claim 6 , wherein said status indicates availability status of said first function of said first mobile communication device.

10. The local device as recited in claim 6 , wherein said action controller module is further configured to modify said first function of said first mobile communication device, based on said location information of said first mobile communication device and said first deactivation range value.

11. The local device as recited in claim 6 , wherein said action controller module is further configured to
modify functionality related to one or more of following: keyboard, text processing, text display, text storing, text receiving, text sending, voice receiving, forwarding message, or voice sending.

12. The local device as recited in claim 6 , wherein said action controller module is further configured to send multiple notifications to a predetermined person, entity, or device periodically.

13. The local device as recited in claim 6 , wherein said action controller module is further configured to send multiple notifications to a predetermined person, entity, or device at different frequencies or time intervals.

14. The local device as recited in claim 6 , wherein said action controller module is further configured to send multiple notifications to multiple persons, entities, or devices based on a predetermined list.

15. A local device of a vehicle for communicating a message regarding one or more functions or available choices for a mobile communication device, said local device comprising:
a features ranges module selected from a group consisting of (i) software stored in a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium executable by a processor of said local device, (ii) hardware, (iii) firmware, and (iv) a combination thereof, and configured, when the processor executes the software associated with said action controller module, and/or the hardware or the firmware associated with said action controller module performs logic determination, to provide a first activation range value and a first deactivation range value for a first function of a first mobile communication device in a first memory unit, and provide a second activation range value and a second deactivation range value for a second function of said first mobile communication device in a second memory unit; and
an action controller module selected from a group consisting of (i) software stored in a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium executable by the processor of said local device, (ii) hardware, (iii) firmware, and (iv) a combination thereof, and configured, when the processor executes the software, and/or the hardware or the fi

Assignees

• Tadayon Saied
• Halavi Maryam
• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Tadayon Saied
• Halavi Maryam

Classifications

• H04M1/72463

  to restrict the functionality of the device · CPC title

• H04M3/436

  Arrangements for screening incoming calls {, i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it (based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54)} · CPC title

• H04M2207/18

  wireless networks · CPC title

• H04W4/027

  using movement velocity, acceleration information · CPC title

• H04M3/53 Primary

  Centralised arrangements for recording incoming messages {, i.e. mailbox systems} · CPC title