Mobile device inactive mode and inactive mode verification

Abstract

A mobile device, comprising: a processor; and a memory including instructions that when executed by the processor cause it to perform the steps of: receiving a user selection to automatically enter an inactive mode in response to an action within the mobile device indicating the device is being used in a moving vehicle; receiving a communication from a wireless communication module; if the mobile device is not in inactive mode, providing a notification to the user that a communication has been received; if the mobile device is in inactive mode, transmitting an away message via the wireless module.

1 . A mobile device, comprising:
 a processor;   a memory including instructions that when executed by the processor cause it to perform the steps of:
 receiving a user selection to automatically enter an inactive mode in response to an action within the mobile device; 
 receiving a user selection of an away message; 
 receiving a communication from a wireless communication module; 
 if the mobile device is not in inactive mode, providing a notification to the user that a communication has been received; and 
 if the mobile device is in inactive mode, transmitting an away message via the wireless module. 
   
     
     
         2 . The mobile device of  claim 1 , wherein the action is the activation of a driving directions functionality. 
     
     
         3 . The mobile device of  claim 1 , wherein the action is GPS location functionality detecting a velocity above a certain rate. 
     
     
         4 . The mobile device of  claim 1 , wherein the action is pairing the mobile device with the moving vehicle. 
     
     
         5 . The mobile device of  claim 1 , wherein the step of receiving a user selection of an away message is accomplished by presenting the user a list of away messages. 
     
     
         6 . The mobile device of  claim 1 , wherein the communication is a mobile phone call. 
     
     
         7 . The mobile device of  claim 1 , wherein the away message is one of a mobile phone call, an SMS message, or an email. 
     
     
         8 . The mobile device of  claim 1 , wherein the communication is an SMS phone call. 
     
     
         9 . The mobile device of  claim 1 , wherein the communication is an email. 
     
     
         10 . The mobile device of  claim 1 , wherein the memory further includes instructions that when executed by the processor cause it to perform the steps of:
 receiving an input from a user requesting access to a function of the mobile device;   if the mobile device is not in inactive mode, providing access to the requested functionality; and   if the mobile device is in inactive mode, checking if the requested functionality is present on a list of restricted functionality, and if the requested functionality is present on a list of restricted functionality, refusing access to the requested functionality.   
     
     
         11 . The mobile device of  claim 10 , wherein the action is the activation of a driving directions functionality. 
     
     
         12 . The mobile device of  claim 10 , wherein the action is GPS location functionality detecting a velocity above a certain rate. 
     
     
         13 . The mobile device of  claim 9 , wherein the action is pairing the mobile device with the moving vehicle. 
     
     
         14 . The mobile device of  claim 10 , wherein the communication is a mobile phone call. 
     
     
         15 . The mobile device of  claim 10 , wherein the away message is one of a mobile phone call, an SMS message, or an email. 
     
     
         16 . The mobile device of  claim 10 , wherein the communication is an SMS phone call. 
     
     
         17 . The mobile device of  claim 10 , wherein the communication is an email. 
     
     
         18 . The mobile device of  claim 1 , wherein the memory further includes instructions that when executed by the processor cause it to perform the steps of:
 transmitting an inactive mode begin notification from the mobile device to a certification server in response to receiving a begin input by the mobile device to begin the inactive mode, wherein the inactive mode begin notification includes a timestamp of the begin input; and   transmitting an inactive mode end notification from the mobile device to the certification server in response to receiving an end input by the mobile device to end the inactive mode, wherein the inactive mode end notification includes a timestamp of the end input, and wherein the certification server generates a record of the timestamp of the begin input and the timestamp of the end input.