US2015111560A1PendingUtilityA1

Disabling wireless telephone use while in vehicle

52
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Jun 19, 2008Filed: Dec 22, 2014Published: Apr 23, 2015
Est. expiryJun 19, 2028(~1.9 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:John L. Rogitz
H04M 1/72463H04W 64/006H04W 8/22H04M 1/72457H04M 2250/10H04W 4/027
52
PatentIndex Score
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References
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Claims

Abstract

A method includes determining that a wireless telephone is in a moving vehicle using, e.g., speed as calculated by the telephone using GPS signals or co-location of the telephone with a vehicle as might be determined by receiving the vehicle's position via Bluetooth. Use of the telephone is selectively denied if it is determined that the telephone is in a vehicle.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device comprising:
 at least one computer memory that is not a transitory signal and that includes instructions which when executed by a digital processor configure the digital processor for:   receiving a first position signal from a position sensor of a wireless telephone;   receiving a second position signal from the position sensor;   determining whether the first and second position signals indicate a speed satisfying a threshold, such that the speed is determined based the first position signal and the second position signal; and   selectively denying at least some service to the telephone responsive to a determination that the first and second position signals indicate that the speed is greater than the threshold.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions when executed by the processor configure the processor for:
 using plural position signals from the telephone or from the vehicle to determine a speed;   determining whether the speed satisfies a threshold;   responsive to a determination that the speed satisfies the threshold, selectively denying at least some service to the telephone; and   responsive to a determination that the speed does not satisfy the threshold, determining that the telephone is not in a moving vehicle and consequently not selectively denying at least some service to the telephone.   
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the determining act is executed by the wireless telephone. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the determining act is executed by a telephony system communicating with the wireless telephone. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the denying act is executed by a wireless telephony system. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the system causes a busy signal to be returned to callers of the wireless telephone when it is determined that the telephone is in the vehicle. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions when executed by the processor configure the processor to, responsive to a determination that the telephone is in a moving vehicle, present an audible and/or visual message indicating denial of service. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the instructions when executed by the processor configure the processor to, responsive to a determination that the telephone is in a moving vehicle and responsive to receiving an authorized use signal, enable full use of the telephone. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , comprising a wireless telephone holding the computer memory. 
     
     
         10 . Device, comprising:
 a computer memory that is not a transitory wave and that includes instructions which when executed by a processor configure the processor to:   determine whether a speed as indicated by signals from a position receiver of a wireless communication device or of a vehicle exceeds a threshold; and   responsive to a determination that the speed exceeds the threshold, automatically send a report thereof to a central server separate from the telephone and accessible to law enforcement.   
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the instructions when executed by the processor configure the processor to, responsive to a determination that the speed exceeds the threshold, disable at least some service to and/or from the telephone. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions when executed by the processor configure the processor to not disable calls responsive to a determination that the threshold is exceeded under a condition that the processor receives a moving use authorized signal. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 10 , comprising a wireless telephone holding the computer memory. 
     
     
         14 . A device comprising:
 a computer memory that is not a transitory wave and that includes instructions which when executed by a processor configure the processor to:   receive a first position signal from a position sensor of a mobile telephone;   receive a second position signal from a position sensor of a vehicle;   using the first and second position signals to determine whether a position of the mobile telephone substantially matches a position of a vehicle;   responsive to a determination that the position of the telephone substantially matches the position of a vehicle, disable at least some service to and/or from the telephone; and   responsive to a determination that the position of the telephone does not substantially match a position of a vehicle, not disable service to and/or from the telephone.   
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , comprising a wireless telephone holding the computer memory 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the instructions when executed by the processor configure the processor to:
 determine a speed using plural position signals from the position receiver of the telephone and/or the position sensor of the vehicle;   responsive to a determination that the speed meets a threshold, disable at least some service to and/or from the telephone.   
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the instructions when executed by the processor configure the processor to:
 not disable service responsive to a determination that the positions substantially match under a condition in which the processor receives a moving use authorized signal.   
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 14 , comprising a short range transceiver for receiving the moving use authorized signal. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 14 , comprising a short range transceiver for receiving the position of a vehicle. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the instructions when executed by the processor configure the processor to:
 responsive to a determination that the speed meets the threshold, automatically send a report thereof.

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