Control of device features based on vehicle state

Abstract

Methods and systems for a controlling device features based on vehicle state and device location are provided. Specifically, the device may be any type of electrical device capable of transmitting and/or receiving a signal (such as a phone, tablet, computer, music player, and/or other entertainment device). In some instances, the device may be associated with one or more vehicles. Although the device may be configured to run one or more applications, the functionality of the one or more applications may be controlled by a system associated with the vehicle. In some cases, this control may depend on the device application type, device location (either inside or outside of a vehicle), law, operator state, and/or vehicle state.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method of controlling access to one or more features of a communication device associated with a vehicle, comprising:
 establishing, by a microprocessor executable feature control module, a connection with the communication device, wherein the feature control module is configured to receive input from at least one sensor of the communication device;   determining, by the feature control module, a location of the communication device relative to the vehicle;   controlling, via the feature control module and based at least partially on the location of the communication device, user access to one or more features of the communication device;   receiving, at the feature control module, emergency state information associated with a user of the communication device from the at least one sensor of the communication device, wherein the emergency state information corresponds to a health emergency suffered by the user; and   overriding, in response to receiving the emergency state information associated with the user of the communication device, the control of user access to the one or more features of the communication device, wherein the overriding at least allows for messaging between the communication device and another device.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the connection between the communication device and feature control module is established via manually registering the communication device with the feature control module. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the connection between the communication device and feature control module is established via automatically registering the communication device with the feature control module. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein automatically registering the communication device further comprises storing in a memory an identifier associated with the communication device. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the location of the communication device is determined to be inside the vehicle. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the inside of the vehicle is arranged into one or more areas, and wherein the communication device is located in a specific area of the one or more areas. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the specific area is associated with an operating area of the vehicle, and wherein the feature control module restricts access to the one or more features of the communication device. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the specific area is associated with a passenger area of the vehicle, and wherein the feature control module allows unrestricted access to the one or more features of the communication device. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 referring to one or more rules relating to operating the communication device while operating the vehicle; and   wherein user access to the one or more features of the communication device is controlled based at least partially on the one or more rules.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the one or more rules correspond to laws associated with a geographical region, and wherein the laws are stored in a memory. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 referring to one or more settings associated with the communication device; and   wherein user access to the one or more features of the communication device is controlled based at least partially on the one or more settings.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 determining a state of the vehicle associated with the communication device, wherein determining the vehicle state further comprises:
 receiving input from the at least one sensor; and 
 interpreting whether the input received indicates an emergency state associated with the vehicle; 
   wherein user access to the one or more features of the communication device is controlled based at least partially on the determined state of the vehicle.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the vehicle is determined to be in an emergency state, and wherein unrestricted user access to the one or more features of the communication device is allowed. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the vehicle is determined to be in a parked state, and wherein unrestricted user access to the one or more features of the communication device is allowed. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the vehicle is determined to be in a moving state, and wherein user access to the one or more features of the communication device is restricted. 
     
     
         36 . A tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, perform the method comprising:
 establishing a connection with a communication device;   receiving input from at least one sensor of the communication device;   determining a location of the communication device relative to a vehicle;   controlling based at least partially on the location of the communication device, user access to one or more features of the communication device;   receiving emergency state information associated with a user of the communication device from the at least one sensor of the communication device, wherein the emergency state information corresponds to a health emergency suffered by the user; and   overriding, in response to receiving the emergency state information associated with the user of the communication device, the control of user access to the one or more features of the communication device, wherein the overriding at least allows for messaging between the communication device and another device.   
     
     
         37 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 36 , wherein the method further comprises:
 referring to one or more rules relating to operating the communication device while operating the vehicle, wherein the one or more rules correspond to laws associated with a geographical region, and wherein the laws are stored in a memory; and   wherein user access to the one or more features of the communication device is controlled based at least partially on the one or more rules.   
     
     
         38 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 36 , wherein the method further comprises:
 referring to one or more settings associated with the communication device; and   wherein user access to the one or more features of the communication device is controlled based at least partially on the one or more settings.   
     
     
         39 . A system for controlling access to one or more features of a communication device associated with a vehicle, comprising:
 at least one sensor of the communication device; and   a microprocessor executable feature control module configured to control the communication device via communication across a communication network, the microprocessor executable feature control module operable to:
 establish a connection with the communication device, wherein the microprocessor executable feature control module is configured to receive input from the at least one sensor of the communication device; 
 determine a location of the communication device relative to the vehicle; 
 control, based at least partially on the location of the communication device, user access to one or more features of the communication device; 
 receive emergency state information associated with a user of the communication device from the at least one sensor of the communication device, wherein the emergency state information corresponds to a health emergency suffered by the user; and 
 override, in response to receiving the emergency state information associated with the user of the communication device, the control of user access to the one or more features of the communication device, wherein the overriding at least allows for messaging between the communication device and another device. 
   
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 39 , further comprising:
 a rules management server, wherein the rules management server is configured to control access to one or more rules relating to operating the communication device while operating the vehicle; and   wherein the microprocessor executable feature control module is further operable to:
 refer to one or more rules relating to operating the communication device while operating the vehicle; and 
 wherein user access to the one or more features of the communication device is controlled based at least partially on the one or more rules.