Assembly and method for preventing wireless communication while driving

Abstract

A system, apparatus, and method for preventing wireless communication while driving is presented. The system including a text prevention device configured to be installed in a vehicle and detect mobile computing devices within the vehicle. The text prevention device is further configured to establish a connection with detected mobile computing devices and serve as a proxy device to receive signal transmissions transmitted from and received by the mobile computing devices preventing the mobile computing devices within the vehicle from distracting the driver during operation of the vehicle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for preventing computing device use during operation of a moving vehicle, the system comprising:
 a text prevention device (TPD) operable to:
 identify a first computing device present within a vehicle; 
 establish a communication link between the TPD and the first computing device; 
 receive a primary proxy communication authority from the first computing device; 
 detect movement of the vehicle; 
 prevent at least one function of the first computing device when movement of the vehicle is detected; 
 monitor an interior of the vehicle when movement of the vehicle is detected; 
 determine the number of people within the vehicle; 
 compare the number of people within the vehicle to the number of computing devices with established communication links with the TPD; and 
 activate an alerting mechanism in response to determining the number of people within the vehicle exceeds the number of computer devices with established communication links with the TPD. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a camera operable to monitor the interior of the vehicle.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a global positioning system (GPS) receiver operable to detect the vehicle exceeding a predetermined speed threshold before activating the alerting mechanism.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 an audio component operable to broadcast at least one warning signal if a communication link is not present between the TPD and at least one computing device within the vehicle when the predetermined speed threshold is exceeded.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a transmitter operable to report to a central authority that the number of people within the vehicle exceeds the number of computer devices with established communication links with the TPD.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a database including whitelist information that includes at least one of a plurality of activity entries and a plurality of contact entries; and   a processor operable to interpret contents of the whitelist and deactivate functionality of the first computing device based on contents of the whitelist.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of activity entries comprises at least one of an unauthorized call, an unauthorized text, or a browsing activity. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the TPD is further operable to:
 capture an image of the interior of the vehicle; and 
 transmit the image of the interior of the vehicle to a central authority. 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the TPD is further operable to transmit a video stream containing images of the interior of the vehicle to a central authority.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the TPD is further operable to sound an audible alarm within the vehicle.   
     
     
         11 . A method for preventing computing device use during operation of a moving vehicle, the method comprising:
 receiving, at a text prevention device (TPD) located within a vehicle, an identification a first computing device present within the vehicle;   establishing a communication link between the TPD and the first computing device;   receiving, at the TPD, a primary proxy communication authority from the first computing device;   preventing at least one function of the first computing device when the TPD detects movement of the vehicle;   monitoring an interior of the vehicle when the TPD detects movement of the vehicle;   identifying the number of people within the vehicle;   comparing the number of people within the vehicle to the number of computing devices with established communication links with the TPD; and   activating an alerting mechanism in response to determining the number of people within the vehicle exceeds the number of computer devices with established communication links with the TPD.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the monitoring is performed with a camera.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 detecting the vehicle exceeding a predetermined speed threshold before activating the alerting mechanism.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 based on the detection step, broadcasting, via the TPD, at least one warning signal if a communication link is not present between the TPD and at least one computing device within the vehicle.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 reporting to a central authority, via the TPD, that the number of people within the vehicle exceeds the number of computer devices with established communication links with the TPD.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 maintaining, via the TPD, a whitelist comprising at least one of a plurality of activity entries and a plurality of contact entries; and   deactivating functionality of the first computing device based on contents of the whitelist.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of activity entries comprises at least one of an unauthorized call, an unauthorized text, or a browsing activity. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step of activating an alerting mechanism includes at least one of:
 saving an image of the interior of the vehicle to a memory; and   transmitting an image of the interior of the vehicle to a central authority.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step of activating an alerting mechanism includes transmitting a video stream containing images of the interior of the vehicle to a central authority. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step of activating an alerting mechanism includes sounding an audible alarm within the vehicle.