IP Library Granted Patent US 8,380,176
Granted Patent B2
US 8,380,176 · App. 12/506,045 · Granted Feb 19, 2013

Method of inhibiting functions of a mobile communications device

Inventors: Mike Adler (Dallas, TX); Russell Spiesser (Queensland, AU)
Assignee: Websafery, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,380,176
App. No.
12/506,045
Granted
Feb 19, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of inhibiting a function of a multi-function portable personal communications device includes determining a first position of the personal communications device, after a predetermined time interval, determining a second position of the personal communications device, determining the distance between the first position and the second position, determining the time interval in which the personal communications device moved from the first position and the second position, calculating an average velocity of the personal communications device based on the first position, the second position and the time interval and, if the average velocity of the personal communication device exceeds a predetermined value, inhibiting a function of the personal communications device.

Claims (16)

1. A method of inhibiting a function of a multi-function portable personal communications device comprising:

determining a first position of the portable personal communications device;

after a predetermined time interval, determining a second position of the portable personal communications device;

determining the distance between the first position and the second position;

determining the time interval in which the portable personal communications device moved from the first position and the second position;

calculating an average velocity of the portable personal communications device based on the first position, the second position and the time interval;

determining when the determined first position is within a predetermined distance of a target location;

when the first position is within a predetermined distance of the target location within a defined time window; and

when the average velocity of the personal communication device exceeds a predetermined value, and the first position is determined to be within a predetermined distance of the target location, inhibiting a function of the portable personal communications device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the portable personal communications device comprises a cellular telephone handset including a global position receiver for determining the first and second position of the cellular handset and wherein the inhibited function is one or more textual message services.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the textual message service include one or more of a Short Message Service (SMS), Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), Mobile Instant Messaging Service (MIMS), email and Internet access.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of inhibiting includes blocking calls made to the cellular telephone handset.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of inhibiting includes blocking calls made from the cellular telephone handset.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting a message to a remote communications device, the message indicating the average velocity of the portable personal communications device has exceeded the predetermined value.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the multi-function portable personal communications device includes a global positioning receiver and wherein the step of determining the first and second positions of the device comprises receiving signals from a plurality of global positioning system satellites.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining an average velocity comprises determining the distance between the first and second positions and dividing the distance by the time interval in which the portable personal communications device moved from the first position to the second position.

Assignments (5)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 2, 2025
From: ONEMETA INC.
To: DAY, ROWLAND W., II
Reel/Frame 072139/0969 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 9, 2022
From: KNOBBE, MARTENS, OLSON & BEAR, LLP
To: WEBSAFETY, INC.
Reel/Frame 058942/0011 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 6, 2020
From: WEBSAFETY, INC.
To: KNOBBE, MARTENS, OLSON & BEAR, LLP
Reel/Frame 053992/0971 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 29, 2012
From: BLINDSPOT ALERT, INC.
To: WEBSAFETY, INC.
Reel/Frame 029207/0666 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 13, 2009
From: ADLER, MICHAEL; SPIESSER, RUSSELL
To: BLINDSPOT ALERT, INC.
Reel/Frame 023360/0241 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61087506 · Aug 8, 2008
Related Publication 20100035588A1 · Feb 11, 2010