System For Tracking Text Messaging While Driving
A system and method are described to track and warn a person suspected of texting while driving a moving vehicle. The position and speed of a user's cell phone are compared with those of other cell phone users in the vicinity. If the position and speed of a phone track that of one or more neighboring phones, it is assumed that a user may under certain conditions be texting while driving. For circumstances where persons suspected to be in the same vehicle utilize different service providers, parameters such as for instance cell phone position, velocity, and direction of travel are time stamped and passed between service providers or alternately made available to other service providers via a central database. Cell phone users who are determined likely to be texting while driving based on the disclosed methods may be warned without disabling their texting capability.
1 . A method for warning a vehicle occupant of possible text messaging while driving, comprising the steps of:
determining the position and velocity of the vehicle occupant's phone;
establishing an envelope relative to the vehicle occupant's phone that encompasses the phones of other cell phone users who may be riding within a motor vehicle containing the vehicle occupant's phone;
analyzing activity for phones of other phone users within the envelope; and
warning a user of a cell phone travelling within the envelope of possible texting while driving.
2 . The Method of claim 1 wherein to be warned a vehicle occupant must be a licensed driver.
3 . The Method of claim 1 wherein a vehicle occupant is warned if they are the only licensed driver within the envelope whose phone is active and they are determined to be texting.
4 . The Method of claim 1 wherein all licensed drivers within the envelope are warned if all licensed drivers within the envelope are texting.
5 . The Method of claim 1 wherein a vehicle occupant is not warned as a result of texting if they are a licensed driver and another licensed driver within the envelope has an active phone and is not texting.
6 . The Method of claim 1 wherein the warning is delivered by various means including at least one of text message, automated phone call, email, or postal letter.
7 . The Method of claim 6 wherein a warning message delivered to a suspected individual by at least one of text message, automated phone call, or email is deferred until such time that it has been determined that the suspected individual is no longer in a moving vehicle.
8 . A method for warning a vehicle occupant of possible test messaging while driving, comprising the steps of:
determining the position and velocity of the vehicle occupant's phone by a first service provider;
establishing an envelope relative to the vehicle occupant's phone that encompasses the cell phones of other cell phone users that may be riding within a motor vehicle containing the vehicle occupant's phone;
providing information parameters for said envelope to a third party;
providing said information parameters for said envelope to a second service provider by way of the third party;
analyzing activity for phones of cell phone users within the envelope who are serviced by the first or second service provider; and
warning a cell phone user serviced by the first or second service provider of possible texting.
9 . The Method of claim 8 wherein to be warned a vehicle occupant must be a licensed driver.
10 . The Method of claim 8 wherein a vehicle occupant is warned if they are the only licensed driver within the envelope whose phone is active and they are determined to be texting.
11 . The Method of claim 8 wherein all licensed drivers within the envelope are warned if all licensed drivers within the envelope are texting.
12 . The Method of claim 8 wherein a vehicle occupant is not warned as a result of texting if they are a licensed driver and another licensed driver within the envelope has an active phone and is not texting.
13 . The Method of claim 8 wherein the warning is delivered by various means including at least one of text message, automated phone call, email, or postal letter.
14 . The Method of claim 13 wherein a warning message delivered to a suspected individual by at least one of text message, automated phone call, or email is deferred until such time that it has been determined that the suspected individual is no longer in a moving vehicle.
15 . A method for warning a vehicle occupant of possible test messaging while driving, comprising the steps of:
determining the position and velocity of the vehicle occupant's phone by a first service provider;
establishing an envelope relative to the vehicle occupant's phone that encompasses the phones of other cell phone users that may be riding within a motor vehicle containing the vehicle occupant's phone;
providing information parameters for said envelope directly to a second service provider;
analyzing activity for phones of phone users within the envelope who are serviced by the first or second service provider; and
warning a cell phone user serviced by the first or second service provider of possible texting.
16 . The Method of claim 15 wherein to be warned a vehicle occupant must be a licensed driver.
17 . The Method of claim 15 wherein a vehicle occupant is warned if they are the only licensed driver within the envelope whose phone is active and they are determined to be texting.
18 . The Method of claim 15 wherein all licensed drivers within the envelope are warned if all licensed drivers within the envelope are texting.
19 . The Method of claim 15 wherein a vehicle occupant is not warned as a result of texting if they are a licensed driver and another licensed driver within the envelope has an active phone and is not texting.
20 . The Method of claim 15 wherein a warning message delivered to a suspected individual by at least one of text message, automated phone call, or email is deferred until such time that it has been determined that the suspected individual is no longer in a moving vehicle.