IP Library Granted Patent US 10,375,229
Granted Patent B2
US 10,375,229 · App. 15/921,239 · Granted Aug 6, 2019

Detecting driving with a wearable computing device

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,375,229
App. No.
15/921,239
Granted
Aug 6, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A wearable computing device is described that detects an indication of movement associated with the wearable computing device when a user of the wearable computing device detected being located within a moving vehicle. Based at least in part on the indication of movement, a determination is made that the user of the wearable computing device is currently driving the moving vehicle. An operation is performed based on the determination that the user of the wearable computing device is currently driving the moving vehicle.

Claims (35)

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a wearable computing device that is located in a vehicle, an indication of movement associated with the wearable computing device;

determining, from inputting the indication of the movement into a machine learning system, a degree of likelihood that a user of the wearable computing device is driving the vehicle;

responsive to determining that the degree of likelihood satisfies a threshold, determining that the user of the wearable computing device is currently driving the vehicle; and

responsive to determining that the user of the wearable computing device is currently driving the vehicle, performing, by the wearable computing device, one or more operations that prevent the user from accessing at least one feature of the wearable computing device while the user of the wearable computing device is currently driving the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the indication of the movement comprises sensor data indicating a turning motion detected by a sensor of the wearable computing device or a different device located in the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the operation includes at least one of:

disabling at least one input component of the wearable computing device; or

disabling at least one output component of the wearable computing device.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the input component includes a presence-sensitive input component of the wearable computing device.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the output component includes a display of the wearable computing device.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the operation includes disabling text messaging functions of the wearable computing device or a different computing device located in the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein performing the one or more operations further comprises restricting access to at least some functionality of a different computing device located in the vehicle while the user of the wearable computing device is currently driving the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the indication of movement comprises receiving the indication of movement from a different computing device located in the vehicle while the user of the wearable computing device is currently driving the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 1 , determining the degree of likelihood that the user of the wearable computing device is currently driving the vehicle is in response to determining that a pattern identified from the movement associated with the wearable computing device is consistent with a pattern of movement associated with driving a vehicle.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

responsive to determining that the user of the wearable computing device is no longer driving the vehicle, enabling, by the wearable computing device, user access to the at least one feature of the wearable computing device.

11. A wearable computing device comprising at least one processor configured to:

receive, an indication of movement associated with the wearable computing device while the wearable computing device is located in a vehicle;

determine, from inputting the indication of the movement into a machine learning system, a degree of likelihood that a user of the wearable computing device is driving the vehicle;

responsive to determining that the degree of likelihood satisfies a threshold, determine that the user of the wearable computing device is currently driving the vehicle; and

responsive to determining that the user of the wearable computing device is currently driving the vehicle, perform one or more operations that prevent the user from accessing at least one feature of the wearable computing device while the user of the wearable computing device is currently driving the vehicle.

12. The wearable computing device of claim 11 , wherein the indication of the movement comprises sensor data indicating a turning motion detected by a sensor of the wearable computing device or a different device located in the vehicle.

13. The wearable computing device of claim 11 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to receive the indication of movement by receiving the indication of movement from a different computing device located in the vehicle while the user of the wearable computing device is currently driving the vehicle.

14. The wearable computing device of claim 11 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to responsive to determining that the user of the wearable computing device is no longer driving the vehicle, enable user access to the at least one feature of the wearable computing device.

15. The wearable computing device of claim 11 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to perform the one or more operations by restricting access to at least some functionality of a different computing device located in the vehicle while the user of the wearable computing device is currently driving the vehicle.

16. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause at least one processor of a wearable computing device to:

receive, an indication of movement associated with the wearable computing device while the wearable computing device is located in a vehicle;

determine, from inputting the indication of the movement into a machine learning system, a degree of likelihood that a user of the wearable computing device is driving the vehicle;

responsive to determining that the degree of likelihood satisfies a threshold, determine that the user of the wearable computing device is currently driving the vehicle; and

responsive to determining that the user of the wearable computing device is currently driving the vehicle, perform one or more operations that prevent the user from accessing at least one feature of the wearable computing device while the user of the wearable computing device is currently driving the vehicle.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the indication of the movement comprises sensor data indicating a turning motion detected by a sensor of the wearable computing device or a different device located in the vehicle.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the at least one processor to receive the indication of movement by receiving the indication of movement from a different computing device located in the vehicle while the user of the wearable computing device is currently driving the vehicle.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the at least one processor to responsive to determining that the user of the wearable computing device is no longer driving the vehicle, enable user access to the at least one feature of the wearable computing device.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the at least one processor to perform the one or more operations by restricting access to at least some functionality of a different computing device located in the vehicle while the user of the wearable computing device is currently driving the vehicle.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 22, 2024
From: GOOGLE LLC
To: TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
Reel/Frame 069378/0637 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 14, 2018
From: KADOUS, MOHAMMED WALEED
To: GOOGLE INC.
Reel/Frame 045208/0474 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 14, 2018
From: GOOGLE INC.
To: GOOGLE LLC
Reel/Frame 045599/0303 →