Preventing access to functions on a mobile device
Systems, methods, and devices for managing predetermined functions on a mobile device within a moving vehicle, the mobile device having an operating system (OS) that includes an event API installed therein that is configured for two-way communication with an external control device, the control device being installed within the vehicle and further configured to communicate with a software application installed and running in memory resident on the mobile device. In response to initiation of a predetermined function on the mobile device, a notification message is transmitted by the event API to the control device. The control device then communicates with the software application to determine a desired action for the mobile device to take with respect to the predetermined function. The control device then instructs the mobile device on the action to take on the predetermined function by transmitting an action message to the event API.
1. A computer-implemented method for preventing user interaction with one or more functions of a mobile device, the method comprising:
detecting, via an application executing on the mobile device having an operating system (OS) configured to perform OS-level actions, an initiation of at least one of the one or more functions in the mobile device;
transmitting, via the application, an indication of the initiation of the at least one of the one or more functions to a control device located within a vehicle and connected with the mobile device via a wireless network connection;
receiving, from the control device over the wireless network connection, an OS-level action to perform on the mobile device to prevent user interaction with the at least one of the one or more functions, the OS-level action including one or more control device-generated human interface device (HID) signals being indicative of a keypress action; and
performing, by the mobile device and without any interference by the application to the one or more functions, the OS-level action to prevent the user interaction with the at least one of the one or more functions.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
collecting vehicle usage data; and
correlating the vehicle usage data with the indication of the initiation of the at least one of the one or more functions.
3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising, reporting, to a server, the vehicle usage data.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, establishing a connection with the control device, wherein the indication and the OS-level action to perform are transmitted via the established connection.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the keypress action is a keypress signal representing the pressing of a home key.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the OS-level action causes the mobile device to minimize a foreground window of an interface of the mobile device.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, evaluating a policy to determine whether to prevent the user interaction with the at least one of the one or more functions.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, from the control device, the OS-level action to perform on the mobile device periodically for a predetermined period of time.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the OS-level action causes the mobile device to disable a screen of the device.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more functions includes at least one of a texting functionality and an application functionality of the mobile device.
11. A mobile device, comprising:
one or more processors;
an operating system configured to perform OS-level actions; and
a memory storing a plurality of instructions, which, when executed on the one or more processors, causes the mobile device to:
detect, via an application executing on the mobile device, an initiation of at least one of one or more functions in the mobile device, wherein the mobile device is located within a vehicle;
transmit, via the application, an indication of the initiation of the at least one of the one or more functions to a control device located within the vehicle and connected with the mobile device via a wireless network connection;
receive, from the control device over the wireless network connection, an OS-level action to perform on the mobile device to prevent user interaction with the at least one of the one or more functions, the OS-level action including one or more control device-generated human interface device (HID) signals being indicative of a keypress action; and
perform, by the mobile device and without any interference by the application to the one or more functions, the OS-level action to prevent the user interaction with the at least one of the one or more functions.
12. The mobile device of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of instructions further causes the mobile device to:
collect vehicle usage data; and
correlate the vehicle usage data with the indication of the initiation of the at least one of the one or more functions.
13. The mobile device of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of instructions further causes the mobile device to report, to a server, the vehicle usage data.
14. The mobile device of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of instructions further causes the mobile device to establish a connection with the control device, wherein the indication and the OS-level action to perform are transmitted via the established connection.
15. The mobile device of claim 11 , wherein the keypress action is a keypress signal representing the pressing of a home key.
16. The mobile device of claim 11 , wherein the OS-level action causes the mobile device to minimize a foreground window of an interface of the mobile device.
17. The mobile device of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of instructions further causes the mobile device to evaluate a policy to determine whether to prevent the user interaction with the at least one of the one or more functions.
18. The mobile device of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of instructions further causes the mobile device to receive, from the control device, the OS-level action to perform on the mobile device periodically for a predetermined period of time.
19. The mobile device of claim 11 , wherein the OS-level action causes the mobile device to disable a screen of the device.
20. The mobile device of claim 11 , wherein the one or more functions includes at least one of a texting functionality and an application functionality of the mobile device.