IP Library Granted Patent US 11,778,436
Granted Patent B2
US 11,778,436 · App. 17/513,509 · Granted Oct 3, 2023

Systems, methods, and devices for enforcing do not disturb functionality on mobile devices

Inventors: Joseph E. Breaux, III (Baton Rouge, LA); John Wright (Baton Rouge, LA); Chad A. Kennedy (Baton Rouge, LA)
Assignee: CELLCONTROL, INC.
H04W4/48G06V20/593H04M1/72403H04M1/72454H04M1/72463H04N23/61G06F2218/10H04M1/0264H04M2250/52
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,778,436
App. No.
17/513,509
Granted
Oct 3, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

Technologies disclosed herein are directed to enforcing blocking functionality on a mobile device (e.g., a mobile device within a vehicle). The mobile device receives a request to disable a blocking of a user interaction with one or more functions of the mobile device. The mobile device prompts a capture of an image by a camera of the mobile device. The mobile device determines whether the image is captured from a passenger space in the vehicle. Once so determined, the mobile device disables the blocking of the user interaction with the one or more functions of the mobile device.

Claims (45)

1. A method comprising:

prompting, in response to a request to disable blocking of a user interaction with one or more functions of a mobile device of a user in a vehicle, a positioning of the mobile device in a specified orientation;

capturing a first image by a first camera of the mobile device while the specified orientation is maintained;

prompting, while the specified orientation is maintained, a capture of at least a second image by a second camera of the mobile device, the second image including one or more items;

determining, as a function of the at least the second image, whether the one or more items included in the second image is captured from a passenger space of the vehicle while the specified orientation is maintained;

upon determining that the one or more items is captured from the passenger space of the vehicle, prompting the user to provide an input;

upon validating the input, disabling the blocking of the user interaction with the one or more functions of the mobile device;

receiving accelerometer and gyroscope sensor data indicating that the mobile device has been moved to a driver space of the vehicle from the passenger space; and

reenabling, in response to the received accelerometer and gyroscope sensor data, the blocking of the user interaction with the one or more functions of the mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

detecting a deviation from the specified orientation; and

re-prompting for the positioning of the mobile device in the specified orientation.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the prompting of the positioning of the mobile device occurs while the vehicle is in motion.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining whether the one or more items included in the second image is captured from the passenger space is further determined as a function of a classification model built from a plurality of training images distinguishing between items captured from a perspective of the passenger space and a perspective of a space in the vehicle other than the passenger space.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, upon determining that the at least the second image is captured from a space in the vehicle other than the passenger space, continuing to block the user interaction with the one or more functions of the mobile device.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, prompting a capture of a third image by the first camera of the mobile device.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising, determining whether the third image is captured from the passenger space.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the second camera corresponds to a rear-facing camera and wherein the first camera corresponds to a front-facing camera.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein prompting the capture of at least the second image by the second camera comprises prompting a capture of a specified item by the second camera.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising, identifying the specified item in the at least the second image, wherein determining whether the at least the second image is captured from the passenger space comprises determining, based on one or more machine learning techniques, whether the specified item is captured from the passenger space.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the request to disable the blocking of a user interaction with the one or more functions of the mobile device is an indication of a passenger status of a user of the mobile device.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the blocking of the user interaction with the one or more functions of the mobile device is caused by a native application executing on the mobile device.

13. A mobile device, comprising:

a first camera;

a second camera;

one or more processors;

a display;

a memory storing application code, which, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the mobile device to:

prompt, in response to a request to disable blocking of a user interaction with one or more functions of the mobile device by of a user in a vehicle, a positioning of the mobile device in a specified orientation,

capture a first image by the first camera while the specified orientation is maintained;

prompt, while the specified orientation is maintained, a capture of at least a second image by the second camera, the second image including one or more items;

determine, as a function of the at least the second image, whether the one or more items included in the second image is captured from a passenger space of the vehicle while the specified orientation is maintained;

upon a determination that the one or more items is captured from the passenger space of the vehicle, prompt the user to provide an input;

upon a validation the input, disable the blocking of the user interaction with the one or more functions of the mobile device;

receive accelerometer and gyroscope sensor data indicating that the mobile device has been moved to a driver space of the vehicle from the passenger space;

reenable, in response to the received accelerometer and gyroscope sensor data, the blocking of the user interaction with the one or more functions of the mobile device.

14. The mobile device of claim 13 , wherein the application code further causes the mobile device to:

detect a deviation from the specified orientation; and

re-prompt for the positioning of the mobile device in the specified orientation.

15. The mobile device of claim 13 , wherein the prompt of the positioning of the mobile device occurs while the vehicle is in motion.

16. The mobile device of claim 13 , wherein the determination of whether the one or more items included in the second image is captured from the passenger space is further determined as a function of a classification model built from a plurality of training images distinguishing between items captured from a perspective of the passenger space and a perspective of a space in the vehicle other than the passenger space.

17. The mobile device of claim 13 , wherein the application code further causes the mobile device to, upon a determination that the at least the second image is captured from a space in the vehicle other than the passenger space, continue to block the user interaction with the one or more functions of the mobile device.

18. The mobile device of claim 13 , further comprising a third camera, wherein the application code further causes the mobile device to, prompt to capture of a third image by the third camera.

19. The mobile device of claim 18 , wherein the application code further causes the mobile device to determine whether the third image is captured from the passenger space.

20. The mobile device of claim 18 , wherein the second camera corresponds to a rear-facing camera and wherein the first camera corresponds to a front-facing camera.

Continuity (4)
Continuation 16041053 · Jul 20, 2018
Provisional Application 62553993 · Sep 4, 2017
Provisional Application 62545443 · Aug 14, 2017
Related Publication 20220053081A1 · Feb 17, 2022