Impending hazard alert

1. A mobile device, comprising:

a wireless transceiver configured for mobile data communication via a mobile wireless communication network, and configured to receive hazard information from a warning server prior to the mobile device providing a warning;

at least one user output element;

at least one sensor; and

a controller coupled to the transceiver, the at least one sensor, and the at least one user output element, wherein the controller is configured to control operations of the mobile device to implement functions, including functions to:

request updated hazard information from the warning server when the mobile device determines that the hazard information is not available or not up-to-date on the mobile device for an area where the mobile device is located;

determine whether an application running on the mobile device is potentially distracting;

determine an activity of a user of the mobile device, via the at least one sensor;

determine whether the user activity in combination with running of the potentially distracting application is potentially dangerous; and

upon determining that the combination is potentially dangerous and that the mobile device is within a predetermined time and/or distance of a hazard based on the updated hazard information, provide a warning on the user output element of the mobile device.

2. The mobile device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to control operations of the mobile device to implement a function to identify, from received hazard information, one or more impending hazards to the user of the mobile device in an area of the mobile device.

3. The mobile device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to cause the transceiver to automatically receive the hazard information from the warning server periodically without the mobile device requesting the hazard information.

4. The mobile device of claim 1 , wherein: the at least one sensor includes a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver; and the controller is further configured to control operations of the mobile device to implement a function to send GPS coordinates of the mobile device to the warning server with the request for hazard information.

5. The mobile device of claim 1 , wherein:

the at least one sensor includes a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver and an accelerometer; and

the controller is further configured to help determine the user activity from information from at least one of the GPS receiver or accelerometer.

6. The mobile device of claim 5 , wherein:

the at least one sensor further includes:

at least one camera,

a touch screen, and

a microphone; and

the controller is further configured to determine whether the user activity in combination with one or more running applications is potentially dangerous by comparing the user activity in combination with one or more running applications to a predetermined criteria stored in the mobile device.

7. The mobile device of claim 1 , wherein:

the at least one sensor includes a camera; and

the controller is further configured to:

track eye movement from information provided by the camera; and

determine whether any currently running applications are potentially distracting from tracked eye movement information.

8. The mobile device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine whether any currently running applications are potentially distracting by comparing each currently running application to predetermined criteria stored in the mobile device.

9. The mobile device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to control operations of the mobile device to implement a function to classify the combination of the user activity with any running applications as not dangerous when the mobile device is traveling above a predetermined speed.

10. A mobile device, comprising:

a wireless transceiver configured for mobile data communication via a mobile wireless communication network and to receive hazard information from a warning server prior to providing a warning;

at least one user output element;

at least one sensor; and

a controller coupled to the transceiver, the at least one sensor, and the at least one user output element, wherein the controller is configured to control operations of the mobile device to implement functions, including functions to:

determine whether an application running on the mobile device is potentially distracting;

determine an activity of a user of the mobile device, via the at least one sensor;

request updated hazard information from the warning server when the mobile device determines that the hazard information is not available or not up-to-date on the mobile device for an area where the mobile device is located;

determine whether the user activity in combination with running of the potentially distracting application is potentially dangerous; and

upon determining that the combination is potentially dangerous and that the mobile device is within a predetermined time and/or distance of a hazard indicated from the updated hazard information, provide the warning on the at least one user output element of the mobile device.

11. The mobile device of claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured to control operations of the mobile device to implement a function to identify, from received hazard information, one or more impending hazards to the user of the mobile device in an area of the mobile device.

12. The mobile device of claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to cause the transceiver to automatically receive the hazard information from the warning server periodically without the mobile device requesting the hazard information.

13. The mobile device of claim 10 , wherein: the at least one sensor includes a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver; and the controller is further configured to control operations of the mobile device to implement a function to send GPS coordinates of the mobile device to the warning server with the request for hazard information.

14. The mobile device of claim 10 , wherein:

the at least one sensor includes a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver and an accelerometer; and

the controller is further configured to help determine the user activity from information from at least one of the GPS receiver or accelerometer.

15. The mobile device of claim 10 , wherein:

the at least one sensor includes a camera; and

the controller is further configured to:

track eye movement from information provided by the camera; and

determine whether any currently running applications are potentially distracting from tracked eye movement information.

16. The mobile device of claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine whether any currently running applications are potentially distracting by comparing each currently running application to predetermined criteria stored in the mobile device.

17. A mobile device, comprising:

a wireless transceiver configured for mobile data communication via a mobile wireless communication network, and configured to receive hazard information from a warning server prior to the mobile device providing a warning;

at least one user output element;

at least one sensor; and

a controller coupled to the transceiver, the at least one sensor, and the at least one user output element, wherein the controller is configured to control operations of the mobile device to implement functions, including functions to:

identify an application running on the mobile device;

determine whether the identified application is potentially distracting based on use of the application requiring a known extended period of viewing;

determine, by using the at least one sensor, that a user activity is potentially dangerous when the user is distracted;

request updated hazard information from a warning server when the mobile device determines that the hazard information is not available or not up-to-date on the mobile device for the area where the mobile device is located;

determine, using the updated hazard information, whether the mobile device is within a predetermined time and/or distance of a hazard; and

in response to determining that the activity is potentially dangerous and determining that the mobile device is within a predetermined time and/or distance of a hazard, provide a warning on the user output element of the mobile device.

18. The mobile device of claim 17 , wherein the determination that the user activity is potentially dangerous is made in response to determining that the identified application is potentially distracting.