Telematics basic mobile device safety interlock
View Patent ↗A vehicle includes a telematics controller and a single short range, low power interior transmitter focused substantially only on a vehicle's driver's seat only. Synergistic interaction is provided between a vehicle's telematics controller and a wireless device used by the driver (e.g. a cell phone, smart phone, PDA, wireless laptop, etc.) to parametrically control at least one wireless service or other operation of a wireless device presumed operated by the driver of the vehicle. Example wireless services blocked or forced into a safe mode (such as hands-free operation) include SMS, Email, and Voice services.
1. A telematics mobile device safety interlock for a vehicle, comprising:
a short range, low power transmitter mountable within a vehicle, said short range, lower power transmitter having a range of approximately a single seat in said vehicle;
a telematics controller in communication with said short range, low power transmitter;
a single seat sensor to detect, via trialateration, occupancy of said single seat; and
a safety module to trigger a safety mode of operation of said wireless device when said single seat sensor detects occupancy of said single seat.
2. The telematics mobile device safety interlock for a vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein:
said safety module forces said safety mode of operation only if said vehicle is currently being operated by a requestor of mobile services.
3. The telematics mobile device safety interlock for a vehicle according to claim 1 , said telematics controller comprising:
a cellular front end communications module.
4. The telematics mobile device safety interlock for a vehicle according to claim 3 , wherein:
said safety module is triggered via said cellular front end communications module.
5. The telematics mobile device safety interlock for a vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein:
said short range, low power transmitter conforms to a Bluetooth protocol.
6. The telematics mobile device safety interlock for a vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein:
said short range, low power transmitter utilizes infrared communications.
7. The telematics mobile device safety interlock for a vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein said wireless device comprises:
a laptop.
8. The telematics mobile device safety interlock for a vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein said wireless device comprises:
a smartphone.
9. The telematics mobile device safety interlock for a vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein:
said telematics controller detects attempted use of said mobile device within a driver's seat.
10. The telematics mobile device safety interlock for a vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein:
said single seat sensor includes at least three antenna.
11. A method of restricting use of a mobile device in a non-parked vehicle, comprising:
detecting, via a single seat sensor using trilateration, occupancy of a single seat in a vehicle; and
triggering a safety mode of operation of said mobile device when said single seat sensor detects occupancy of said single seat, said safety mode of operation including transmission of a block use instruction, said block use instruction causing said mobile device to temporarily implement restricted use of at least one application on said mobile device from use by a driver of said vehicle.
12. The method of restricting use of a mobile device in a non-parked vehicle according to claim 11 , wherein said restriction of use comprises:
prevention of operation of an Email application.
13. The method of restricting use of a mobile device in a non-parked vehicle according to claim 11 , wherein said restriction of use comprises:
prevention of operation of a text messaging application.
14. The method of restricting use of a mobile device in a non-parked vehicle according to claim 11 , wherein said restriction of use comprises:
forced hands-free mode of operation of said mobile device.
15. The method of restricting use of a mobile device in a non-parked vehicle according to claim 11 , further comprising:
communicating between said safety interlock module and said mobile device using a Bluetooth signal.
16. The method of restricting use of a mobile device in a non-parked vehicle according to claim 11 , further comprising:
detecting attempted use of said mobile device within a driver's seat.
17. The method of restricting use of a mobile device in a non-parked vehicle according to claim 11 , wherein:
said single seat sensor includes at least three antenna.