Apparatus, system, and method for inhibiting operation of mobile devices within a zone
AssigneeDriving Management Systems, Inc.
InventorMarwan Hannon
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Abstract
Methods, systems, and apparatus for inhibiting a function of a mobile device in a predetermined detection zone are disclosed. A method includes receiving, by a mobile device, a first communication signal when the mobile device is located within a predetermined field of transmission, determining that the first communication signal was transmitted by a first beacon of a plurality of beacons, and inhibiting at least one function of the mobile device upon determining that the first communication signal was transmitted by the first beacon.
Claims14
A method for inhibiting a function of a mobile device, the method comprising:
- receiving, by a mobile device, a first communication signal transmitted by a first beacon when the mobile device is located within a first predetermined detection zone;
- receiving, by the mobile device, a second communication signal transmitted by the first beacon when the mobile device is located within a second predetermined detection zone;
- receiving, by the mobile device, a plurality of communication signals transmitted by a plurality of additional beacons when the mobile device is located within the second predetermined detection zone;
- determining, by the mobile device, that the second communication signal was transmitted by the first beacon and that the plurality of communication signals were transmitted by the plurality of additional beacons;
- and
- inhibiting at least one function of the mobile device upon determining that the second communication signal was transmitted by the first beacon and that the plurality of communication signals were transmitted by the plurality of additional beacons,
- wherein receiving, by the mobile device, a second communication signal transmitted by the first beacon when the mobile device is located within a second predetermined detection zone comprises receiving, by the mobile device, a second communication signal transmitted by the first beacon when the mobile device is located within a second predetermined detection zone that is smaller than the first predetermined detection zone.
A system for inhibiting a function of a mobile device, the system comprising:
- a plurality of beacons, wherein at least one beacon of the plurality of beacons is configured to transmit a first communication signal to a mobile device within a first radius of transmission and to transmit a second communication signal to the mobile device within a second radius of transmission, thereby causing the mobile device to inhibit at least one function of the mobile device on receipt of the second communication signal;
- and
- a second plurality of beacons, wherein each of at least two beacons of the second plurality of beacons is configured to transmit a third communication signal to a mobile device within a third radius of transmission, thereby causing the mobile device to inhibit at least one function of the mobile device on receipt of the third communication signal,
- wherein the first radius of transmission of each beacon of the plurality of beacons is adjustable,
- wherein the at least one beacon of the plurality of beacons is configured to receive instructions from a device to adjust the first radius of transmission thereby changing a location at which the mobile device receives the first communication signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.