System and method for classifying a mode of operation of a mobile communication device in a volume based on sensor fusion

A system for classifying a mode of operation of at least one mobile communication device within a defined volume, based on at least one sensor, the system comprising:

• a phone locating unit configured to determine a position of the at least one mobile communication device relative to a frame of reference of the defined volume, based on at least one of:
• angle of arrival, time of flight, or received intensity of radio frequency (RF) signals transmitted by the at least one mobile communication device and received by the phone location unit located within the defined volume and comprising a transceiver and antennas and further configured to wirelessly communicate with the at least one mobile communication device;
• a plurality of non-RF sensors configured to obtain at least one sensor measurement related to the at least one mobile communication device, from a sensor located on at least one of:
• the at least one mobile communication device, within the defined volume, or outside of the defined volume;
• and
• a computer processor configured to classify the at least one mobile communication device into at least one of a plurality of predefined modes of operation of the mobile communication device, based on the position and the at least one sensor reading,
• wherein inside the defined volume there is at least one person interacting with the at least one mobile communication device and wherein the mode of operation further comprises information about the at least one person;
• wherein the defined volume is a vehicle;
• and
• wherein the obtaining at least one sensor measurement related to the at least one mobile communication device is from a proximity sensor, said proximity sensor providing information on the proximity between the at least one mobile communication device and the at least one person, and wherein the proximity is factored in classifying the likelihood of the mode of operation, wherein a closer proximity infers a higher probability of an on-call mode of operation.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium for classifying a mode of operation of at least one mobile communication device within a defined volume, based on at least one sensor, the computer-readable medium comprising a set of instructions that when executed cause at least one computer processor to:

• determine a position of the at least one mobile communication device relative to a frame of reference of the defined volume, based on at least one of:
• angle of arrival, time of flight, or received intensity of radio frequency (RF) signals transmitted by the at least one mobile communication device and received by a phone location unit located within the defined volume and comprising a transceiver and antennas and further configured to wirelessly communicate with the at least one mobile communication device;
• obtain at least one sensor measurement related to the at least one mobile communication device, from a sensor located on at least one of:
• the at least one mobile communication device, within the defined volume, or outside of the defined volume;
• and
• classify the at least one mobile communication device into at least one of a plurality of predefined modes of operation of the mobile communication device, based on the position and the at least one sensor reading,
• wherein inside the defined volume there is at least one person interacting with the at least one mobile communication device and wherein the mode of operation further comprises information about the at least one person;
• wherein the defined volume is a vehicle;
• and
• wherein the obtaining at least one sensor measurement related to the at least one mobile communication device is from a proximity sensor, said proximity sensor providing information on the proximity between the at least one mobile communication device and the at least one person, and wherein the proximity is factored in classifying the likelihood of the mode of operation, wherein a closer proximity infers a higher probability of an on-call mode of operation.

A server for classifying a mode of operation of at least one mobile communication device within a defined volume, based on at least one sensor, the server comprising:

• a network interface configured to receive, from a phone location unit, a position of the at least one mobile communication device relative to a frame of reference of the defined volume, based on at least one of:
• angle of arrival, time of flight, or received intensity of radio frequency (RF) signals transmitted by the at least one mobile communication device and received by the phone location unit located within the defined volume and comprising a transceiver and antennas and further configured to wirelessly communicate with the at least one mobile communication device;
• a memory interface configured to store at least one sensor measurement related to the at least one mobile communication device, from a sensor located on at least one of:
• the at least one mobile communication device, within the defined volume, or outside of the defined volume;
• and
• a processing device configured to classify the at least one mobile communication device into at least one of a plurality of predefined modes of operation of the mobile communication device, based on the position and the at least one sensor reading,
• wherein inside the defined volume there is at least one person interacting with the at least one mobile communication device and wherein the mode of operation further comprises information about the at least one person;
• wherein the defined volume is a vehicle;
• and
• wherein the obtaining at least one sensor measurement related to the at least one mobile communication device is from a proximity sensor, said proximity sensor providing information on the proximity between the at least one mobile communication device and the at least one person, and wherein the proximity is factored in classifying the likelihood of the mode of operation, wherein a closer proximity infers a higher probability of an on-call mode of operation.