Disablement of user device functionality
OwnerFariborz M. Farhan, Babak Firoozbakhsh +1inventors
InventorsFariborz M. Farhan, Babak Firoozbakhsh, Afshin Amini
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Abstract
The use of user equipment, or distracting features thereof are restricted or prohibited to improve vehicle operation safety. The presence of user equipment within the operator's or driver's operational area is detected. The distracting features are then restricted either immediately or based on other conditions such as vehicle speed, motion, engine state, etc. When the conditions have been eliminated and/or the user equipment is vacated from the operator's operational area, the restrictions can be removed or removed after a threshold period of time.
Claims20
A method for restricting functionality of user equipment, the method comprising the actions of:
- a processing unit detecting that user equipment is within a particular area;
- the processing unit identifying the existence of one or more conditions;
- determining restrictions on the user equipment based at least in part on the identified conditions;
- and
- imposing the restrictions on the functionality of the user equipment.
A device for restricting the functionality of user equipment operating within a vehicle, the system comprising:
- an interface to one or more sensors for detecting vehicle operating conditions;
- a detector for detecting when the user equipment is located within a particular area of the vehicle;
- and
- a controller interface for sending signals to invoke restrictions in the functionality of the user equipment wherein the restrictions are selected based on the location of the user equipment and the detected operating conditions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.