# US 2013/0278405 A1 · Inhibiting distracting operations of personal handheld devices by the operator of a vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0278405 A1 - Document ID: US20130278405A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/452,845 - Filed: 2012-04-21 - Published: 2013-10-24 - Earliest claimed: 2012-04-21 - Inventors: Benjamin Bacal - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130278405A1 ## CPC - B60Q 1/00: Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor (for lighting vehicle interior B60Q3/00) - H04K 3/415: {based on motion status or velocity, e.g. for disabling use of mobile phones in a vehicle} - B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL - H04K: SECRET COMMUNICATION; JAMMING OF COMMUNICATION ## Abstract A warning system is configured to alert a driver if a mobile electronic device present in the vehicle is located outside a designated area of the vehicle, such that it might distract the driver. The designated area can be any surface or retaining area with an associated sensor that can detect the presence of the mobile device. If the driver removes the mobile device from the designated area while driving, the driver will have a predetermined period of time to return the mobile device to the designated area before an alert is generated. If the mobile device is not returned within the predetermined period of time, the alert is generated. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for restricting operation of a mobile device, comprising: detecting engagement of an ignition system of a vehicle; detecting whether the mobile device is located in a designated area of the vehicle; and activating an alerting device in response to the detecting steps. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the designated area of the includes a holster for holding the mobile device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 further comprising: detecting an initial insertion of the mobile device into the holster and, in response, enabling said alerting device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising: delaying said step of activating for a predetermined time period after detecting a removal of the mobile device from the designated area of the vehicle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein said alerting device is activated in response to (i) detecting the engagement of the ignition system and (ii) detecting that the mobile device is not located within the designated area of the vehicle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein said step of detecting whether the mobile device is located in the designated area of the vehicle includes detecting an insertion of the mobile device into a holster and a removal of the mobile device from the holster. ### Claim 7 A method for restricting operation of a mobile device located within a vehicle, comprising: detecting whether the mobile device is located within a designated area of the vehicle; setting a warning condition if the mobile device is not positioned in the designated area; and providing an alert in response to said warning condition. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7 wherein the designated area of the vehicle comprises a holster mounted in the vehicle, the holster configured to limit access to and operation of the mobile device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising: detecting an initial insertion of the mobile device into the holster and, in response, enabling the step of setting the warning condition if the mobile device is removed from the holster. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising: detecting whether the mobile device is located within the vehicle; setting a warning condition if (i) the mobile device is detected within the vehicle, and (ii) the mobile device is not detected to be positioned in the holster; and alerting an occupant of the vehicle in response to said warning condition. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of: detecting an operational status of the vehicle; and setting a warning condition if (i) the mobile device is detected within the vehicle, (ii) the mobile device is not detected to be positioned in the holster, and (iii) the operational status of the vehicle is detected to be one in which an operation of the mobile device is to be restricted; and alerting an occupant of the vehicle in response to said warning condition. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of: detecting an operational status of the vehicle indicating that the vehicle is not being driven; and in response to said warning condition, inhibiting an operation of the vehicle wherein the operation is necessary for the vehicle to be driven. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the step of detecting an operational status of the vehicle includes detecting a condition selected from the group consisting of (i) an ignition switch position (a) other than on, run and start and (b) including off, lock and accessories, (ii) a non-driving transmission operational state (a) other than drive, forward and reverse and (b) including park and neutral, (iii) a vehicle speed of less than a threshold value, (iv) an unoccupied driver position, and (v) a deployed airbag; and the step of inhibiting an operation of the vehicle includes inhibiting an operation of a component of the vehicle selected from the group of components consisting of: (i) an ignition system of the vehicle wherein the inhibited operation is necessary for the vehicle to be driven including an ignition state of on, run and start, (ii) a transmission of the vehicle wherein the inhibited operation includes operating the transmission in drive, forward and reverse. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the holster includes a barrier impeding access to one or more control mechanisms of the mobile device when the mobile device is positioned in the holster. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising a locking mechanism that operates to inhibit removal of the mobile device from the holster when the vehicle is being driven. ### Claim 16 A system for restricting operation of a mobile device, comprising: a sensor configured to detect engagement of an ignition system of a vehicle; a sensor configured to detect whether the mobile device is located within a designated area of the vehicle; and an alerting device response to the sensors and configured to provide an alert when the mobile device is absent from the holster. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16 further comprising: a circuit configured to detect an initial positioning of the mobile device in the designated location of the vehicle and, in response, enabling said alerting device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16 further comprising a holster corresponding to the designated location in the vehicle, the holster configured to receive and retain the mobile device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16 further comprising: a delay circuit configured to delay activation of the alerting device for a predetermined time period after detecting a removal of the mobile device from the designated area of the vehicle. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16 wherein said alerting device is activated in response to (i) detecting the engagement of the ignition system and (ii) detecting that the mobile device has not yet been positioned in the designated location. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16 wherein said sensor configured to detect whether the mobile device is positioned in the designated area of the vehicle, the sensor configured to detect an insertion of the mobile device into the designated area of the vehicle and a removal of the mobile device from the designated area. ### Claim 22 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16 wherein said sensor configured to detect whether the mobile device is inserted in a holster, the holster configured to detect an insertion of the mobile device into the holster and a removal of the mobile device from the holster. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The system of claim 22 wherein the holster includes a locking mechanism configured to inhibit removal of the mobile device from the holster when the vehicle is being driven. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The system of claim 22 wherein the holster includes a mounting mechanism that engages a power outlet of the vehicle to support the holster and provide power to the sensors and alerting device.