Systems, methods, and devices for policy-based control and monitoring of use of mobile devices by vehicle operators

A system for controlling functionality of a mobile device when the mobile device is in a vehicle, wherein the vehicle includes an on-board computer that is configured to obtain state data about the vehicle, comprising:

• a Bluetooth transmitter in electronic communication with the on-board computer, the transmitter periodically embedding an indication of the vehicle's state obtained from the on-board computer into one or more of the transmitter's Bluetooth configuration parameters;
• a Bluetooth receiver associated with the mobile device, wherein the receiver reads one or more of the transmitter's Bluetooth configuration parameters and extracts the indication of the vehicle's state therefrom but without establishing a Bluetooth pairing with the transmitter;
• and
• executable software code operating within the mobile device whenever the mobile device is powered on and wherein the executable software code receives the indication of the vehicle's state from the receiver, the executable software code accessing a rules-based policy associated therewith, whereby, in response to receipt of the indication of the vehicle's state, the executable software code disables functionality of the mobile device in accordance with the rules-based policy,
• wherein the rules-based policy defines when and which functions of the mobile device are disabled and wherein the rules-based policy addresses one or more of the following:
• prevents outgoing calls from the mobile device, prevents the mobile device from accessing phone functions on the mobile device, disables a display of the mobile device, causes a system screen to be displayed, immediately interrupts and disables the functions of the mobile device, is associated with the vehicle, is associated with the mobile device, is only effective during predefined days of the week and hours of the day, has a plurality of rules that vary as a function of predefined days of the week and hours of the day, includes a plurality of rules that vary based upon the GPS-determined location of the mobile device, defines a PIN or password that can be entered into the mobile device to enable all functions of the mobile device, defines a PIN or password that can be entered into the mobile device to enable predefined functions of the mobile device, prevents incoming calls from being received by the mobile device, allows incoming calls to be received by the mobile device, prevents any indication of the incoming call from being detected by or notified to a user of the mobile device until a later period of time, routes incoming calls directly to voice mail, prevents incoming and outgoing text messages, disables the mobile device completely, identifies specific numbers or contacts from which the mobile device can receive communications on an incoming basis, identifies specific numbers or contacts to which the mobile device is permitted to communicate on an outgoing basis, and identifies specific applications that are usable or launchable by the mobile device regardless of the vehicle's state.

A system for controlling functionality of a mobile device when the mobile device is in a vehicle, wherein the vehicle includes an on-board computer that monitors a current state of the vehicle, comprising:

• a Bluetooth transmitter in electronic communication with the on-board computer, the transmitter periodically embedding an indication of the current vehicle state obtained from the on-board computer into at least one of the Bluetooth device data fields, the Bluetooth device data fields being visible to all Bluetooth receivers in range of the transmitter;
• a Bluetooth receiver associated with the mobile device, wherein, when in range of the transmitter, the receiver reads at least one of the Bluetooth device data fields and extracts the indication of the current vehicle state without establishing a Bluetooth pairing with the transmitter;
• and
• executable software code operating within the mobile device whenever the mobile device is powered on, wherein the executable software code receives the indication of current vehicle state extracted by the receiver and disables one or more functions of the mobile device in accordance with a rule-based policy based on the indication of current vehicle state;
• wherein the rules-based policy defines when and which functions of the mobile device are disabled and wherein the rules-based policy addresses one or more of the following:
• prevents outgoing calls from the mobile device, prevents the mobile device from accessing the phone functions on the mobile device, disables the display of the mobile device, causes the software application to display a system screen on the mobile device, immediately interrupts and disables the functions of the mobile device, is associated with the vehicle, is associated with the mobile device, is only effective during predefined days of the week and hours of the day, has a plurality of rules that vary as a function of predefined days of the week and hours of the day, includes a plurality of rules that vary based upon the GPS-determined location of the mobile device, defines a PIN or password that can be entered into the mobile device to enable all functions of the mobile device, defines a PIN or password that can be entered into the mobile device to enable predefined functions of the mobile device, prevents incoming calls from being received by the mobile device, allows incoming calls to be received by the mobile device, prevents any indication of the incoming call from being detected by or notified to a user of the mobile device until a later period of time, routes incoming calls directly to voice mail, prevents incoming and outgoing text messages, disables the mobile device completely, identifies specific numbers or contacts from which the mobile device can receive communications on an incoming basis, identifies specific numbers or contacts to which the mobile device is permitted to communicate on an outgoing basis, and identifies specific applications that are usable or launchable by the mobile device regardless of the vehicle's current state.