Apparatus, system, and method for detecting the presence and controlling the operation of mobile devices within a vehicle

An apparatus for determining the presence of a mobile device located in a predetermined detection zone within a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

• a detection module to receiving a communication signal and determine that the communication signal was transmitted by a mobile device located within a predetermined detection zone within a vehicle;
• a control module coupled to the detection module, the control module comprising a jamming module operative to transmit a control signal to the mobile device located within the predetermined detection zone;
• and a scanner coupled to the detection module operative to sweep for a plurality of frequency bands associated with the mobile device;
• and a power sensor circuit coupled to the scanner, the power sensor circuit operative to monitor a radiated power level of the communication signal received by the detection module in each of the plurality frequency bands.

A system for determining the presence of a mobile device located in a predetermined detection zone within a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

• a detection module to receive a communication signal and determine that the communication signal was transmitted by a mobile device located within a predetermined detection zone within a vehicle;
• a control module coupled to the detection module, the control module comprising a jamming module operative to transmit a control signal to the mobile device located within the predetermined detection zone;
• and a scanner coupled to the detection module operative to sweep for a plurality of frequency bands associated with the mobile device;
• and a power sensor circuit coupled to the scanner, the power sensor circuit operative to monitor a radiated power level of the communication signal received by the detection module in each of the plurality frequency bands;
• a monitoring logic to monitor a functional system of the vehicle activating the transmission of the control signal by the control module when the monitored functional system is activated and the detection module determines that the communication signal was transmitted by the mobile device located within the predetermined detection zone.