Mobile device lock-out system
OwnerScott D. Rownininventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A mobile electronic device that is operable to at least partially disable functionality of the mobile electronic device in response to receiving an indication that a vehicle is in motion. In one or more implementations, the electronic device includes a memory operable to store one or more modules and a processor communicatively coupled to the touch-sensitive display and to the memory. The processor is operable to execute the one or more modules to detect presence of a lock-out device and to receive an indication that a vehicle is in motion. The processor is also operable to execute the one or more modules to cause the mobile electronic device to be at least partially inoperable in response to receiving the indication and detecting presence of the lock-out device.
Claims10
A lock-out system comprising:
- a lock-out device coupled to a vehicle and a mobile electronic device independent of the lock-out device, the mobile electronic device comprising:
- a memory operable to store one or more modules;
- a processor communicatively coupled to the memory, the processor operable to execute the one or more modules to:
- detect a presence of the lock-out device, wherein said detection is limited to only detecting presence of the lock-out device;
- determine that the vehicle is in motion at a location-determining component of the mobile electronic device, the vehicle including the mobile electronic device;
- in response to detecting the presence of the lock-out device and then determining that the vehicle is in motion, cause the mobile electronic device to be at least partially inoperable.
A method comprising:
- detecting, at a mobile electronic device, a presence of a lock-out device coupled to a vehicle, the mobile electronic device independent from the lock-out device, wherein said detection is limited to only detecting presence of the lock-out device;
- determining at the mobile electronic device that a location determining component of the mobile electronic device is disabled;
- at least partially disabling functionality of the mobile electronic device in response to detecting the presence of the lock-out device and then determining that the location determining component is disabled;
- determining at least one of whether the location determining component is disabled or that the lock-out device remains present;
- and
- restoring the disabled functionality when the location determining component is no longer disabled or the lock-out device is no longer detected to be present.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.