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

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

• a plurality of detection/control systems, each of the plurality of the detection/control systems comprising:
• a detection module comprising a sensor and configured to receive a signal from the mobile device located within the vehicle and determine that the mobile device is located within a predetermined detection zone of the vehicle, wherein the predetermined detection zone is defined as a three-dimensional zone in or in proximity of a driver seat side of a vehicle;
• and
• a control module coupled to the detection module, the control module configured to transmit a control signal to the mobile device located within the predetermined detection zone when the signal is at or above a predetermined signal strength corresponding to the mobile device being located within the predetermined detection zone
• wherein at least one of the plurality of detection/control systems is configured to transmit the control signal to the mobile device when the mobile device is located within the predetermined zone of the vehicle;
• wherein each of the plurality of detection/control systems further comprises a scanner coupled to the detection module and configured to sweep for a plurality of frequency bands associated with the mobile device.

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

• providing a plurality of detection/control systems, each of the plurality of the detection/control systems comprising:
• a detection module comprising a sensor module configured to receive a signal from a mobile device and convert the signal into an electrical signal corresponding to a location of the mobile device;
• and
• a controller module, comprising a transmitter;
• transmitting, by a transmitter of at least one of the plurality of detection/control systems, a probing signal to the mobile device;
• receiving, by a detection module of the at least one of the plurality of detection/control systems, a return signal from the mobile device;
• determining, by a controller of the at least one of the plurality of detection/control systems, a location of the mobile device based on the return signal from the mobile device;
• transmitting, by the transmitter of the at least one of the plurality of detection/control systems, at least one control signal to the mobile device when the location of the mobile device is determined to be within the predetermined detection zone;
• receiving, by the mobile device, the at least one control signal;
• and
• disabling, by the mobile device, at least one mobile device function upon receipt of the at least one control signal.

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

• providing a plurality of detection/control systems, each of the plurality of the detection/control systems comprising:
• a detection module comprising a sensor module configured to receive a signal from a mobile device and convert the signal into an electrical signal corresponding to a location of the mobile device;
• and
• a controller module, comprising a transmitter;
• transmitting, by the mobile device, a signal;
• receiving, by a sensor module of at least one of the detection/control systems, the signal from the mobile device;
• determining, by a controller of the at least one detection/control system, a location of the mobile device based on the signal received from the mobile device;
• transmitting, by a transmitter of the at least one detection/control system, at least one control signal to the mobile device when the location of the mobile device is determined to be within the predetermined detection zone;
• receiving, by the mobile device, the at least one control signal;
• and
• disabling, by the mobile device, at least one mobile device function upon receipt of the at least one control signal.