US-12621639-B2 - Systems, methods, and devices for enforcing do not disturb functionality on mobile devices

US12621639B2US 12621639 B2US12621639 B2US 12621639B2US-12621639-B2

Abstract

Technologies disclosed herein are directed to enforcing blocking functionality on a mobile device (e.g., a mobile device within a vehicle). The mobile device receives a request to disable a blocking of a user interaction with one or more functions of the mobile device. The mobile device prompts a capture of an image by a camera of the mobile device. The mobile device determines whether the image is captured from a passenger space in the vehicle. Once so determined, the mobile device disables the blocking of the user interaction with the one or more functions of the mobile device.

Inventors

Joseph E. Breaux, III
John Wright
Chad A. Kennedy

Assignees

CELLCONTROL, INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20230921

Claims (14)

1 . A method comprising: prompting, in response to a request to disable blocking of a user interaction with one or more functions of a mobile device of a user in a vehicle, a positioning of a camera of the mobile device in a specified orientation, the positioning of the camera being focused on the user; generating an illuminating image for presentation on a display of the mobile device, the illuminating image having a white or gray graphical portion configured to enhance visibility of objects in a field of view of the camera; presenting the illuminating image on the display of the mobile device; capturing, by the camera of the mobile device, an image of the user while the specified orientation is maintained and while the illuminating image is presented on the display; determining whether one or more disallowed movements has occurred between the positioning of the mobile device in the specified orientation and the capture of the image; and upon determining that the one or more of the disallowed movements has not occurred between the positioning of the mobile device and the capture of the image, disabling the blocking of the user interaction with the one or more functions of the mobile device.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising, upon determining that one of the one or more disallowed movements has occurred between the positioning and the capture, reprompting for the positioning of the camera in the specified orientation.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining whether the one or more disallowed movements has comprises detecting, by an accelerometer of the mobile device, at least one of a tilting, a turning, a vertical shift, or a horizontal shift of the mobile device.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising, prompting the user to specify a seat in the vehicle on which the user is sitting.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein prompting the user to specify the seat of the vehicle comprises presenting, on the mobile device, a graphical user interface of a top-level view representation of the vehicle, wherein the top-level view representation of the vehicle comprises one or more locations each indicative of one of a plurality of seats in the vehicle.
6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: prompting, while the specified orientation is maintained, a capture of at least a second image by a second camera of the mobile device, the second image including one or more items; determining, as a function of the at least the second image, whether the one or more items included in the second image is captured from a passenger seat of the vehicle while the specified orientation is maintained; upon determining that the one or more items is captured from the passenger seat of the vehicle, prompting the user to provide an input; upon validating the input, disabling the blocking of the user interaction with the one or more functions of the mobile device; receiving accelerometer and gyroscope sensor data indicating that the mobile device has been moved to a driver seat of the vehicle from the passenger seat; and reenabling, in response to the received accelerometer and gyroscope sensor data, the blocking of the user interaction with the one or more functions of the mobile device.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the prompting of the positioning of the mobile device occurs while the vehicle is in motion.
8 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a plurality of instructions, which, when executed on one or more processors, causes a mobile device to: prompt, in response to a request to disable blocking of a user interaction with one or more functions of a mobile device of a user in a vehicle, a positioning of a camera of the mobile device in a specified orientation, the positioning of the camera being focused on the user; generate an illuminating image for presentation on a display of the mobile device the illuminating image having a white or gray graphical portion configured to enhance visibility of objects in a field of view of the camera; present the illuminating image on the display of the mobile device; capture, by the camera of the mobile device, an image of the user while the specified orientation is maintained and while the illuminating image is presented on the display; determine whether one or more disallowed movements has occurred between the positioning of the mobile device in the specified orientation and the capture of the image; and upon a determination that the one or more of the disallowed movements has not occurred between the positioning of the mobile device and the capture of the image, disable the blocking of the user interaction with the one or more functions of the mobile device.
9 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of instructions further causes the mobile device to, upon a determination that one of the one or more disallowed movements has occurred between the positioning and the capture, reprompt for the positioning of the camera in the specified orientation.
10 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the determination of whether the one or more disallowed movements has occurred comprises detecting, by an accelerometer of the mobile device, at least one of a tilting, a turning, a vertical shift, or a horizontal shift of the mobile device.
11 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of instructions further causes the mobile device to prompt the user to specify a seat in the vehicle on which the user is sitting.
12 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein to prompt the user to specify the seat of the vehicle comprises to present, on the mobile device, a graphical user interface of a top-level view representation of the vehicle, wherein the top-level view representation of the vehicle comprises one or more locations each indicative of one of a plurality of seats in the vehicle.
13 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of instructions further causes the mobile device to: prompt, while the specified orientation is maintained, a capture of at least a second image by a second camera of the mobile device, the second image including one or more items; determine, as a function of the at least the second image, whether the one or more items included in the second image is captured from a passenger seat of the vehicle while the specified orientation is maintained; upon a determination that the one or more items is captured from the passenger seat of the vehicle, prompt the user to provide an input; upon validation of the input, disable the blocking of the user interaction with the one or more functions of the mobile device; receive accelerometer and gyroscope sensor data indicating that the mobile device has been moved to a driver seat of the vehicle from the passenger seat; and reenable, in response to the received accelerometer and gyroscope sensor data, the blocking of the user interaction with the one or more functions of the mobile device.
14 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the prompting of the positioning of the mobile device occurs while the vehicle is in motion.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/513,509, filed Oct. 28, 2021, which is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/041,053, filed Jul. 20, 2018 (now U.S. Pat. No. 11,178,272), which claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/553,993, filed Sep. 4, 2017, and to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/545,443, filed Aug. 14, 2017. The disclosures set forth in the referenced applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Additionally, all of the below-referenced patents and applications are hereby incorporated by reference, in their entirety, as if set forth in full herein: (i) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/673,398, entitled “Detecting Mobile Devices Within a Vehicle Based on Cellular Data Detected Within the Vehicle,” filed Aug. 9, 2017, (ii) U.S. Prov. Pat. Appl. No. 62/372,300, entitled “Detecting Mobile Devices Within a Vehicle Based on Cellular Data Detected Within the Vehicle,” filed Aug. 9, 2016, (iii) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/629,710, entitled “Managing iOS-Based Mobile Communication Devices by Creative Use of CallKit API Protocols,” filed Jun. 21, 2017, (iv) U.S. Prov. Pat. Appl. No. 62/353,015, entitled “Managing iOS-Based Mobile Communication Devices by Creative Use of CallKit API Protocols,” filed Jun. 21, 2016, (v) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/191,353, entitled “Managing Functions on an iOS-Based Mobile Device Using ANCS Notifications,” filed Jun. 23, 2016, (vi) U.S. Prov. Pat. Appl. No. 62/183,452, entitled “Managing iOS-Based Mobile Communication Devices in Vehicles by Creative Use of ANCS Notifications,” filed Jun. 23, 2015, (vii) U.S. Pat. No. 9,398,421, entitled “Preventing Access to Functions on a Mobile Device in Response to an External OS-Level Command,” issued Jul. 19, 2016, (viii) U.S. Pat. No. 9,338,605, entitled “Driver Identification and Data Collection Systems for Use with Mobile Communication Devices in Vehicles,” issued May 10, 2016, (ix) U.S. Prov. Pat. Appl. No. 61/936,152, entitled “Managing Use of Mobile Communication Devices by Drivers in Vehicles,” filed Feb. 5, 2014; (x) U.S. Prov. Pat. Appl. No. 61/892,406, entitled “Improved Systems, Methods, and Devices for Controlling, Monitoring, and Managing Use of Mobile Communication Devices in Vehicles and Other Controlled Environments or Settings,” filed Oct. 17, 2013; and (xi) U.S. Prov. Pat. Appl. No. 61/821,019, entitled “Systems, Methods, and Devices for Controlling, Monitoring, and Managing Use of Mobile Communication Devices in Vehicles and Other Controlled Environments or Settings,” filed May 8, 2013. FIELD The systems, methods, and devices described herein relate generally to managing mobile communication devices within a vehicle and, more particularly, to enforcing and preventing by-passing of blocking functions on a mobile communication device. BACKGROUND Use of mobile computing and communication devices (i.e., “mobile devices”) in vehicles is a hotly debated topic. While use of mobile devices provides convenience and can significantly enhance worker availability, connectivity, and productivity, it has also been shown that reckless use of mobile devices in moving vehicles has a detrimental effect and impact on the ability of a driver/operator (hereinafter referred to, for convenience, as the “driver”) of the vehicle to focus on driving or otherwise operating the vehicle. In fact, some studies have indicated that distracted driving may be even more dangerous than driving while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs. The number of vehicular accidents attributed to driver inattentiveness or distraction while talking, texting, surfing, browsing, or otherwise interacting with or using a mobile device within a vehicle, rather than focusing full attention on driving or operating the vehicle, continues to increase. Numerous cities, counties, states, and even the Federal government have imposed or are considering legal restrictions on use of (or that imposed increased sanctions, penalties, or punishments for accidents that occur due to use of) such mobile devices by a driver of a vehicle. As the functionality and capabilities of mobile devices continues to improve and expand, however, the potential distractions posed by mobile devices to drivers of vehicles is only likely to increase even more—leading to further accidents, higher risks to drivers, passengers, and any third parties near such vehicles, higher insurance rates, and more litigation. Although laws may be passed, company policies may be adopted, and insurance policies may be tailored to provide lower insurance rates (deductibles and/or premiums) for drivers who do not use their mobile device while they are actively operating a vehicle, the options and ability for physically or technologically controlling, managing, limiting, monitoring, and auditing use of mobile devi