Abstract:
An apparatus comprising an interface and a control circuit. The interface may be configured to allow a user to compose an electronic message. The control circuit may be configured to (i) receive motion information during a time when a user composes the electronic message and (ii) embed the motion information within the electronic message in a format readable along with the electronic message.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to electronic messaging generally and, more particularly, to a method and/or apparatus for generating a record of whether a person is operating a vehicle while composing an electronic message. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Electronic messaging using portable devices has become very popular in recent years. Composing an electronic message while operating a vehicle (such as an automobile, bus, boat, tractor/trailer, skateboard, all-terrain vehicle, bicycle, etc.) is generally considered to be quite dangerous. Conventional approaches to deterring composing electronic messages while operating a vehicle include commercials showing the adverse effects of accidents. Laws have also been passed that strictly prohibit composing electronic messages while operating a vehicle. However, such commercials and laws are not always effective. People seem to continue to “text and drive”. 
         [0003]    It would be desirable to implement a system for generating a record of whether a person is operating a vehicle while composing an electronic message. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention concerns an apparatus comprising an interface and a control circuit. The interface may be configured to allow a user to compose an electronic message. The control circuit may be configured to (i) receive motion information during a time when a user composes the electronic message and (ii) embed the motion information within the electronic message in a format readable along with the electronic message. 
         [0005]    The objects, features and advantages of the present invention include providing a system that may (i) generate a record of the relative motion of the person composing an electronic message, (ii) generate a record of whether a person is operating a vehicle while composing an electronic message (iii) embed GPS location information into an electronic message, (iv) embed velocity information into an electronic message, and/or (v) be implemented in a portable device. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description and the appended claims and drawings in which: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an example implementation of the invention; 
           [0008]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  are diagrams of a portable device; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a flow diagram of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a more detailed flow diagram of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a flow diagram of an example of how to calculate motion information; 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is an alternate example of how to calculate motion information; 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is an alternate example of how to calculate motion information; and 
           [0014]      FIGS. 8A and 8B  are diagrams illustrating sample electronic messages. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0015]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a block diagram of a system  50  is shown illustrating a context of an embodiment of the present invention. The system  50  generally comprises a number of towers  60   a - 60   n , a number of global positioning satellites  62   a - 62   n , a vehicle  64  and a road  66 . The vehicle  64  may be, but is not limited to, an automobile, bus, tractor/trailer, boat, skateboard, all-terrain vehicle, bicycle, etc. An arrow  68  generally represents the motion of the vehicle  64 . An arrow T1 generally represents a time when an electronic message is initiated. The electronic message may be, but is not limited to, a text message, e-mail, etc. An arrow T2 generally represents a time when, for example, a send button is pressed to initiate the completion and/or sending of the electronic message. While two cellular towers  60   a - 60   n  are shown, and two satellites  62   a - 62   n  are shown, the particular number of towers  60   a - 60   n  and/or satellites  62   a - 62   n  may be varied to meet the design criteria of a particular implementation. 
         [0016]    Referring to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , diagrams of a portable device  100  are shown. The portable device  100  may be implemented, in one example, as a cellular telephone, a smart phone, or other type of portable computing device (e.g., tablet, etc.). In another example, the device  100  may be part of an electronics suite of the vehicle  64 . For example, the device  100  may be embedded in the dashboard of a car or truck and may use the navigation screen available on many such vehicles. 
         [0017]    The device  100  generally comprises a display  102  and a number of buttons (or keys)  104   a - 104   n , and a block (or circuit)  110 . In the device  100 ′ of  FIG. 2B , a number of soft buttons  105   a - 105   n  are shown. The soft buttons may be implemented, for example, as part of a touchscreen  107 . The circuit  110  may be implemented as a processor. The processor  110  may include a block (or circuit)  112 . The circuit  112  may be implemented as a memory circuit. The memory  112  may store computer instructions that, when executed, provide a variety of the steps and/or calculations described. The processor  110  may also include inputs from an antenna  120  and/or an accelerometer  122 . In one example, the antenna  120  may be implemented as a global positioning system (GPS) antenna. The antenna  120  may also operate as a cellular antenna. While a single antenna  122  is shown that may operate on both the GPS band (e.g., a first frequency range) and the cellular band (e.g., a second frequency range), in certain design implementations, two antennas may be implemented. In one example, GPS information may be obtained from the GPS satellites  62   a - 62   n . However, in another example, position information be obtained directly from the cellular towers  60   a - 60   n.    
         [0018]    The device  122  may be implemented as an accelerometer. In one example, the accelerometer  122  may be implemented as a micro electromechanical systems (MEMS) accelerometer. However, the particular type of accelerometer implemented may be varied to meet the design criteria of a particular implementation. In general, the accelerometer  122  may be small enough to fit within a typical portable device  100  (e.g., without adding to weight and/or cost). The device  100  may use the accelerometer preset in many smart phones (e.g., iPhone, etc.). 
         [0019]    The accelerometer  122  may be used to collect motion information about the vehicle  64  at one or more of the times T1, T2, etc. Such motion information may be appended to the electronic message to document the relative motion of the device  100 . In one example, the accelerometer  122  may be used to append motion information regarding the location of the user at the time T1 (e.g., the beginning of the electronic message). The accelerometer  122  may also be used to append motion information regarding the location of the user at the T2 (e.g., the end of the electronic message). The relative speed of the device  100  may then be determined based upon these two data points. In this manner, an operator analyzing data from the device  100  (e.g., an insurance adjuster, actuary, etc.) may determine if the device  100  was in motion while the electronic message was being composed. 
         [0020]    A calculation of the speed of the device  100  may be generated in a number of ways. For example, the processor  110  may read the X, Y, Z coordinates from the accelerometer  122 . In another example, the GPS antenna  120  may be used to obtain two GPS data points. In another example, a speed parameter may be calculated based on a triangulation of signals received from cellular towers  60   a - 60   n.    
         [0021]    The device  100  may be implemented as a short message service (SMS) enabled device capable of sending electronic messages. The GPS antenna  120  and/or the accelerometer  122  may be used to generate and/or record the relative motion of the device  100  at a number of times. A graphical user interface (GUI) may be modified to append relative motion information to electronic messages (to be described in more detail in connection with  FIGS. 3-8 ). The device  100  may collect and/or record a log of safe and/or legal electronic messaging. Such a log may have value for truck drivers, sales people, and/or other mobile people that need to communicate via electronic messaging. Insurance companies may use the log from the device  100  to modify rates, apply discounts for safe driving, etc. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a flow diagram of the method (or process)  200  is shown. The method  200  may include a step (or state)  210 , a decision step (or state)  212 , a step (or state)  214  and a step (or state)  216 . The state  210  may represent when the device  100  is turned on. The state  212  may allow a user to enable or disable the features of the device  100 . If the decision state  212  selects the features to not be enabled, the method  200  moves to the state  214 , and the device  100  may operate normally. If the decision state  212  selects the features to be enabled, the method  200  moves to the state  216 , and the device  100  may, for example, open the graphical user interface (not shown) on device  100 . 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a more detailed diagram of sub-steps of the step (or state)  216  is shown. The state  216  generally comprises the decision step (or state)  220 , a step (or state)  222 , a step (or state)  224 , a step (or state)  226 , and a step (or state)  228 . The decision state  220  may determine if the send button on the device  100  has been pressed. If not, the method  216  moves to the state  228 , where nothing is done. If the state  220  determines that the send button has been pressed, the step  222  may calculate an X, Y, and Z motion information position. Next, the step  224  appends the X, Y, and Z motion information to the electronic message. Next, the state  224  sends the electronic message along with the motion information (to be described in more detail in connection with  FIGS. 8A and 8B ). 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , one example of a number of sub-steps for the calculation step  222  of  FIG. 4  is shown. The method  222  generally comprises a step (or state)  250 , a step (or state)  252 , a step (or state)  254  and a step (or state)  256 . In the step  250 , the method  222  determines a time T1 when an electronic message is started. For example, the time T1 may represent when a user of the device  100  begins the composition of a text message. The state  252  retrieves a GPS coordinate of the portable device  100  at the time T1. Next, the state  254  determines the time T2 when the text message is complete. The time T2 may be determined in a number of ways. For example, when a user presses a “send” button. In another example, the time T2 may be calculated after a predetermined time of no keystroke activity. Next, the state  256  retrieves a GPS coordinate of the device at the time T2. The GPS coordinate at the time T1 and the GPS coordinate at the time T2 may be used as motion information that is appended to the text message at the step  226 . 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , a method (or process)  270  is shown as an alternate way to calculate the motion information in the step  222  of  FIG. 4 . The method  270  generally comprises a step (or state)  272 , a step (or state)  274 , and a step (or state)  276 . In the step  272 , the method retrieves a GPS coordinate at the time T1. In the step  274 , the method retrieves a GPS coordinate at the time T2. Next, at the step  276 , the method  270  calculates a velocity based on a changing of position between the time T1 and the time T2. 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , a method (or process)  280  is shown as an alternate for calculating motion information in the step  222  of  FIG. 4 . The method  280  generally comprises a step (or state)  282 , a step (or state)  284 , a step (or state)  286  and a step (or state)  288 . The step  282  determines a time T1 when the user starts the composition of an electronic message, for example. The step  284  determines a time T2 when the user finishes the electronic message. The step  286  may retrieve a number of velocity values (e.g., V1, V2, etc.) from the accelerometer  122  at regular intervals between the time T1 and the time T2. The step  288  may determine a largest one of the velocity values. In one example, the largest velocity value may be inserted into the text message. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIGS. 8A and 8B , examples of electronic messages with embedded motion information are shown. In  FIG. 8A , the message “Do you want to meet for lunch?” is shown at the beginning of the electronic message. A velocity value (e.g., “V=60 MPH”) is then inserted at the end of the electronic message. In the example of  FIG. 8A , the calculation of the velocity value (an example of motion information) may be implemented in the processor  110 . In the example in  FIG. 8B , GPS position information may be included in the electronic message. For example, a first GPS location (e.g., “X1, Y1, Z1”) is shown on the first line. The second line shows the message composed by the user (e.g., “Do you want to meet for lunch?”). Next, a second GPS location (e.g., “X2, Y2, Z2”) is inserted at the end of the message. With the electronic message shown in  FIG. 8B , the actual GPS coordinates are included in the message and routinely backed up by a cellular provider. In the example shown in  FIG. 8A , any value greater than 0 MPH may be considered a red flag for an insurance adjuster. In the example shown in  FIG. 8B , the additional GPS location information may be of value in forensically evaluating an accident situation. 
         [0028]    In general, the electronic messages (or text messages) described, and the embedded motion information, may be in a format that is readable by a person using the device  100 . For example, emotion information (e.g., smiley faces, etc.) may be readable by a person using the device  100  in a generally unencrypted format. GPS locations expressed in numbers may also be readable by a person. In general, the motion information may be readable by a person without the need for software. With such a presentation, an insurance adjuster and/or auditor may easily read the text and/or motion information from the device  100 . Additionally, the electronic messaging and/or text information may be stored with backup systems that are routinely used to keep logs of normal text and/or electronic messages. No additional hardware and/or procedures may be needed at the cellular provider level. 
         [0029]    Additionally, the device  100  may be modified to include an internal log of all of the text and/or electronic messages sent and/or received. Such an internal log may be downloaded and/or transmitted to another device located separately from the portable device  100 . The log may be used, for example, to be submitted as an attachment along with insurance applications in order to qualify for a discount. 
         [0030]    In another example, a timeout feature may be implemented to determine when a user simply stops composing an electronic message. For example, the device  100  may check for activity on the keys  104   a - 104   n  on a regular basis. In one example, the device  100  may check for activity on the keys  104   a - 104   n  every time the device  100  moves by a fixed distance (e.g., ½ mile, 1 mile, etc.). In such a scenario, if a user begins composing an electronic message, but does not send the message, the device  100  will determine that no activity on the keys  104   a - 104   n  occurred during the actual motion of the device  100 . Such an implementation may avoid a scenario of reporting false movement during a delay situation. 
         [0031]    The terms “may” and “generally” when used herein in conjunction with “is (are)” and verbs are meant to communicate the intention that the description is exemplary and believed to be broad enough to encompass both the specific examples presented in the disclosure as well as alternative examples that could be derived based on the disclosure. The terms “may” and “generally” as used herein should not be construed to necessarily imply the desirability or possibility of omitting a corresponding element. 
         [0032]    While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.