Patent Publication Number: US-2019191026-A1

Title: Mobile phone inhibition

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention generally relates to mobile phone inhibition, particularly for young and fleet vehicle drivers. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge. 
     In spite of significant risks and law enforcement penalties, young drivers continue to use their mobile phone when driving. More than twenty five percent of respondents in a recent study were confident they could stop the distraction from texting and driving from affecting their driving ability. Seventeen percent were confident they could text on their phone while driving. Young women in particular believed there was a benefit in texting even when driving. 
     Whilst there are existing products directed to eliminating the use of mobile phones by drivers, none of these are effective or had any significant impact on driver behavior. One product requires the installation of additional hardware in the vehicle which is expensive and cumbersome. Another allows parents to simply monitor phone activity which is merely a notional deterrent. 
     The preferred embodiment provides an improved product for impeding the use of a mobile phone by a driver. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a telecommunications system, the system including: 
     a mobile phone for use by a driver; 
     a speed determination tool within the phone for determining the speed of the mobile phone; and 
     a telecommunications company (Telco) (e.g. Telstra) for inhibiting a function of the mobile phone when the determined mobile phone speed exceeds a predetermined speed; and
         means for enabling a guardian to configure rules associated with the inhibition applied by the Telco to the mobile phone;       

     wherein individual control is provided by the guardian over the mobile phone of the driver, and that control is applied by the Telco to the mobile phone. 
     Advantageously, the driver&#39;s mobile phone has the function inhibited when the phone exceeds the predetermined speed, which is indicative of driving. 
     The system may further include an administration server for administering the system. The administration server may communicate with application software (i.e. Apps) on the phones. The system may further include a notification tool for notifying the guardian&#39;s phone about information relating to the driver&#39;s phone. The information may relate to disabling an App executing on the driver&#39;s phone, disabling location services relating to the driver&#39;s phone and upon which the speed of the phone is determined, the driver&#39;s phone exceeding a speed or the driver&#39;s phone travelling beyond a predefined distance from home. 
     The system may include an override tool for overriding the inhibition. The overriding tool may override the inhibition when the function relates to a guardian number or when the phone has a Bluetooth connection. 
     The system may include a selection tool for selecting inhibition options. The inhibition options may relate to the predetermined speed, the function (e.g. call, message), the nature of the function (e.g. receiving or transmitting), or the forum of the function (e.g. social media, facebook, twitter, snapchat, Instagram, e-mail or other like applications). 
     The system may include a disablement timer for temporarily disabling the inhibition responsive to approval from a guardian. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for inhibiting a function of a driver&#39;s mobile phone, the method including: 
     a telecommunications company (Telco) inhibiting the function when the mobile phone exceeds a predetermined speed determined by the phone; and 
     the Telco applying enforcement rules to the mobile phone, the enforcement rules being associated with the inhibition and being configured by a guardian; 
     wherein individual control is provided by the guardian over the mobile phone of the driver, and that control is applied by the Telco to the mobile phone. 
     The method may involve selecting the function to be inhibited. The method may involve sending a notification to the guardian when disabling a user App executing the method or location services relating to the phone and upon which the speed of the phone is determined. The method may involve sending a notification when a speed is exceeded or when the phone travels beyond a predefined distance from home. The method involves setting a guardian number to receive the notification. 
     The method may involve overriding the inhibition when the function relates to a guardian number. The method may involve overriding the inhibition when the phone has a Bluetooth connection. 
     The method may involve setting the predetermined speed from a number of possible speeds. The method may involve selecting the function from a number of possible functions. The function may relate to a message or call. The function may include receiving or transmitting the message or call. The function may relate to social media. The function may relate to facebook, twitter, snapchat, Instagram, e-mail or other like applications. 
     The method may involve sending a temporary disablement request to a guardian (i.e. when the phone owner is travelling but not driving) to temporarily disable the inhibition. The guardian may deny or allow the request. The guardian may select a length of time to temporarily disable the inhibition. The request may be via App messaging or SMS. 
     Any of the features described herein can be combined in any combination with any one or more of the other features described herein within the scope of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows: 
         FIG. 1  is a telecommunications system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIGS. 2 a  to 2 c    form a flowchart showing a method for inhibiting a function of a driver&#39;s mobile phone of the system of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a telecommunications system  100  as shown in  FIG. 1 . The system  100  includes a driver&#39;s mobile smartphone  102  for use by a driver  104 . The system  100  further includes a speed determination tool  106  for determining the speed of the mobile phone  102 . A telecommunications server  108  of telecommunications provider  110  (e.g. Telstra) is configured to inhibit a function (e.g. calling, texting, etc) of the mobile phone  102  when the determined mobile phone speed exceeds a predetermined speed. Advantageously, the driver&#39;s mobile phone  102  has the function inhibited when the phone exceeds the predetermined speed, which is indicative of driving. 
     The system  100  further includes a guardian&#39;s smartphone  112  for operation by a guardian  114  (e.g. parent) to enforce rules surrounding the inhibition. 
     The system  100  further includes an administration server  116  for administering the overall operation of the system  100 . The administration server  116  communicates with inhibition application software (i.e. Apps) on both phones  102 ,  112 . An administration database  118  stores an inhibition record associated with the driver  104  and includes account information such as the driver&#39;s number, guardian&#39;s number, and system parameters. 
     The system  100  further includes a notification tool  120  for notifying the guardian&#39;s phone  112  about information relating to the driver&#39;s phone  102 . The notification information relates to the driver  102  electing to disable the inhibition App executing on the driver&#39;s phone  102 , the driver  102  electing to disable location services relating to the driver&#39;s phone  102  and upon which the speed of the phone  102  is determined, the driver&#39;s phone  102  exceeding a unsafe maximum speed or the driver&#39;s phone  102  travelling beyond a predefined radial distance from home which is not permitted by the guardian  114 . 
     The system  100  also includes an override tool  122  for overriding the inhibition. The overriding tool  122  can override the inhibition when the function relates to a guardian number so that the phone  102  receives texts and calls from the guardian  114  or when the phone  102  has a Bluetooth connection indicating hands-free operation. 
     The system  100  also includes a selection tool  124  for selecting various inhibition options. The inhibition options relate to the predetermined speed, the function (e.g. call, message), the nature of the function (e.g. receiving or transmitting), or the forum of the function (e.g. social media, facebook, twitter, snapchat, Instagram, e-mail or other like applications). 
     The system  100  also includes a disablement timer  126  for temporarily disabling the inhibition responsive to approval from a guardian  114  when the driver  104  is actually a passenger and no longer driving the vehicle. 
     A telecommunications database  128  stores a driver&#39;s record in the form of phone account. The driver&#39;s record includes the driver&#39;s number, and the one or more functions currently inhibited. Administration server  116  communicates with the phones  102 ,  112  and the telecommunications server  108  via the Internet  130 . In particular, the administration server  116  instructs setting of the inhibition functions associated with the driver&#39;s number in the telecommunications database  128 , and the telecommunications server  108  inhibits those functions to the driver&#39;s phone  102  accordingly. 
     A method  200  for inhibiting a function of the driver&#39;s mobile phone  102  is now described with reference to  FIG. 2 . 
     At step  202 , the driver  104  downloads the inhibition App from the administration server  118  (or another server) and onto smartphone  102 . In parallel at step  204 , the guardian  114  downloads the inhibition App from the administration server  116  and onto smartphone  112 . The App may be downloaded responsive to making a payment. 
     At step  204 , the guardian  114  sets a password for the administration server  116 . The notification tool  120  of the administration server  116  sends a notification to the guardian&#39;s phone  112  when the driver  104  disables on their phone  102  either the inhibition App or location services (e.g. including phone GPS) relating to the phone  102  and upon which the speed of the phone is determined. 
     At step  206 , the guardian  114  with phone  112  uses the selection tool  124  to set the predetermined phone speed (e.g. 20 km/hr), from a number of possible speeds, at which the phone function inhibition occurs. 
     At step  208 , the guardian  114  with phone  112  uses the selection tool  124  to set at least one guardian number to receive notifications from the notification tool  120 . 
     At step  210 , the guardian  114  with phone  112  can use the override tool  122  for overriding the inhibition when the function relates to a guardian number. In this manner, the guardian  114  is never prevented from communicating with the driver  104  even during driving. 
     At step  212 , the guardian  114  with phone  112  uses the selection tool  124  to select the functions to be inhibited from a number of possible functions. The functions typically relate to sending or receiving a message or call. 
     At steps  214  and  216 , the guardian  114  with phone  112  confirms and reconfirms the functions to inhibited or blocked. 
     At step  218 , the guardian  114  with phone  112  uses the overriding tool  122  to override the inhibition when the phone  102  has a Bluetooth connection indicating hands-free operation. 
     At step  220 , the guardian  114  with phone  112  uses the selection tool  124  to select other social media functions to be inhibited. The social media functions relate to facebook, twitter, snapchat, Instagram, e-mail or other like applications. 
     At step  222 , the guardian  114  with phone  112  uses the notification tool  120  to enable receipt of a speed notification on the guardian&#39;s phone  112  when the driver&#39;s phone  102  exceeds an unsafe maximum speed. The phone speed is determined using the locality settings and GPS of the phone  102 . 
     At step  224 , the guardian  114  with phone  112  uses the notification tool  120  to enable receipt of a distance notification on the guardian&#39;s phone  112  when the driver&#39;s phone  102  travels beyond a predefined radial distance from home, which is not permitted by the guardian  114 . The phone location and distance from home is determined using the locality settings and GPS of the phone  102 . 
     At step  226 , the guardian  114  with phone  112  save the foregoing settings to the driver&#39;s inhibition record in the administration database  118 . In turn, the driver&#39;s mobile phone  102  operates in accordance with the stored settings. 
     At step  228 , the driver  104  with phone  102  uses the timer  126  for requesting temporary disablement of the inhibition and for approval from the guardian  114  when the driver  104  is actually a passenger and no longer driving the vehicle. A temporary disablement request is pushed to the guardian  114  to temporarily disable the inhibition. The guardian  114  denies or allows the request with their phone  112 . The guardian  114  can select a length of time (e.g. hours, days, weeks) from many possibilities to temporarily disable the inhibition. The request can be sent via App messaging or SMS. 
     At step  230 , an invitation is sent to the guardian&#39;s phone  112  to install a guardian App for managing the temporary disablement requests received at step  228 . 
     In use, the App monitors the location of the driver&#39;s phone  102  and report back to the administration server  116 . If the driver&#39;s phone  102  exceeds the predetermined speed as determined by the speed determination tool  106 , the administration server  116  notifies the telecommunication server  108  as the speed is indicative of driving. The administration server  116  checks the inhibition functions associated with the driver&#39;s number in the telecommunications database  128 , and the telecommunications server  108  inhibits those functions to the driver&#39;s phone  102  accordingly. 
     The notification tool  120  sends the speed notification to the guardian&#39;s phone  112  when the driver&#39;s phone  102  exceeds an unsafe maximum speed and sends a distance notification to the guardian&#39;s phone  112  when the driver&#39;s phone  102  travels beyond a predefined radial distance from home. 
     The driver&#39;s phone  102  can still receive calls and texts from the guardian&#39;s phone  112  in accordance with the settings of the override tool  122 . If the driver  104  elects to become a passenger, the timer tool  126  can be used to temporarily disable the inhibition on the phone  102 . 
     A person skilled in the art will appreciate that many embodiments and variations can be made without departing from the ambit of the present invention. 
     In one embodiment, the speed determination tool  106 , notification tool  120 , override tool  122 , selection tool  124  and timer  126  can be provided within the driver&#39;s phone  102  or within the telecommunications server  108 . In one embodiment, there is no need for the administration server  116 . 
     In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. 
     Reference throughout this specification to ‘one embodiment’ or ‘an embodiment’ means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrases ‘in one embodiment’ or ‘in an embodiment’ in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more combinations.