Patent Publication Number: US-10333647-B1

Title: System, method, and apparatus for reducing driving while texting

Description:
FIELD 
     This invention relates to the field of safety and more particularly to a system for reducing the use of cellular phones while driving. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Almost everybody knows that there is a greater risk of an accident when driving while distracted. Many people have caused motor vehicle accidents after minor distractions such as changing the radio station or lighting a cigarette. Lately, with the proliferation of cellphones that are capable of sending text messages, a huge increase in motor vehicle accidents have been recorded, especially when young drivers are involved. Many such accidents have led to the loss of such young people. 
     Texting while driving requires the driver to look at their cellphone to read the message and, as cellphone keyboards or virtual keyboards are very small, look at their cellphones while typing. For an expert at texting, this may take only a few seconds, but traveling at 55 miles per hour, a vehicle travels 403 feet in five seconds, more than the length of a football field. In those five seconds, a pedestrian may step out in front of the vehicle or another vehicle in front may stop to make a turn. Again, this is how accidents happen. 
     Many states have passed laws to restrict the use of a cellphone while driving, many allowing hands-free operation while driving. Hands-free operation is still a distraction (imaging a couple having a heated argument while one of them is driving), but does not require handling of the cellphone or entering information into the keyboard. It has been found that legislating the use of cellphones is about as effective as legislating the use of seatbelts. We all know someone who refuses to wear their seatbelt and we will likely know someone who texts while driving, even when such activities are illegal and may result in a ticket and/or fine. 
     It is therefore extremely difficult to curb cellphone usage for a majority of the population, but what about young drivers who are still under the influence of their parents? This category of drivers accounts for the majority of accidents involving such distraction, possibly because young adults are quite verse in texting and use texting as a primary form of communications with friends and family. 
     The prior art includes applications that a parent can load on their young driver&#39;s cellphones. One such application is LifeSaver. Once loaded on the young driver&#39;s phone, the LifeSaver application blocks phone usage while the young driver is driving. In this, the application senses that the cellphone is in a moving vehicle through the use of global positioning and accelerometer and block usage or informs parents of usage. Unfortunately, the young driver population is technology savvy and quickly learns how to disable or bypass any application that has been loaded on their cellphone. Further, it has been found that the more difficult it is to configure such applications, the quicker a parent will abort installation or install the application with minimal protection against the user (young driver) tampering with the application. 
     What is needed is a system that will prevent usage of a cellphone while driving. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one embodiment, a system for reducing driving while texting is disclosed including a containment vessel that has at least a partial faraday shield. The at least partial faraday shield attenuates at least cellular radio signals to/from a user device, thereby preventing the user device held within the containment vessel from communicating by way of cellular service to a transceiver that is external to the containment vessel. There is a way to insert the user device into the containment vessel (e.g. a door) and a way to detect the presence of the user device within the containment vessel (e.g. detection of a registered transceiver such as Bluetooth or WiFi). There is also a way to detect movement of a vehicle (e.g. GPS or speed sensor) in which the containment vessel is held. Data regarding time periods in which movement is detected and an absence of the user device is detected are logged and the data is reported (e.g. to a parent/guardian). 
     In another embodiment, a method of reducing driving while texting is disclosed including blocking external radio frequency signals from reaching a user device that is held within a containment vessel while communicating with the user device to determine that the user device is a registered device (e.g. a device of the user) and that the user device is within the containment vessel. Detecting movement of a vehicle in which the containment vessel is held and if the vehicle is moving when the user device is not within the containment vessel, logging data indicative of the vehicle moving when the user device is not within the containment vessel. Finally, reporting the data (e.g. to a parent/guardian). 
     In another embodiment, a system for reducing driving while texting is disclosed including a containment vessel that has a door for inserting a user device there within. When closed, the containment vessel attenuates at least cellular radio signals thereby preventing the user device held within the containment vessel from communicating by way of cellular service to a transceiver that is external to the containment vessel. A transceiver of the system for reducing driving while texting detects a transceiver of the registered device (e.g. the user device) to detect the presence of the user device within the containment vessel. A sensor detects when the door is closed. There is a way to detecting movement of a vehicle in which the containment vessel is held and a way to log data indicating at least time periods in which movement is detected by the means for detecting movement and either the door is open or the Bluetooth transceiver cannot connect with the user device. The data is reported (e.g. to a parent/guardian). 
     In another embodiment, a system for reducing driving while texting is disclosed including a containment vessel that includes shielding that attenuates cellular radio signals thereby preventing a user device held within the containment vessel from communicating to a cellular radio transceiver that is external to the containment vessel. There is a way to detect the presence of the user device within the containment vessel (e.g. detection of a registered transceiver of the user device such as Bluetooth or WiFi). There is a way to detect movement of a vehicle (e.g. GPS or speed sensor) in which the containment vessel is held. Data regarding time periods in which movement is detected and an absence of the user device from the containment vessel are logged and the data is reported (e.g. to a parent/guardian). 
     In another embodiment, a method of reducing driving while texting is disclosed including blocking external radio frequency signals from reaching a user device when the user device is held within a containment vessel while communicating with a radio transceiver the user device to determine that the user device is a registered device (e.g. a device of the user) by way of a unique identification received from the radio transceiver of the user device while the user device is within the containment vessel. Detecting movement of a vehicle in which the containment vessel is held and if the vehicle is moving when the user device is not within the containment vessel, logging data indicative of the vehicle moving when the user device is not within the containment vessel. Finally, reporting the data (e.g. to a parent/guardian). 
     In another embodiment, a system for reducing driving while texting is disclosed including a containment vessel that has a door for inserting a user device there within. The user device has a user device radio frequency transceiver. The containment vessel attenuates cellular radio signals thereby preventing the user device held within the containment vessel from communicating using cellular services. A second radio frequency transceiver of the system for reducing driving while texting searches for a signal from a user device radio frequency transceiver, the presence of the user device within the containment vessel is known when the second radio frequency transceiver receives the signal from the user device radio frequency transceiver and the user device radio frequency transceiver is authenticated as having a pre-registered unique address. A sensor detects when the door is closed and a device detects movement of a vehicle in which the containment vessel is held. At least time periods in which movement is detected and either the door is open or the second transceiver does not receive the signal from the user device radio frequency transceiver or the second radio frequency transceiver does not recognize the pre-registered unique address of the user device radio frequency transceiver are logged and such are reported (e.g. to a parent or guardian). 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention can be best understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a data connection diagram of the system for reducing driving while texting. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a schematic view of a typical smartphone. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a schematic view of a typical computer system of the reducing driving while texting. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a first typical user interface of the system for reducing driving while texting. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a second typical user interface. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an exemplary program flow for provisioning of the system for reducing driving while texting. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates an exemplary program flow for operation of the system for reducing driving while texting. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements in all figures. 
     Throughout this description, the term “driver” refers to the holder of a user device that is performing the task of driving. Although the disclosed invention is applicable to any driver, the disclosed invention is intended to be used by a driver who is supervised by another such as a young driver supervised by a parent, a handicapped driver supervised by another, a husband/wife that is supervised by a wife/husband, etc. 
     Although this description concentrates on a single driver and a single user device, it is fully anticipated that there are multiple potential drivers, each having a user device, or there are multiple user devices per driver. As it is difficult to determine which of the potential drivers are actually driving, it is up to the parent/guardian to set rules as to which user device(s) must be confined in the containment vessel. 
     Throughout this description, a user device is secured so as to prevent usage while driving. For clarity and brevity reasons, a smartphone  10  (see  FIGS. 1-2 ) is used to represent this user device, though any communications device is equally anticipated including, but not limited to, a personal computer, a tablet computer, a smartwatch, etc. Typically, the user device (e.g. smartphone  10 ) is assigned or owned by a user that is being supervised, for example, a young driver that is supervised by a parent/guardian, etc. Therefore, throughout this document, for clarity reasons, the user is described in the context of a dependent of a parent/guardian, though there are no limitations as to such. For example, it is fully anticipated that the user be a truck driver and the parent/guardian be an employer of the truck driver, whereas the employer of the truck driver wants to be assured that the truck driver is not using a user device (e.g. smartphone  10  of the truck driver) while driving. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a data connection diagram of the exemplary system for reducing driving while texting is shown. In this example, the smartphone  10  of the driver attempts to emit radio frequency signals (e.g. attempts to connect to a cell tower). Such transmissions are attenuated by a containment vessel  20  that forms a partial or full faraday shield around the smartphone  10 , preventing the smartphone  10  from communicating with external radio frequency systems such as a cell tower (not shown for brevity reasons). Note that a true faraday shield blocks out all radio frequency signals, but a partial faraday shield allows low signal levels to enter the containment vessel  20 , but such low signal levels are insufficient to establish contact with the cellular system and cell towers. Therefore, whenever the smartphone  10  of the driver is within the containment vessel  20 , the driver is precluded from talking or texting since the smartphone  10  of the driver will not be in communications contact with a cell tower. 
     Such attenuation reduces the signal strength of a cellular radio signal from the smartphone  10  to a low enough level so that the smartphone  10  cannot establish communications with a cellular tower. Likewise, in some embodiments, attenuation also occurs for radio frequency signals in the Bluetooth radio frequency range so that a smartphone  10  that is outside of the containment vessel  20  cannot communicate with a transceiver  590  that is within the containment vessel  20  until the smartphone  10  is placed within the containment vessel  20 . 
     In some embodiments, the containment vessel  20  is a box-like structure having a door  22  that attaches by a hinge  24 , though any form of opening or orifice that accepts the smartphone  10  of the driver is anticipated, for example, a sliding door, a scrolling door like on a pencil box, etc. In some embodiments, the door  22  has a handle  26 . In some embodiments, the door  22  has a lock  28 . 
     As the smartphone  10  will not be able to communicate with a cell tower, it is anticipated that battery life of the smartphone  10  will be reduced. Therefore, in some embodiments, a charger  30  is provided for connecting to the smartphone  10  while the smartphone  10  is within the containment vessel  20 . In some embodiments, the charger  30  is a wireless charger. 
     Within or external to the containment vessel  20  is logic (e.g., a door detect sensor  32 ) that detects when the door  22  is open, when the smartphone  10  is present within the containment vessel  20 , and when the vehicle  580  (see  FIG. 3 ) is moving, as well as other functions as necessary. 
     To detect that the door  22  is open or closed, a door detect sensor  32  is configured within the containment vessel  20 . Any form of door detect sensor  32  is anticipated, including, but not limited to micro switches, light sensors, cell tower sensors (detecting radio waves from a cell tower), magnetic switches, etc. It is important that the door detect sensor  32  is difficult to defeat so that the driver cannot fool the system for reducing driving while texting into believing that the door  22  is closed when in fact, the door  22  is open. Such is anticipated to be performed, for example, by burying the door detect sensor  32  within the containment vessel  20  with linkages from the door  22 . 
     To detect the presence of the smartphone  10  of the driver, the smartphone  10  of the driver is registered with the system for reducing driving while texting. In such, any unique address of any radio within the smartphone  10  of the driver is recorded by the system for reducing driving while texting and saved. In one example, a MAC address of the Wi-Fi transceiver  99  is used to identify the smartphone  10  of the driver (Wi-Fi transceivers  99  broadcast a unique MAC address when they search for nearby Wi-Fi networks). In another example, a transceiver  590  with antenna  591  of the system for reducing driving while texting is paired with a Bluetooth transceiver of the smartphone  10  that is within the containment vessel  20 , as Bluetooth radios have unique address (every Bluetooth device has a unique 48-bit address, commonly abbreviated BD_ADDR and usually be presented as a 12-digit hexadecimal value). It is anticipated that the parent or other guardian pairs the smartphone  10  of the driver, registers the driver&#39;s smartphone  10  with the system for reducing driving while texting as part of the setup and installation procedures. Through this process, when the smartphone  10  of the driver is within the containment vessel  20 , the logic (computer  500 ) is informed whether the registered device and/or paired device is within the containment vessel  20 , thereby preventing the driver from placing another device in the containment vessel  20  to thwart detection. By also monitoring the door detect sensor  32 , the logic (computer  500 ) is able to determine that the smartphone  10  of the driver is within the containment vessel  20  and the door  22  is closed. In this way, the driver cannot simply place another phone in the containment vessel  20  to spoof the system for reducing driving while texting, as this other phone will not be paired with the transceiver  590 . An absence of the smartphone  10  (user device) is detected by a lack of connection between the Bluetooth transceiver  93  of the smartphone  10  and the radio transceiver  592  of the system for reducing driving while texting and, in some embodiments, the door detect sensor  32  indicating that the door  22  is open. 
     In some embodiments, a second transceiver  590 A with a second antenna  591 A that extends external to the containment vessel  20  is provided for detecting registered devices (e.g. smartphones  10 ) that are external to the containment vessel  20 . This is used, for example, to determine that a registered device is present external to the containment vessel  20 . For example, if there are multiple potential drivers of one vehicle  580 , then one may have their device within the containment vessel  20  and the other may have their device external to the containment vessel  20 . 
     In another scenario, the driver forgot to bring their registered device (e.g. forgot their smartphone  10  at home) and, therefore, there is no registered device in the containment vessel  20 , but there is also no registered device within the vehicle  580 . In such, the second transceiver  590 A with a second antenna  591 A that extends external to the containment vessel  20  will not detect the registered device within the vehicle  580  and record such. 
     In some embodiments, the containment vessel  20  is a stand-alone system that is mounted or attached to the vehicle  580  or not attached to the vehicle  580 . In some embodiments, the containment vessel  20  that is a stand-alone system is powered by a battery and/or interfaced to the power system of the vehicle  580  (e.g. through a USB or cigarette lighter plug). 
     In some embodiments, the containment vessel  20  is integrated into the vehicle  580 , for example, the containment vessel  20  is the glove compartment or console compartment of the vehicle  580 . In such, it is anticipated that power is provided directly from the power subsystem of the vehicle  580 . 
     The system for reducing driving while texting needs to determine when the vehicle is moving to record/report when the smartphone(s)  10  of the driver is external to the containment vessel  20  while the vehicle  580  is moving. To know when the vehicle  580  is moving, the computer  500  has access to devices that provide data indicating that the vehicle  580  is in motion. One device that provides data indicating that the vehicle  580  is in motion is a global positioning receiver  595 . This is one device for detecting movement. In this, data from the global positioning receiver  595  is monitored by the logic (computer  500 ) and changes in latitude and longitude are monitored, corresponding to movement of the vehicle  580 . If such changes are detected while the smartphone  10  of the driver is external to the containment vessel  20 , the logic (computer  500 ) records/reports that the smartphone  10  of the driver is external to the containment vessel  20  during driving (e.g. writes data to a log file  502  indicating the location and time of the infraction). As the containment vessel  20  is a partial or full faraday shield, the antenna  596  of the global positioning receiver  595  is mounted outside of the containment vessel  20  in order to be able to receive radio frequency signals from the geo-stationary satellite network (not shown for brevity and clarity reasons). 
     In some embodiments, particularly when the containment vessel  20  is integrated into the vehicle  580 , for example, within the glove compartment or console compartment of the vehicle  580 , data is available from the vehicle  580  that indicates whether the vehicle is moving. For one, a speed sensor interface  576  connected to a speed sensor  577  of the vehicle  580 , informing the logic (computer  500 ) when the vehicle  580  is moving (e.g. speed is greater than zero). This is another device for detecting movement. Another indication of movement is an ignition interface  574  that is connected to the ignition  579  of the vehicle  580 , informing the logic (computer  500 ) when the vehicle  580  is running, even if the vehicle  580  is at rest. This is another device for detecting movement, in that, when the ignition is on, it is anticipated that the vehicle  580  is being driven. 
     Once it is determined that the smartphone  10  of the driver is not within the containment vessel  20  and the vehicle is either running and/or moving, actions are taken to record the event and/or contact the parent/guardian of the infraction. In one embodiment, data regarding the infraction is written to the log file  502 , for example, the location and time of the infraction, the length of the infraction, driving speed during the infraction, etc. In such, once a connection is made between the radio transceiver  592  of the system for reducing driving while texting and data network that is connected to a device of the parent/guardian (e.g. a smartphone owned by the parent/guardian), a message is sent from the radio transceiver  592  of the system for reducing driving while texting and the device of the parent/guardian indicating details of the infraction. In one embodiment, the radio transceiver  592  is a Wi-Fi transceiver and when the driver moves the vehicle to within range of a wireless home Wi-Fi network of the parent/guardian (e.g. in the driveway or garage of the parent&#39;s/guardian&#39;s home) data from the log file  502  is transferred to the device of the parent/guardian where an application presents the data to the parent/guardian and, hopefully, the data indicates that the driver did not use their smartphone  10  while driving, otherwise, the parent/guardian has the information needed to reprimand the driver (e.g. take away driving privileges, take away cellphone privileges). 
     In another embodiment, the radio transceiver  592  is a wide-area data transceiver (e.g. a cellular transceiver or a Wi-Fi transceiver that connects to wide-area Wi-Fi networks that are present in many towns and cities). In such, data is simultaneously transferred to the parent/guardian as it is written to the log file  502 , providing immediate notification to the parent/guardian when an infraction occurs. 
     As the containment vessel  20  is a partial or full faraday shield, the antenna  593  of the radio transceiver  592  is mounted outside of the containment vessel  20  in order to be able to receive and transmit radio frequency signals, e.g. to/from the wireless home Wi-Fi network or computer of the parent/guardian. 
     It is fully anticipated that there are multiple potential drivers, each having a user device. In such, the parent/guardian has the ability to dictate which user device(s) (e.g. smartphone  10 ) must be within the containment vessel  20 . In such embodiments, it is anticipated that a second transceiver  590 A includes a second antenna  591 A that extends outside of the containment vessel  20  for detection of a user device or user devices (e.g. smartphone(s)  10 ) that are external to the containment vessel  20 . 
     It is fully anticipated that there are multiple user devices per driver (e.g. a smartphone  10  and a smartwatch). In such, the parent/guardian has the ability to dictate which user device(s) (e.g. smartphone  10 ) must be within the containment vessel  20  while the driver is driving. In such embodiments, it is anticipated that the transceiver  590  has the ability to detect and/or pair with multiple user devices (e.g. smartphones  10 , etc.) to log which devices are within the containment vessel  20  during driving (motion of the vehicle  580 ). 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a schematic view of a typical smart device, a smartphone  10  is shown though other portable (wearable or carried with a person) end-user devices such as tablet computers, smartwatches, smart ear buds, smart eyewear, personal fitness devices, etc., are fully anticipated. Although any end-user device is anticipated, for clarity purposes, the smartphone  10  of the driver will be used in the remainder of the description. 
     The example smartphone  10  of the driver represents a typical device and is shown in one form with a sample set of features. Different architectures are known that accomplish similar results in a similar fashion and the present invention is not limited in any way to any particular smartphone  10  of the driver architecture or implementation. In this exemplary smartphone  10  of the driver, a processor  70  executes or runs programs in a random-access memory  75 . The programs are generally stored within a persistent memory  74  and loaded into the random-access memory  75  when needed. Also accessible by the processor  70  is a SIM card  88  (subscriber information module) having a subscriber identification and often persistent storage. The processor  70  is any processor, typically a processor designed for phones. The persistent memory  74 , random-access memory  75 , and SIM card are connected to the processor by, for example, a memory bus  72 . The random-access memory  75  is any memory suitable for connection and operation with the selected processor  70 , such as SRAM, DRAM, SDRAM, RDRAM, DDR, DDR-2, etc. The persistent memory  74  is any type, configuration, capacity of memory suitable for persistently storing data, for example, flash memory, read only memory, battery-backed memory, etc. In some exemplary smartphones  10 , the persistent memory  74  is removable, in the form of a memory card of appropriate format such as SD (secure digital) cards, micro SD cards, compact flash, etc. 
     Also connected to the processor  70  is a system bus  82  for connecting to peripheral subsystems such as a cellular network interface  80 , a graphics adapter  84  and a touch screen interface  92 . The graphics adapter  84  receives commands from the processor  70  and controls what is depicted on the display  86 . The touch screen interface  92  provides navigation and selection features. 
     In general, some portion of the persistent memory  74  and/or the SIM card  88  is used to store programs, executable code, and data, etc. In some embodiments, other data is stored in the persistent memory  74  such as audio files, video files, text messages, etc. 
     The peripherals are examples and other devices are known in the industry such as Global Positioning Subsystem  91 , speakers, microphones, USB interfaces, camera  90 , microphone  97 , Bluetooth transceiver  93 , Wi-Fi transceiver  99 , image sensors, temperature sensors, health sensors, biometric sensors, etc., the details of which are not shown for brevity and clarity reasons. One feature of the Bluetooth transceiver and the Wi-Fi transceiver  99  is a unique address that is encoded into transmissions that is used to uniquely correlate between the smart device (smartphone  10 ) and the user. 
     The cellular network interface  80  connects the smartphone  10  to the cellular network  68  through any cellular band and cellular protocol such as GSM, TDMA, LTE, etc., through a wireless medium  78 . There is no limitation on the type of cellular connection used. The cellular network interface  80  provides voice call, data, and messaging services to the smartphone  10  through the cellular network  68 . 
     For local communications, many smartphones  10  include a Bluetooth transceiver  93 , a Wi-Fi transceiver  99 , or both. Such features of smartphones  10  provide data communications between the smartphones  10  and data access points and/or other computers such as a personal computer (not shown). In the system for reducing driving while texting, the Bluetooth transceiver  93  and/or a Wi-Fi transceiver  99 , or both, are used to identify when the smartphone  10  of the driver is within the containment vessel  20 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a schematic view of a typical computer system  500  is shown. The example computer system  500  represents a typical computer system used in the system for reducing driving while texting for determining when the smartphone  10  of the driver is within the containment vessel  20  and when the vehicle  580  is being operated by the driver. This exemplary computer system is shown in its simplest form. Different architectures are known that accomplish similar results in a similar fashion and the present invention is not limited in any way to any particular computer system architecture or implementation. 
     Although represented as a computer system  500  having a single processor  570 , it is fully anticipated that other architectures be used to obtain the same or similar results. 
     In the example computer system  500  of  FIG. 3 , a processor  570  (e.g. embedded processor, programmable interrupt controller, etc.) executes or runs programs in a random-access memory  575 . The programs are generally stored within a persistent memory  541  and loaded into the random-access memory  575  when needed. The processor  570  is any processor, typically a processor designed for computer systems with any number of core processing elements, etc. The random-access memory  575  is connected to the processor by, for example, a memory bus  572 . The random-access memory  575  is any memory suitable for connection and operation with the selected processor  570 , such as SRAM, DRAM, SDRAM, RDRAM, DDR, DDR-2, etc. The persistent memory  541  is any type, configuration, capacity of memory suitable for persistently storing data, for example, magnetic storage, flash memory, read only memory, battery-backed memory, magnetic memory, etc. The persistent memory  541  (e.g., flash storage) is typically interfaced to the processor  570  through a system bus  582 , or any other interface as known in the industry. 
     Also shown connected to the processor  570  through the system bus  582  is a global positioning receiver  595  (e.g., for determining movement of the vehicle  380 ), an ignition interface  574  that is connected to the ignition  579  of the vehicle  50 , and a speed sensor interface  576  that is connected to the speed sensor  577  of the vehicle  580 . The door detect sensor  32  is also connected to the system bus  582 . 
     For detecting presence of the user device or smartphone  10  of the driver, a transceiver  590  with the antenna  591  that is internal to the containment vessel  20  is interface to the system bus for access by the processor  570 . 
     For communicating with the parent&#39;s/guardian&#39;s device and/or wireless home network, a radio transceiver  592  with the antenna  593  that is external to the containment vessel  20  is interface to the system bus for access by the processor  570 . In such, when connectivity is established, data from the log file  502  is accessible by a device (e.g. computer system) operated by the patent/guardian. In some embodiments, there is no radio transceiver  592  and, instead, the parent/guardian connects their device directly to the system for reducing driving while texting or a removable memory device  545  is connected to the system for reducing driving while texting (connected to the system bus  582 ) and the log file  502  is transferred to the memory device. 
     In some embodiments, the radio transceiver  592  is a wide-area transceiver (e.g. a cellular transceiver) and data regarding operation of the vehicle  580  and usage of the smartphone  10  (or any device) is accessible by a device (e.g. computer system) operated by the patent/guardian. 
     In general, some portion of the persistent memory  541  is used to store programs, executable code, data, and the log file  502 , etc. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , a first typical setup/status user interface  400  of the system for reducing driving while texting is shown. In this, two users are configured, a first user  401  (e.g. John Doe) and a second user  404  (e.g. Jane Doe). The phone number  402  of the smartphone  10  of the first user  401  is shown and the smartphone  10  of the first user  401  has not been registered/paired yet per the first user&#39;s status line  403 . The phone number  405  of the smartphone  10  of the second user  404  is shown and the smartphone  10  of the second user  404  has been registered/paired and is currently within the containment vessel  20  as shown on the second user&#39;s status line  406 . 
     The parent/guardian has access to the setup/status user interface  400  to understand the status and to setup each user (e.g. child or other watched person). Since the first user  401  has not been setup, the parent/guardian initiates setup per a process similar to that of  FIG. 6  by, for example, clicking on the first user&#39;s status line  403 . In such, at least one unique identifier of the device used by the first user  401  (e.g. smartphone  10 ) is captured and associated with the first user  401 , for example a Wi-Fi MAC address or a Bluetooth address. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , a second typical user interface  420  of the system for reducing driving while texting is shown. In this example, again, two users are configured, a first user  401  (e.g. John Doe) and a second user  404  (e.g. Jane Doe). 
     The second typical user interface  420  is shown after the parent/guardian device (e.g. smartphone  10 ) has received data regarding the users  401 / 404 , either through continuous reception of events sent from the radio transceiver  592  or through reception of the log file  502  either through the radio transceiver  592  or through any known file transfer mechanism (e.g. transfer of removable memory devices). 
     The first user  401  has a status of “at home”  422  and has two log records  422 A/ 422 B showing that the first user  401  was driving for a time period from 7:30 PM to 8:05 PM and again for a time period from 9:30 PM to 10:08 PM, both times with the smartphone  10  of the first user  401  within the containment vessel  20 . It is anticipated that in some embodiments, the log records  422 A/ 422 B are uploaded to the parent/guardian computer when the first user  401  reaches home (e.g. over Wi-Fi). It is also anticipated that in some embodiments, the log records  422 A/ 422 B are uploaded to the parent/guardian computer when the first user  401  is away from home and out of range of the home-based local area network (e.g. over Wi-Fi), in this case using a wide area network such as cellular communications. 
     The second user  404  has a status of “driving”  424  and has four log records  424 A/ 424 B/ 424 D/ 424 E showing that the second user  404  was driving for a time period from 6:30 PM to 6:32 PM with the smartphone  10  of the second user  404  within the containment vessel  20  then at 6:32 PM showing that the second user  404  was driving for a time period with the smartphone  10  of the second user  404  outside the containment vessel  20  (likely calling or texting). The third log record  424 C shows the smartphone  10  of the second user  404  within the containment vessel  20  while driving. The fourth entry  424 D shows that the second user  404  is still driving (e.g. driving home). In this embodiment, since the second user  404  is not at home, it is understood that the log records  424 A/ 424 B/ 424 D/ 424 E were uploaded to the parent/guardian computer using a wide area network such as cellular communications. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , an exemplary program flow for provisioning of the system for reducing driving while texting is shown. The basis of operation of the system for reducing driving while texting is that, when a user is driving, the smartphone  10  of the user is within the containment vessel  20  and the door  22  of the containment vessel  20  is closed (and locked). Since the containment vessel  20  is a partial or full faraday shield (at least blocking frequencies in the cellular bands and Bluetooth bands), the driver cannot place the smartphone  10  on top of the containment vessel  20 , as the transceiver  590  of the system for reducing driving while texting will not detect radio signals from the smartphone  10  of the driver, as the Bluetooth signals will not penetrate the containment vessel  20  when the door  22  of the containment vessel  20  is closed. 
     For security reasons, the device (e.g. smartphone  10 ) of the driver is registered or paired with the system for reducing driving while texting through the transceiver  590 . In this way, the driver (e.g. young adult driver) cannot simply place a smartphone  10  of another person into the containment vessel  20  and fool the system for reducing driving while texting. Therefore, adding a smartphone  10  of the driver includes making sure the containment vessel  20  is connected  200  to the home network (either through a local area network such as Wi-Fi or through a wide-area network such as the cellular network). Once connected  200 , it is determined if the smartphone  10  of the driver is within  202  the containment vessel  20 . Once the smartphone  10  of the driver is within  202  the containment vessel  20 , if is determined if the door  22  of the containment vessel  20  is closed. Once the smartphone  10  of the driver is within  202  the containment vessel  20  and the door  22  of the containment vessel  20  is closed, identity information of the smartphone  10  is captured  206  (either entered by the parent/guardian or read directly from the smartphone  10  of the driver) and the identification information is stored  208 . Now registering or pairing  210  of the smartphone  10  of the driver with the system for reducing driving while texting is performed and once registering or pairing  210  has completed successfully  212 , this portion of the program flow completes. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , an exemplary program flow for operation of the system for reducing driving while texting is shown. It is anticipated that the exemplary program flow for operation of the system for reducing driving while texting will operate on the processor  570  (or other logic) of the containment vessel  20 . 
     In a continuous loop, it is determined if the vehicle  580  is moving  230 , for example utilizing the global positioning receiver  595  of the containment vessel  20 , monitoring the speed sensor  577  and/or ignition  579  of the vehicle  580 , monitoring radio frequency signals utilizing the radio transceiver  592  with the antenna  593  (external antenna), etc. In embodiments in which moving is determined by monitoring radio frequency signals utilizing the radio transceiver  592  with the antenna  593  (external), it is anticipated that, as the vehicle  580  moves, signal strengths of various Wi-Fi or Bluetooth transceivers within range of the radio transceiver  592  will increase/decrease, indicating movement of the vehicle  580 . 
     If it is determined that the vehicle is not moving  230 , a log record indicating stopped  232  is written to the log file  502 . To simplify the flow diagram for clarity and understanding, it is anticipated that, in a preferred embodiment, sequential writing of multiple log records of the same information is suppressed as known in the business, so that adjacent log records indicate something has changed (e.g. changed from stopped to moving, etc.). Now that the vehicle  580  is stopped, it is determined if it is possible to connect  234  to the home network or home computer. If it is possible to connect  234  to the home network or home computer, then the log file  502  is transferred  236  to the home network or home computer for viewing and analysis by the parent/guardian (see  FIG. 5 ). 
     If it is determined that the vehicle is moving  230 , then it is determined if the smartphone  10  of the driver is within  242  the containment vessel  20 . If the smartphone  10  of the driver is not within  242  the containment vessel  20 , a record is written indicating not within  244  the containment vessel  20  (e.g. the vehicle  580  is moving and the smartphone  10  of the driver is not in the containment vessel  20 ). 
     If the smartphone  10  of the driver is within  242  the containment vessel  20 , it is determined if the door  22  of the containment vessel  20  is closed  246  and, optionally, locked. If the smartphone  10  of the driver is within  242  the containment vessel  20  but the door  22  of the containment vessel  20  is not closed  246 , a record is written  248  to the log file  502  indicating within the containment vessel  20  (e.g. the vehicle  580  is moving and the smartphone  10  of the driver is not in the containment vessel  20 ) and the door  22  is not closed  246 . 
     If the smartphone  10  of the driver is within  242  the containment vessel  20  and the door  22  of the containment vessel  20  is closed  246 , a log record is written  250  indicating that the smartphone  10  is properly within the containment vessel  20  (e.g. the vehicle  580  is moving and the smartphone  10  of the driver is in the containment vessel  20  and the door  22  is closed). 
     In some embodiments, the system for reducing driving while texting is implemented as part of a vehicle computer system or integrated with the vehicle computer system (not shown) so as to enable features including limiting vehicle speed/acceleration when the driver&#39;s smartphone  10  is present in the vehicle  580 , but not secured within the containment vessel  20 . 
     Equivalent elements can be substituted for the ones set forth above such that they perform in substantially the same manner in substantially the same way for achieving substantially the same result. 
     It is believed that the system and method as described and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description. It is also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein before described being merely exemplary and explanatory embodiment thereof. It is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.