Abstract:
The present invention is directed to various systems, methods, and embodiments resulting from the realization that the number of persons who are using a Wi-Fi computer network in a closed environment, e.g. a moving vehicle, can be verified to confirm that it coincides with the number of persons allowed pursuant to a license, by providing a system and method for determining the number of persons accessing a computer network in a closed environment, e.g. a moving vehicle and controlling the access based on that determination.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure relates generally to electronic systems, and more particularly, to systems, methods, and various other disclosures related to using Wi-Fi inside a closed environment, e.g. a moving vehicle. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) access points, also known as “hot spots,” are widely used and some would argue necessary to conduct business anywhere at anytime. Wi-Fi connections at these hot spots can be made over a secured computer network using password protection due to location ownership rights, while other connections are offered for free over an unsecured computer network at airports, train stations or restaurants by other Wi-Fi providers. However, as our lifestyles become more dynamic, there is an increased demand for hot spots that are readily available and easily identified. 
     Business travelers on the go are even more challenged to locate a usable hot spot to access their work environment as the hot spot&#39;s zone of coverage fluctuates as they travel. The need becomes even more pressing when business travelers spend a significant time driving or being driven to and from various locations during which work needs to be done but there is inconsistent access to the Internet to effectively complete work tasks. Most would prefer to use that travel time to work from their laptops and/or hand-held (or portable) computers/devices, such as personal digital assistants (PDAs), iPads, smart phones, cellular phones, and the like, but they are constrained by the lack of continuous Wi-Fi service. Thus, there needs to be an effective system and method of obtaining continuous Wi-Fi access inside a moving vehicle. 
     To date, the prior art has not yet found a workable solution to satisfy this long felt need. One can only surmise that car manufacturers and/or Wi-Fi providers are cautious in extending Wi-Fi access in moving vehicles as driving while texting has proven to be a dangerous habit. However, people&#39;s lifestyles dictate that other passengers may be travelling in a moving vehicle, through car pooling or being chauffeured, such that the passengers may have a valid need for Wi-Fi access, while the driver focuses his/her efforts on driving. Thus, there needs to be a system and method of distinguishing between the driver and the passengers accessing the Wi-Fi network in a moving vehicle, such that the much needed Wi-Fi access does not violate road safety rules. Accordingly, the various embodiments and disclosures described herein satisfies these long felt needs and solves the limitations of the prior art in a new and novel manner. 
     SUMMARY 
     The various systems, methods, and embodiments described herein result from the realization that the number of persons who are using a Wi-Fi computer network in a closed environment, e.g. a moving vehicle, can be verified to confirm that it coincides with the number of persons allowed pursuant to a license, by providing a system and method for determining the number of persons accessing a computer network in a closed environment, e.g. a moving vehicle and controlling the access based on that determination. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1A through 1E  show a system in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIGS. 2A through 2D  show a system in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG. 3  shows a flow diagram representing a method in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  shows an article in accordance with one embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     System Level Overview 
       FIGS. 1A through 1E  show a system  100  in accordance with some embodiments. In one embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 1A , system  100  comprises of at least one computer processor  102 ; at least one means for capturing an image  104  (image  106  shown with reference to  FIG. 1D ), wherein the at least one means for capturing an image  104  is electronically connected to the at least one processor  102 ; at least one communication means  108  configured for establishing communications between a mobile device  110  and a computer network  112 , wherein the at least one communication means  108  is electronically connected to the at least one computer processor  102 ; and computer executable instructions  114  readable by the at least one processor  102  and operative to analyze at least one image  106  captured by the at least one means for capturing an image  104 , determine the number of persons  116  (as shown in  FIG. 1D ) that are in the at least one image  106 , and control access to the computer network  112  based on the number of persons  116  determined to be in the at least one image  106 . 
     In some embodiments, the at least one computer processor  102  may be any kind of processor, including, but not limited to, a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, a video processor, a front end processor, a coprocessor, a single-core processor, a multi-core processor, and the like. At least one processor  102  may be positioned at any convenient location in a vehicle, such as under the dashboard, in the trunk, in the ceiling, under the steering column, under a seat, in the center console, in the engine bay, and/or any other practical location. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1B , processor  102  may include hardware and software components, e.g. computer executable instructions  114 . Computer executable instructions  114  may be loaded directly on the processor  102  or may be stored in a storage means  118 . Computer executable instructions  114  may be any type of computer executable instructions  114 , which may be in the form of a computer program, the program being composed in any suitable programming language or source code, such as C++, C, JAVA, JavaScript, HTML, XML, and other programming languages. 
     Processor  102  may be disposed in communication with the storage means  118 , e.g. an electronic database for storing licensing information for at least one vehicle  120 , e.g. the number of persons  116  authorized to access the computer network  112  pursuant to a license for that vehicle  120 , and the like. Storage means  118  may include a hardware component, e.g. storage hardware. Such storage hardware may include, but is not limited to, read-only memory, such as CD-ROMs, DVDs, floppy disks, and the like, read and write memory, such as a hard drive, floppy disc, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW, solid state memory, such as solid state hard drives, flash memory, and the like, and random access memory. In another embodiment, storage means  118  may include a software component, such as, but not limited to, an electronic database, file management software, and any other software component as used in the arts. In yet another embodiment, storage means  118  may comprise of both hardware and software components. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1C , the means for capturing an image  104  may be any such means, such as, but not limited to, a camera, an infrared camera, a thermal imaging camera, a video sensor, a digital camera, and the like. The means for capturing an image  104  may include a flash, which may be used to illuminate the number of persons  116  in the image  106 . In a preferred embodiment, the means for capturing an image  104  may include a field of view  122  that encompasses all persons within the closed environment, e.g. a moving vehicle or a closed room or auditorium. 
     In some embodiments, the at least one means for capturing an image  104  is electronically connected to the at least one processor  102  by at least one connecting means  124  that may be any kind of means, such as a video connector, a coaxial cable, an HDMI cable, an s-video component connector, a Wi-Fi video transceiver, a Bluetooth video transceiver, an internal video cable socket, a DVI connector, and the like. Illustratively as shown in  FIG. 1C , the at least one connecting means  124  is shown to include a cable, but it should be noted that such connecting means  124  may or may not include a cable. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 1A , system  100  further comprises of the at least one communication means  108  configured for establishing communications between a mobile device  110  and a computer network  112 , where such at least one communication means  108  is electronically connected to the at least one computer processor  102 . Such communication means  108  may be any kind of means, including but not limited to, a wireless modem, such as a GSM modem, a wired modem, an Ethernet adapter, a Wi-Fi adapter, a wireless router functioning as the router of the electronic signals to or from the mobile device  110  to the computer network  112  as well as a wireless access point, i.e. allowing access to the Internet and/or a computer network  112  without the need for a cabled connection as is well known and used in the arts. In some embodiments, the computer network  112  may be a Wi-Fi service provider, such as, but not limited to, an Internet provider, a server computer, a television service provider, a movie provider, a sports media provider, a television station, and the like. In the preferred embodiment, such communication means  108  can function in a wired LAN (local area network), a wireless only LAN, or a mixed wired/wireless network acting as a wireless antennae establishing communications from other wireless devices, e.g. network interface cards (“NIC”), wireless repeaters, other wireless access points, and wireless bridges, for example), usually using the Wi-Fi standard. 
     In such embodiments, the computer executable instructions  114  may be further operative to use the at least one communication means  108  configured for communicating with a computer network  112  to transmit information  126  to or from the computer network  112 . The information  126  may include data, media content, such as television shows, sports broadcasts, movies, and the like. Information  126  may also include the number of persons  116  authorized to access the system  100 , view media content, billing information, and software updates. In some embodiments, a user may use system  100  to select and/or download the media to be viewed, and/or may update the number of persons  116  authorized to access the computer network  112  pursuant to the license for the subject vehicle, e.g. the Wi-Fi service provider. 
     Computer network  112  may be wired or wireless and may be available for use by the system  100  in a closed environment, e.g. an auditorium, a moving vehicle and/or a boat. In some embodiments, computer network  112  may be a part of a computer network which may be a closed computer network, such as, but not limited to, a local area computer network (LAN), a wide area computer network (WAN), an integrated services digital computer network, a dial-up computer network, or other forms of a closed computer network. In an alternate embodiment, the computer network may be an open computer network, such as, but not limited to, a world-wide-web, or other forms of an open computer network. In a further embodiment, system  100  may be connected to a server through a computer network  112 , wherein the server is operative to receive data packets from the systems  100 ,  100 ′ in the computer network  112 . 
     In further embodiments, system  100  may comprise of at least one access means  128  configured for enabling electronic access between the mobile device  110  and the at least one communication means  108 , wherein the at least one access means  128  is electronically connected to the at least one processor  102 . In some embodiments, such access means  128  may include a Bluetooth module, a USB port, an infrared port, a computer network adapter, such as a Wi-Fi card, and the like. 
     Mobile device  110  as used herein may be any kind of electronic device configured for accessing a computer network  112 , such as laptop and/or hand-held (or portable) computers/devices, such as personal digital assistants (PDAs), smart phones, cellular phones, and the like. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1D , at least one or more images  106 ,  106 ′ may be captured by at least one means for capturing an image  104  and analyzed by the processor  102  to determine if access to the computer network  112  comports with the license agreement for that vehicle  120 . In some embodiments, the computer executable instructions  114  may include image recognition software and/or firmware, which may be used to analyze at least one image  106  captured by at least one means for capturing an image  106  to determine the number of persons  116  present in the at least one image  106 , and consequently in the image capturing means&#39; field of view  122 . Such image recognition software may include facial recognition software, or may simply include general object recognition software configured for recognizing human shapes where for example the human form is readily distinguishable from that of an animal, yet does not intrude on the user&#39;s privacy by capturing their likeness. The terms “object recognition software,” “facial recognition software,” and “image recognition software,” as used throughout the present disclosure, may refer to the various embodiments of object recognition software known in the art, including, but not limited to, those embodiments described in the following publications:  Reliable Face Recognition Methods: System Design, Implementation, and Evaluation , by Harry Wechsler, Copyright 2007, Published by Springer, ISBN-13: 978-0-387-22372-8 ; Biometric Technologies and Verification Systems , by John Vacca, Copyright 2007, Elsevier, Inc., Published by Butterworth-Heinemann, ISBN-13: 978-0-7506-7967-1; and  Image Analysis and Recognition , edited by Aurelio Campilho and Mohamed Kamel, Copyright 2008, Published by Springer, ISBN-13: 978-3-540-69811-1, all of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
     In some embodiments, the computer executable instructions  114  may be further operative to compare the number of persons  116  that are determined to be in the at least one image  106  with a number of persons  116  that are authorized to access the computer network  112 . In some embodiments, the number of persons  116  that are authorized to access the computer network  112  may be pursuant to a license. In other embodiments, the number of persons  116  that are authorized to the access to the computer network  112  may be received from the computer network  112 , such as a computer network  112  in communication with system  100 . In yet other embodiments, the number of persons  116  that are authorized to access the computer network  112  may be contained on a piece of media hardware, such as a DVD, CD, and the like. 
     In a further embodiment, the computer executable instructions  114  may be operative to control access to the wireless computer network  112  from at least one or more mobile device  110 ,  110 ′, if the number of persons  116  determined to be in the at least one image  104  exceeds the number of persons  116  authorized to access to the computer network  112 . In some embodiments, controlling access to the computer network  112  includes, but is not limited to, ceasing access to the computer network  112 , freezing access to the computer network  112 , pausing access to the computer network  112 , allowing access to the computer network  112 , continuing to allow access to the computer network  112  or denying access to the computer network  112 . In some embodiments, for example, if at the outset, the number of persons  116  who are determined to be accessing the computer network  112 , as determined from the image  106  captured by the at least one means for capturing an image  104 , exceeds the number of persons  116  authorized to do so, access to the computer network  112  may be denied to all. 
     In further embodiments, if the number of persons  116  accessing the computer network  112  at the outset is in accordance with the number of persons  116  authorized to access, but at a later time exceeds the number of persons  116  authorized, the computer executable instructions  114  may be configured to cease allowing access, pause or freeze access to the computer network  112  altogether. In a further embodiment, if the number of persons  116  accessing the computer network  112  at first exceeds the number of persons  116  authorized, but then later is reduced to or is less than the number of persons  116  authorized, the computer executable instructions  114  may be configured to begin access or continue allowing access to the computer network  112 . 
     In some embodiments, system  100  may further comprise of means for receiving user input  130  (not shown), which in some embodiments, may be any type of means, including, but not limited to: a telephone modem: a key pad, a key board, a remote control, a touch screen, a virtual keyboard, a mouse, a stylus, a microphone, a camera, a fingerprint scanner, and a retinal scanner. In a further embodiment, system  100  may include a biometric identification means  132  (not shown) to identify the person accessing the computer network  112 , such as a fingerprint scanner, an eye scanner, and facial recognition software. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1E , as shown, in some embodiments system  100  may comprise of at least one or more sensors  134 ,  134 ′ in electronic communication with the at least one processor  102 , wherein the at least one sensor  134 ,  134 ′ may be electronically connected to at least one means for controlling a vehicle  136 . The at least one sensor  134  may be any type of sensor, including, but not limited to, a video sensor, such as a camera, a motion sensor, and the like, an audio sensor, such as a microphone, a tactile sensor, such as a vibration sensor, a chemical sensor, such as an odor sensor, and the like, an electrical sensor, such as a capacitive sensor, a resistive sensor, and the like, and a thermal sensor, such as a heat sensor and/or infrared camera, pressure sensors, light sensors, optical sensors, photoelectric sensors, and the like, or any combination thereof. Such at least one sensor  134  may be positioned at the surface of means for controlling a vehicle  136 . Such means for controlling a vehicle  136  may include but is not limited to: a steering wheel, a shifter, a lever, a pedal, a joystick, a button, keys, and the like. In such embodiments, at least one sensor  134  may be embedded within the means for controlling a vehicle  136  such that it can detect whether the vehicle  120  is in motion. 
     In embodiments throughout the present disclosure, the detection a sensor  134 , working in conjunction with the processor  102 , performs may comprise of sensing the changes in electrical capacitance created by the presence of an object, such as an driver&#39;s hand, sensing thermal changes created by the presence of an object such as an driver&#39;s hand and/or the temperature of the engine, or using image recognition software coupled to a camera to detect objects in the camera&#39;s field of view  122  including but not limited to the number of persons  116  determined to be in the at least one image  106 . In some embodiments, a sensor  134  may be a camera positioned external to the means for controlling a vehicle  136 , with its field of view  122  directed towards the driver and the driver&#39;s hands such that the sensor  134  may detect if a driver of the vehicle  120  is included in the at least one image  106  that was captured or if the vehicle  120  is in motion. In such embodiments, image recognition software which comprises of computer executable instructions  114  may be used to analyze the image  106  captured by the camera to determine whether the driver&#39;s hands are being used to drive. The results of the sensing performed by the sensor  134 ,  134 ′ are provided to the processor  102  such that the computer executable instructions  114  can make a determination as to how to control access to the computer network  112 . In some embodiments, computer executable instructions  114  are further operative to discontinue the driver&#39;s access to the computer network  112  if the driver of the vehicle  120  is detected as accessing the computer network  112  while the vehicle  124  is in motion. 
       FIGS. 2A through 2D  show system  200  in accordance with some embodiments. In one embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 2A , system  200  comprises of at least one computer processor  202 ; at least one sensor  204  that is electronically connected to the at least one processor  202 , wherein the at least one sensor  204  is positioned in a vehicle  206  and is configured for detecting a number of persons  208  accessing a computer network  210 ; at least one communication means  212  configured for establishing communications between at least one mobile device  214  and the computer network  210 , wherein the at least one communication means  212  is electronically connected to the at least one processor  202 ; and computer executable instructions  218  readable by the at least one processor  202 , and operative to use the at least one sensor  204  to determine the number of persons  208  (as shown in  FIG. 2D ) accessing the computer network  210  (as shown in  FIG. 2D ) in the vehicle  206 . 
     In some embodiments, at least one computer processor  202  may be any kind of processor, including, but not limited to, a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, a video processor, a front end processor, a coprocessor, a single-core processor, a multi-core processor, and the like. At least one processor  202  may be positioned anywhere in a vehicle  206 , such as under the dashboard, under the steering column, under a seat, in the center console, in the engine bay, in the trunk, in the roof of the vehicle  206  and/or any other practical location. 
     The at least one sensor  204  may be any kind of sensor, including, but not limited to, a video sensor, such as a camera, a motion sensor, and the like, an audio sensor, such as a microphone, a tactile sensor, such as a vibration sensor, a chemical sensor, such as an odor sensor, and the like, an electrical sensor, such as a capacitive sensor, a resistive sensor, and the like, and a thermal sensor, such as a heat sensor and/or infrared camera, pressure sensors, light sensors, optical sensors, photoelectric sensors, and the like, or any combination thereof. The at least one sensor  204  may be positioned within the vehicle  206  in the same enclosure as the at least one processor  202  or alternatively, the at least one sensor  204  may be positioned remotely to the at least one processor  202 . 
     In some embodiments, the at least one sensor  204  is electronically connected to the at least one processor  202  by at least one connecting means  216  that may be any kind of means, such as a video connector, a coaxial cable, an HDMI cable, an s-video component connector, a Wi-Fi video transceiver, a Bluetooth video transceiver, an internal video cable socket, a DVI connector, and the like. Illustratively as shown in  FIG. 2C , the at least one connecting means  216  is shown to include a cable, but it should be noted that such connecting means  216  may include, or may not include a cable. 
     Processor  202  may include hardware and software components, e.g. computer executable instructions  218 . As shown in  FIG. 2B , computer executable instructions  218  may be loaded directly on the processor  202  or may be stored in a storage means  220 . Computer executable instructions  218  may be any type of computer executable instructions, which may be in the form of a computer program, the program being composed in any suitable programming language or source code, such as C++, C, JAVA, JavaScript, HTML, XML, and other programming languages. 
     Processor  202  may be disposed in communication with the storage means  220 , e.g. an electronic database for storing licensing information for at least one vehicle  206 , e.g. the number of persons  208  authorized to access the computer network  210  pursuant to a license for that vehicle  206 , and the like. Storage means  220  may include a hardware component, e.g. storage hardware, where such storage hardware may include, but is not limited to, the various types of hardware as described in conjunction with  FIG. 1B . In another embodiment, storage means  220  may include a software component, such as, but not limited to, an electronic database, file management software, and any other software component as used in the arts. In yet another embodiment, storage means  220  may comprise of both hardware and software components. 
     Computer network  210  may be wired or wireless and available for use by the system  200  in a closed environment, e.g. an auditorium, a boat and/or a vehicle  206 . In some embodiments, computer network  210  may be a part of a computer network which may be a closed computer network, such as, but not limited to, a local area computer network (LAN), a wide area computer network (WAN), an integrated services digital computer network, a dial-up computer network, or other forms of a closed computer network. In an alternate embodiment, the computer network  210  may be an open computer network, such as, but not limited to, a world-wide-web, or other forms of an open computer network. In a further embodiment, system  200  may be connected to a server through a computer network  210 , wherein the server is operative to receive data packets from the systems  200 ,  200 ′ in the computer network  210 . 
       FIG. 2C  is an exemplary embodiment of the system  200 . The at least one communication means  212  is configured for establishing communications between a mobile device  214  and a computer network  210 , where such communication means  212  is electronically connected to the at least one computer processor  202 . Such communication means  212  may be any kind of means, including but not limited to, a wireless modem, such as a GSM modem, a wired modem, an Ethernet adapter, a Wi-Fi adapter, a wireless router for routing the electronic signals to or from the mobile device  214  to the computer network  210  as well as the functions of a wireless access point, i.e. allowing access to the Internet and/or a computer network  210  without the need for a cabled connection as is well known and used in the arts. In some embodiments, the computer network  210  may be a Wi-Fi service provider, such as, but not limited to, an Internet provider, a server computer, a television service provider, a movie provider, a sports media provider, a television station, and the like. In the preferred embodiment, such communication means  212  can function in a wired LAN (local area network), a wireless only LAN, or a mixed wired/wireless network acting as a wireless antennae establishing communications from other wireless devices, e.g. network interface cards (“NIC”), wireless repeaters, other wireless access points, and wireless bridges, for example), usually using the Wi-Fi standard. In some embodiments, the at least one sensor  204  may be positioned in the same enclosure as the at least one communication means  212 , which may also include the at least one processor  202  electronically connected to both the at least one sensor  204  and/or the at least one communication means  212  as shown in  FIG. 2C . Alternatively, the at least one sensor  204  may be positioned remotely to the at least one communication means  212 . 
     In such embodiments, the computer executable instructions  218  may be further operative to use the at least one communication means  212  configured for communicating with a computer network  210  to transmit information  222  to or from the computer network  210 . The information  222  may include data, media content, such as television shows, sports broadcasts, movies, and the like. Information  222  may also include the number of persons  208  authorized to access the system  200 , view media content, billing information, and software updates. In some embodiments, a user may use system  200  to select and/or download the media to be viewed, and/or may update the number of persons  208  authorized to access the computer network  210  pursuant to the license for the subject vehicle, e.g. the Wi-Fi service provider. 
     In some embodiments, the computer executable instructions  218  may include object recognition software, i.e. computer executable instructions  218 , such as image recognition software and/or firmware, which may be used to analyze the information  222  captured by the at least one sensor  204  and to determine the number of persons  208  present in the information  222 , and consequently in the at least one sensor&#39;s field of sensing  224  as shown in  FIG. 2D . Such object recognition software may include image recognition software, which may, in turn, include facial recognition software, or may simply include general visual object recognition software. In other embodiments, the object recognition software may be audio based, being able to distinguish objects (e.g. persons) that are producing certain audio (such as breathing, talking, etc.). In yet a further embodiment, the object recognition software may include a plurality of sensors  204 ,  204 ′ to determine the number of persons accessing the computer network  212  in a vehicle  206 . 
     In some embodiments, the computer executable instructions  218  may be further operative to control access to computer network  210  based on the number of persons  208  determined to be accessing the computer network  212  in the vehicle  216 . In some embodiments, the computer executable instructions  218  may be further operative to compare the number of persons  208  that are determined to be accessing the computer network  212  in the vehicle  206  with a number of persons  208  that are authorized to access the computer network  212 . In a further embodiment, computer executable instructions  218  may be operative to control access to the computer network  212  if the number of persons  208  determined to be accessing the computer network  212  exceeds the number of persons authorized to accessing the computer network  212  in the vehicle  206 . 
     In some embodiments, controlling access to the computer network  212  in a vehicle includes, but is not limited to, ceasing to allow access to the computer network  212  in a moving vehicle, pausing access to the computer network  212  in a moving vehicle, allowing access to the computer network  212  in a moving vehicle, freezing access to the computer network  212  in a moving vehicle, continuing to allow access to the computer network  212  in a moving vehicle or denying access to the computer network  212  in a moving vehicle. In some embodiments, for example, if at the outset of access to the computer network&#39;s  212 , the number of persons  208  who are determined to be attempting to access the computer network  210  in the vehicle  206  exceeds the number of persons  208  authorized to do so, access to the computer network  212  for all potential users may be denied. In further embodiments, if the number of persons  208  accessing the computer network  212  at the outset is in accordance with the number of persons  208  authorized to accessing the computer network  212 , but at a later time exceeds the number authorized, the computer executable instructions  218  may pause, freeze, or cease access to the computer network  212  in a moving vehicle altogether. In a further embodiment, if the number of persons  208  accessing the computer network  212  in a moving vehicle at first exceeds the number authorized, but then later is reduced to or below the number of persons  208  authorized, the computer executable instructions  218  may begin or continue allowing access to the computer network  212  in a moving vehicle. 
     In further embodiments, system  100  may comprise of at least one access means  226  configured for enabling electronic access between the mobile device  214  and the at least one communication means  212 , wherein the at least one access means  226  is electronically connected to the at least one processor  202 . In some embodiments, such access means  226  may include a Bluetooth module, a USB port, an infrared port, a computer network adapter, such as a Wi-Fi card, and the like. Mobile device  214  as used herein may be any kind of electronic device configured for accessing a computer network  210 , such as laptop and/or hand-held (or portable) computers/devices, such as personal digital assistants (PDAs), smart phones, cellular phones, and the like. 
     In some embodiments, system  200  may comprise of at least one or more sensors  204 ,  204 ′ in electronic communication with the at least one processor  202 , wherein the at least one sensors  204 ,  204 ′ may be electronically connected to at least one means for controlling a vehicle  228 . The at least one sensor  204  may be any type of sensor, including, but not limited to, a video sensor, such as a camera, a motion sensor, and the like, an audio sensor, such as a microphone, a tactile sensor, such as a vibration sensor, a chemical sensor, such as an odor sensor, and the like, an electrical sensor, such as a capacitive sensor, a resistive sensor, and the like, and a thermal sensor, such as a heat sensor and/or infrared camera, pressure sensors, light sensors, optical sensors, photoelectric sensors, and the like, or any combination thereof. Such at least one sensor  204  may be positioned at the surface of means for controlling a vehicle  228 . Such means for controlling a vehicle  228  may include but is not limited to: a steering wheel, a lever, a pedal, a shifter, a joystick, a button, keys, and the like. In such embodiments, at least one sensor  204  may be embedded within the means for controlling a vehicle  228  such that it can detect when the vehicle  206  is in motion. 
     In embodiments throughout the present disclosure, the detection a sensor  204  performs may comprise of sensing the changes in electrical capacitance created by the presence of an object, such as an driver&#39;s hand, sensing thermal changes created by the presence of an object and/or the temperature of the engine, or in embodiments wherein the sensor  204  includes a camera, the sensor  204  may use image recognition software coupled to the camera to detect objects in the camera&#39;s field of view  224  and/or the number of persons  208  determined to be accessing the computer network  210 . In some embodiments, a sensor  204  may be a camera positioned external to the means for controlling a vehicle  228 , with its field of sensing  224  directed towards the driver and the driver&#39;s hands such that the sensor  204  may detect if a driver of the vehicle  206  is included in the information  222 , e.g. at least one image that was captured or if the vehicle  206  is in motion. In such embodiments, image recognition software may be used to analyze the image captured by the camera to determine whether the driver&#39;s hands are being used to drive. The results of the sensing performed by the at least one or more sensors  204 ,  204 ′ are provided to the processor  202  such that the computer executable instructions  218  can make a determination as to how to control access to the computer network  210 . The computer executable instructions  218  are further operative to discontinue the driver&#39;s access to the computer network  210  if the driver of the vehicle  120  is detected as accessing the computer network  112  while the vehicle  124  is in motion. 
     In some embodiments of the system  200 , the at least one sensor  204  is in electronic communication with the at least one processor  202  as well as alarm notification means  230 . Alarm notification  230  means may comprise of a vibration motor electronically connected to, for example, a circuit board capable of causing a vibration, or may include Dual-tone multi-frequency (“DTMF”) decoders also electronically connected to the circuit board and speaker capable of sounding an audible alarm; a single tone alert system sounding an alarm like a Sonalert; or the processor  202  may be electronically connected to a display element programmed to flash a light thereon on receipt of an alarm, created as a result of the driver having been detected as accessing the computer network  210  while the vehicle  206  is in motion. As such, the alarm notification means  230  may cause a vibration or the sounding of an alarm or the flashing of a display element in case the driver is detected as accessing the computer network within the moving vehicle  206 . 
     Methods 
       FIG. 3  shows a flow diagram representing an embodiment of method  300 , wherein method  300  comprises of using at least one sensor  104  to determine a number of persons  116  that are accessing a computer network  112  in a moving vehicle  120  (step  302 ) and controlling access based on the number of persons  116  that are determined to be accessing the computer network  118  within the moving vehicle  120  (step  304 ). 
     In some embodiments, the at least one sensor  204  may be any kind of sensor  204 , including, but not limited to, a video sensor, such as a camera, a motion sensor, and the like, an audio sensor, such as a microphone, a tactile sensor, such as a vibration sensor, a chemical sensor, such as an odor sensor, and the like, an electrical sensor, such as a capacitive sensor, a resistive sensor, and the like, and a thermal sensor, such as a heat sensor and/or infrared camera, pressure sensors, light sensors, optical sensors, photoelectric sensors, and the like, or any combination thereof. 
     In a further embodiment of method  300 , controlling access to the computer network based on the number of persons  116  detected accessing the computer network  112  comprises any or all of the following: pausing access to the computer network  112  in a moving vehicle  120  when the number of persons  116  accessing the computer network  112  exceeds a number of persons  116  authorized to access the computer network  112  in a moving vehicle  120 , continuing to allow access to the computer network  112  in a moving vehicle  120  when the number of persons  116  accessing the computer network  112  is equal to or less than the number of persons  116  authorized to accessing the computer network  112  in a moving vehicle  120  pursuant to a license, and ceasing access to the computer network  112  in a moving vehicle  120  when the number of persons  116  accessing the computer network  112  exceeds the number of persons  116  authorized to accessing the computer network in a moving vehicle  120 . Moving vehicle as used herein includes automobiles, such as cars, vans, boats, trucks, sport utility vehicles, and the like. 
     In a further embodiment, method  300  comprises any or all of the following steps: allowing at least one user to register for at least one broadcast of at least one program, using at least one image recording means to capture at least one image of the at least one user, and using at least one processor to analyze the image and determine how many users are in the image, and begin, continue, or cease broadcasting or displaying the program based on how many users are determined to be in the image. In some embodiments, method  300  further comprises using at least one processor to begin broadcasting the program if the amount of users determined to be in the image corresponds to the amount of users registered for the broadcast. 
     In some embodiments, method  300  further comprises using at least one processor to continue broadcasting the program if the amount users determined to be in the image corresponds to the amount of users registered for the broadcast. 
     In some embodiments, method  300  further comprises using at least one processor to cease broadcasting the program if the amount users determined to be in the image does not correspond to the amount of users registered for the broadcast. 
     In some embodiments, method  300  further comprises using at least one processor to carry out any of the aforementioned steps, or any other steps described in the present disclosure. 
     In some embodiments, method  300  may be implemented as a computer readable medium having computer executable instructions. The term “computer readable medium,” as used throughout this disclosure, may refer to any computer readable medium, such as CD-ROMs, CD-Rs, CD-RWs, floppy disks, hard drives, flash drives, diskettes, solid state drives, tape drives, and any other form of computer readable medium. 
     In some embodiments method  300  may be integrated wholly, or in part, into systems  100  and  200  described above, as well as other systems and methods described throughout the present disclosure. In some embodiments, method  300  may be carried out using the various systems described throughout the present disclosure. 
     Hardware and Operating Environment 
     This section provides an overview of exemplary hardware and the operating environments in conjunction with which embodiments of the inventive subject matter can be implemented. 
     A software program may be launched from a computer readable medium in a computer-based system to execute the functions defined in the software program. Various programming languages may be employed to create software programs designed to implement and perform the methods disclosed herein. The programs may be structured in an object-orientated format using an object-oriented language such as Java or C++. Alternatively the programs may be structured in a procedure-oriented format using a procedural language, such as assembly or C. The software components may communicate using a number of mechanisms, such as application program interfaces, or inter-process communication techniques, including remote procedure calls. The teachings of various embodiments are not limited to any particular programming language or environment. Thus, other embodiments may be realized, as discussed regarding  FIG. 4  below. 
       FIG. 4  is a block diagram representing an article according to various embodiments. Such embodiments may comprise a computer, a memory system, a magnetic or optical disk, some other storage device, or any type of electronic device or system. The article 400 may include one or more processor(s)  402  coupled to a machine-accessible medium such as a memory  404  (e.g., a memory including electrical, optical, or electromagnetic elements). The medium may contain associated information  406  (e.g., computer program instructions, data, or both) which, when accessed, results in a machine (e.g., the processor(s)  402 ) performing the activities previously described herein. 
     The principles of the present disclosure may be applied to all types of computers, systems, and the like, include desktop computers, servers, notebook computers, personal digital assistants, and the like. However, the present disclosure may not be limited to the personal computer. 
     While the principles of the disclosure have been described herein, it is to be understood by those skilled in the art that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation as to the scope of the disclosure. Other embodiments are contemplated within the scope of the present disclosure in addition to the exemplary embodiments shown and described herein. Modifications and substitutions by one of ordinary skill in the art are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure.