Patent ID: 8774842

Claim:
A system for limiting usage of a wireless communication device, comprising: a wireless transmission device mounted in a vehicle, comprising: at least one sensor configured to identify at least one state of the vehicle; an infrared (IR) modulation circuit configured to transmit a wireless IR signal in response to a control signal; and a first processor in communication with the IR modulation circuit and the at least one sensor, the first processor being configured to receive the at least one state of the vehicle from the at least one sensor, determine if the at least one state of the vehicle includes a restricted state, and if it does, transmit the control signal to the IR modulation circuit; and a wireless communication device comprising: a display; an IR modulation detection circuit for receiving the wireless IR signal; and a second processor in communication with the display and the IR modulation detection circuit, the second processor being configured to receive information from the IR modulation detection circuit and to disable at least one feature of the wireless communication device if the information indicates that the wireless IR signal has been received.