Patent ID: 8401578

Claim:
For use in a motor vehicle having a driver door providing access for a driver, a selective cell phone text messaging function disabling system, comprising a signal broadcasting system and a cell phone, and wherein: a. said cell phone has a selectively deactivatable text messaging functionality and comprises: i. a sensor adapted to receive characteristic signals from said signal broadcasting system; ii. a central processing unit in communication with said sensor and including an internal memory configured to store machine executable instructions, said central processing unit being operable to execute said instructions to detect and process said characteristic signals and to enable and disable said text messaging functionality; and b. said signal broadcasting system comprises an emitter configured to emit characteristic signals in a transmission zone proximate said driver door, said signal broadcasting system being activated upon opening of said driver door, first and second characteristic signals being emitted during alternate activations of said signal broadcasting system; and c. said cell phone is configured to: i. detect said first characteristic signal received by said sensor; ii. disable said text messaging functionality in response to detection of said first characteristic signal; iii. thereafter to detect a second characteristic signal received by said sensor; and iv. re-enable said text messaging functionality in response to detection of said second characteristic signal, d. said broadcast signal is a simple signal that commands said cell phone text messaging functionality off during entry through said driver door and turns on said cell phone text messaging functionality during exit through said driver door; and e. said signal broadcasting system turns on a dash indicator light in the dashboard of said vehicle upon transmission of said first characteristic signal and said sensor enabled cell phone turns on a phone indicator light in the cell phone upon receipt of said first characteristic signal; whereby a driver of said motor vehicle is inhibited from text messaging while driving to thereby provide a higher level of safety for the driver and others on the roadway, and cell phones of passengers entering said vehicle through doors other than said driver-side door have text messaging functionality available.