Systems and methods for vehicle policy enforcement

Abstract

This disclosure relates to systems and methods for vehicle policy management and enforcement. In certain embodiments, a method for enforcing a policy may include receiving policy information at a device including one or more conditions relating to a policy-managed location in a vehicle. A determination may be made whether the device is within the policy-managed location based on signals received by a short-range communication system included in the device and/or the vehicle. The received policy information may be evaluated to determine and implement one or more device actions associated with the one or more conditions.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 600,572, filed Feb. 17, 2012, and entitled “SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR VEHICLE POLICY ENFORCEMENT,” which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.COPYRIGHT AUTHORIZATION[0002]Portions of the disclosure of this patent document may contain material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY[0003]The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for vehicle policy management and enforcement. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to systems and methods for creating, managing, evaluating, and / or enforcing policies in connection with veh...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0004]Driving while distracted is one of the largest contributors to accidents, injury and death on roadways today. One of the contributing factors to driving while distracted is the use of mobile devices (e.g., smartphones, etc.) while operating a vehicle. According to the U.S. National Highway Transportation Safety Board, in 2009 alone, nearly 5,500 people were killed and 450,000 more were injured in vehicle crashes in the U.S. caused by distracted driving. Further, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, text messaging on a mobile device while driving increases the risk of a crash by nearly 23 times over driving while not distracted.

[0005]Sending or receiving a text message on a mobile device may take a driver's eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, the equivalent—at 55 miles per hour—of driving the length of an entire football field blind. Distracted driving in many instances is particularly concentrated within the younger age segment of the population—especially teens. Distracted driving is also an issue in other contexts, including in the operation of public transit vehicles (e.g., busses, trains, airplanes, etc.). With the widespread proliferation of mobile devices, distracted driving is a growing problem. Accordingly, systems and methods that reduce distracted driving, protect others from distracted driving, and / or otherwise enhance vehicle safety or control are desirable.

Problems solved by technology

Driving while distracted is one of the largest contributors to accidents, injury and death on roadways today.

Further, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, text messaging on a mobile device while driving increases the risk of a crash by nearly 23 times over driving while not distracted.

Distracted driving is also an issue in other contexts, including in the operation of public transit vehicles (e.g., busses, trains, airplanes, etc.).

With the widespread proliferation of mobile devices, distracted driving is a growing problem.

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