Mobile Station Access Control for Driving-Time Feature Restriction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems fail to consistently enforce laws prohibiting the use of mobile devices while operating vehicles or machinery, leading to increased accident risks due to distracted operation.

Innovation Solution

A centralized server system that allows authorized parties to remotely control and disable specific features on a mobile device based on predefined conditions, using motion sensors and authentication, ensuring the device is operated safely during restricted activities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a user owns a mobile station, then the user has full control over the device, but the user cannot allow others to access or control the device without compromising security

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice accessibilityVSAvoidsecurity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a server as an intermediary between the mobile station and remote computer systems. The server receives authentication credentials from requesting parties, validates them against authorized users, and selectively enables or disables access to the mobile station based on predetermined conditions. This intermediary architecture allows controlled sharing of device access while maintaining security through centralized authentication and condition-based access control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If selective availability attributes are downloaded to the mobile station, then the mobile station can operate independently, but the server must maintain continuous communication and authentication capabilities

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemobile station independenceVSAvoidserver communication requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by having the server download selective availability attributes to the mobile station before actual use. These attributes include authentication credentials and operational conditions that are pre-configured in the mobile station's memory. When the mobile station needs to access a remote computer system, it presents these pre-downloaded attributes, eliminating the need for continuous server communication during operation while maintaining security and control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the server authenticates requesting parties and manages access control, then secure device control is achieved, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess control securityVSAvoidauthentication system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the complex authentication and access control logic from the mobile station itself and relocates it to a centralized server. The mobile station simply stores and presents authentication attributes, while the server performs all verification, condition evaluation, and access control decisions. This extraction reduces the complexity burden on the mobile station while maintaining strong security through server-based authentication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP4236279B1Systems and methods for controlling operation of a mobile station
Publication Date: 2026.05.20 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP4236279B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4236279B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4236279B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Systems, apparatuses, and methods disclosed herein allow a requesting party to control use of another user's mobile station. In some aspects, a server is configured to communicate with a plurality of remote computer systems and target mobile stations. The server includes a memory device and a processor configured to access data and logic instructions embedded on the memory device. The server authenticates a requesting party accessing the computer server from one of the remote communication systems. The requesting party is not a user of a selected one of the target mobile stations. The server receives selective availability attributes for the selected one of the target mobile stations from the requesting party. The selective availability attributes indicate conditions under which the target mobile station is enabled or disabled to operate, and features that are available on the target mobile station under a plurality of conditions when the target mobile station is enabled. The server further determines when the target mobile station is operational and downloads the selective availability attributes to the target mobile station when the target mobile station is operational.