Mobile Device Soft Block for Vehicle Telephonic Event Filtering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current solutions for preventing distracted driving, such as mobile applications and hands-free devices, are limited in effectively managing incoming telephonic events during vehicle operation, as they either restrict all notifications or fail to consider critical factors like traffic conditions and emergency situations, leading to potential safety issues.
Innovation Solution
A system that analyzes incoming telephonic events in relation to vehicle operational data, user preferences, and hands-free device activation, using sensors and networked computing systems to determine whether to permit the event during driving, by applying a soft block and considering velocity, user-defined lists, and emergency thresholds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If mobile applications restrict all incoming calls, messages, and notifications during driving, then driver distraction is reduced, but emergency communications may be delayed or blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different restriction levels to different types of telephonic events based on their importance. Emergency calls, messages from emergency services, and urgent notifications are allowed through while other non-critical communications are blocked during driving, thus maintaining both safety and emergency communication reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the blocking parameters based on driving context, vehicle state, and telephonic event characteristics. By analyzing velocity data, location information, and event metadata, the system adjusts whether to permit or block specific communications in real-time
2Loss of information
If hands-free devices audibly generate all incoming calls and notifications, then driver awareness is maintained, but distracted driving is not significantly reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent selectively applies hands-free audio generation only to permitted telephonic events rather than all incoming communications. By filtering which events receive audio notification based on their emergency status and context, the system maintains information delivery for critical communications while reducing overall distraction from non-essential notifications
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial action by generating audio notifications for only a subset of incoming telephonic events - specifically those deemed important or emergency-related - rather than audibly announcing every single communication, thus balancing information delivery with distraction reduction
3Object-affected harmful factors
If velocity-based restrictions are implemented using GPS and accelerometer, then driving safety is improved, but the system can be subverted by restricting GPS privileges or using cruise control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple velocity measurement sources including GPS data, accelerometer readings, and vehicle telematics system data to cross-validate and determine accurate vehicle motion state. This multi-source approach prevents subversion by any single method and improves reliability of velocity-based restrictions
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses vehicle telematics systems as an intermediary to obtain authoritative velocity and operational state data directly from the vehicle's own sensors and control systems, rather than relying solely on mobile device GPS or accelerometer data that can be easily restricted or manipulated
Data Source
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AI summary
Apparatuses, systems, and methods are provided for analyzing an incoming telephonic event (e.g., call, message, and/or notification) to a mobile device during operation of a vehicle in relation to a combination of factors to determine if the incoming telephonic event is to be allowed to be received during vehicle operation. The mobile device associated with a driver of the vehicle may receive the incoming telephonic event during operation of the vehicle. An incoming telephonic event analysis application operating on the mobile device may apply a soft block preventing the incoming telephonic event from being displayed on the mobile device. Based on the incoming telephonic event data, vehicle operational data, user preferences, hands-free device activation, and driver and road ratings, the incoming telephonic event analysis application may determine whether or not to maintain the soft block or allow the incoming telephonic event to be displayed on the mobile device during operation of the vehicle.