Mobile Phone Busy Key for Automated Driving Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current solutions for preventing distracted driving while using cell phones, such as GPS-based systems that disable phones during driving, restrict user control and do not allow drivers to easily identify incoming calls or texts, limiting their ability to decide whether to pull over and respond.
Innovation Solution
A cell phone modification with 'Busy: Respond Later' buttons or keys that allow users to automatically send pre-typed messages or voice responses to incoming texts or calls, enabling safe response management while driving without requiring drivers to manually handle their phones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If GPS-based systems disable the cell phone during driving, then driving safety is improved, but user control and ability to identify incoming calls are restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the phone disabling function into two parts: automatic disabling of calling functions for safety, and selective enabling for important contacts. This allows the driver to maintain safety while retaining control to identify and respond to important communications without manual phone handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts phone accessibility based on driving context. During driving, the phone is automatically disabled for safety, but can be selectively enabled for pre-designated important contacts. The system transitions between disabled and enabled states based on incoming call source and driver input, providing adaptive control.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the cell phone is completely disabled during driving, then distraction is reduced, but the driver cannot see caller IDs or decide whether to pull over and respond
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary mechanism that provides caller ID information to the driver without requiring full phone activation. The display shows caller ID and allows selection of important contacts, serving as a mediator between the disabled phone state and the need for information access.
Solution Approach 2:
The driver pre-designates important contacts before driving. When a call comes in during driving, the system automatically presents the caller ID and enables quick identification of important contacts without requiring the driver to manually search or handle the phone, thus preventing distraction while maintaining information access.
3Ease of operation
If exceptions are made for certain numbers in restricted systems, then some user control is restored, but the driver must anticipate who might call and has limited options
Solution Approach 1:
The driver pre-configures important contacts before driving. The system automatically recognizes these pre-designated contacts and provides enhanced functionality for them during driving, eliminating the need for complex real-time configuration or anticipation of callers.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides universal functionality for all incoming calls (automatic disabling with caller ID display) while adding special functionality for pre-designated important contacts (selective enabling). This multi-functional approach handles both general safety requirements and specific user needs through a unified system.
Data Source
AI summary
A cell phone which has been modified by the addition of software which responds to the press of one or more Busy keys by automatically sending a pre-typed text message to the sender of the latest text message just received or automatically answering an incoming call immediately upon pressing the Busy key and playing a pre-recorded audio message. The outgoing text or audio message can inform the sender of the incoming text or the caller that the user is driving or otherwise engaged and cannot respond immediately. In some embodiments, one or more Busy keys can be added keys or one or more existing keys on the cell phone or on the keypad of the cell phone or on a touchscreen or a visual depiction of a keypad on a touchscreen of the cell phone.