System and method for sensor-based determination of user role, location, and/or state of one or more in-vehicle mobile device and enforcement of usage thereof

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for computing various determinations at one or more mobile devices and/or central machines. In part, such determinations are computed based on analysis of one or more inputs originating at one or more sensors of one or more devices. Such determinations include determining an in-vehicle role, an in-vehicle location, a handheld state, and a vehicle class. Various transformations, modifications, and outputs can result from such determinations. Also disclosed are systems and methods for restricting operation of a mobile device, including restrictions that impede operation by a driver moreso than operation by a passenger. Also disclosed are systems and methods for orienting a coordinate system of a mobile device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An in-vehicle determination system for adjusting an operation of a first mobile device, the system comprising:
 a processor;   a control circuit operatively connected to the processor;   a memory operatively connected to the control circuit and accessible by the processor; and   a determination module stored in the memory and executable in the processor; and   at least one of:
 a user interface stored in the memory and executing in the processor; 
 an operating system stored in the memory and executing in the processor, 
 an accelerometer operatively connected to the control circuit, 
 a gyroscope operatively connected to the control circuit, 
 a GPS receiver operatively connected to the control circuit, 
 a microphone operatively connected to the control circuit, 
 a magnetometer operatively connected to the control circuit, 
 a camera operatively connected to the control circuit, 
 a light sensor operatively connected to the control circuit, 
 a temperature sensor operatively connected to the control circuit, 
 an altitude sensor operatively connected to the control circuit, 
 a pressure sensor operatively connected to the control circuit, 
 a proximity sensor operatively connected to the control circuit, 
 a near-field communication (NFC) device operatively connected to the control circuit, 
 a compass operatively connected to the control circuit; and 
 a communications interface operatively connected to the control circuit; 
   wherein the determination module, when executed by the processor, configures the control circuit to:
 receive a first input from at least one of the user interface, the operating system, the accelerometer, the gyroscope, the GPS receiver, the microphone, the magnetometer, the camera, the light sensor, the temperature sensor, the altitude sensor, the pressure sensor, the proximity sensor, the NFC device, the compass, and the communications interface of the first mobile device, the first input originating from an identifying event perceptible to at least one of the user interface, the operating system, the accelerometer, the gyroscope, the GPS receiver, the microphone, the magnetometer, the camera, the light sensor, the temperature sensor, the altitude sensor, the pressure sensor, the proximity sensor, the NFC device, the compass, and the communications interface of the first mobile device; 
 analyze the first input with the determination module to identify one or more determination characteristics within the first input; 
 compute at least one determination factor based on the one or more determination characteristics, the at least one determination factor pertaining to at least one of (a) at least one aspect of the in-vehicle role of the user; and (b) at least one aspect of an in-vehicle location of the mobile device; and 
 at least one of (a) transform at least one operation state of the first mobile device based on the at least one determination factor, (b) output at least one operation state based on the at least one determination factor, (c) output at least one in-vehicle role of the user based on at least one determination factor; (d) output at least one in-vehicle location of the mobile device based on at least one determination factor and (e) output at least one result based on the at least one determination factor.