WO2009064132A2

WO2009064132A2 - Mobile phone having call control mode while driving

Info

Publication number: WO2009064132A2
Application number: PCT/KR2008/006723
Authority: WO
Inventors: Il Bong Hwang
Original assignee: Nam Gu Office Kwang Ju City
Priority date: 2007-11-15
Filing date: 2008-11-14
Publication date: 2009-05-22
Also published as: WO2009064132A3; KR100796714B1; GB201009213D0; GB2467493A

Abstract

A mobile phone having a call control mode while driving is provided. The mobile phone includes: a speed measuring unit measuring movement speed of a main body thereof; a hands- free connection detector detecting connection of a hands-free device to a hands-free connector on the main body; a memory unit storing an announcement notifying a calling party that a called party is driving; a memory unit storing an announcement notifying a calling party that a called party is driving; a key input unit having various keys mounted thereon for supporting a call; and a controller outputting a mode change notification message through an output device of the main body if the movement speed provided by the speed measuring unit exceeds a reference speed and the hands-free connection detector determines that the hands-free device is not connected to the hands -free connector, determining that a user is driving and switching the mobile phone into the call control mode in which incoming/outgoing calls are blocked if a key input signal is not received through the key input unit within set wait time after outputting the mode change notification message, and outputting the announcement stored in the memory unit and blocking the incoming call if an incoming call signal is received via the transmitter/receiver in the call control mode.

Description

MOBILE PHONE HAVING CALL CONTROL MODE WHILE

DRIVING

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a mobile phone having a call control mode while driving, and more particularly to a mobile phone that restricts a user from calling or being called while driving by automatically switching the mobile phone into a call control mode while the user is driving. Background Art

[2] There has been increasing concern over traffic accidents associated with use of mobile phones. In order to reduce the occurrence of traffic accidents, the use of mobile phones is restricted or a hands-free device may be used while driving.

[3] Despite the legislative measures to prevent drivers from using their mobile phones while driving, a habit of making/receiving a mobile phone call during driving is hard to get rid of. Amid growing concerns about misuse of mobile phones, various approaches have been proposed to block calls on a driving user's mobile phone while driving.

[4] The Korean Utility Model Registration No. 218351 presents an approach to restricting calls that includes switching into a drive mode when a mobile phone is set to a drive mode by using a key mounted thereon. This approach requires conversion into a drive mode while driving in order to block calls on a driving user's mobile phone. Thus, even when an incoming call is received in a state where the driving user inadvertently forgets to switch the mobile phone into a drive mode while driving, he/she cannot automatically notify the calling party that he/she is in a driving condition.

[5] Another approach to restricting calls while driving has been disclosed in the Korean

Patent Laid-open Publication Nos. 2002-0019696 and 2004-0061260 and the Korean Utility Model Registration No. 318743. The approach includes determining the speed of a moving vehicle and compulsively blocking calls based on the speed. The method, however, involves a problem in that even mobile phone holding passengers who are not driving the vehicle, let alone a driving user, may be inconveniently restricted from calling or being called. Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[6] To solve the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a mobile phone configured to automatically switching the mobile phone into a call control mode without separate manipulation to restrict a user who is driving from calling and being called while allowing non-driving passengers of the vehicle to make/ receive calls. Technical Solution

[7] To accomplish the above object of the present invention, there is provided a mobile phone having a call control mode while driving, which is configured to enable wireless calls via a transmitter/receiver mounted on a main body thereof, the mobile phone including: a speed measuring unit measuring movement speed of the main body; a hands-free connection detector detecting connection of a hands-free device to a hands- free connector on the main body; a memory unit storing an announcement notifying a calling party that a called party is driving; a key input unit having various keys mounted thereon for supporting a call; and a controller outputting a mode change notification message through an output device of the main body if the movement speed provided by the speed measuring unit exceeds a reference speed and the hands-free connection detector determines that the hands-free device is not connected to the hands-free connector, determining that a user is driving and switching the mobile phone into the call control mode in which incoming/outgoing calls are blocked if a key input signal is not received through the key input unit within set wait time after outputt ing the mode change notification message, and outputting the announcement stored in the memory unit and blocking the incoming call if an incoming call signal is received via the transmitter/receiver in the call control mode.

[8] Upon receiving a key input signal from the key input unit within the wait time after outputting the mode change notification message, the controller may determine that the user is moving but not driving a vehicle and maintains a call enable mode in which incoming/outgoing calls are allowed.

[9] According to an aspect of the present invention, the speed measuring unit may include a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver receiving a GPS signal and outputting the GPS signal to the controller.

[10] The mobile phone according to the present invention may further comprise a geographical information database storing geographical information corresponding to coordinates received from the GPS receiver, wherein if an incoming call signal is received via the transmitter/receiver in the call control mode, the controller extracts a geographical name corresponding to coordinates received from the GPS receiver from the geographical information database and outputs the geographical name together with the announcement stored in the memory unit.

Advantageous Effects

[11] The mobile phone according to the present invention allows a driving user's mobile phone to be automatically switched into a call control mode in which all calls are blocked after the lapse of wait time without separate manipulation, while enabling non- driving passengers to maintain a call enable mode with key manipulation. Brief Description of Drawings

[12] FIG. 1 illustrates a configuration of a mobile phone according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

[13] FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the process of controlling a mobile phone according to an embodiment of the present invention. Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention

[14] Hereinafter, the configuration of a mobile phone having a call control mode while driving according to an embodiment of the present invention is described in detail with reference to FIG. 1.

[15] FIG. 1 illustrates the configuration of a mobile phone according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[16] Referring to FIG. 1, the mobile phone according to the present embodiment includes a key input unit 112, a display unit 114, a transmitter/receiver 116, a speaker 118, a microphone 120, a hands-free connector 122, a hands-free connection detector 124, a memory unit 126, a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver 130, a geographical information database 140, and a controller 150.

[17] The key input unit 112 having various keys including numerical keys for supporting a call is mounted on a main body of the mobile phone.

[18] The display unit 114 is controlled by the controller 150 to display information.

[19] The transmitter/receiver 116 is controlled by the controller 150 to transmit/receive signals in a wireless manner.

[20] A speaker 118 and a microphone 120 are mounted on the main body of the mobile phone and respectively outputs and inputs an audio signal during a call.

[21] Here, the display unit 114 and the speaker 118 are output devices.

[22] Although not shown in FIG. 1, a vibration generator that causes the main body of the mobile phone to vibrate may also be used as an output device.

[23] The hands-free connector 122 couples a hands-free device to the main body of the mobile phone to allow communication using the hands-free device instead of the speaker 118 and the microphone 120.

[24] The hands-free connection detector 124 detects connection between the hands-free connector 122 and the hands-free device and outputs a detection result to the controller 150. The hands-free connection detector 124 can be configured to detect connection of the hands-free device to terminals of the hands-free connector 122. Since such detection can be made using various techniques known in the art, a detailed explanation thereof will not be given.

[25] The memory unit 126 stores announcements notifying a calling party that a called party is driving.

[26] For example, the memory unit 126 may store announcements such as "Thank you for calling" and "I'm sorry I can't answer your phone call while driving. I will get back to you as soon as I can." Stored announcements notifying that the called party is driving may be changed by the controller 150 so as to contain geographical information extracted using the GPS receiver 130 and the geographical information database 140 which will be described below.

[27] The GPS receiver 130 is used as a speed measuring device. More specifically, the

GPS receiver 130 receives a GPS signal to obtain position information, periodically calculates movement speed based on the current and previous positions, and outputs the movement speed to the controller 150. Alternatively, the controller 150 may be configured to calculate the movement speed.

[28] Further, the GPS receiver 130 may be attached to or provided separately from the main body of the mobile phone in order to output the received information to the controller 150 in a wired or wireless manner.

[29] In addition to the GPS receiver, a speed detection sensor may be used as a speed detector to derive the speed of the main body.

[30] The geographical information database 140 stores geographical information for each location and provides geographical information corresponding to coordinates received from the GPS receiver 130 to the controller 150.

[31] When the movement speed of the main body obtained by the GPS receiver 130 exceeds a reference speed and the hands -free connection detector 124 determines that the hands-free device is not connected to the hands-free connector 122, the controller 150 outputs a message notifying a user of a mode change (hereinafter briefly referred to as a "mode change notification message") to an output device of the main body such as the speaker 118, the vibration generator, or the display unit 114. For example, the speaker 118 may output a mode change notification message containing phrases such as "It is determined you are currently driving a vehicle, please be informed that if a key manipulation signal is not received within 10 seconds, your mobile phone will change to a call control mode.

[32] On the one hand, if a key input signal is not received from the key input unit 112 within a set wait time after outputting the mode change notification message, the controller 150 determines that the user is driving a vehicle and changes the mobile phone to a call control mode in which all incoming/outgoing calls are blocked. When receiving an incoming call signal via the transmitter/receiver 116 in the call control mode, the controller 150 outputs an announcement stored in the memory unit 126 and blocks the incoming call.

[33] Preferably, upon receiving an incoming call signal via the transmitter/receiver 116 in the call control mode, the controller 150 may extract a geographical name corresponding to coordinates received from the GPS receiver 130 from the geographical information database 140 and outputs the geographical name together with the announcement stored in the memory unit 126.

[34] For example, the controller 150 may output the announcement containing the geographical name such as "Thank you for calling. I'm sorry I can't answer your phone call at the moment because I'm driving out of 'Gwangyang-eup". I'll call you back as soon as I can." If the edited announcement is output through the speaker 118, the controller 150 has a built-in converter for converting the edited announcement to an audio signal.

[35] On the other hand, if a key input signal is received from the key input unit 112 within the set wait time after outputting the mode change notification message, the controller 150 determines that the user is moving but not driving the vehicle and maintains a call enable mode in which all incoming/outgoing calls are allowed.

[36] The process of controlling the mobile phone having the above-mentioned configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention is described in detail with reference to FIG. 2.

[37] First, the GPS receiver 130 detects movement speed of the main body of the mobile phone (step 210).

[38] Then, the controller 150 determines whether the detected current movement speed exceeds the reference speed (step 220). The reference speed may be set higher than common walking speed. For example, the reference speed may be set to 10 Km/hour.

[39] If the current movement speed is lower than the reference speed at step 220, the controller 150 maintains a call enable mode in which all incoming/outgoing calls are allowed (step 260).

[40] Conversely, if the current movement speed exceeds the reference speed at step 220, the hands-free connection detector 124 determines whether the hands-free device is connected to the hands-free connector 122 (step 230).

[41] If the hands-free device is connected to the hands-free connector 122, the controller

150 maintains a call enable mode (step 260). If not, the controller 150 outputs a mode change notification message (step 240).

[42] Thereafter, the controller 150 determines whether a key input signal is received via the key input unit 112 (step 250). In this case, the key input signal may include a key manipulation signal generated by manipulating keys mounted on the key input unit 112 or a signal generated by opening a folder if the mobile phone is a folder-type mobile phone.

[43] If the key input signal is received at step 250, the controller 150 maintains a call enable mode. Preferably, even if the current movement speed exceeds a reference speed after inputting the key input signal, the controller 150 may maintain the call enable mode for a specific time duration, e. g., 30 minutes. That is, when the duration during which a non-driving mobile phone user desires to maintain a call enable mode is received through the key input unit 112 considering the expected movement time while driving, the controller 150 may maintain a call enable mode for the input time duration without outputting the mode change notification message, even if the current movement speed exceeds the reference speed. Thereafter, the process may return to step 210. In this case, the controller 150 may provide a user selectable menu containing 10 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, and 2 hours for the call enable mode duration. The controller 150 may also set the call enable mode duration to a duration in the menu selected by the user.

[44] Conversely, if a key input signal is not received at step 250, the controller 150 determines if a key input signal is not received within the set wait time (step 270). The wait time may be set to an appropriate time such as 5 seconds.

[45] If the key input signal is not received within the wait time, the controller 150 switches the mobile phone to a call control mode (step 280).

[46] When the mobile phone is switched into a call control mode by performing the steps in the process illustrated in FIG. 2, upon receipt of an incoming call signal, the controller 150 outputs an announcement while driving and blocks an incoming call.

[47] Thus, a mobile phone according to the present invention allows a driving user's mobile phone to be automatically switched into a call control mode in which all calls are blocked after the lapse of wait time without a separate manipulation, while enabling non-driving passengers to maintain a call enable mode by manipulating a key mounted on the key input unit 112 when outputting a mode change notification message.

[48] While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.

[49] It is therefore desired that the present embodiments be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being made to the appended claims rather than the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

Claims

[1] A mobile phone having a call control mode while driving, which is configured to enable wireless calls via a transmitter/receiver mounted on a main body thereof, the mobile phone comprising: a speed measuring unit measuring movement speed of the main body; a hands -free connection detector detecting connection of a hands -free device to a hands-free connector on the main body; a memory unit storing an announcement notifying a calling party that a called party is driving; a key input unit having various keys mounted thereon for supporting a call; and a controller outputting a mode change notification message through an output device of the main body if the movement speed provided by the speed measuring unit exceeds a reference speed and the hands -free connection detector determines that the hands-free device is not connected to the hands-free connector, determining that a user is driving and switching the mobile phone into the call control mode in which incoming/outgoing calls are blocked if a key input signal is not received through the key input unit within set wait time after outputting the mode change notification message, and outputting the announcement stored in the memory unit and blocking the incoming call if an incoming call signal is received via the transmitter/receiver in the call control mode.

[2] The mobile phone of claim 1, wherein upon receiving a key input signal from the key input unit within the wait time after outputting the mode change notification message, the controller determines that the user is moving but not driving a vehicle and maintains a call enable mode in which incoming/outgoing calls are allowed.

[3] The mobile phone of claim 2, wherein the speed measuring unit includes a GPS

(Global Positioning System) receiver receiving a GPS signal and outputting the GPS signal to the controller.

[4] The mobile phone of claim 3, further comprising a geographical information database storing geographical information corresponding to coordinates received from the GPS receiver, wherein if an incoming call signal is received via the transmitter/receiver in the call control mode, the controller extracts a geographical name corresponding to coordinates received from the GPS receiver from the geographical information database and outputs the geographical name together with the announcement stored in the memory unit.