Abstract: A child detection system for a vehicle having an on-board diagnostics and a car seat, including a seat sensor, a detection system, and a monitor system. The seat sensor indicates whether the car seat is occupied. The detection system retrieves ignition information from the on-board diagnostic system and detects whether the car seat is occupied. The monitor system activates when an ignition is on and the car seat is occupied, and indicates an alert when activated and when the car seat remains occupied when the ignition is turned off. The monitor system may be provided within a dedicated diagnostic device, or within a personal communication device of the driver. The dedicated diagnostic device may have a separate internal or external alarm. The personal communication device provides any one of several alert mechanisms, such as a visual mechanism, a vibration mechanism, an audible mechanism, or a send message mechanism.

Abstract: A method of partial deactivation of a personal communication device in a vehicle when the vehicle is in motion including receiving, by the personal communication device, velocity information of the vehicle, determining, by the personal communication device, whether the vehicle is in motion from the velocity information, and deactivating, by an application executing on the personal communication device, at least one function of the personal communication device when the vehicle is in motion. Deactivation may include any one or more of disabling a user interface, turning off a communication radio, muting a ringer, and activating a power saving mode. A safety system for partial deactivation of the personal communication device while a vehicle is in motion. A diagnostic audio bridge retrieves and sends velocity information. The device executes activation control code which deactivates at least one function of the personal communication device when the vehicle is in motion.