Patents by Inventor Preston W. McWithey

Preston W. McWithey has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8655965
    Abstract: Options for safely handling incoming data messages in a moving mobile device are provided within the mobile device. When an incoming data message is detected, the device determines its velocity. If the velocity exceeds a certain value, external data, such as visual or biometric data, measured by a device component is analyzed to determine whether the mobile device is in a driver position of a moving vehicle. If so, an announcement of the incoming call is prevented and a predetermined message is autonomously transmitted to the sender. If analysis of the external data is inconclusive, a prompt is presented to a recipient with selectable options of how to handle the incoming message. In response to the various inputs received from the recipient, the mobile device may either autonomously send a response message to the sender or may directly establish a voice call between the recipient and the sender.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Preston W. McWithey, Chirag D. Shah
  • Publication number: 20110219080
    Abstract: Options for safely handling incoming data messages in a moving mobile device are provided within the mobile device. When an incoming data message is detected, the device determines its velocity. If the velocity exceeds a certain value, external data, such as visual or biometric data, measured by a device component is analyzed to determine whether the mobile device is in a driver position of a moving vehicle. If so, an announcement of the incoming call is prevented and a predetermined message is autonomously transmitted to the sender. If analysis of the external data is inconclusive, a prompt is presented to a recipient with selectable options of how to handle the incoming message. In response to the various inputs received from the recipient, the mobile device may either autonomously send a response message to the sender or may directly establish a voice call between the recipient and the sender.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Preston W. McWithey, Chirag D. Shah