System and Method for Detecting Use of a Wireless Device While Driving

Abstract

A system for detecting the use of wireless devices such as a mobile phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), or pagers in a moving vehicle receives wireless signals inside a vehicle using a radio frequency (RF) sensor(s) and converts the RF signals into voltage signals. The voltage signals are then compared with known waveforms to determine if the wireless signals indicate a received call, if the received call is answered, a transmitted call, an SMS text message, data associated with internet browsing on a wireless device, or Bluetooth activity.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/222,260, entitled “System and Method for Detecting Use of a Wireless Device While Driving,” which was filed on Aug. 6, 2008, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This disclosure relates to a system and method for detecting the use of wireless devices, such as mobile phones, in vehicles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of wireless devices, such as cellular telephones or personal digital assistants (PDA), by drivers who talk on the phone or send or read text messages while driving is thought to be a cause of distracted, erratic, and/or aggressive driving, especially among teenage drivers, and is believed to increase the likelihood of accidents. Some cities restrict cellular phone use while driving or require that drivers use hands-free mode on their wireless phone to talk while driving. Other cities are considering restricting the use of text messaging applications while driving.

Additionally, parents desire to monitor their children's driving and cellular phone use, and fleet owners or insurance companies desire to monitor drivers' cellular phone use for liability purposes.

As shown in FIG. 1, using a driving simulator, Ford compared the response of teenage and adult drivers to traffic events happening in front of them. As shown on the left portion of the chart, both groups of drivers missed about 3% of potentially dangerous events under normal simulated driving conditions. When placing a phone call using a hands-free device, as shown on the right portion of the chart, the rate of missed events rose to 13.6% for adult drivers and to 53.80/0 for teenage drivers.

Therefore, there is a need to improve driver behavior and safety with respect to the use of wireless devices in moving vehicles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a system and method of detecting the use of wireless devices such as a mobile phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), or pager in a moving vehicle. The invention receives wireless signals inside a vehicle using a radio frequency (RF) sensor and converts the RF signals into voltage signals. The voltage signals are then compared with known waveforms to determine if the wireless signals indicate a received call, if the received call is answered, a transmitted call, an SMS text message, data associated with internet browsing on a wireless device, or Bluetooth activity.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the number of passengers in a vehicle is monitored. The number of passengers may be determined by discriminating among multiple wireless signals, or may be determined by using various vehicle sensors, including seat belt sensors, seat weight sensors, airbag sensors, tire pressure sensors, and others.

Further features of the present invention, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. Additionally, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the drawing in which the reference number first appears.

FIG. 1 is a chart comparing the percentage of events not detected among adult and teenage drivers while placing a phone call and under regular driving conditions;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an RF sensing device for detecting wireless signals in a moving vehicle;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a directional RF sensing device for detecting wireless signals in a moving vehicle;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of multiple RF sensing devices for detecting wireless signals in a moving vehicle;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a processor configured to detect wireless signals in a moving vehicle;

FIG. 6 is a state diagram for the detection of wireless signals in a moving vehicle;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a method for detecting wireless signals in a moving vehicle;

FIG. 8 is a waveform of a TDMA received voice call;

FIG. 9 is a waveform of a TDMA transmit voice call;

FIG. 10 is a waveform of a TDMA received unanswered voice call;

FIG. 11 is a waveform of a TDMA received and answered voice call;

FIG. 12 is a waveform of a TDMA transmit voice call;

FIG. 13 is a waveform of a TDMA transmit voice call;

FIG. 14 is a waveform of a TDMA SMS text message;

FIG. 15 is a waveform of a TDMA SMS sending text message;

FIG. 16 is a waveform of a TDMA SMS receiving text message;

FIG. 17 is a waveform of a TDMA SMS sending text message;

FIG. 18 is a waveform of a TDMA SMS sending text message;

FIG. 19 is a waveform of a CDMA sending data;

FIG. 20 is a waveform of a CDMA sending data;

FIG. 21 is a waveform of a CDMA sending data;

FIG. 22 is a waveform of a TDMA surfing the web;

FIG. 23 is a waveform of a TDMA surfing the web;

FIG. 24 is a waveform of a TDMA surfing the web;

FIG. 25 is a waveform of a TDMA surfing the web;

FIG. 26 is a waveform of a TDMA surfing the web;

FIG. 27 is a waveform of a TDMA mobile phone at 900 and 0° to sensing antenna;

FIG. 28 is a waveform of Bluetooth discovery mode; and

FIG. 29 is a waveform of Bluetooth discovery mode.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A system for detecting the use of wireless devices in a moving vehicle includes an input for receiving signals indicative of wireless transmissions, a processor for characterizing the received signals, and an output for mobile device use notification. Wireless devices include, for example, mobile phones, wireless messaging devices, personal digital assistants (“PDA”), data communication devices, and the like.

Many different strategies may be employed for the detection of wireless transmissions. For example, in some implementations, an antenna is used to receive wireless signals. When wireless signals are received, they are characterized to determine their nature. For example, a mobile phone periodically broadcasts information even when it is not in use. Accordingly, the system is capable of differentiating various transmissions using signal processing techniques, such as the following: (1) filtering the received signals; (2) detecting identifying characteristics of the received signals; (3) performing a statistical analysis to determine the most likely signal characterization; (4) neural networks; (5) and the like. In this manner, actual use can be differentiated from receipt of text messages, receipt of emails, voicemail notification, cell handoffs and control signaling, etc.

When a single antenna is used, it can be difficult to differentiate transmissions from inside the vehicle and transmissions from mobile devices outside the vehicle. Further, a single antenna may make it difficult to determine whether a mobile device is being used by the driver or a passenger. Accordingly, in some embodiments, multiple sensors are used together with signal processing to determine the location of the transmission source. For example, two or more antennas, microphones, or other sensors can be used to each receive the same transmission. Using known signal processing techniques, the differences between the amplitude and phase of the received signals can be used to calculate the location of the transmission source. In this manner, it is possible to differentiate mobile device use by the driver from mobile device use by a passenger or by someone external to the vehicle.

Once cell phone use is detected, appropriate notifications can be made. The notifications sent by the system can be varied depending on the intended implementation. For example, in a teenage driver safety mentoring system, notifications can be sent to parents whenever cell phone is used in a moving car. Implementations may include one or more of the following: (1) notifying the driver of unsafe mobile device utilization in a moving vehicle; and (2) notifying someone other than the driver (e.g., a parent, insurance company, parole officer, police, and the like) of unsafe mobile device utilization in a moving vehicle.

Various implementations of systems and methods for detecting the use of mobile devices are described herein below. In one implementation, a device receives wireless signals inside a vehicle using a radio frequency (RF) sensor and converts the RF signals into voltage signals. The voltage signals are then compared with known waveforms to determine if the wireless signals indicate a received call, if the received call is answered, a transmitted call, an SMS text message, data associated with internet browsing on a wireless device, or Bluetooth activity.

Determining Mobile Device Usage

Referring now to FIG. 2, a device is provided to detect the use of mobile devices in a moving vehicle. A driver's cell phone 201 broadcasts and receives wireless signals. Similarly, another cell phone 203 is located nearby, either with a passenger in the same vehicle or in a nearby vehicle. While driver's cell phone 201 and nearby cell phone 203 are both cell phones, one or both could be another wireless communications device, such as a personal digital assistant (PDA). Alternatively, one or both of cell phones 201 and 203 could be a Bluetooth hands-free device that communicates wirelessly with a master cell phone located near the Bluetooth device. Bluetooth, as is known in the art, is a wireless communications standard used in short-range communications.

Referring again to FIG. 2, a power detector 205 receives wireless signals through its antenna, powered by a power supply 207. The antenna is preferably tuned to the quad-band frequencies used by wireless devices, which are 850, 900, 1800, and 1900 MHz, which includes TDMA, GSM, and CDMA standards, as are known in the art. The power detector 205 outputs a voltage waveform 209. The voltage waveforms are used to determine the use of the mobile phone 201 or 203. Received amplitude levels of the wireless signals are used to determine if the mobile phone is that of the driver or that of another nearby user, such as a passenger or a nearby driver or passenger in a different vehicle.

As shown in FIG. 2, the driver cell phone 201 is located within approximately 2 feet of the power detector 205, while the nearby cell phone 203 is located approximately 4-8 feet from the power detector 205.

Using a simplified version of the free space loss equation, the received power for the two different cell phones, 201 and 203, can be calculated. With isotropic (omni-directional) transmit and receive antennas having 0 dBi gain, distance d=2 feet, transmit frequency f=900 MHz, transmit power=4 watts, transmit distance greater than a wavelength thus prompting far-field equations, the free space loss is given as:

$\begin{array}{c}\mathrm{Free}\mathrm{space}\mathrm{loss}\left(\mathrm{dB}\right)=36.56+20\log \left(d/5280\right)+20\log \left(1\right)\\ =36.56+20\log \left(2/5280\right)+20\log \left(900\right)\\ =27.2\mathrm{dB}\end{array}$

Thus, the received power is calculated as:

$\begin{array}{c}\mathrm{Received}\mathrm{antenna}\mathrm{power}\left(\mathrm{dB}\right)=20\log \left(\mathrm{transmit}\mathrm{power}\right)-\mathrm{free}\mathrm{space}\mathrm{loss}\\ =20\log \left(4\right)-27.2\\ =-15\mathrm{dB}\end{array}$

This decibel level converts to approximately 2V in the log-voltage converter. Doubling the distance to 4 feet results in 6 dB less, or −21 dB, which converts to 1.3V. That is approximately 200 mV per foot of distance from the receiver.

Using an isotropic receive antenna, various other factors affect received power level. Examples of these factors include multi-path effects, the type of radio, the distance from a tower, and phone orientation. More specifically, multi-path effects include reflections off of objects causing standing waves. TDMA (time division multiple access) and CDMA (code division multiple access) cell phones have different transmission power levels. As a cell phone moves away from a cell tower, the cell phone increases transmission power, and vice versa. Also, when a cell phone is held vertically or at an angle, the power transmission level changes, as power radiates mainly away from the head, usually in a cardioid shape. All of these factors combine to make received power levels of a driver's cell phone or of a nearby cell phone difficult to distinguish with an isotropic antenna. With a directional antenna, such as an antenna that attenuates driver side-to-side RF power by at least 10 dBi, many of these conflicting power levels are able to be more easily differentiated. Various power conditions are shown in the table below:

Effect Description               Typical Variability
Phone orientation                +/−6 dB or +/−0.25 volts
Multi-path effects               +/−6 dB or +/−0.25 volts
Distance from a tower            +/−10 dB or +/−0.4 volts
TDMA/CDMA radio                  +/−6 dB or +/−0.25 volts
Driver distance from power detector +/−5 dB or +/−0.2 volts

A minimum power threshold prevents the power detector from measuring all received signals. Instead, the power detector only converts wireless signals of nearby cell phones into voltage waveforms. The minimum power threshold can be a moving or learning threshold. Additionally, two or more thresholds can be used to discriminate between outside cell phones, passenger cell phones, and driver cell phones.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a directional antenna illustrating in more detail the concepts described above. In FIG. 3, driver cell phone antenna 301 and passenger cell phone antenna 303 are located a distance d1 and d2 from receive antenna 305, respectively. The receive antenna 305 is directional and favors the driver cell phone signal by at least 10 dBi over the passenger cell phone signal. The output voltage Vd is used to differentiate between the driver signal and the passenger signal. Two thresholds, Vdt and Vpt, are calibrated to detect the driver cell phone voltage and passenger cell phone voltage, respectively. For the driver signal, Vd<Vdt, and for the passenger signal, Vd>Vpt. Thus, the directional antenna 305 can be used to determine whether a received signal is from the driver cell phone 301 or the passenger cell phone 303 by comparing Vd to Vdt and Vpt.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown an alternate antenna design. The driver antenna 401 and the passenger antenna 403 broadcast and are received by a first antenna 405 and a second antenna 407, which are identical antennas located some distance apart. The spacing between first antenna 405 and second antenna 407 allows the two antennas, in combination, to determine the location of various received signals. The driver antenna 401 is located a distance d1 from the two antennas 405 and 407, while the passenger antenna 403 is located a distance d2 from the two antennas 405 and 407. The distance d1 is approximately the same between the driver antenna 401 and the first antenna 405 and the driver antenna 401 and the second antenna 407, because two antennas 405 and 407 are located near enough to each other that the difference between the driver antenna 401 and the first antenna 405 and the driver antenna 401 and the second antenna 407 is negligible.

The output waveform 409 is the difference between the voltage from the first antenna V1 and the voltage from the second antenna V2. As described above with respect to FIG. 3, the output voltage Vd is used to differentiate between the driver signal and the passenger signal. Two thresholds, Vdt and Vpt, are calibrated to detect the driver cell phone voltage and passenger cell phone voltage, respectively. For the driver signal, Vd<Vdt, and for the passenger signal, Vd>Vpt.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is illustrated therein a processor that uses the voltage waveform 209 as shown in FIG. 2 to determine the exact cell phone usage. In FIG. 5, the input voltage Vd is passed through a low pass filter 501 to a 10-12 bit ADC 503 and a comparator 505. By waveform analysis, a voltage trigger level is created by a 10-12 bit DAC 507 and is passed to a comparator trigger level input 509. The processor may be an FPGA, ASIC, or other logic device, as is known in the art.

In more detail, an input voltage Vd, in the form of pulses, is passed through a low pass filter 501, e.g., a 2nd order Sallen-Key with fc=5 KHz. The voltage waveform Vd as described above of approximately 4 mV per 0.1 dB, ranges from 0.2V or −60 dB to 2.4V or −5 dB. The waveform Vd is passed into comparator 505, and the transitions crossing the comparator trigger level create interrupts on both positive and negative edge crossings. The time between the positive and negative crossing interrupts is the pulse duration. During each active pulse duration, the ADC 503 measures the average pulse amplitude. The average amplitude is used for differentiation between the driver, passenger, and other nearby cell phone signals. The average amplitude is also used for identification of amplitude variations from phone proximity, orientation, and multi-path.

Using a comparator and state machines with stored memory, a table lookup, digital signal processing, neural network processing, or other method, the processor determines whether the voltage waveform indicates a voice call, a text message, internet browsing, Bluetooth activity, or other wireless activity. The processor also uses state-machine confidence counters to determine confidences about waveform determinations. Confidence counter thresholds, which may be set at any level and may be adaptive, represent a “high likeness” level of detection of a certain type or types of waveform. Confidence counters are weighted toward the “no confidence” or “zero confidence” state. Confidence counter outcomes map, in combination with each other, to waveform identification tables. Additionally, over time, the processor learns the particular cell phone voltage pattern and movement.

Referring now to FIG. 6, there is illustrated a state flow diagram of a preferred embodiment of the state machine concept described above. The processor of FIG. 5 measures pulse duration and pulse amplitude. The sampled waveform 601 is then compared to look-up tables 603. The likeliest pulse type 605 is determined by the measured pulse width time, inter-pulse times, and by feedback from other processes. The likeliest pulse group type 607 is determined by timing behind groups of likeliest pulse types 605 and by feedback from other processes. The likeliest pulse group collection type 609 is determined by timing behind a collection of pulse group types 607 and by feedback from other processes. The likeliest waveform decision 611 is determined by the likeliest types that were determined by the other processes. All of these processors include comparator trigger level calculations.

The processor can store local data relating to cell phone usage, as well as store a library of known cell phone wireless signals converted to voltage waveforms. Additionally, the processor may communicate with a remote server in order to update a library of known cell phone wireless signals converted to voltage waveforms. The server may also store information relating to measured cell phone usage, backing up the memory of the processor or replacing the memory. In this way, over time, the library of stored voltage waveforms can be adapted or updated.

Power detector 205 of FIG. 2 can include additional sensors or communication interfaces to receive additional data. For example, power detector 205 may include a directional microphone to monitor voice sounds and other sounds, in order to more precisely determine location and user of a mobile phone. Power detector 205 may additionally include a motion sensor, such as a global positioning (GPS) device, accelerometer, or other motion sensing device, that monitors speed and/or location of the power detector. The speed and/or location may be stored and correlated with the voltage waveforms indicative of mobile phone usage.

Power detector 205 of FIG. 2 can also be used to detect wireless signals emitted from a transmitter attached to the vehicle rather than held by a driver or passenger. Some vehicles include docking or mounting stations for mobile devices and control the operation of the mobile device upon receiving directions from the driver or passenger.

The power detector 205, as well as additional sensors, and power supply 207, voltage output 209, and other components are preferably located in a single housing, or may be located in multiple housings. The single housing may be preferably affixed to the windshield of a vehicle, or may be located above or below the driver.

Indirect Mobile Device Usage Detection

In some implementations, mobile phone usage may be determined indirectly. A camera sensor similar to a blink rate sensor may be used to look for a driver's hand to either ear. Another embodiment for detecting cell phone use would be to monitor the vehicle's average path deviation per a given time and/or distance interval using a high precision positioning system, i.e., DGPS, WAAS, RTK or other equivalent. The positioning system would be used to compare normal driving without communication use to the driving performance while using a communication device, e.g. monitor weaving and lane departure.

Determining Passenger Numbers

Referring again to FIG. 2, the power detector 205 can be used to measure two or more wireless signals and convert the signals to voltage waveforms. Using the voltage waveforms, the number of nearby cell phones can be determined.

Referring now to FIG. 7, there is shown a flowchart describing an overall method of using the system described above with reference to FIGS. 2-6.

Initially, an antenna receives wireless signals 701. Then the wireless signals are converted to a voltage waveform 703. Next, the voltage waveform is analyzed to determine the location and number of discrete wireless signals 705. Finally, a number of mobile phone users in a vehicle is determined using the analyzed voltage waveform 707.

Additionally, other sensors can be used to determine number of passengers in a vehicle. Each vehicle includes a sensing bus that communicates with various vehicle sensors, including a seat belt sensor, a weight sensor in a passenger seat used for air bag deployment, and other sensors.

The power detector 205 can also store passenger number data and correlate this information with speed and/or location data received from the motion sensor. In this way, a vehicle with a restricted number of passengers, such as a vehicle driven by a teenage or a vehicle driven by a driver in fleet with passenger restrictions, can be monitored.

Determining Waveforms

Received wireless signals converted into waveforms distinctly show the type of cell phone usage. Measured voltage waveforms are shown below in FIGS. 8-29, illustrating various voltage waveforms in TDMA, GSM, and CDMA wireless systems under various circumstances, including received and transmitted calls, answered and unanswered calls, text messaging, internet browsing, and Bluetooth activity. Voltage waveforms for other frequency wireless signals including satellite band, handheld radios, etc., may also be measured.

In FIGS. 8-29, a Q-wave antenna tuned to 1370 MHz, midway between 800 and 1900 MHz, is connected with an SMA connector to a Linear Tech 748A RF power log-voltage detector powered by a 5V power supply. The power detector has a 0 to 60 dB dynamic range, which corresponds to a minimum measurable signal level of −60 dB converted to 0.2 volts and a maximum measurable level of 0 dB converted to 3 volts.

As shown in FIGS. 8-29, answered and unanswered received calls have different waveforms, while data waveforms for text messages and internet browsing are distinguishable from voice calls. Thus, by comparing received voltage waveforms to known voltage waveforms, exact mobile phone usage can be determined.

Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9, the waveform for a TDMA voice call is shown. In FIG. 8, a received voice call has a voltage above the threshold, with short voltage peaks and tall voltage peaks. There is approximately 4.5 ms between short peaks and approximately 9 ms between tall peaks. In FIG. 9, a transmitted voice call has a voltage above the threshold, with short voltage peaks and tall voltage peaks. There is approximately 4.5 ms between short peaks and approximately 9 ms between tall peaks.

Referring now to FIGS. 10 and 11, the waveform for a TDMA received voice call is shown. In FIG. 10, a received but not answered voice call has a voltage above the threshold, with short voltage peaks and tall voltage peaks. There is a regular non-bursting pattern with approximately 4.5 ms between short peaks and approximately 9 ms between tall peaks. In FIG. 11, a received and answered voice call has a voltage above the threshold, with short voltage peaks and tall voltage peaks. There is a coarse bursting pattern with approximately 4.5 ms between short peaks and approximately 9 ms between tall peaks.

Referring now to FIGS. 12 and 13, the waveform for a TDMA transmitted voice call is shown. In FIG. 12, a transmitted voice call has a voltage above the threshold, with short voltage peaks and tall voltage peaks. There is a fine bursting pattern with approximately 4.5 ms between short peaks and approximately 9 ms between tall peaks. In FIG. 13, a transmitted voice call has a voltage above the threshold, with short voltage peaks and tall voltage peaks. There is a fine bursting pattern with approximately 4.5 ms between short peaks and approximately 9 Ins between tall peaks.

Referring now to FIGS. 14-18, the waveform for a TDMA SMS text message is shown. In FIG. 14, a sent text message has a voltage above the threshold, with short voltage peaks and tall voltage peaks. There is a coarse bursting pattern with approximately 4.5 ms between short peaks and approximately 9 ms between tall peaks. In FIG. 15, a sent text message has a voltage above the threshold, with short voltage peaks and tall voltage peaks. There is a coarse bursting pattern with approximately 4.5 ms between short peaks and approximately 9 ms between tall peaks. In FIG. 16, a received text message has a voltage above the threshold, with short voltage peaks and tall voltage peaks. There is a coarse bursting pattern with approximately 4.5 ms between short peaks and approximately 9 ms between tall peaks. In FIG. 17, a sent text message has a voltage above the threshold, with short voltage peaks and tall voltage peaks. There is a coarse bursting pattern with approximately 4.5 ms between short peaks and approximately 9 ms between tall peaks. In FIG. 18, a sent text message has a voltage above the threshold, with short voltage peaks and tall voltage peaks. There is a coarse bursting pattern with approximately 4.5 ms between short peaks and approximately 9 ms between tall peaks.

Referring now to FIGS. 19-21, the waveform for a CDMA text message is shown. In FIG. 19, a sent text message has a voltage above the threshold, with voltage peaks. There is a coarse bursting pattern with approximately 3 ms between peaks. In FIG. 20, a sent text message has a voltage above the threshold, with voltage peaks. There is a coarse bursting pattern with approximately 3 ms between peaks. In FIG. 21, a sent text message has a voltage above the threshold, with voltage peaks. There is a coarse bursting pattern with approximately 3 ms between peaks.

Referring now to FIGS. 22-26, the waveform for a TDMA data transmission during internet browsing is shown. In FIG. 22, a sent text message has a voltage above the threshold, with short voltage peaks and tall voltage peaks. There is a coarse bursting pattern with approximately 4.5 ms between large peaks. In FIG. 23, a sent text message has a voltage above the threshold, with short voltage peaks and tall voltage peaks. There is a coarse bursting pattern with approximately 4.5 ms between large peaks. In FIG. 24, a sent text message has a voltage above the threshold, with short voltage peaks and tall voltage peaks. There is a coarse bursting pattern with approximately 4.5 ms between large peaks. In FIG. 25, a sent text message has a voltage above the threshold, with short voltage peaks and tall voltage peaks. There is a coarse bursting pattern with approximately 4.5 ms between large peaks. In FIG. 26, a sent text message has a voltage above the threshold, with short voltage peaks and tall voltage peaks. There is a coarse bursting pattern with approximately 4.5 ms between large peaks.

Referring now to FIG. 27, there is shown a TDMA waveform when a phone is used at 90° and at 0° to the sensing antenna. As shown, there is a 5-10 dB amplitude variation in signal strength, translated to a voltage change, depending upon the orientation of the mobile phone to the sensing antenna.

Referring now to FIGS. 28 and 29, the waveform for Bluetooth discovery mode is shown. In FIG. 28, the Bluetooth discovery mode has a voltage above the threshold, with short voltage peaks and tall voltage peaks. There is a bursting pattern with 4-5 large peaks every 40 ms with approximately 5 ms between peaks. In FIG. 29, the Bluetooth discovery mode has a voltage above the threshold, with short voltage peaks and tall voltage peaks. There is a bursting pattern with 4-5 large peaks every 40 ms with approximately 5 ms between peaks.

While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only and not limitation. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A device for detecting wireless signals in a vehicle, comprising:

a first antenna operable to receive a wireless signal;

a second antenna operable to receive the wireless signal;

a power detector, located in a vehicle, connected to the first antenna and the second antenna, the power detector operable to convert the wireless signal into a voltage waveform;

a motion sensor; and

a processor communicatively coupled to the power detector and the motion sensor, wherein the processor is operable to: receive the voltage waveform; compare the voltage waveform to at least one pre-determined pattern; determine mobile device usage based at least in part on the comparison of the voltage waveform to the at least one pre-determined pattern; and correlate the determined mobile device usage with motion data indicating that the vehicle is in motion received from the motion sensor.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the power detector is further operable to determine a magnitude of the wireless signal.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the power detector converts the wireless signal into the voltage waveform in response to determining that the magnitude of the wireless signal exceeds a power threshold.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the first antenna is omnidirectional.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the power detector is further operable to

determine a first magnitude of the wireless signal received at the first antenna; and

determine a second magnitude of the wireless signal received at the second antenna.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the power detector is further operable to determine the wireless signal is associated with a mobile device in use inside of the vehicle based at least in part upon the difference between the first magnitude and the second magnitude.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein the power detector is further operable to determine the wireless signal is associated with a mobile device in use by a driver of the vehicle based at least in part upon the difference between the first magnitude and the second magnitude.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further operable to:

determine a combination pulse amplitude associated with the voltage waveform; and

determine the wireless signal is associated with a mobile device in use inside of the vehicle based at least in part upon the combination pulse amplitude.

9. The device of claim 1, further comprising a seat belt sensor and wherein the processor is further operable to:

correlate seat belt sensor data received from the seat belt sensor with the determined mobile phone usage; and

determine a location of a user based at least in part upon the correlation of the seat belt sensor data with the determined mobile phone usage.

10. A method for detecting wireless signals in a vehicle, comprising:

receiving a wireless signal at a first antenna;

receiving the wireless signal at a second antenna;

converting, using a power detector located in a vehicle, the wireless signal into a voltage waveform, wherein the power detector is connected to the first antenna and the second antenna;

receiving, at a processor, the voltage waveform;

comparing the voltage waveform to at least one pre-determined pattern;

determining mobile device usage based at least in part on the comparison of the voltage waveform to the at least one pre-determined pattern; and

correlating the determined mobile device usage with motion data indicating that the vehicle is in motion received from a motion sensor.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising determining a magnitude of the wireless signal.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein converting the wireless signal into the voltage waveform is in response to determining that the magnitude of the wireless signal exceeds a power threshold.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the first antenna is omnidirectional.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining a first magnitude of the wireless signal received at the first antenna; and

determining a second magnitude of the wireless signal received at the second antenna.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising determining the wireless signal is associated with a mobile device in use inside of the vehicle based at least in part upon the difference between the first magnitude and the second magnitude.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising determining the wireless signal is associated with a mobile device in use by a driver of the vehicle based at least in part upon the difference between the first magnitude and the second magnitude.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining a combination pulse amplitude associated with the voltage waveform; and

determining the wireless signal is associated with a mobile device in use inside of the vehicle based at least in part upon the combination pulse amplitude.

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

correlating seat belt sensor data received from a seat belt sensor with the determined mobile phone usage; and

determining a location of a user based at least in part upon the correlation of the seat belt sensor data with the determined mobile phone usage.

19. A wireless signal detection system, comprising:

a first antenna operable to receive a wireless signal, wherein the first antenna is omnidirectional;

a second antenna operable to receive the wireless signal;

a power detector, located in a vehicle, connected to the first antenna and the second antenna, the power detector operable to: determine a first magnitude of the wireless signal received at the first antenna; convert the wireless signal into a voltage waveform in response to determining the first magnitude of the wireless signal exceeds a power threshold;

a motion sensor; and

a processor communicatively coupled to the power detector and the motion sensor, wherein the processor operable to: receive the voltage waveform; compare the voltage waveform to at least one pre-determined pattern; determine mobile device usage based at least in part on the comparison of the voltage waveform to the at least one pre-determined pattern; and correlate the determined mobile device usage with motion data indicating that the vehicle is in motion received from the motion sensor.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the power detector is further operable to determine a second magnitude of the wireless signal received at the second antenna.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the power detector is further operable to determine that the wireless signal is associated with a mobile device in use inside of the vehicle based at least in part upon the difference between the first magnitude and the second magnitude.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the processor is further operable to:

determine a combination pulse amplitude associated with the voltage waveform; and

determine the wireless signal is associated with a mobile device in use inside of the vehicle based at least in part upon the combination pulse amplitude.

23. The system of claim 19, further comprising a seat belt sensor and wherein the processor is operable to:

correlate seat belt sensor data received from the seat belt sensor with the determined mobile phone usage; and

determine a location of a user based at least in part upon the correlation of the seat belt sensor data with the determined mobile phone usage.