PATROLL Winning Submission

U.S. Patent No. 9,713,994

Claim 1 of the patent-at-issue, U.S. Patent No. 9,713,994 (“Act-Ip”), which was filed on
Nov. 15, 2016 and claimed a Mar. 18, 2015 priority date, is generally directed to a safety control
system for using applications in vehicles. More specifically, the vehicle safety control system
comprises a telematic device having at least one input and one output, at least one sensor
operable to sense at least one condition related to vehicle operation and providing data indicating
at least one distracting feature, and a controller in communication with all and configured to
modify and/or limit input and/or output of the telematic device to a driver when it determines the
at least one condition is within a threshold.

The primary reference, U.S. Patent No. 6,415,224 (“Alpine”), which was filed on Feb. 6,
2001 and without an earlier claimed priority date, is directed to a display method and apparatus
for a navigation system for displaying information necessary for guiding a driver of a vehicle
that is designed to promote safe driving by producing different display forms and contents
depending on whether the vehicle is in motion or stationary.

The secondary reference, U.S. Patent Publication No. 20020141600 (“Eastman”), which
was filed on Mar. 29, 2001 and without an earlier claimed priority date, is directed to a system
for controlling information received and delivered in a moving vehicle, wherein the information
being either received or delivered is either disabled or modified according to vehicle motion
sensor data.

A sample claim chart comparing claim 1 of Act-Ip to Alpine and Eastman is provided
below.

1

US9713994 (“Act-Ip”)
1. (pre) A safety control system for
vehicles comprising:
a telematic device running at least
one software application and having
at least one input and at least one
output;
A. US6415224 (“Alpine”)
B. US20020141600 (“Eastman”)
A. US6415224
“The display method and apparatus of the navigation system
is designed to promote safe driving by differentiating display
formats and contents depending on whether the vehicle is in
motion or stationary.” Alpine at 3: 56-59
B. US20020141600
“The present invention has the advantages of providing safety
features that may be desirable or required in order to
operate a moving vehicle. These features reduce or
eliminate distractions caused by excessive audio and visual
information delivered by an electronic device that requires
interactive use.” Eastman at par. 0008
A. US6415224
“As noted above, the operation of the navigation system, such
as inputting the destination, requires the driver to look at the
information on the display screen such as shown in FIGS.
2A-2C, or scroll the display such as shown in FIGS. 2D and
2E, or even input the destination through the key board
such as shown in FIG. 2F.” Alpine at 3: 27-32
“Referring back to FIG. 3, the navigation system further
includes a processor (CPU) 49 for controlling an overall
operation of the navigation system, a ROM 50 for storing
various control programs such as a route search program
and a map matching program necessary for navigation
control, a RAM 51 for storing a processing result such as a
guide route, a voice guiding unit 52 for guiding a traveling
direction at a crossroad with spoken instructions, a display
controller 53 for generating map images (such as a map guide
image and an arrow guide image) on the basis of the map
information, a VRAM 54 for storing the images generated by
the display controller 53, a menu/list generating unit 55 for
generating menu image/various list images, a synthesizing
unit 56 for synthesizing images from the VRAM 54 and the
menu/list generating unit 55, a monitor (display) 57, and a bus
58 for interfacing the above listed units in the navigation
system.” Alpine at 7: 9-24
“In the block diagram of FIG. 3, the navigation system
includes a map storage medium 41 such as a CD-ROM or
2
(cont.)
a telematic device running at least
one software application and having
at least one input and at least one
output;
at least one sensor operable to sense
at least one condition related to a
driving environment and data
providing information indicating at
least one distracting feature for at
least one software application;
DVD (hereafter “DVD”) for storing map information, . . ., a
GPS receiver, and etc., . . . . Alpine at 6: 35-44
B. US20020141600
“There is also shown any portable electronic device 40, or
any electronic device 40 permanently installed in the
automobile, having a processor 60 which is electrically
connected to the main processor 30. The connection 70
between the two processors 30 and 60 may be either wireless
or hardwired. The electronic device 40 further includes a
display 80 for displaying information to the occupants of
the automobile. This display 80 may be a touch-sensitive
display or conventional display. The device 40, either
portable or permanently installed, may be wirelessly
connected to the Internet for permitting reception and
transmission of data thereon.” Eastman at par. 0014
“Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a specific embodiment of
the electronic device 40, a car stereo, having a wireless
Internet connection, volume 90 and channel 100 control
knobs for controlling the sound volume and channel
selection, and the display 80 discussed hereinabove.”
Eastman at par. 0015
“An additional feature of the current embodiment is that the
inputs to the car stereo 40, such as the touch screen input 80
or input from mechanical devices, may be controlled using
the sensed motion data in the same manner as for the control of
the visual information described hereinabove.” Eastman at par.
0018
“Referring to FIG. 2, a still additional feature of the current
embodiment is that the audio output 1 10, such as speaker
output, or voice input 120, such input as a microphone, of
the car stereo 40 may be controlled (disabled, substituted,
reduced or modified) using the sensed motion data.” Eastman
at par. 0019
A. US6415224
“The navigation system determines whether the vehicle is in
motion or stationary based on, for example, a signal from the
vehicle speed sensor in the point measuring device 43.” Alpine
at 6: 48-50
“As has been described, according to the present invention, the
3
(cont.)
at least one sensor operable to sense
at least one condition related to a
driving environment and data
providing information indicating at
least one distracting feature for at
least one software application;
a controller in communication with
the sensor and the data and the
software application and the
telematic device, the controller
configured to prevent the at least
one application output from being
provided to the driver in the original
format of the at least one output and to
provide the at least one output to the
driver in a different format, and
navigation system is designed to promote safe driving by
differentiating display forms and contents depending on
whether the vehicle is in motion or stationary. When the
vehicle is stationary, the navigation system can perform all
of the functions. In contrast, when the vehicle is in motion,
the navigation system provides simplified and limited
functions to ease the operations. The number of key strokes
required for operating the navigation system is reduced when
the vehicle is in motion.” Alpine at 13: 38-46
“Thus, the navigation system may distract the driver's
attention from safe driving. Therefore, for maintain safe
driving, it is necessary to simplify the operation of the
navigation system while the vehicle is in motion.” Alpine at
3: 32-36
B. US20020141600
“The sensor 20 senses or detects motion and sends a signal
to the main processor 30 indicating that the vehicle is in
motion. The main processor 30 then sends a signal to the
processor 60 of the device indicating that the vehicle is in
motion.” Eastman at par. 0020
A. US6415224
“The display apparatus includes means for detecting whether a
vehicle is in motion or stationary and sending a corresponding
signal to a controller of the navigation system, means for
changing a display screen of the navigation system to an in-
motion main menu when the vehicle is in motion and a
menu key is pressed by the driver, means for displaying in-
motion break down menus specifically made for use when
the vehicle is in motion where the break down menus starts
from the in-motion main menu, means for changing the
display screen of the navigation system to a stationary
main menu when the vehicle is stationary and the menu
key is pressed by the driver, and means for displaying
stationary break down menus made for use when the
vehicle is stationary where the stationary break down
menus starts from the stationary main menu. Each of the
in-motion main menu and the in-motion break down menus
displays an item list in one page of a display screen for which a
display scroll function is disabled when the vehicle is in
motion.” Alpine at 4:40-58
“As noted above, the display images and contents in the
4
(cont.)
a controller in communication with
the sensor and the data and the
software application and the
telematic device, the controller
configured to prevent the at least
one application output from being
provided to the driver in the original
format of the at least one output and to
provide the at least one output to the
driver in a different format, and
images vary depending on whether the vehicle is in motion
or stationary.” Alpine at 6: 9-11
B. US20020141600
“The sensor 20 senses or detects motion and sends a signal
to the main processor 30 indicating that the vehicle is in
motion. The main processor 30 then sends a signal to the
processor 60 of the device indicating that the vehicle is in
motion. This processor 60 will then disable or prohibit
operation of the Internet connection. The display 80 of the
car stereo may substitute a limited amount of information,
such as the time and the like shown in FIG. 3, for the
Internet-related information.” Eastman at par. 0020
“Referring to FIG. 2, a still additional feature of the current
embodiment is that the audio output 1 10, such as speaker
output, or voice input 120, such input as a microphone, of
the car stereo 40 may be controlled (disabled, substituted,
reduced or modified) using the sensed motion data. In this
regard, the process is the same as for visual information
except that the audio information is either disabled or
enabled according to the motion status signal received from
the main processor.” Eastman at par. 0019
1. A system for controlling information received in or
transmitted from a moving vehicle comprising:
(a) a sensor for sensing if the vehicle is in motion;
(b) a processor electrically connected to the sensor for
receiving motion data from the sensor, and for directing
operations of the vehicle; and
(c) an electronic component within the vehicle which
delivers information to a user of the electronic component,
wherein the information being either delivered or received
is either disabled or modified by the processor according to
the motion data received from the sensor.
Eastman at claim 1
5
wherein the controller controls when
at least one input into the software
application and at least one output
from the software application are
provided to the driver so that prior
to permitting the driver to access the
input or prior to providing an
output from the software application
on the telematic device to the driver,
the controller determines whether said
at least one condition is within a
threshold and permits the driver to
access said input or provides said
output to said driver only when said
at least one condition is within the
threshold.
A. US6415224
1. A display method of a vehicle navigation system for
assisting a driver to drive the vehicle, comprising the following
steps of:
detecting whether a vehicle is in motion or stationary and
sending a corresponding signal to a controller of the
navigation system; Alpine at claim 1
2. A display method of a vehicle navigation system as defined
in claim 1, wherein a display scroll function is disabled when
the vehicle is in motion. Alpine at claim 2
3. A display method of a vehicle navigation system as defined
in claim 1, wherein the vehicle navigation system disables a
key input method of selecting the destination by inputting
characters or numbers through a key board when the
vehicle is in motion while enabling the key input method
when the vehicle is stationary. .Alpine at claim 3
B. US20020141600
“The sensor 20 senses or detects motion and sends a signal
to the main processor 30 indicating that the vehicle is in
motion. The main processor 30 then sends a signal to the
processor 60 of the device indicating that the vehicle is in
motion. This processor 60 will then disable or prohibit
operation of the Internet connection. The display 80 of the
car stereo may substitute a limited amount of information,
such as the time and the like shown in FIG. 3, for the
Internet-related information.” Eastman at par. 0020
“An additional feature of the current embodiment is that the
inputs to the car stereo 40, such as the touch screen input
80 or input from mechanical devices, may be controlled
using the sensed motion data in the same manner as for the
control of the visual information described hereinabove.
The touch sensitive device 80 may be disabled, or the
information received from the touch-sensitive device 80
may be substituted, reduced, or modified according to the
motion data received from the sensor 20.” Eastman at par.
0018
“Referring to both FIGS. 1 and 2, when the sensor 20 does not
sense motion, it sends a signal to the main processor 30 for
indicating that the vehicle is not in motion. The main
processor 30 then sends a signal to the processor 60 of the
device also indicating that the vehicle is not in motion. This
6
(cont.)
wherein the controller controls when
at least one input into the software
application and at least one output
from the software application are
provided to the driver so that prior
to permitting the driver to access the
input or prior to providing an
output from the software application
on the telematic device to the driver,
the controller determines whether said
at least one condition is within a
threshold and permits the driver to
access said input or provides said
output to said driver only when said
at least one condition is within the
threshold.
processor 60 will then enable or permit operation of the
Internet connection.” Eastman at par. 0016
“Referring to FIG. 2, a still additional feature of the current
embodiment is that the audio output 1 10, such as speaker
output, or voice input 120, such input as a microphone, of
the car stereo 40 may be controlled (disabled, substituted,
reduced or modified) using the sensed motion data. In this
regard, the process is the same as for visual information
except that the audio information is either disabled or
enabled according to the motion status signal received from
the main processor.” Eastman at par.0019
1. A system for controlling information received in or
transmitted from a moving vehicle comprising:
(a) a sensor for sensing if the vehicle is in motion;
(b) a processor electrically connected to the sensor for
receiving motion data from the sensor, and for directing
operations of the vehicle; and
(c) an electronic component within the vehicle which
delivers information to a user of the electronic component,
wherein the information being either delivered or received
is either disabled or modified by the processor according to
the motion data received from the sensor.”
Eastman at claim 1