System And Method For Reducing Distracted Driving By Displaying Driver Status

摘要

This present invention provides a new method of reducing distracted driving associated with texting and phone calls by displaying driver's status as well as estimated time of availability to text message senders and telephone callers. As a result, the method can eliminate many unnecessary or non-urgent text messages and phone calls. The invention also uses the estimated time of availability to help setup a reminder for senders or callers. The system workflow starts from 1 where the person would like to initiate either a phone call or a text message. Then it proceeds to the decision flow 2 where the phone will display the status about whether the person who is going to be contacted is driving or not. If it is not, the sender or caller can move to the 3 to either make a phone call or send a text message. If the person is driving, the system calculates the estimated time of availability 6 when the driver will reach the destination, and also moves to another decision flow 4 where the sender or caller can determine the urgency of the phone event. If it is urgent, the caller or sender moves to 3 again to make a phone call or send a text message. If it is not, the sender or caller will move to 5 where the event of making the phone call or sending text message will be canceled. In the meantime, the system will also move to the function 7 to automatically set up a reminder for the sender or caller, based on the input from 6 where the system will calculate the estimated time of availability if the person is driving.