Apparatus and method for preventing a dangerous user behavior with a mobile communication device using an integrated pedometer

Abstract

One or more embodiments of an apparatus and a method prevent a dangerous user behavior with a mobile communication device with an integrated pedometer. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the integrated pedometer comprises a pedometer sensor and an associated software executed on a CPU and a memory unit of the mobile communication device, wherein the pedometer sensor is configured to detect a user's movements and vibrations to determine whether the user is walking or jogging based on a real-time determination from a sensor threshold value and an operation of the associated software. If the integrated pedometer determines that the user is currently walking or jogging, the associated software can dynamically activate a 'walking lock' or a 'jogging lock,' which prevents, prohibits, and/or limits the usage of certain device functions as long as the user is determined to be walking or jogging by the integrated pedometer.