©  Tango  Networks,  Inc.  2014  |  www.tango-­‐networks.com  |  info@tango-­‐networks.com  

     Responsible  Driving  System  (RDS)  Technology  designed  to  reduce  Distracted  Driving  Background  

Distracted Driving has become a worldwide concern. It is considered one of the most serious, life-threatening practices on roadways worldwide, with almost 8,000 crashes related to distracted driving occurring daily in the United States alone.

While the subject of distracted driving remains top-of-mind with legislators worldwide, it can be argued that current and upcoming regulations will not alter user behavior.

Instead, comprehensive technology to address the use of mobile phones when operating a moving vehicle is needed, akin to the requirements for using seatbelts.

A universal solution to this important issue must be fundamentally capable of being deployed across all mobile devices, while placing accountability for using a mobile device while operating a moving vehicle with the target user, in a manner that is enforceable.

Similar to seat belts, the target user must always be able to bypass the system for emergency or other acceptable situations. However in the case of distracted driving, the decision to bypass must be deliberate and recorded, serving as a binding and verifiable contract of accountability.

Existing  Solutions  Currently available solutions in the market to address distracted driving employ "over-the-top" technologies - requiring a specific mobile device running a specific Operating System, and are therefore limited to select smartphones.

These solutions attempt to prevent a target user from calling and/or texting when they are in a moving vehicle.

To do this, they all require a software client that must be downloaded, installed and activated on the target user’s

smartphone which must also support either a software-accessible GPS function or be connected via a Bluetooth wireless connection to a separate module plugged into the vehicle’s OBD port.

With these “over-the-top” solutions, policy restrictions are managed and enforced on the target user’s device - not in the network cloud where they are secure. These solutions are not considered enforceable or verifiable.

Other issues remain with these “over-the-top” solutions. They typically drain battery faster since they require the use of Bluetooth and/or GPS to be activated. Some of the solutions address these problems by limiting the time the GPS device is active. In this case it can take several minutes to reactivate the restrictions upon a vehicle restart.

In addition, the software clients often stop working unexpectedly, requiring the device to be reset. Some of the solutions allow the target user to temporarily unblock the phone by solving a timed puzzle, with the assumption that the driver would not perform this dangerous task while operating the vehicle.

However the greatest concern is that these solutions do not work with the majority of the billions of mobile phones deployed worldwide.

Tango Networks has developed a solution to address these issues.

Responsible  Safe  Driving  (RDS)  Solution  The patent-pending RDS Solution enables Safe Driving Service Providers (SD-SP) to manage and control calling and texting when a target user is in a moving vehicle. Policies and restrictions are flexibly and dynamically managed and controlled by the SD-SP in the network cloud - not on the mobile device.

 

©  Tango  Networks,  Inc.  2014  |  www.tango-­‐networks.com  |  info@tango-­‐networks.com  

The technology is based on Tango Networks’ unique federated design, enabling any phone operating on a participating mobile network to be managed by a SD-SP.

With RDS, mobile carriers as well as third-party Safe Driving Service Providers can offer comprehensive distracted driving services for their subscribers tailored to specific market segments, including parents with teen drivers; insurance companies for policy holders; commercial and/or government fleets for taxi drivers, trucking operators, and public transportation operators.

Additionally, the RDS solution can control calling and texting for all mobile phones located within a specific school or construction zone.

In contrast to “over-the-top” solutions, RDS is a network-based solution that works with any phone operating on a participating mobile network, with no software client required and no changes in user behavior.

The solution is enforceable, verifiable and cannot be circumvented by the target user. Policies and restrictions can be dynamically changed in the network cloud and instantly applied to the target user’s subscription, based on location, local regulations, Time-of-day, Day-of-week, driving record, traffic information, or other information.

Opt-­‐In  vs.  Mandatory  enforcement  The RDS solution supports “Opt-In” and “Mandatory” enforcement models.

The Opt-In model applies only to subscribers of RDS service. The Opt-In solution employs an in-vehicle-based mobile telematics module that is associated with the target users’ mobile subscriptions. The telematics module is a commercial-off-the-shelf plug-in accessory to the vehicle’s OBD port (all vehicles 1996 or later), and can also be integrated as a software-only upgrade to existing on-board telematics modules from automotive manufacturers. The telematics module represents a machine-to-machine mobile subscription that reports vehicle information to RDS in the network, and operates independently of the target users’ mobile phones. There is no in-vehicle connection required between target user mobile phones and the telematics module.

The Mandatory model applies to all mobile subscribers, irrespective of whether or not they are subscribed to the RDS service. All mobile phones within a defined zone will be subjected to policy restrictions under

specified conditions, providing an enforceable solution for controlling mobile phones within specific restriction zones, such as school zones or construction zones.

The Mandatory solution does not require an in-vehicle telematics module. Instead, the system employs femtocells within the restriction zone. The solution provides a proactive means for safety enforcement for distracted driving that can also provide significant cost-savings to school districts, municipalities and governments.

Accountable  Bypass  with  Recorded  Consent  The overriding principle behind the RDS solution is that fundamental responsibility for operating a mobile phone while operating a moving vehicle lies with the target user.

The system utilizes the Abrazo policy engine’s customizable set of enforcement policies to enable the target user to bypass the system at anytime while the vehicle is in motion, such that a call or text message can still be routed.

However, to proceed with bypassing the system the user must take deliberate action by responding to a prompt for reason with confirmation. This decision response is then recorded in the network cloud along with session details, and serves as a verifiable binding contract of accountability.

Example reasons can include an urgent text or call that must be routed (note that emergency calls to 911 always route); the target user is connected via a legal hands-free device; or the target user is not currently the operator of the vehicle in motion.

The system can also enable the target user to take alternate actions. For example, the target user can elect to place an incoming call on hold until the vehicle comes to a stop. Calls that were begun when the vehicle was at rest that subsequently continue when the vehicle begins to move can provide the target user with warnings and options for alternate actions, such as to place the call on hold until the vehicle is stopped, or reroute the other party to the target user’s voicemail.  

Tango  Networks  RDS  -­‐  A  Comprehensive  Solution  for  Addressing  Distracted  Driving  with  any  Mobile  Phone.