APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR DETECTING THE PRESENCE AND CONTROLLING THE OPERATION OF A MOBILE DEVICE WITHIN A VEHICLE

A system for detecting the presence of a mobile device located within a vehicle, the system comprising: control module configured to transmit a probing signal, the control module comprising an antenna to transmit, wherein the control module initiates the probing signal; a detection module configured to receive a response signal following transmission of the probing signal by the control module, indicating the presence of a mobile device located within a predetermined detection zone of a vehicle, the detection module comprising a multi-band antenna to receive signal transmissions, wherein the detection module is configured to detect electromagnetic energy radiation transmitted by the mobile device; and a scanner coupled to the detection module configured to sweep a plurality of frequency bands associated with the mobile device wherein the scanner is configured to periodically switch among a plurality of tuning elements to monitor various frequency bands associated with the mobile device located in the detection zone.