Vehicle with wearable for identifying one or more vehicle occupants

• US 10,040,423 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2016
• Issued: 08/07/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bragi GmbH
• Original Assignee: Bragi GmbH
• Inventors: Boesen, Peter Vincent
• Primary Examiner(s): HOLLOWAY III, EDWIN C
• Application Number:
  US15/356,839
• Publication Number:
  US 20170151930A1
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 340 552
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/117 Identification of persons methods or arrangements for recognising patterns, e.g. fingerprints, G06F18/00, G06V40/00; identification of persons by analysing their voice or speech G10L17/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/257 Voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00563 using personal physical data of the operator, e.g. finger prints, retinal images, voicepatterns
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A system includes a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a control system and a wireless transceiver operatively connected to the control system. The control system is configured to wirelessly communicate with a wearable device worn by a user using the wireless transceiver. The control system is configured to receive biometric input from one or more sensors of the wearable device to identify an occupant of the vehicle or individual proximate the vehicle. The wearable device may be a wearable earpiece with one or more sensors.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a control system; and

a wireless transceiver operatively connected to the control system;

wherein the control system is configured to wirelessly communicate with a wireless earpiece worn by a user using the wireless transceiver;

wherein the control system is configured to receive biometric input from one or more sensors of the wireless earpiece to identify an occupant of the vehicle or an individual proximate to the vehicle;

wherein the wireless earpiece is configured to confirm identity by providing a question to the occupant of the vehicle or the individual proximate to the vehicle in response to a successful identification of the occupant of the vehicle or the individual proximate to the vehicle by the control system using the biometric input; and

wherein the control system is further configured to provide access to the vehicle in response to a successful response to the question by the occupant of the vehicle or the individual proximate to the vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the access is provided by unlocking an ignition of the vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the access is provided by opening a door or compartment of the vehicle.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the control system is configured to deny access to the vehicle after identifying the occupant of the vehicle or the individual proximate the vehicle.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the control system is configured to alter one or more vehicle settings based on an identity of the occupant or the individual proximate to the vehicle.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the one or more sensors comprises a microphone and wherein the biometric input is a voice input.

7. A system comprising:

a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a control system;

a first wireless transceiver operatively connected to the control system; and

a wireless earpiece for being worn by a user, the wireless earpiece including a second wireless transceiver disposed within the wireless earpiece and configured to wirelessly communicate with the first wireless transceiver;

wherein the wireless earpiece comprises at least one sensor for obtaining biometric input and at least one inertial sensor for detecting motion;

wherein the wireless earpiece is configured to identify the user of the wireless earpiece using the biometric input and convey an identity of the user of the wireless earpiece to the control system; and

wherein the wireless earpiece is configured to monitor the user and alert the user if the biometric input independent from the at least one inertial sensor indicates the user is impaired.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the control system is configured to provide access to the vehicle after identifying the user of the vehicle.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the access is provided by unlocking an ignition of the vehicle.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the access is provided by opening a door or compartment of the vehicle.

11. The system of claim 7 wherein the control system is configured to deny access to the vehicle upon a successful identification of the user by the wireless earpiece.

12. The system of claim 7 wherein the control system is configured to alter one or more vehicle settings based on the identity of the user or the individual proximate the vehicle.

13. The system of claim 7 wherein the at least one sensor comprises a microphone and wherein the biometric input is a voice input.

16. The system of claim 7 wherein the wireless earpiece is configured to provide at least one question to the user stored on a database of a third party device.

14. A system comprising:

a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a vehicle network with a plurality of control modules in operative communication with the vehicle network;

a first wireless transceiver operatively connected to the vehicle network; and

a wireless earpiece worn by a user and in operative communication with the vehicle network via the first wireless transceiver;

wherein the wireless earpiece comprises an intelligent control system, a second wireless transceiver operatively connected to the intelligent control system; and

a plurality of sensors operatively connected to the intelligent control system, wherein the plurality of sensors comprises at least two different types of sensors;

wherein the plurality of sensors is configured to receive biometric data associated with the user;

wherein the wireless earpiece is configured to analyze the biometric data from the wireless earpiece to identify the user;

wherein the wireless earpiece is configured to confirm identity by providing at least one question to the user in response to a successful identification of the user;

wherein the first wireless transceiver is configured to convey sensor data from the wireless earpiece over the vehicle network to one or more of the plurality of control modules; and

wherein the plurality of control modules comprises an engine control unit, a transmission control unit, an anti-lock braking system, a door control unit, an electric power steering control unit, a powertrain control module, a speed control unit, and a brake control unit.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the plurality of control modules are controlled by the wireless earpiece based on user input detected by the wireless earpiece.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein the at least one question is stored on a database of the vehicle.

18. The system of claim 14 wherein the sensor data includes a head gesture and the vehicle is configured to associate the head gesture with a vehicle function.