Driver authentication system and method for monitoring and controlling vehicle usage

• US 10,259,470 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2016
• Issued: 04/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Phelan Group, LLC
• Original Assignee: The Phelan Group, LLC
• Inventors: Phelan, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Dager, Jonathan M
• Application Number:
  US15/336,110
• Publication Number:
  US 20170106877A1
• Time in Patent Office: 901 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/033 characterised by the use of electrical cells or batteries for propulsion puposes B60K1/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06; testing of charge state G01R31/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/04 including control of propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/20 including control of steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/30 including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2040/0809 Driver authorisation; Driver identity check
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/08 related to drivers or passengers
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/12 Limiting control by the driver depending on vehicle state, e.g. interlocking means for the control input for preventing unsafe operation
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0061 for transition from automatic pilot to manual pilot and vice versa
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

A driver authentication and safety system and method for monitoring and controlling vehicle usage by high-risk drivers. A centralized database comprising a software application can be accessed by an authorized user via a data communications network utilizing a remote computer in order to configure a desired operating profile that matches requirements of the high-risk driver. The operating profile can be loaded to a driver identification and data logging module in conjunction with the remote computer. A master control unit receives a unique identification code from the data logging device to authenticate the high-risk driver and to operate the vehicle within the desired operating profile. A slave control unit receives commands from the master control unit and generates a real time alarm signal if the driver violates the preprogrammed operating profile unique to the driver.

Claims

1. A vehicle control system, comprising:

a wireless identification and data logging module;

a master control unit in a vehicle for wirelessly authenticating at least one occupant via said wireless driver identification and data logging module and associating an operating profile with said at least one occupant;

a module for receiving at least location and speed information in association with a movement of said vehicle;

a data logging device that records vehicle operation data associated with a use of said vehicle, the vehicle operation data comprising at least said location and speed information received from said module; and

a slave control unit in said vehicle and which communicates with said master control unit, wherein said slave control unit receives commands from said master control unit and generate an alarm signal;

wherein said master control unit provides operation governance of said vehicle within said operating profile.

2. The vehicle control system of claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of transducers comprising at least one of an image capturing sensor and a proximity sensor, wherein said plurality of transducers transmits signals to said slave control unit and wherein said slave control unit determines if said signals are indicative of a driving condition requiring a warning and in turn signals said master control unit.

3. The vehicle control system of claim 1 further comprising:

a vehicle control module that controls a speed of the vehicle and an allowable location of the vehicle.

4. The vehicle control system of claim 1 wherein said wireless identification and data logging module comprises at least one of:

a WIFI enabled device;

an RFID enabled device;

a Bluetooth enabled device;

a cellular telephone; and

a smartphone.

5. The vehicle control system of claim 4 wherein said wireless identification and data logging module is further configured to wirelessly load said operating profile into said master control unit.

6. The vehicle control system of claim 4 wherein said wireless identification and data logging module is further configured to wirelessly receive specific vehicle performance and infraction data of the vehicle from said master control unit.

7. The vehicle control system of claim 3 wherein said wireless identification and data logging module is further configured to present vehicle performance data of the vehicle to said vehicle control module in order to guide the operation governance of said vehicle by said vehicle control module.

8. The vehicle control system of claim 1 wherein said master control unit is further configured for wirelessly receiving data indicative of a speed of said vehicle, a location of said vehicle, and a time of day from at least one of:

a WIFI source;

an RF source;

a Bluetooth source;

an image capturing source;

a processing device;

a proximity sensor; and

a smart-road network source.

9. The vehicle control system of claim 8 wherein said master control is configured for wirelessly receiving data indicative of a speed limit associated with a road said vehicle is currently traveling on from at least one of:

a WIFI source;

an RF source;

a Bluetooth source;

an image capturing source;

a processing device;

a proximity sensor; and

a smart-road network source.

10. The vehicle control system of claim 9 wherein said master control unit is configured to define a speed, a positioning of said vehicle on a road, a distance from another object, a distance from another vehicle, and a geo-fence limit for said vehicle.

11. The vehicle control system of claim 1 further comprising an alarm module configured to wirelessly receive data from at least one of said master control unit, said slave control unit, and said GPS module wherein said alarm module is further configured to present at least one of location data, speed data, and infraction data in real time.

12. The vehicle control system of claim 11 wherein said alarm module comprises at least one of:

a cellular telephone;

a smartphone;

a computer;

a vehicle integrated wireless communication device;

a WIFI enabled device;

an RFID enabled device; and

a Bluetooth enabled device.

13. The vehicle control system of claim 1 further comprising a phone governor module configured to receive instructions from said master control unit, said instructions comprising at least one of:

restricting calls on a cellular telephone associated with a driver of said vehicle;

powering off said cellular telephone; and

disabling text messaging for said cellular telephone.

14. The vehicle control system of claim 1 further comprising an Internet governor module configured to disable integrated in-vehicle Internet related applications when said vehicle is in operation.

15. The vehicle control system of claim 2 further comprising a steering control module, a braking control module, and an acceleration control module configured to receive instructions from said master control unit, said instructions comprising at least one of:

reducing a speed of said vehicle;

increasing said speed of said vehicle;

altering a direction of said vehicle on said road;

altering a proximity of said vehicle with respect to other vehicles; and

altering said proximity of said vehicle with respect to other objects.

16. The vehicle control system of claim 15 wherein said vehicle operates autonomously.

17. The vehicle control system of claim 1, wherein said slave control unit further comprises:

a power regulator module;

a starter relay module;

a definable relay module;

a slave microcontroller; and

an alarm synthesizer.

18. The vehicle control system of claim 1, wherein said operating profile comprises at least one operating parameter including at least one of:

a maximum allowable speed of said vehicle;

an allowable location of said vehicle;

allowable hours of operation of said vehicle;

an allowable destination; and

a seatbelt usage.

19. The vehicle control system of claim 1 wherein said slave control unit generates an alarm signal for remotely alerting an authorized user when said vehicle violates said operating profile.

20. The vehicle control system of claim 1 wherein the slave control unit is mounted under a dash board of the vehicle.