Different levels of access to aircraft based on biometric input data

• US 10,410,075 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2017
• Issued: 09/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Zebley, John, Ververs, Patricia May, Boren, Kelly L., Martens, Douglas C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, Brian E
• Application Number:
  US15/845,982
• Publication Number:
  US 20190188508A1
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/0056 detecting passenger or crew behavior by sensors, e.g. biometrics
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6245 Protecting personal data, e.g. for financial or medical purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/10 Human or animal bodies, e.g. vehicle occupants or pedestrians; Body parts, e.g. hands
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/70 Multimodal biometrics, e.g. combining information from different biometric modalities

Abstract

In some examples, this disclosure describes a system for verifying identities of a first user and a second user. In some examples, the system includes processing circuitry and a memory device configured to store biometric verification data associated with the first user and the second user. In some examples, the system also includes an input device configured to receive biometric input data and transmit the biometric input data to the processing circuitry. In some examples, the processing circuitry is configured to determine whether the biometric input data matches biometric verification data for the first user or the second user, unlock the aircraft in response to determining that the biometric input data matches biometric verification data for the first user or the second user, and activate the aircraft for operation in response to determining that the biometric input data matches biometric verification data for the first user.

Claims

1. A system for verifying identities of a first user and a second user, wherein the system is configured to be mounted on an aircraft, the system comprising:

processing circuitry;

a memory device configured to store;

first biometric verification data associated with the first user;

second biometric verification data associated with the second user; and

an input device configured to;

receive biometric input data from the first user or the second user; and

transmit the biometric input data to the processing circuitry;

wherein the processing circuitry is configured to;

determine whether the biometric input data matches the first biometric verification data;

determine whether the biometric input data matches the second biometric verification data;

unlock the aircraft in response to determining that the biometric input data matches the first biometric verification data or in response to determining that the biometric input data matches the second biometric verification data;

activate the aircraft for operation in response to determining that the biometric input data matches the first biometric verification data; and

refrain from activating the aircraft for operation in response to determining that the biometric input data matches the second biometric verification data.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the input device comprises a retina scanner, an iris scanner, a fingerprint reader, a handprint reader, a facial recognition device, a voice recognition device, a thermal identification reader, or a two-party biometric reader.

3. The system of claim 1,

wherein the memory device is further configured to store user data including flight plans and performance tracking associated with the first user, and

wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to allow the first user to access the user data in response to determining that the biometric input data matches the first biometric verification data.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the memory device is configured to store user data by at least:

storing data indicating time flown by the aircraft when operated by the first user; and

storing data indicating maneuvers performed by the aircraft when operated by the first user.

5. The system of claim 1,

wherein the input device comprises a mobile device configured to receive the biometric input data at a location that is farther than a threshold distance from the aircraft,

wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

determine that the input device received the biometric input data at the location farther than the threshold distance from the aircraft; and

unlock a second level of access to the aircraft in response to determining that the input device received the biometric input data at the location farther than the threshold distance from the aircraft, wherein the second level of access does not allow the first user or the second user to operate the aircraft.

6. The system of claim 1,

wherein the input device is configured to receive the biometric input data at a location closer than a threshold distance from the aircraft,

wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to determine that the input device received the biometric input data at the location closer than the threshold distance from the aircraft, and

wherein the processing circuitry is configured to activate the aircraft for operation in response to determining that the biometric input data matches the first biometric verification data and determining that the input device received the biometric input data at the location closer than the threshold distance from the aircraft.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the aircraft is a first aircraft, and wherein the memory device comprises a database configured to store biometric verification data for two or more aircraft including the aircraft.

8. The system of claim 1,

wherein the memory device is further configured to store:

biometric verification data associated with profiles of users in a first class including the first user, and

biometric verification data associated with profiles of users in a second class including the second user, and

wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to;

allow users in the first class a first level of access to the aircraft; and

allow users in the second class a second level of access to the aircraft.

9. A method for verifying identities of a first user and a second user, the method comprising:

receiving first biometric input data from the first user;

receiving second biometric input data from the second user;

determining that the first biometric input data matches first biometric verification data associated with the first user;

determining that the second biometric input data matches second biometric verification data associated with the second user;

unlocking an aircraft in response to determining that the first biometric input data matches the first biometric verification data or in response to determining that the second biometric input data matches the second biometric verification data;

activating the aircraft for operation in response to determining that the first biometric input data matches the first biometric verification data; and

refraining from activating the aircraft for operation in response to determining that the biometric input data matches the second biometric verification data.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first biometric input data and the second biometric input data comprise, retina scan data, iris scan data, fingerprint data, handprint data, facial recognition data, voice recognition data, thermal identification data, or two-party data.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

storing user data including flight plans and performance tracking associated with a profile of the first user; and

allowing the first user to access the user data in response to determining that the first biometric input data matches the first biometric verification data.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein storing the user data comprises:

storing data indicating time flown by the aircraft when operated by the first user; and

storing data indicating maneuvers performed by the aircraft when operated by the first user.

13. The method of claim 9,

wherein receiving the first biometric input data comprises receiving, at a mobile device at a location that is farther than a threshold distance from the aircraft, the first biometric input data, and

wherein the method further comprises:

determining that the mobile device received the first biometric input data at the location farther than the threshold distance from the aircraft; and

unlocking a second level of access to the aircraft in response to determining that the mobile device received the first biometric input data at the location farther than the threshold distance from the aircraft, wherein the second level of access does not allow the first user to operate the aircraft.

14. The method of claim 9,

wherein receiving the first biometric input data comprises receiving, at a location closer than a threshold distance from the aircraft, the first biometric input data, and

wherein the method further comprises:

determining that the first biometric input data was received at the location closer than the threshold distance from the aircraft; and

activating the aircraft for operation in response to determining that the first biometric input data matches the first biometric verification data and determining that the input device received the first biometric input data at the location closer than the threshold distance from the aircraft.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the aircraft is a first aircraft, wherein the method further comprises storing, at a database, biometric verification data for two or more aircraft including the aircraft.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

storing biometric verification data associated with profiles of users in a first class including the first user;

storing biometric verification data associated with profiles of users in a second class including the second user;

allowing users in the first class a first level of access to the aircraft; and

allowing users in the second class a second level of access to the aircraft.

17. A device configured to verify identity of a first user and a second user, wherein the device is configured to be mounted on an aircraft, the device comprising:

processing circuitry; and

a user interface configured to allow the first user to operate the aircraft,

wherein the processing circuitry is configured to;

receive biometric input data from the first user or the second user;

determine whether the biometric input data matches first biometric verification data associated with a first user;

determine whether the biometric input data matches the second biometric verification data associated with a second user;

unlock the aircraft in response to determining that the biometric input data matches the first biometric verification data or in response to determining that the biometric input data matches the second biometric verification data;

activate the aircraft for operation in response to determining that the biometric verification data matches the first biometric verification data;

refrain from activating the aircraft for operation in response to determining that the biometric input data matches the second biometric verification data; and

customize the user interface based on a profile of the first user in response to determining that the biometric input data matches the first biometric verification data.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

store, to a memory device, user data including flight plans and performance tracking associated with the first user; and

allow the first user to access the user data in response to determining that the biometric input data matches the first biometric verification data.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

determine that the biometric input data was received at a location that is farther than a threshold distance from the aircraft; and

unlock a second level of access to the aircraft in response to determining that the biometric input data was received at the location farther than the threshold distance from the aircraft, wherein the second level of access does not allow the first user or the second user to operate the aircraft.

20. The device of claim 17, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

determine that the biometric input data was received at a location closer than a threshold distance from the aircraft; and

activate the aircraft for operation in response to determining that the biometric input data matches the first biometric verification data and determining that the biometric input data was received at the location closer than the threshold distance from the aircraft.