Next generation vehicle keys

• US 20060170531A1
• Filed: 02/02/2005
• Published: 08/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Raghunath, Mandayam Thondanur, Narayanaswami, Chandrasekhar
• Application Number:
  US11/049,562
• Publication Number:
  US 20060170531A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.530
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/252 Fingerprint recognition
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00563 using personal physical data of the operator, e.g. finger prints, retinal images, voicepatterns

Abstract

The invention broadly and generally provides a key for a vehicle comprising: (a) a biometric sensor operable to create a measurement of at least one biometric property; (b) a data storage device operable to store data; (c) an authenticator operable to detect existence of a specified relationship between the aforesaid measurement and data stored within the aforesaid data storage device; and (d) a communication device operable to communicate in response to the aforesaid existence of the aforesaid specified relationship.

Claims

1. A key for a vehicle comprising:

(a) a biometric sensor operable to create a measurement of at least one biometric property;

(b) a data storage device operable to store data;

(c) an authenticator operable to detect existence of a specified relationship between said measurement and data stored within said data storage device; and

(d) a communication device operable to communicate in response to said existence of said specified relationship.

2. A key as set forth in claim 1, wherein said authenticator comprises a microprocessor.

3. A key as set forth in claim 1, said key being operable to enable operation of said vehicle upon communication by said communication device of said existence of said specified relationship.

4. A key as set forth in claim 1, wherein said communication device comprises an electrical connector.

5. A key as set for th in claim 4, said electrical connector comprises a USB connector.

6. A key as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a display operable to indicate the remaining storage on said data storage device.

7. A key as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a notification device operable to provide an indication of a state of said key or said vehicle upon enablement of said notification device upon said existence of said specified relationship.

8. A key as set forth in claim 1, wherein said communication device is operable only when a selected specified relationship exists.

9. A key as set forth in claim 1, wherein said communication device being operable to transfer data between said data storage device and a computer.

10. A key as set forth in claim 1, wherein said communication device is operable to transfer data between said data storage device and said vehicle.

11. A key as set forth in claim 10, wherein said key comprises a GPS device operable to produce location data and transfer said location data to said data storage device.

12. A key as set forth in claim 10, said data storage device comprising music files.

13. A key as set forth in claim 1, further comprising an energy storage device operable to energize said authenticator.

14. A key as set forth in claim 1, wherein said data storage device contains settings to be applied to said vehicle.

15. A key as set forth in claim 14, wherein said PC is operable to receive data for said vehicle from a network.

16. A key as set forth in claim 1, said biometric property comprising a measure of concentration of ethyl alcohol.

17. A key as set forth in claim 1, said biometric property comprising a pattern of a fingerprint.

18. A vehicle key system comprising:

(a) a vehicle; and

(b) a key for said vehicle, said key comprising;

(i) a biometric sensor operable to create a measurement of at least one biometric property;

(ii) a data storage device operable to store data;

(iii) an authenticator operable to detect existence of a specified relationship between said measurement and data stored within said data storage device; and

(iv) a communication device operable to communicate in response to said existence of said specified relationship.

19. A vehicle key system as set forth in claim 18, further comprising a computer operable to communicate with said communication device.

20. A vehicle key system as set forth in claim 18, said vehicle comprising a GPS receiver operable to produce location data and transfer said location data to said data storage device.