VEHICLE ACCESS AND SECURITY BASED ON BIOMETRICS

• US 20140152422A1
• Filed: 01/24/2014
• Published: 06/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intelligent Technologies International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intelligent Technologies International, Inc.
• Inventors: Breed, David S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,082,237 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.52
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/08 operating on brakes or brake systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/25 using biometry
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/103 Static body considered as a whole, e.g. static pedestrian or occupant 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 9/32 in combination with an identity check

Abstract

Method for interacting with a vehicle includes controlling interaction with the vehicle based on receipt of a signal by a component on the vehicle, and generating the signal based on biometric data entered via a portable communications device proximate the vehicle. The entered biometric data may be verified as biometric data of a driver of the vehicle prior to generating the signal. The biometric data may be a fingerprint, a palm print, a hand print, a facial image, and/or a voiceprint, all of which may be obtained using the communications device, e.g., a smartphone. The controlled interaction with the vehicle may be maintaining a brake lockout mechanism coupled to at least one brake of the vehicle in a locked state until the signal is received and/or maintaining at least one door of the vehicle in a locked state until the signal is received.

Claims

1. A method for interacting with a vehicle, comprising:

controlling interaction with the vehicle based on receipt of a signal by a component on the vehicle; and

generating the signal based on biometric data entered via a portable communications device proximate the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising verifying the entered biometric data as biometric data of a driver of the vehicle prior to generating the signal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle includes a sensor within or associated therewith and the signal is a driver return message.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of controlling interaction with the vehicle based on receipt of the signal by the component on the vehicle comprises sensing an identifiable biometric signature by the sensor.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

configuring a processor on the vehicle to control interaction with the vehicle; and

configuring the processor with a recognition system that receives the entered biometric data and allows movement of the vehicle only when the entered biometric data matches expected biometric data.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the biometric data is a fingerprint.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the biometric data is a palm print.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the biometric data is a hand print.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the biometric data is a facial image.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the biometric data is a voiceprint.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the entered biometric data to a remote site; and

performing biometric data verification at the remote site, the signal based on the biometric data entered via the portable communications device proximate the vehicle being generated at the remote site.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of controlling interaction with the vehicle based on receipt of the signal by the component on the vehicle comprises maintaining a brake lockout mechanism coupled to at least one brake of the vehicle in a locked state until the signal is received.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of controlling interaction with the vehicle based on receipt of the signal by the component on the vehicle comprises maintaining at least one door of the vehicle in a locked state until the signal is received.

14. A method for preventing theft of cargo from a vehicle transporting the cargo, comprising:

conditioning access to the vehicle or movement of the vehicle from an at rest state, on receipt of a signal; and

generating the signal based on biometric data entered via a portable communications device proximate the vehicle.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising verifying the entered biometric data as biometric data of a driver or other authorized operator of the vehicle of handler of the cargo of the vehicle prior to generating the signal to enable access to the vehicle or movement of the vehicle from an at rest state.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the vehicle includes a sensor within or associated therewith and the signal is a driver return message, the step of conditioning movement of the vehicle from an at rest state, on receipt of the signal comprises sensing an identifiable biometric signature by the sensor.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

configuring a processor on the vehicle to monitor the cargo; and

configuring the processor with a recognition system that receives the entered biometric data and allows movement of the vehicle only when the entered biometric data matches expected biometric data.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

transmitting the entered biometric data to a remote site; and

performing biometric data verification at the remote site, the signal based on the biometric data entered via the portable communications device proximate the vehicle being generated at the remote site.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of conditioning access to the vehicle or movement of the vehicle from an at rest state, on receipt of a signal comprises maintaining a brake lockout mechanism coupled to at least one brake of the vehicle in a locked state until the signal is received.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of conditioning access to the vehicle or movement of the vehicle from an at rest state, on receipt of a signal comprises maintaining doors of the vehicle in a locked state until the signal is received.