Method and apparatus for setting automotive performance tuned preferences set differently by a driver

• US 6,198,996 B1
• Filed: 01/28/1999
• Issued: 03/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Berstis, Viktors
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US09/239,339
• Time in Patent Office: 768 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36, 701/45, 701/49, 701/1, 307/10.1, 307/10.5, 713/200, 713/202, 340/825.31, 340/825.34
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2018 Central base unlocks or authorises unlocking
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2081 combined with personal settings of other vehicle devices, e.g. mirrors, seats, steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/241 whereby access privileges are related to the identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/245 where the antenna reception area plays a role
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/25 using biometry
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/252 Fingerprint recognition
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/255 Eye recognition
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/257 Voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/302 using recording means, e.g. black box
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0858 wherein the data carrier is removable
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 Multiple levels of security

Abstract

An onboard computer is used to control many aspects of a vehicle including performance and ride characteristics. Used in combination with the onboard computer, a smart card key is used to authorize a user. In addition, the smart card key stores user preference data, such as performance and ride parameters, which are in turn used by the onboard computer to adjust performance and ride characteristics of the vehicle. Because the parameters are stored on individual smart card keys, each operator of the vehicle stores user parameters specific to each user. User parameters may also be stored in the computer memory itself. Access to the user preference data is controlled by user identification parameters that are also stored on a smart card memory or in the memory of the computer. These user identification parameters may include, for example, user identification by a combination of means including a password, finger print, eye print and/or voice print or other biologic attributes unique to the user.

Claims

1. A method for modifying an onboard data processing system in a vehicle using user specific data parameters, the method comprising:

invoking a user identification feature;

accessing an onboard memory for user identification information;

identifying a user using the user identification feature, in accordance with the user identification information, wherein the user is an identified user;

accessing the onboard memory for a security level for the identified user;

authorizing the identified user at a predetermined user security level;

unlocking control of at least one onboard system, wherein the at least one unlocked onboard system requires a user security level equal to the predetermined user security level for the identified user;

accessing a portable memory for at least one user specific data parameter;

applying the at least one user specific data parameter to a locked onboard system; and

modifying at least one function of the locked onboard system in accordance with the at least one user specific data parameter.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one user specific data parameters includes one of comfort parameters, performance parameters and safety parameters.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the user identification feature includes one of a personal identification number, password, algorithmic password, voice pattern, fingerprint pattern, iris pattern and handwriting pattern.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the onboard system includes one of climate control, seat adjustment, mirror adjustment, engine performance, suspension adjustment, ride control, user dexterity testing, user sobriety testing, vehicle speed limitation, vehicle acceleration limitation, vehicle navigation, vehicle tracking, vehicle use log, airbag, user restraint, buoyancy, plane, theft deterrence and user qualification verification.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprises:

storing at least one user specific data parameter in the portable memory.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprises:

modifying at least one user specific parameter; and

storing the modified at least one user specific data parameter in the portable memory.

7. The method of claim 1, the step of authorizing further comprises:

sensing a biological user identification feature;

transforming the sensed biological user identification feature to biological user identification feature data;

accessing the onboard memory for data corresponding to the biological user identification feature;

comparing the biological user identification feature data to the data corresponding to the biological user identification feature; and

unlocking at least one onboard system based on comparison.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the vehicle is one of an automobile, off-road vehicle, truck, train, power boat, sail boat, barge, powered aircraft, airplane and sailplane.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the user specific parameter includes limitation on the maximum distance the vehicle is authorized to travel from a predetermined location.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the user specific parameter includes limitation on the maximum distance the vehicle is authorized to travel from a predetermined route.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the user specific parameter includes limitation on the maximum distance the vehicle is authorized to travel from a predetermined location off of a preset route.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprises:

defining a user specific limiting parameter for limiting the magnitude of the user specific parameter applied to the onboard system.

13. An onboard data processing system for implementing user specific data parameters, the system comprising:

invoking a user identification feature;

accessing means for accessing an onboard memory for user identification information;

identifying means for identifying a user using the user identification feature, in accordance with the user identification information, wherein the user is an identified user;

accessing means for accessing the onboard memory for a security level for the identified user;

authorizing means for authorizing the identified user at a predetermined user security level;

unlocking means for unlocking control of at least one onboard system, wherein unlocking control of the at least one onboard system requires a user security level equal to the predetermined user security level for the identified user;

accessing means for accessing a portable memory for at least one user specific data parameter;

applying means for applying the at least one user specific data parameter to a locked onboard system; and

modifying means for modifying at least one function of the locked onboard system in accordance with the at least one user specific data parameter.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the at least one user specific data parameter includes one of comfort parameters, performance parameters and safety parameters.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the user identification feature includes one of a personal identification number, password, algorithmic password, voice pattern, fingerprint pattern, iris pattern and handwriting pattern.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein the onboard system includes on of climate control, seat adjustment, mirror adjustment, engine performance, suspension adjustment, ride control, user dexterity testing, user sobriety testing, vehicle speed limitation, vehicle acceleration limitation, vehicle navigation, vehicle tracking, vehicle use log, airbag, user restraint, buoyancy, plane, theft deterrence and user qualification verification.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprises:

storing means for storing at least one user specific data parameter in the portable memory.

18. The method of claim 13 further comprises:

modifying means for modifying at least one user specific parameter; and

storing means for storing the modified at least one user specific data parameter in the portable memory.

19. The method of claim 13, the authorizing further comprises:

sensing means for sensing a biological user identification feature;

transforming means for transforming the sensed biological user identification feature to biological user identification feature data;

accessing means for accessing the onboard memory for data corresponding to the biological user identification feature;

comparing means for comparing the biological user identification feature data to the data corresponding to the biological user identification feature; and

unlocking means for unlocking at least one onboard system based on comparison.

20. The system of claim 13 wherein the vehicle is one of an automobile, off-road vehicle, truck, train, power boat, sail boat, barge, powered aircraft, airplane and sailplane.

21. The method of claim 13 wherein the user specific parameter includes limitation on the maximum distance the vehicle is authorized to travel from a predetermined location.

22. The method of claim 13 wherein the user specific parameter includes limitation on the maximum distance the vehicle is authorized to travel from a predetermined route.

23. The method of claim 13 wherein the user specific parameter includes limitation on the maximum distance the vehicle is authorized to travel from a predetermined location off of a preset route.

24. The method of claim 13 further comprises:

defining means for defining a user specific limiting parameter for limiting the magnitude of the user specific parameter applied to the onboard system.

25. A computer program product including instructions for modifying an onboard data processing system by implementing user specific data parameters embodied on a computer readable medium, the instructions comprising:

invoking instructions for invoking a user identification feature;

accessing instructions for accessing an onboard memory for user identification information;

identifying instructions for identifying a user using the user identification feature, in accordance with the user identification information, wherein the user is an identified user;

accessing instructions for accessing the onboard memory for a security level for the identified user;

authorizing instructions for authorizing the identified user at a predetermined user security level;

unlocking instructions for unlocking control of at least one onboard system, wherein unlocking control of the at least one onboard system requires a user security level equal to the predetermined user security level for the identified user;

accessing instructions for accessing a portable memory for at least one user specific data parameter;

applying instructions for applying the at least one user specific data parameter to a locked onboard system; and

modifying instructions for modifying at least one function of the locked onboard system in accordance with at least one user specific data parameter.

26. The computer program product of claim 25 further comprises:

instructions for modifying at least one user specific parameter; and

instructions for storing the modified at least one user specific data parameter in the memory.

27. The computer program product of claim 25, the instruction of authorizing further comprises:

instructions for sensing a biological user identification feature;

instructions for transforming the sensed biological user identification feature to biological user identification feature data;

p1 instructions for accessing the onboard memory for data corresponding to the biological user identification feature;

instructions for comparing the biological user identification feature data to the data corresponding to the biological user identification feature; and

instructions for unlocking at least one onboard system based on comparison.

28. The computer program product of claim 25 further comprises:

instructions for defining a user specific limiting parameter for limiting the magnitude of the user specific parameter applied to the onboard system.

29. A method for modifying an onboard data processing system in a vehicle using user specific data parameters, the method comprising:

invoking a user identification feature;

accessing an onboard memory for authorized user identification information;

receiving user identification information from a user attempting to be authorized;

comparing the user identification information with the authorized user identification information;

authorizing the user based on the outcome of the comparison;

accessing the onboard memory for user security level information in response to the user being authorized;

determining a security level for the authorized user;

unlocking control of a plurality of onboard systems, wherein control of the plurality of onboard systems requires a user security level equal to the security level for the identified user;

receiving a plurality of user specific data parameters from a portable memory, wherein the plurality of user specific data parameters correspond to a plurality of specific onboard systems;

applying the plurality of user specific data parameters to the plurality of locked onboard systems; and

modifying functions of the plurality of locked onboard system in accordance with the plurality of user specific data parameter.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the portable memory is contained on a smart card, prior to invoking a user identification feature the method further comprises:

invoking a smart card user identification feature;

accessing the portable memory for smart card authorized user identification information;

receiving user identification information from a user attempting to be authorized by the smart card;

comparing the user identification information with the smart card authorized user identification information; and

authorizing the user for the smart card based on the outcome of the comparison.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the at least one critical onboard system includes at least one of an onboard safety system, an onboard engine performance system and an onboard user identification feature.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the authorized user is determined to have a high security level, the method further comprises:

resetting critical user parameters for at least one critical onboard system, wherein critical user parameters are included in user specific data parameters and the at least one critical onboard system is included in the plurality of onboard systems.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein the authorized user is determined to have a predetermined security level, the method further comprises:

monitoring vehicle operating characteristics;

comparing the monitored operating characteristics to a predefined set of operating characteristics for the predetermined security level;

reducing the user security level based on comparing the monitored operating characteristics to a predefined set of operating characteristics; and

locking control of at least one onboard system, wherein control of the at least one onboard system requires a higher user security level than the reduced user security level for the identified user.

34. The method of claim 33 further comprises:

receiving default data parameters from the onboard memory, wherein the default data parameters correspond to the at least one onboard system requiring a higher user security level than the reduced user security level for the identified user;

applying the default data parameters to the at least one onboard systems; and

modifying functions of the at least one of onboard system in accordance with the default data parameters.