Vehicle passenger authorization system

• US 6,958,676 B1
• Filed: 02/06/2003
• Issued: 10/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sts International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sts International, Inc.
• Inventors: Child, Joseph R., Morgan, Ted G., Morgan, Douglas E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, NAM V
• Application Number:
  US10/359,389
• Time in Patent Office: 992 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.72, 340 58- 584, 340/933, 340902-906, 340/928, 340/909, 340/915, 340/918, 340464-467, 235/380, 235/384, 235/492
• US Class Current: 340/5.72
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/063 using wireless information transmission between the vehicle and a fixed station identification of vehicles G08G
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/84 Vehicles

Abstract

A system for authorizing vehicle and passenger entry into a secure area while the vehicle is moving is disclosed. The vehicle passenger authorization system verifies the identity of the vehicle and its occupants while the vehicle is moving, thereby eliminating the need for the vehicle to stop as it approaches a secure area. Vehicle imaging technology is used to identify the vehicle. Biometric technology is used to confirm the identity of the occupants of the vehicle. By combining the biometric information of the occupants with the vehicle identification, an efficient and safe means for automatically controlling the flow of traffic into secured areas is disclosed.

Claims

1. A system for verifying whether a vehicle and its occupants are authorized to enter a secure area, comprising:

a multi-zone staging area preceding the secure area and having two or more lanes in which vehicles may travel;

a means for delivering information to occupants in the vehicle;

a means for collecting identifying information from the vehicle while the vehicle is moving through said multi-zone staging area;

a means for collecting identifying information from the occupants in the vehicle while the vehicle is moving through said multi-zone staging area; and

a means for communicating the information collected by said means for collecting identifying information from the vehicle and the information collected by said means for collecting identifying information from the occupants in the vehicle to a processing center for analysis;

wherein the vehicle and its occupants are identified while the vehicle is moving through the multi-zone staging area such that information required to decide whether the vehicle and its occupants are authorized to enter the secure area is collected and analyzed without requiring the vehicle to stop in said multi-zone staging area, and wherein said multi-zone staging area comprises;

a data collection zone for gathering the identifying information from the vehicle and the identifying information from the occupants in the vehicle; and

a clearance zone for informing the occupants whether the vehicle is permitted to pass to the secure area.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a means for sensing the vehicle'"'"'s presence as it enters said multi-zone staging area.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a means for regulating traffic flow through said multi-zone staging area.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said means for delivering information to occupants in the vehicle is selected from the group consisting of an LCD display mounted in the vehicle, an audio playback device, a video clip and an outdoor electric sign.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said means for delivering information to occupants in the vehicle is selected from the group consisting of an LCD display mounted inside the vehicle, an audio playback device, and an outdoor electronic sign.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the identifying information from the vehicle is selected from the group consisting of a license number, a barcode, interrogating electronics within the vehicle, visual images of the vehicle, thermal images of the vehicle, ultraviolet reflectors on the vehicle, and infrared reflectors on the vehicle.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the identifying information from the occupants in the vehicle is biometric information.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said biometric information is selected from the group consisting of fingerprints, voice patterns, images of the occupants'"'"' iris, and facial images.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said facial images are visual images.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein said facial images are infrared images.

11. A method for authorizing a vehicle and its occupants to enter a secure area, comprising the steps of:

(a) collecting identifying information from the vehicle while the vehicle is moving through a multi-zone staging area preceding the secure area;

(b) collecting identifying information from the occupants in the vehicle while the vehicle is moving through the multi-zone staging area preceding the secure area;

(c) transmitting the identifying information from said steps (b) and (c) to a processing center for analysis; and

(d) informing the occupants in the vehicle of whether the vehicle is permitted to pass into the secure area;

wherein the vehicle and its occupants are identified while the vehicle is moving through the multi-zone staging area such that information required to decide whether the vehicle and its occupants are authorized to enter the secure area is collected and analyzed without requiring the vehicle to stop in said multi-zone staging area, and wherein the multi-zone staging area of said step (a) comprises a data collection zone for gathering the identifying information of said steps (a) and (b), and a clearance zone for informing the occupants whether the vehicle is permitted to pass to the secure area.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of:

(e) delivering instructions to the occupants in the vehicle for providing the identifying information of said step (b).

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said step (e) is performed using an LCD display mounted inside the vehicle, an audio playback device, or an outdoor electronic sign.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the identifying information of said step (a) is selected from the group consisting of a license number, a barcode, interrogating electronics within the vehicle, visual images of the vehicle, thermal images of the vehicle, ultraviolet reflectors on the vehicle, and infrared reflectors on the vehicle.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the identifying information of said step (b) is biometric information.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said biometric information is selected from the group consisting of fingerprints, voice patterns, images of the occupants'"'"' iris, and facial images.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said facial images are visual images.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said facial images are infrared images.