Vehicle authorization method and system

• US 7,876,201 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2008
• Issued: 01/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Truntschka, Carole, Marmigere, Gerard, Clement, Jean-Yves, Bauchot, Frederic
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US12/212,713
• Publication Number:
  US 20100066513A1
• Time in Patent Office: 859 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426.1, 340/5.1, 340/5.2, 340/5.8, 340/5.81, 340/5.82, 340/5.83, 340/5.84, 340/5.85, 340/5.86, 340/5.3, 340/5.65, 340/5.24, 701/1, 701/32, 307/10.5, 180/287
• US Class Current: 340/426.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/304 Boats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/10 actuating a signalling device
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2018 Central base unlocks or authorises unlocking

Abstract

A vehicle authorization method and system. The method includes transmitting, by a computing system in a vehicle, a first request for enabling the vehicle for a driver. The computing system receives vehicle identification data associated with the vehicle. The computing system identifies the driver. The computing system transmits a second request for information associated with the driver. The computing system receives driver'"'"'s license data associated with the driver, a list comprising authorized drivers for the vehicle, and insurance data associated with the driver and the vehicle. The computing system analyzes the vehicle identification data, the driver'"'"'s license data, the list, and the insurance data. The computing system performs specified functions associated with the vehicle. The computing system generates and stores a report indicating the specified functions.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

transmitting, by a computing system in a vehicle, a first request for enabling said vehicle for a driver;

receiving, by said computing system in response to said first request, vehicle identification data associated with said vehicle;

identifying, by said computing system in response to said first request, said driver;

transmitting, by said computing system in response to said identifying, a second request for information associated with said driver of said vehicle;

receiving, by said computing system in response to said second request, drivers license data associated with said driver;

receiving, by said computing system in response to said second request, a list comprising authorized drivers for said vehicle;

receiving, by said computing system in response to said second request, insurance information data associated with said driver and said vehicle;

receiving, by said computing system, a command for analyzing said vehicle identification data, said drivers license data, said list, and said insurance information data;

analyzing, by said computing system in response to said command, said vehicle identification data, said drivers license data, said list, and said insurance information data;

performing, by said computing system based on results of said analyzing, specified functions associated with said vehicle;

generating, by said computing system, a report indicating said results and said specified functions; and

storing, by said computing system, said report.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said identifying said driver comprises:

receiving, by said computing system via biometrics sensors, biometrics data associated with said driver; and

analyzing, by said computing system, said biometrics data.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said analyzing comprises:

validating, by said computing system, said vehicle identification data, said drivers license data, said list comprising authorized drivers for said vehicle, and said insurance information data; and

determining, by said computing system, associations between said vehicle identification data, said drivers license data, said list comprising authorized drivers for said vehicle, and said insurance information data.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said computing system comprises a set of predetermined rules, and wherein said analyzing further comprises:

comparing, by said computing system, said associations, said vehicle identification data, said drivers license data, said list comprising authorized drivers for said vehicle, and said insurance information data to said set of predetermined rules; and

identifying, by said computing system based on results of said comparing, an infringement of any of said set of predetermined rules.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said vehicle identification data comprises an identification string for said vehicle, and an owner of said vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said drivers license data comprises a name of said driver, a class of a driver'"'"'s license belonging to said driver, and an expiration date associated with said driver'"'"'s license.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said insurance information data comprises policy number, a valid data range for insurance, and an identification string for said vehicle.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said results of said analyzing indicates a problem, and wherein said performing said specified functions comprises:

generating, by said computing system, an alert for said driver; and

presenting, by said computing system, said alert to said driver.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said results of said analyzing indicates a problem, and wherein said performing said specified functions comprises:

generating, by said computing system, an alert for an owner of said vehicle, wherein said owner is not said driver; and

transmitting, by said computing system, said alert to said owner.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said results of said analyzing indicates a problem, and wherein said performing said specified functions comprises:

generating, by said computing system, an alert for an insurance company associated with said insurance information data; and

transmitting, by said computing system, said alert to said insurance company.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said results of said analyzing indicates a problem, and wherein said performing said specified functions comprises:

generating, by said computing system, an alert for a law enforcement agency; and

transmitting, by said computing system, said alert to said law enforcement agency.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said results of said analyzing indicates a problem, and wherein said performing said specified functions comprises:

preventing, by said computing system, entry to said vehicle.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said results of said analyzing indicates a problem, and wherein said performing said specified functions comprises:

activating, by said computing system, an alarm on said vehicle.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said results of said analyzing indicates a problem, and wherein said performing said specified functions comprises:

disabling, by said computing system, said vehicle.

15. A computer program product, comprising a computer storage medium comprising a computer readable program code embodied therein, said computer readable program code configured to perform the method of claim 1 upon being executed by a processor of said computing system.

16. A process for supporting computer infrastructure, said process comprising providing at least one support service for at least one of creating, integrating, hosting, maintaining, and deploying computer-readable code in a computing system, wherein the code in combination with the computing system is capable of performing the method of claim 1.

17. A computing system comprising a processor coupled to a computer-readable memory unit, said computing system located within a vehicle, said memory unit comprising instructions that when executed by the processor implements a vehicle authorization method, said method comprising:

transmitting, by said computing system in said vehicle, a first request for enabling said vehicle for a driver;

receiving, by said computing system in response to said first request, vehicle identification data associated with said vehicle;

identifying, by said computing system in response to said first request, said driver;

transmitting, by said computing system in response to said identifying, a second request for information associated with said driver of said vehicle;

receiving, by said computing system in response to said second request, drivers license data associated with said driver;

receiving, by said computing system in response to said second request, a list comprising authorized drivers for said vehicle;

receiving, by said computing system in response to said second request, insurance information data associated with said driver and said vehicle;

receiving, by said computing system, a command for analyzing said vehicle identification data, said drivers license data, said list, and said insurance information data;

analyzing, by said computing system in response to said command, said vehicle identification data, said drivers license data, said list, and said insurance information data;

performing, by said computing system based on results of said analyzing, specified functions associated with said vehicle;

generating, by said computing system, a report indicating said results and said specified functions; and

storing, by said computing system, said report.

18. The computing system of claim 17, wherein said identifying said driver comprises:

receiving, by said computing system via biometrics sensors, biometrics data associated with said driver; and

analyzing, by said computing system, said biometrics data.

19. The computing system of claim 17, wherein said analyzing comprises:

validating, by said computing system, said vehicle identification data, said drivers license data, said list comprising authorized drivers for said vehicle, and said insurance information data; and

determining, by said computing system, associations between said vehicle identification data, said drivers license data, said list, and said insurance information data.

20. The computing system of claim 19, wherein said computing system comprises a set of predetermined rules, and wherein said analyzing further comprises:

comparing, by said computing system, said associations, said vehicle identification data, said drivers license data, said list comprising authorized drivers for said vehicle, and said insurance information data to said set of predetermined rules; and

identifying, by said computing system based on results of said comparing, an infringement of any of said set of predetermined rules.