Vehicle governance system

• US 8,024,092 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2007
• Issued: 09/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: de Jonk, Kevin P., Watts, Campbell V. B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Dalena
• Application Number:
  US11/686,974
• Publication Number:
  US 20080228355A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,649 Days
• Field of Search: 701/49, 701/35, 340/426.35, 340/5.1, 340/5.2, 340 521- 528, 340/5.3, 340 531- 533, 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 307/10.2, 307/10.5, 307/10.6
• US Class Current: 701/49
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2018 Central base unlocks or authorises unlocking
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/241 whereby access privileges are related to the identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/25 using biometry

Abstract

Disclosed are a method and system for preventing the unauthorized use of a vehicle. A set of vehicle operating parameters is entered onto a person'"'"'s driver'"'"'s license, and that person registers as an authorized user of a specified vehicle. When that person enters the vehicle, the person inserts the driver'"'"'s license into a card reader, and the card reader reads the operating parameters and enters those parameters onto a computing platform. The computing platform receives these operating parameters and checks to determine if the person is an authorized user of the vehicle. If the computing platform determines that the person is an authorized user, the computing platform sends the operating parameters to a control module within the vehicle. If the person then operates the vehicle, the control module controls the vehicle to maintain that operation within the operating parameters.

Claims

1. A method of preventing an authorized use of a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

entering onto a driver'"'"'s license of a specified person, a set of vehicle operating parameters and a number for said driver'"'"'s license, said operating parameters including a limit on the speed of the vehicle, a limit on the distance the vehicle can be driven by said person, a restriction on the time of day the vehicle can be driven by said person, a restriction on the geographic locations where the vehicle may be driven, and a restriction on the class of vehicle able to be driven by said person;

entering onto a computing platform biometric data correspondent to the license data;

said specified person registering as an authorized user of a specified vehicle;

when said person enters said specified vehicle, said person inserting the driver'"'"'s license into a card reader;

the card reader reading the vehicle operating parameters on the driver'"'"'s license and entering said operating parameters onto a computing platform;

said computing platform receiving said operating parameters; and

, in response, checking to determine if said person is an authorized user of the vehicle;

if the computing platform determines that said person is an authorized user of the vehicle, then the computing platform sending said operating parameters to a control module located within the vehicle;

said person attempting to operate the vehicle; and

if said attempt is successful and the vehicle operates, said control module controlling the operation of the vehicle to maintain said operation within said set of operating parameters;

another person attempting to operate the vehicle, said another person having a driver'"'"'s license and not being a registered user of the vehicle;

the control module sending details of the driver'"'"'s license of said another person to a system administrator to determine an identity of said another person;

sending a message from the vehicle to a licensing bureau, and transmitting license details, of said another person, to the vehicle to determine the vehicle'"'"'s operating parameters, including using a standard set of operating parameters for the vehicle until said license details are retrieved.

2. A method according to claim 1, comprising the further step of, if the computing platform determines that said person is not an authorized user of the vehicle, then the computing platform transmitting to the control module a command to prevent operation of the vehicle.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein, if the computing platform determines that said person is not an authorized user of the vehicle, then the computing platform sending the driver'"'"'s license number of said person to an administrator having a database of driver'"'"'s license numbers, and said administrator searching through said database to try to determine the name of the person attempting to operate the vehicle.

4. The method according to claim 1, comprising the further steps of said specified person recording information about each use of the vehicle, and said information being used to meet licensing conditions.