Accessing an automobile with a transponder

• US 8,648,692 B2
• Filed: 08/17/2005
• Issued: 02/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tamiras Per Pte Ltd LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Seong Sang Investments LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Himmelstein, Richard B.
• Primary Examiner(s): SYED, NABIL H
• Application Number:
  US11/205,891
• Publication Number:
  US 20050275505A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,100 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.1, 340/5.2, 340/439, 340/426, 340/5.61, 340/5.62, 340/825.69, 340/10.1, 340/10.2, 340/825, 701/49, 701/36, 704/243, 704/244, 704/246, 704/247, 704/250, 704/273
• US Class Current: 340/5.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/241 whereby access privileges are related to the identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/257 Voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 17/08 Use of distortion metrics or a particular distance between probe pattern and reference templates
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 17/22 Interactive procedures; Man-machine interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 17/24 the user being prompted to utter a password or a predefined phrase
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/223 Execution procedure of a spoken command

Abstract

Accessing an automobile with a transponder is disclosed. A processor may determine if the transponder is within range and receive a signal with an identification code from the transponder. If the identification code is valid, user information for the automobile based on the identification code are retrieved. The processor may also process spoken commands if the identification code is valid.

Claims

1. A method performed by a processor in an automobile, the method comprising:

determining, by the processor, that a transponder is within range;

detecting, by the processor, a signal from the transponder, the signal comprising an identification code;

determining, by the processor, that the identification code is valid;

accepting, by the processor on a condition that the identification code is valid, audible signals, wherein at least one of the audible signals is a command corresponding to a function of the automobile;

analyzing, by the processor, the command to determine if it matches a voiceprint of a user;

performing, by the processor, the function if the command matched the voiceprint of the user; and

wherein the function includes providing the user customized user settings for the automobile.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the command is a password.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the transponder comprises a credit card.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the transponder comprises a piece of jewelry.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the transponder comprises a watch.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the transponder is a phone.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the transponder is a remote keyless entry device.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising programming the transponder.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the programming the transponder comprises storing the user'"'"'s voice.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the programming the transponder comprises storing the identification code.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the processor uses the identification code to identify the user and to control a level of access.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the processor uses the transponder to automatically log the user in and out.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the command identifies the user and controls a level of access.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the signal comprises Bluetooth technology.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising outputting an operating status by the automobile.

16. A processor in an automobile, the processor comprising:

the processor configured to determine that a transponder is within range;

the processor configured to detect a signal from the transponder, the signal comprising an identification code;

the processor configured to determine that the identification code is valid;

the processor configured to accept, on a condition that the identification code is valid, audible signals, where at least one of the audible signals is a command corresponding to a function of the automobile;

the processor configured to analyze the command to determine if it matches a voiceprint of a user;

the processor configured to perform the function if the command matched the voiceprint of the user; and

wherein the function includes providing the user customized user settings for the automobile.

17. The processor of claim 16 wherein the command is a password.

18. The processor of claim 16 wherein the transponder comprises a credit card.

19. The processor of claim 16 wherein the transponder comprises a piece of jewelry.

20. The processor of claim 16 wherein the transponder comprises a watch.

21. The processor of claim 16 wherein the transponder is a phone.

22. The processor of claim 16 wherein the transponder is a remote keyless entry device.

23. The processor of claim 16 wherein the processor uses the identification code to identify the user and to control a level of access.

24. The processor of claim 16 wherein the processor uses the transponder to automatically log the user in and out.

25. The processor of claim 16 wherein the command identifies the user and controls a level of access.

26. The processor of claim 16 wherein the signal comprises Bluetooth technology.

27. The processor of claim 16 further comprising outputting an operating status by the automobile.