Methods and systems of rule-based intoxicating substance testing associated with vehicles

• US 8,928,470 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2013
• Issued: 01/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gordon Howard Associates Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Gordon Howard Associates Incorporated
• Inventors: Morgan, Gerald A., Macheca, Christopher M., Rossetter, Amy E., Schwarz, Stanley G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phung
• Application Number:
  US14/030,474
• Publication Number:
  US 20140020970A1
• Time in Patent Office: 475 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426.11, 340/426.24, 340/576, 340/426.19, 340/539.1, 180/272
• US Class Current: 340/426.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/06 responsive to incapacity of driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/063 preventing starting of vehicles

Abstract

Rule-based intoxicating substance testing associated with vehicles. At least some of the various embodiments are methods including: receiving a signal that a prospective driver intends to drive a vehicle; retrieving at least one previously stored rule regarding intoxicating substance testing associated the vehicle; retrieving data relevant to the rule; determining whether intoxicating substance testing is indicated by the rule; enabling the vehicle responsive to an indication that intoxicating substance testing is not indicated; and administering an intoxicating substance test to the prospective driver responsive to an indication that an intoxicating substance test is indicated. And if the intoxicating substance test is administered: enabling the vehicle responsive to the prospective driver passing the intoxicating substance test, the enabling by the onboard device; and disabling the vehicle responsive to the prospective driver failing the intoxicating substance test, the disabling by the onboard device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a signal that a prospective driver intends to drive a vehicle, the receiving by an onboard device coupled to the vehicle;

retrieving at least one previously stored rule regarding intoxicating substance testing associated the vehicle;

retrieving data relevant to the rule;

obtaining a definition of a geo-fence boundary;

retrieving a current location of the vehicle;

determining whether intoxicating substance testing is indicated by the rule based on the data and using the current location of the vehicle relative to the geo-fence boundary;

enabling the vehicle responsive to an indication that intoxicating substance testing is not indicated, the enabling by the onboard device;

administering an intoxicating substance test to the prospective driver responsive to an indication that an intoxicating substance test is indicated, the administering by the onboard device, and if the intoxicating substance test is administered;

enabling the vehicle responsive to the prospective driver passing the intoxicating substance test, the enabling by the onboard device; and

disabling the vehicle responsive to the prospective driver failing the intoxicating substance test, the disabling by the onboard device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein enabling the vehicle further comprises enabling a motor of the vehicle to start.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein administering the intoxicating substance test to the prospective driver further comprises administering a test indicative of blood alcohol content.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein administering the intoxicating substance test to the prospective driver further comprises administering a test indicative of opiate consumption of the prospective driver.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein administering the intoxicating substance test to the prospective driver further comprises administering a test indicative of tetrahydrocannabinol consumption of the prospective driver.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein administering the intoxicating substance test further comprises:

selecting at least one intoxicating substance test from a plurality of test configurations, the selecting based on the rule and the data; and

administering at least one intoxicating substance test according to the test configurations.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps of retrieving the at least one previously stored rule, retrieving data relevant to the rule, and determining whether intoxicating substance testing is indicated are performed by the onboard device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising modifying at least one previously stored rule based on at least one intoxicating substance test result.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

wherein retrieving data relevant to the retrieved rule further comprises identifying the prospective driver;

wherein determining whether intoxicating substance testing is indicated further comprises applying the rule using an identity of the prospective driver.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

wherein identifying the prospective driver further comprises identifying the prospective driver via fingerprint detection based on physical contact with a component of the vehicle; and

wherein administering the intoxicating substance test further comprises performing transdermal monitoring based on physical contact with the component of the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the component of the vehicle comprises a steering wheel.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising, if the intoxicating substance test is administered, notifying at least one external agent responsive to the prospective driver failing the intoxicating substance test.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising, if the intoxicating substance test is administered, sending a signal to an operations center responsive to the prospective driver failing the intoxicating substance test.

14. A method comprising:

receiving a signal that a prospective driver intends to drive a vehicle, the receiving by an onboard device coupled to the vehicle;

identifying the prospective driver;

retrieving at least one previously stored rule regarding whether to allow the identified prospective driver to drive the vehicle;

retrieving data relevant to the rule;

obtaining a definition of a geo-fence boundary;

retrieving a current location of the vehicle;

determining an indication of whether to allow the identified prospective driver to drive the vehicle, the determining by applying the retrieved rule using the retrieved data and using the current location of the vehicle relative to the geo-fence boundary;

allowing the prospective driver to operate the vehicle responsive to an indication that the prospective driver is authorized; and

disabling the vehicle responsive to an indication that the prospective driver is not authorized to drive the vehicle.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

wherein retrieving data relevant to the retrieved rule further comprises obtaining a current time; and

wherein determining an indication of whether to allow the identified prospective driver to drive further comprises determining analyzing the current time relative to rule.

16. A system comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor;

wherein the memory stores a program that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to;

receive a signal that a prospective driver intends to drive a vehicle;

retrieve at least one previously stored rule regarding intoxicating substance testing associated the vehicle;

retrieve data relevant to the rule;

determine a current location of the vehicle;

obtain a definition of a geo-fence boundary;

determine whether intoxicating substance testing is indicated by the rule based on the data and the current location of the vehicle relative to the geo-fence boundary;

enable the vehicle responsive to an indication that intoxicating substance testing is not indicated;

cause administration of an intoxicating substance test of the prospective driver responsive to an indication that an intoxicating substance test is indicated, the administration of the intoxicating substance test proximate to the vehicle, and if the intoxicating substance test is administered program causes the processor to;

enable the vehicle responsive to the prospective driver passing the intoxicating substance test; and

disabling the vehicle responsive to the prospective driver failing the intoxicating substance test.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein when the processor causes administration of the intoxicating substance test, the program causes the processor to cause administration of a test indicative of blood alcohol content.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein when the processor causes administration of the intoxicating substance test, the program causes the processor to cause administration of a test indicative of opiate consumption of the prospective driver.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein when the processor causes administration of the intoxicating substance test, the program causes the processor to cause administration of a test indicative of tetrahydrocannabinol consumption of the prospective driver.

20. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

wherein when the processor retrieves data relevant to the retrieved rule, the program causes the processor to identify the prospective driver;

wherein when the processor determines whether intoxicating substance testing is indicated, the program causes the processor to apply the rule using the identity of the prospective driver.

21. The system of claim 20, further comprising:

wherein when the processor identifies the prospective driver, the program further causes the processor to identify the prospective driver via fingerprint detection based on physical contact with a component of the vehicle; and

wherein when the processor causes administration of the intoxicating substance test, the program causes the processor to perform transdermal monitoring based on physical contact with the component of the vehicle.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein the program further causes the processor to modify at least one previously stored rule based on at least one intoxicating substance test result.

23. A method comprising:

receiving a signal that a prospective driver intends to drive a vehicle, the receiving by an onboard device coupled to the vehicle;

retrieving at least one previously stored rule regarding intoxicating substance testing associated the vehicle;

retrieving data related to the rule, wherein the retrieving data is at least one selected from the group consisting of;

current time;

current date;

current day of the week; and

current location of vehicle;

determining whether intoxicating substance testing is indicated by the rule based on the data;

enabling the vehicle responsive to an indication that intoxicating substance testing is not indicated, the enabling by the onboard device;

administering an intoxicating substance test to the prospective driver responsive to an indication that an intoxicating substance test is indicated, the administering by the onboard device, and if the intoxicating substance test is administered;

enabling the vehicle responsive to the prospective driver passing the intoxicating substance test, the enabling by the onboard device; and

disabling the vehicle responsive to the prospective driver failing the intoxicating substance test, the disabling by the onboard device.