Apparatus and method for registering users and managing biometric data thereof in a vehicle

• US 8,937,528 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2012
• Issued: 01/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Protopapas, Maria Eugenia
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Hai
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bousono, Orlando
• Application Number:
  US13/611,934
• Publication Number:
  US 20140070917A1
• Time in Patent Office: 860 Days
• Field of Search: 340 552- 553, 340/5.72, 340/5.8, 340 581- 584, 340/5.7
• US Class Current: 340/5.72
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/25 using biometry
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/30 Detection related to theft or to other events relevant to anti-theft systems

Abstract

An apparatus for managing biometric information for a vehicle is provided. The apparatus comprising a first key, a second key, and a vehicle controller. The first and the second key each for transmitting an access signal to the vehicle. The vehicle controller for receiving the access signal from one of the first key and the second key to enable operation of the vehicle. The vehicle controller being operably coupled to a biometric database for storing first data indicative of an administrator and second data indicative of at least one of a member and biometric information for the member. The vehicle controller being configured to receive the access signal from each of the first key and the second key and to determine that a user is the administrator in response to receiving the access signal from each of the first key and the second key.

Claims

1. An apparatus for managing biometric information for a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a first key and a second key, each physically separates from each other, and each including an electronic transmitter positioned thereon for transmitting an access signal to the vehicle;

a vehicle controller for receiving the access signal from one of the first key and the second key to enable operation of the vehicle, the vehicle controller being operably coupled to a biometric database for storing first data indicative of an administrator and second data indicative of at least one of a member and biometric information for the member, the vehicle controller being configured to;

electronically receive the access signal from the first key at a first time instance;

electronically receive the access signal from the second key at a second time instance;

determine a first time duration between the first time instance and the second time instance;

determine whether the first time duration is less than a predetermined time frame; and

determine that a user is the administrator in response to determining that the first time duration is less than the predetermined time frame.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the vehicle controller is further configured to electronically receive a first indication indicative of a request to indicate that the user is the administrator prior to receiving the access signal from each of the first key and the second key.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the vehicle controller is further configured to electrically receive a first indication indicative of a request to identify the administrator to the vehicle via a personal communication device (PCD) associated with the administrator.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the vehicle controller is further configured to detect a communication signal from the PCD associated with the administrator in response to the first indication thereby enabling the biometric database to recognize that the administrator is present about the vehicle.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the vehicle controller is further configured to add or remove the member from the biometric database in response to an electronic command as provided by the administrator.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the vehicle controller is further configured to modify the biometric information for the member in response to an electronic command as provided by one of the administrator and the member.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the biometric database is positioned in one of the vehicle and a server positioned away from the vehicle.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the administrator has greater control over vehicle functionality than that of the member.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of the first key and the second key is used in connection with one of a passive anti-theft system (PATS) and a passive entry passive start (PEPS) system.

10. An apparatus for managing biometric information for a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a first key and a second key, each physically separated from each other, and each including an electronic transmitter for transmitting an access signal to the vehicle; and

a vehicle controller being operably coupled to a biometric database to store first data indicative of an administrator and second data indicative of at least one of a member and biometric information for the member, the vehicle controller being configured to;

electronically receive the access signal from each of the first key at a first time instance;

electronically receive the access signal from the second key at a second time instance;

determine a first time duration between the first time instance and the second time instance;

determine whether the first time duration is less than a predetermined time frame; and

determine that a user is the administrator in response to determining that the first time duration is less than the predetermined time frame.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the vehicle controller is further configured to electronically receive a first indication indicative of a request to indicate that the user is the administrator prior to receiving the access signal from each of the first key and the second key.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the vehicle controller is further configured to electrically receive a first indication indicative of a request to identify the administrator to the vehicle via a personal communication device (PCD) associated with the administrator.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the vehicle controller is further configured to detect a communication signal from the PCD associated with the administrator in response to the first indication thereby enabling the biometric database to recognize that the administrator is present about the vehicle.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the vehicle controller is further configured to add or remove the member from the biometric database in response to an electronic command as provided by the administrator.

15. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the vehicle controller is further configured to modify the biometric information for the member in response to an electronic command as provided by one of the administrator and the member.

16. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the biometric database is positioned in one of the vehicle and a server positioned away from the vehicle.

17. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the administrator has greater control over vehicle functionality than that of the member.