Method for identifying a person driving a vehicle and controlling driving manner

• US 20050222730A1
• Filed: 04/07/2003
• Published: 10/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Taipale Telematics OY
• Original Assignee: Taipale Telematics OY
• Inventors: Taipale, Asko
• Granted Patent: US 7,224,266 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/41
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/02 responsive to conditions relating to the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/25 using biometry
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/252 Fingerprint recognition
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/255 Eye recognition
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/043 Identity of occupants
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/30 Driving style

Abstract

A method to identify a person driving a vehicle and his/hers driving style and also to switch on the vehicle either to driving-allowing mode or on drive-stop mode, whereby in the method the vehicle comprises a card or another similar object containing data, a scanner, and the driver is provided with said data-containing card or with a similar object. In the method driving style information of the driver is stored on said card or object, and on starting driving the driver inserts the card or object into the vehicle scanner, whereby data received from selected vehicle controls and/or data from varying information-collecting detectors is compared with information stored on driver'"'"'s driving style card and on basis of the comparison the control unit in the vehicle either allows driving or informs of drive-stop or of other consequence of that kind.

Claims

1. A method for identifying a person driving a vehicle and for controlling his/hers driving style and also to switch on the vehicle either to driving-allowing mode or to drive-stop mode, whereby in the method the vehicle comprises an object containing a code, a card (2) or similar data or, for instance, a scanner of driver'"'"'s finger or another part of his/hers body and a control unit, and the driver is provided with a personal code or a card containing said data or with a corresponding identification device, as the finger or some other part of his body, characterized in that in the method driving style information of the driver is stored on said card or object or to data-collecting unit in the vehicle, and on starting driving the driver inserts the card or object into the vehicle scanner (1), whereby data received from selected vehicle controls and/or data from varying information-collecting detectors (4-9) is compared with information stored on driver'"'"'s driving style card (2), and on basis of the comparison the control unit in the vehicle either allows driving or informs of drive-stop or of other consequence of that kind.

2. A method according to claim 1 characterized in that each possible vehicle driver is provided with a personal card (2) or object, on which information of driver'"'"'s driving style in a normal situation is stored.

3. A method according to claim 1 characterized in that the vehicle control unit (1) receives information continuously during driving from selected devices and/or detectors and indicates situations deviating from normal driving and informs of possible drive-stop.

4. A method according to claim 1 characterized in that the driving style information contained in the card is completed as the driving style develops/changes.

5. A method according to claim 1 characterized in that the control system identifies road conditions and pays regard to them by observing the driving style.

6. A method according to claim 1 characterized in that instead of drive-stop the control system allows driving with the alarm system switched on.

7. A method according to claim 1 characterized in that the drive-stop can be deleted or switched on by remote control.

8. A method according to claim 1 characterized in that the control centre is applied to accept only certain personal cards or objects, by means of which it is possible to drive the vehicle and that the control centre is applied to send alarm information, when the detector (4-9) indicates abnormal information.

9. A method to observe the driving style of a person, whereby the method includes a code, card (2) or other object containing corresponding data according to the driver, or for instance a scanner (1) of driver'"'"'s finger or another part of his/hers body and an information-collecting unit and the driver is provided either with a personal code or a card containing said data or with a similar identification device, for instance finger, characterized in that in the method the driver'"'"'s driving type information is stored on said card or object or to the information-collecting unit and on starting driving the driver inserts said card or object in the vehicle scanner (1) or gives another identification, such as a code, finger identification, or similar to said vehicle scanner (1), whereat information received from selected controls of the vehicle and/or from information collecting detectors (4-9) is collected and stored on driver'"'"'s card (2) or to the information collecting-unit in the vehicle.

10. A method according to claim 9 characterized in that on basis of data given by detectors (4-9) the way of driver'"'"'s treating the vehicle is observed.