Devices, Systems and Methods for Controlling Permitted Settings on a Vehicle

• US 20110137520A1
• Filed: 12/07/2009
• Published: 06/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Corp.
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: McNamara, Justin Michael Anthony, Rector, Jay Daryl, Davis, John Potts III
• Granted Patent: US 8,706,349 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/037 for occupant comfort , e.g. for automatic adjustment of appliances according to personal settings, e.g. seats, mirrors, steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/053 remote terminal provisioning, e.g. of applets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/651 Text message transmission triggered by call automatic reactions in messaging within packet-switching networks H04L51/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42136 Administration or customisation of services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Abstract

Devices, systems, and methods are disclosed for altering permitted settings of a vehicle according to a driver identified through short range wireless communication. The vehicle captures a unique identifier from a wireless communication device of the driver of the vehicle. This unique identifier is used to reference a database to determine the identity of the driver as well as settings for the driver created by a controlling authority. The controlling authority may be, for instance, a parent or employer of the driver. The settings may limit certain devices within the vehicle and/or the vehicle itself. Speed control settings, radio settings, wireless communication device settings, and various other settings are all possible to limit distractions to the driver. Further, the settings may be influenced by the number or identities of passengers within the vehicle.

Claims

1. A system for controlling a driver'"'"'s settings, the system comprising:

a network;

a smart vehicle in communication with the network;

a wireless communication device in communication with the smart vehicle;

a settings server on the network, the settings server including a user account for a user of the wireless communication device, the user account including permitted settings for the user;

a client logic on the smart vehicle to retrieve a unique identifier from the wireless communication device and transmit the unique identifier to the settings server; and

a server logic on the settings server to associate the unique identifier with the user account, determine the permitted settings for the user, and transmit the permitted settings to the client logic,

wherein the client logic limits functions of the smart vehicle based upon the permitted settings.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the permitted settings are created by a controlling authority.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the controlling authority is one or more of a parent of the driver and an employer of the driver.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the permitted settings include a maximum allowed speed of the smart vehicle.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the permitted settings include a radio setting.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the radio setting includes one or more of a maximum volume and a restricted station.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the permitted settings include a prohibition of the use of a function of the wireless communication device.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a driver seat in the smart vehicle;

a passenger seat in the smart vehicle;

a plurality of passenger wireless communication devices in communication with the smart vehicle; and

an antenna coupled to the smart vehicle, the antenna being positioned significantly closer to the driver seat than the passenger seat;

wherein the client logic;

retrieves a unique passenger identifier from each of the plurality of passenger wireless communication devices, and

changes the permitted settings based upon one or more of a number of passengers and an identity of a passenger.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising one of a biometric sensor and a weight scale coupled to a seat in the smart vehicle.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication device is a contactless smart card.

11. A method for controlling a driver'"'"'s settings, the method comprising:

requesting a unique identifier from a wireless communication device in communication with a smart vehicle;

receiving the unique identifier from the wireless communication device and determining an identity of a driver in possession of the wireless communication device based upon the unique identifier;

referencing settings corresponding to the identity of the driver; and

implementing the settings,

wherein the settings are chosen by a controlling authority and include one or more of permitted speed settings, permitted radio settings, and permitted use of the wireless communication device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the controlling authority is one or more of a parent of the driver and an employer of the driver.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the permitted speed settings include a maximum allowed speed of the smart vehicle.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the permitted radio settings includes one or more of a maximum volume and a restricted station.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the permitted use of the wireless communication device includes a prohibition of the use of a function of the wireless communication device.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the smart vehicle retrieves a unique passenger identifier from each of the plurality of passenger wireless communication devices located within the smart vehicle and changes the settings based upon one or more of a number of passengers and an identity of a passenger.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising sending a blocked call notification to the wireless communication device.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein determining the identity of the driver further includes using one of a biometric sensor and a weight scale coupled to a seat in the smart vehicle.

19. A smart vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle;

a processor coupled to the vehicle;

a memory in communication with the processor;

a transceiver in communication with the processor;

an antenna coupled to the transceiver; and

a client logic on the memory to

retrieve a unique identifier from a wireless communication device,

determine an identity of a user of the wireless communication device based upon the unique identifier,

determine permitted settings for the user, the permitted settings created by a controlling authority, and

implement the permitted settings.

20. The smart vehicle of claim 19, wherein the permitted settings include one or more of a maximum speed of the vehicle, a radio setting, and a prohibition of use of a function of the wireless communication device.