Vehicle use control

• US 6,225,890 B1
• Filed: 03/20/1998
• Issued: 05/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Murphy, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US09/045,729
• Time in Patent Office: 1,138 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425.5, 340/426, 340/539, 340/988, 340/989, 340/991, 340/825.31, 340/825.32, 307/10.5, 180/287
• US Class Current: 340/426.19
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/304 Boats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/012 Airbags triggered
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/104 characterised by the type of theft warning signal, e.g. visual or audible signals with special characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/241 whereby access privileges are related to the identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/252 Fingerprint recognition
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/255 Eye recognition
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/257 Voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0858 wherein the data carrier is removable

Abstract

A system for restricting use of a vehicle by a selected vehicle operator to permitted time intervals and permitted vehicle travel corridors. If a driver is seated behind the driver'"'"'s wheel, the system requires that the driver provide one or more samples of an ident indicium, such as a fingerprint, facial scan, retinal scan, voice sample or blood sample analysis, to identify the driver, or of a personal identification indicium contained on a token or card, or of personal information entered using a data entry device (e.g., keypad). When this indicium is satisfactorily presented and analyzed, the system allows operation of the vehicle (including selected vehicle accessories) but further determines (i) whether the present time and/or accumulated vehicle operation time and/or mileage is within a permitted time interval or accumulated time and/or mileage range and (ii) whether the vehicle present location and/or speed are within permitted ranges corresponding to the permitted time interval. If either condition (i) or (ii) is not met, vehicle operation is temporarily disabled, or a coded alarm signal is transmitted, or other appropriate control actions are taken. Alternatively, operation of a vehicle is restricted to one or more permitted location and/or velocity ranges and to one or more permitted time intervals or accumulated operation time and/or mileage ranges. Vehicle location determination (LD) can be implemented using signals from GPS, GLONASS, LEO, LORAN or similar LD systems. A permitted travel region and/or a permitted time interval can be changed remotely, by transmission of a change or reprogramming signal, or can be changed at the LD system carried on the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for restricting use of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a permitted range of location coordinates, corresponding to one or more permitted vehicle travel regions, and a permitted time interval, corresponding to at least one permitted region, within which a selected vehicle may travel;

for at least one selected time during which the vehicle is in motion, determining the present time and determining if the present time is within at least one permitted time interval;

when the present time is not within at least one permitted time interval, taking at least one Control Action to control use of the vehicle;

when said present time is within a permitted time interval, providing a permitted range of location coordinates, corresponding to one or more permitted vehicle travel regions, determining the vehicle present location coordinates, and determining if the vehicle present location coordinates lie within a permitted travel region corresponding to said permitted time interval;

said step of determining said vehicle present location coordinates comprises the steps of;

attempting to receive location determination (LD) signals from one or more selected LD signal sources;

determining if sufficient LD signals are being received to determine said vehicle present location coordinates;

when sufficient LD signals are being received, determining said vehicle present location coordinates; and

when sufficient LD signals are being received, taking at least one action drawn from the class of Control Actions consisting of;

(1) disabling said vehicle at a selected time so that said vehicle no longer operates for at least a selected time interval;

(2) disabling operability of one or more selected accessories for said vehicle;

(3) reducing the speed of said vehicle to a selected speed range;

(4) allowing said vehicle to operate only in one or more selected vehicle transmission gears;

(5) turning on at least one of lights, exterior flashers and vehicle horn for at least one selected time interval;

(6) activating an alarm that is visually perceptible or audibly perceptible by a person located outside of and adjacent to said vehicle;

(7) transmitting a selected alarm signal to a selected facility that is spaced apart from said vehicle;

(8) activating at least one air bag on said vehicle;

(9) allowing said vehicle to operate for at most a selected cumulative time interval;

(10) allowing said vehicle to operate only within one or more selected time intervals;

(11) allowing said vehicle to operate for at most a selected cumulative vehicle mileage; and

(12) recording information that describes present activity of said vehicle; and

when the present time is within said permitted time interval and the vehicle present location coordinates do not lie within the permitted travel region, taking at least one Control Action to control use of said vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of choosing said at least one action to control use of said vehicle from the class of Control Actions consisting of:

(1) disabling said vehicle at a selected time so that said vehicle no longer operates for at least a selected time interval;

(2) disabling operability of one or more selected accessories for said vehicle;

(3) reducing the speed of said vehicle to a selected speed range;

(4) allowing said vehicle to operate only in one or more selected vehicle transmission gears;

(5) turning on at least one of lights, exterior flashers and vehicle horn for at least one selected time interval;

(6) activating an alarm that is visually perceptible or audibly perceptible by a person located outside of and adjacent to said vehicle;

(7) transmitting a selected alarm signal to a selected facility that is spaced apart from said vehicle;

(8) activating at least one air bag on said vehicle;

(9) allowing said vehicle to operate for at most a selected cumulative time interval;

(10) allowing said vehicle to operate only within one or more selected time intervals;

(11) allowing said vehicle to operate for at most a selected cumulative vehicle mileage; and

(12) recording information that describes present activity of said vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

when said present time is within said permitted time interval and said vehicle present location coordinates lie within said permitted travel region, allowing said vehicle to continue to move for at least a selected time interval.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of modifying at lest one of said permitted time intervals.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of modifying said location coordinates contained in at least one of said permitted time ranges.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of modifying at least one of said permitted time intervals.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said step of modifying said permitted range of time comprises transmitting a change signal to said vehicle that modifies said permitted time interval.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of modifying said location coordinates contained in at least one of said permitted time ranges.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said step of modifying said range of location coordinates for said permitted time range comprises transmitting a change signal to said vehicle that modifies said location coordinates contained in said permitted time range.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

providing at least one permitted speed range for said vehicle;

when said vehicle is in motion, determining the present speed of said vehicle;

when the present vehicle speed is not within a permitted speed range, taking at least one Control Action to control use of said vehicle.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of modifying said permitted speed range for said vehicle.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said step of modifying said permitted speed range for said vehicle comprises transmitting a change signal from a monitoring station to said vehicle that modifies said permitted speed range.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

providing a permitted accumulated mileage range for operation of said vehicle within said permitted time interval;

determining the present accumulated mileage range of said vehicle within said permitted time interval; and

when the present accumulated mileage range is not within the permitted accumulated mileage range, taking at least one action drawn from the class of said Control Actions.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of modifying said permitted accumulated mileage range for said vehicle.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said step of modifying said permitted accumulated mileage range for said vehicle comprises transmitting a change signal to said vehicle that modifies said permitted accumulated mileage range.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

providing a permitted accumulated vehicle operation time for said vehicle within said permitted time interval;

determining the present accumulated vehicle operation time for said vehicle within said permitted time interval; and

when the present accumulated vehicle operation time is greater than the permitted accumulated vehicle operation time, taking at least one action Control Action to control use of said vehicle.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of modifying said permitted accumulated vehicle operation time for said vehicle.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said step of modifying said permitted accumulated vehicle operation time for said vehicle comprises transmitting a change signal to said vehicle that modifies said permitted accumulated vehicle operation time.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

requiring a driver of said vehicle to present a token before the driver can operate said vehicle, where the token contains information that allows determination of at least one of (1) identity of the presenter of the token, (2) a permitted time interval and (3) a permitted travel region in which said vehicle can operate; and

reading the information contained on the token.

20. A method for restricting use of a vehicle by a vehicle operator, the method comprising the steps of:

for at least one selected time during which an operator operates a selected vehicle, requesting the operator to provide a selected ident indicium, within a selected indicium time interval, for interrogation; and

when the operator does not provide the requested ident indicium within the selected indicium time interval, or when the operator provides the requested ident indicium and (i) the ident indicium cannot be interrogated or (ii) the ident indicium is interrogated but the operator cannot be identified by the indicium or (iii) the ident indicium is interrogated and the operator is identified as a restricted operator for whom operation of the vehicle is restricted in some manner, taking at least one Control Action to control use of the vehicle;

choosing said at least one action to control use of said vehicle from the class of Control Actions consisting of;

(1) disabling said vehicle at a selected time so that said vehicle no longer operates for at least a selected time interval;

(2) disabling operability of one or more selected accessories for said vehicle;

(3) reducing the speed of said vehicle to a selected speed range;

(4) allowing said vehicle to operate only in one or more selected vehicle transmission gears;

(5) turning on at least one of lights, exterior flashers and vehicle horn for at least one selected time interval;

(6) activating an alarm that is visually perceptible or audibly perceptible by a person located outside of and adjacent to said vehicle;

(7) transmitting a selected alarm signal to a selected facility that is spaced apart from said vehicle;

(8) activating at least one air bag on said vehicle;

(9) allowing said vehicle to operate for at most a selected cumulative time interval;

(10) allowing said vehicle to operate only within one or more selected time intervals;

(11) allowing said vehicle to operate for at most a selected cumulative vehicle mileage; and

(12) recording information that describes present activity of said vehicle;

said step of allowing a restricted operator to operate the vehicle only within a selected geographic region and only within one or more selected operation time intervals comprises the steps of;

providing a permitted range of location coordinates, corresponding to said permitted region, and a permitted time interval, corresponding to said permitted region, within which said vehicle may travel when operated by the restricted operator;

when the restricted operator is determined to be operating the vehicle, determining the present time and determining if the present time is within at least one permitted time interval;

when the present time is not within at least one permitted time interval, taking at least one action drawn from the class of said Control Actions;

when said present time is within a permitted time interval, determining the vehicle present location coordinates, and determining if the vehicle present location coordinates lie within a permitted range of location coordinates corresponding to said permitted time interval;

when the present time is within said permitted time interval and the vehicle present location coordinates do not lie within the permitted range, taking at least one action drawn from the class of said Control Actions;

when said present time is within said permitted time interval and said vehicle present location coordinates lie within said permitted range, allowing said restricted operator to operate said vehicle for at least a selected time interval;

modifying a permitted range of time for at least one of said permitted time intervals;

modifying said location coordinates contained in at least one of said permitted time ranges;

said step of determining said vehicle present location coordinates comprises the steps of;

attempting to receive location determination (LD) signals from one or more selected LD signal sources;

determining if sufficient LD signals are being received to determine said vehicle present location coordinates;

when sufficient LD signals are being received, determining said vehicle present location coordinates; and

when sufficient LD signals are being received, taking at least one action drawn from the class of Control Actions consisting of, (1) disabling said vehicle at a selected time so that said vehicle no longer operates for at least a selected time interval;

(2) disabling operability of one or more selected accessories for said vehicle;

(3) reducing the speed of said vehicle to a selected speed range;

(4) allowing said vehicle to operate only in one or more selected vehicle transmission gears;

(5) turning on at least one of lights, exterior flashers and vehicle horn for at least one selected time interval;

(6) activating an alarm that is visually perceptible or audibly perceptible by a person located outside of and adjacent to said vehicle;

(7) transmitting a selected alarm signal to a selected facility that is spaced apart from said vehicle;

(8) activating at least one air bag on said vehicle;

(9) allowing said vehicle to operate for at most a selected cumulative time interval;

(10) allowing said vehicle to operate only within one or more selected time intervals;

(11) allowing said vehicle to operate for at most a selected cumulative vehicle mileage; and

(12) recording information that describes present activity of said vehicle.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of:

when said present time is within said permitted time interval and said vehicle present location coordinates lie within said permitted range, allowing said restricted operator to operate said vehicle for at least a selected time interval.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of modifying a permitted range of time for at least one of said permitted time intervals.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of modifying said location coordinates contained in at least one of said permitted time ranges.

24. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of modifying a permitted range of time for at least one of said permitted time intervals.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said step of modifying said permitted range of time comprises transmitting a change signal to said vehicle that modifies said permitted time interval.

26. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of modifying said location coordinates contained in at least one of said permitted time ranges.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said step of modifying said range of location coordinates for said permitted time rang e comprises transmitting a change signal to said vehicle that modifies said location coordinates contained in said permitted time range.

28. The method of claim 20, further comprising the steps of:

providing a permitted velocity range for said vehicle;

when the restricted operator is determined to be operating said vehicle, determining the present velocity of said vehicle;

when the present vehicle velocity is not within a permitted speed range, taking at least one action drawn from the class of said Control Actions.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising the step of modifying said permitted speed range for said vehicle.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein said step of modifying said permitted speed range for said vehicle comprises transmitting a change signal from a monitoring station to said vehicle that modifies said permitted speed range.

31. The method of claim 20, further comprising the steps of:

providing a permitted accumulated mileage range for operation of said vehicle within said permitted time interval;

when said restricted operator is determined to be operating said vehicle determining the present accumulated mileage range of said vehicle within said permitted time interval;

when the present accumulated mileage range is not within the permitted accumulated mileage range, taking at least one action drawn from the class of said Control Actions.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of modifying said permitted accumulated mileage range for said vehicle.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein said step of modifying said permitted accumulated mileage range for said vehicle comprises transmitting a change signal to said vehicle that modifies said permitted accumulated mileage range.

34. The method of claim 20, further comprising the steps of:

providing a permitted accumulated vehicle operation time for said vehicle within said permitted time interval;

determining the present accumulated vehicle operation time for said vehicle within said permitted time interval;

when the present accumulated vehicle operation time is greater than the permitted accumulated vehicle operation time, taking at least one action drawn from the class of said Control Actions.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising the step of modifying said permitted accumulated vehicle operation time for said vehicle.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein said step of modifying said permitted accumulated vehicle operation time for said vehicle comprises transmitting a change signal to said vehicle that modifies said permitted accumulated vehicle operation time.

37. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of selecting said ident indicium from the class of biometric indicia consisting of a thumbprint, a fingerprint, a handprint, a hand silhouette, a partial facial scan, a full facial scan, a retinal scan, an iris scan, a voice sample analysis, a blood vein pattern scan and a blood sample analysis.

38. The method of claim 20, further comprising the steps of:

requiring a driver of said vehicle to present a token before the driver can operate said vehicle, where the token contains information that allows determination of at least one of a permitted time interval, a permitted travel region in which said vehicle can operate, and said selected biometric indicium; and

reading the information contained on the token and determining at least one of a permitted time interval, a permitted region in which said vehicle can operate, a permitted speed range within which said vehicle can operate, and said biometric indicium.

39. The method of claim 20, further comprising the steps of:

requiring a driver of said vehicle to enter personal information into a selected computer before the driver can operate said vehicle, where the personal information allows identification of the driver; and

reading the personal information entered and determining at least one of a permitted time interval, a permitted region in which said vehicle can operate, and a permitted speed range within which said vehicle can operate.