Method for identifying and controlling a vehicle driver

• US 7,224,266 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2003
• Issued: 05/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Taipale Telematics OY
• Original Assignee: Taipale Telematics OY
• Inventors: Taipale, Asko
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu; Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Previl; Daniel
• Application Number:
  US10/510,133
• Publication Number:
  US 20050222730A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,513 Days
• Field of Search: 340/439, 340/639, 340/575, 340/576, 340/438, 340/475, 701/1, 701/36, 701/29, 701/35, 701/102, 307/10.4, 307/10.5, 307/10.2, 307/10.3
• US Class Current: 340/439
• 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 a driving-allowing mode or to a drive-stop mode, is provided. In the method, the vehicle includes a scanner, and the driver is provided with a data-containing card or object. According to the method, the driving style information of the driver is stored on the card or object, and on starting driving the driver inserts the card or object into the vehicle scanner. Thereafter, data received from selected vehicle controls and/or data from varying information-collecting detectors is compared with information stored on the driver'"'"'s driving style card, and on basis of the comparison the control unit in the vehicle either allows driving or enters a drive-stop mode.

Claims

1. A method for identifying a driver who intends to drive a vehicle and for switching the vehicle between a driving-allowing mode or to a drive-stop mode, the method comprising the steps of:

providing the vehicle with an ID scanner and with a control unit associated with said scanner,

scanning of a personal ID of the driver by the scanner when the driver intends to drive the vehicle,

switching the vehicle to the driving-allowing mode when the control unit recognizes the scanned personal ID of the driver;

comparing with the control unit, when the driver is driving, actual driving data of the vehicle with driving style information of the driver; and

on a basis of the comparison of the driving style information with the actual driving data, determining with the control unit in the vehicle either to continue to maintain the driving-allowing mode or to inform the driver that the vehicle will be switched to the drive-stop mode.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein there are a plurality of possible vehicle drivers, and further including the initial step of issuing to each possible vehicle driver a respective personal ID object on which the respective driving style information in a normal situation is stored.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said comparing step includes receiving of information continuously during driving from selected vehicle devices and/or detectors by the control unit, and indicating to the driver by the control unit during situations deviating from normal driving of a possible switch to the drive-stop mode.

4. A method according to claim 1, further including the step of updating the driving style information of the driver as the driving style of the driver develops/changes.

5. A method according to claim 1, further including the steps of identifying by the control unit of road conditions during driving and adjusting of the driving style information accordingly.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of informing the driver of a switch to the drive-stop mode while driving includes switching on of an alarm system.

7. A method according to claim 1, further including the step of switching to or from the drive-stop mode by remote control.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein said scanning step includes accepting by the control unit of only certain personal IDs to switch the vehicle to the allowing-driving mode, and sending by the control unit of alarm information when the control unit detects abnormal information scanned by the scanner.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein said scanning step includes the inputting of a code.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein said scanning step includes the scanning of a card.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein said scanning step includes the scanning of a body part of the driver.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein said scanning step includes the inputting of the personal ID which is carried by the driver.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein said scanning step includes the inputting of information to the scanner which is recognized by the control unit.

14. A method according to claim 1, wherein said comparing step includes the storing of the driving style information in a data-collecting device of the vehicle.

15. A method according to claim 1, wherein said comparing step includes the storing of the driving style information in the personal ID.

16. A method according to claim 1, wherein said comparing step includes the receiving of actual driving data from selected vehicle controls of the vehicle.

17. A method according to claim 1, wherein said comparing step includes the receiving of actual driving data from information-collecting detectors of the vehicle.

18. A method to observe a driving style of a driver comprising the steps of:

providing a driver information storage mechanism for the driver containing data according to the driving style of the driver;

providing the vehicle with a scanner which recognizes the driver and the driving style of the driver; and

storing of further driving information data of the driver on the driver information storage mechanism when the driver starts driving, whereat the further driving information data is information received from selected controls of the vehicle and/or from information collecting detectors in the vehicle.

19. A method according to claim 18, further including the step of observing, on a basis of the further driving information data given by the detectors, how the driver treats the vehicle.