Method and apparatus for biometric vehicle activation

• US 9,381,890 B2
• Filed: 02/04/2014
• Issued: 07/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Lee, Benjamin, Cutler, Scott, Krishnan, Venkatesh, Korovesis, Pete Christ
• Primary Examiner(s): Dager, Jonathan M
• Application Number:
  US14/172,356
• Publication Number:
  US 20150217726A1
• Time in Patent Office: 882 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/02 responsive to conditions relating to the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/252 Fingerprint recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1365 Matching; Classification

Abstract

A system includes a processor configured to detect push-to-start (PTS) button engagement. The processor is also configured to scan a finger positioned on a vehicle fingerprint scanner for a fingerprint. The processor is further configured to verify that the fingerprint corresponds to an authorized driver and engage a vehicle ignition when the fingerprint corresponds to an authorized driver.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a wireless transceiver configured to communicate with an off-board server; and

a processor in communication with the wireless transceiver and further configured to;

detect push-to-start (PTS) button engagement;

receive an add-new-driver instruction and personal identification number (PIN);

validate the PIN utilizing the off-board server;

scan a finger positioned on a vehicle fingerprint scanner for a fingerprint following validation of the PIN;

verify that the fingerprint corresponds to an authorized driver at the off-board server;

request a vehicle setting from the off-board server associated with the authorized driver utilizing the fingerprint;

and

engage a vehicle ignition when the fingerprint corresponds to an authorized driver.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to send the fingerprint to the off-board server to determine if the driver is an authorized driver.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the vehicle setting received from the off-board server is associated with a master driver.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the vehicle setting received from the off-board server is associated with another vehicle.

2. A system comprising:

a wireless transceiver configured to communicate with an off-board server;

a processor in communication with the wireless transceiver, the processor configured to;

receive an add-new-driver instruction;

receive an authorization format instruction corresponding to an authorization format for authorizing new driver addition;

receive input including a personal identification number (PIN) corresponding to the authorization format;

validate the PIN utilizing the off-board server;

following validation of the PIN, scan a finger positioned on a vehicle fingerprint scanner for a new driver fingerprint; and

add the new driver based on the new driver fingerprint, including saving the new driver fingerprint in a driver profile corresponding to the new driver.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the authorization format includes verification of a master-driver fingerprint, wherein the master-driver fingerprint is associated with the new driver at time of vehicle purchase.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the processor is configured to scan a finger positioned on a vehicle fingerprint scanner for a master driver fingerprint;

and

validate the master driver fingerprint based on a stored master driver fingerprint located at the off-board server.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the authorization format includes a verification code.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the verification code is an alpha-numeric code input to a vehicle interface.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the verification code includes a sequence of vehicle button interactions.

18. The system of claim 2, wherein the driver profile includes vehicle settings associated with the driver.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the wireless transceiver is further configured to pair with a nomadic device;

and

the vehicle settings are retrieved from the nomadic device paired with the wireless transceiver.

8. A system in a vehicle, comprising:

a processor configured to;

in response to an off-board server validating a personal identification number (PIN) entered at the vehicle, obtain a fingerprint scan utilizing a push-to-start button including a biometric sensor;

send the scan to the server for verification and to determine a vehicle setting associated with the scan;

receive the vehicle setting from the server;

engage a vehicle ignition if the fingerprint scan is verified.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the biometric sensor is provided as part of the push-to-start button, such that depression of the button with a driver finger initiates scanning of the finger pressing the push-to-start button.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the system further comprises a wireless transceiver configured to receive a secondary vehicle ignition engagement option from the off-board server, wherein the secondary vehicle ignition engagement option includes entry of the PIN.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the PIN corresponds to a known driver for which a driver profile is stored.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the PIN corresponds to an unknown driver.

16. The system of claim 8, wherein the vehicle setting received from the off-board server is associated with a secondary vehicle ignition engagement option that is limited in number of uses.

17. The system of claim 8, wherein the vehicle setting received from the off-board server is associated with a secondary vehicle ignition engagement option that is limited in duration.