Driver authentication system and method for monitoring and controlling vehicle usage

• US 9,493,149 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2014
• Issued: 11/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Phelan Group, LLC
• Original Assignee: The Phelan Group, LLC
• Inventors: Phelan, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Dager, Jonathan M
• Application Number:
  US14/464,188
• Publication Number:
  US 20140358376A1
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/033 characterised by the use of electrical cells or batteries for propulsion puposes B60K1/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06; testing of charge state G01R31/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/04 including control of propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/20 including control of steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/30 including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2040/0809 Driver authorisation; Driver identity check
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/08 related to drivers or passengers
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/12 Limiting control by the driver depending on vehicle state, e.g. interlocking means for the control input for preventing unsafe operation
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0061 for transition from automatic pilot to manual pilot and vice versa
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

A driver authentication and safety system and method for monitoring and controlling vehicle usage by high-risk drivers. A centralized database comprising a software application can be accessed by an authorized user via a data communications network utilizing a remote computer in order to configure a desired operating profile that matches requirements of the high-risk driver. The operating profile can be loaded to a driver identification and data logging module in conjunction with the remote computer. A master control unit receives a unique identification code from the data logging device to authenticate the high-risk driver and to operate the vehicle within the desired operating profile. A slave control unit receives commands from the master control unit and generates a real time alarm signal if the driver violates the preprogrammed operating profile unique to the driver.

Claims

1. A driver authentication and monitoring system, comprising:

a wireless identification and data logging module;

a master control unit in a motor vehicle for wirelessly authenticating at least one driver via said wireless driver identification and data logging module and associating an operating profile with said at least one driver;

a GPS module providing at least location and speed information in association with movement of said motor vehicle;

a data logging device recording vehicle operation data associated with a use of said motor vehicle by said at least one driver comprising at least said location and speed information from said GPS module; and

a slave control unit in said motor vehicle and in communication with said master control unit, said slave control unit configured to receive commands from said master control unit and to generate an alarm signal if said at least one driver violates said operating profile unique to said at least one driver thereby providing feedback about said vehicle usage;

wherein said master control unit permits said at least one driver to operate said vehicle within said operating profile if said master control unit receives at least one of a unique identification code to permit said at least one driver to operate said vehicle within said operating profile and said at least one driver has not violated said operating profile.

2. The driver authentication and monitoring system of claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of transducers comprising at least one of proximity sensors, head movement sensors, and eye movement sensors wherein said transducers send signals to said slave control unit and said slave control unit determines if said signals are indicative of a driving condition requiring a warning and in turn signals said master control unit to alert said driver.

3. The driver authentication and monitoring system of claim 1 further comprising:

an impairment sensor wherein said slave control unit receives signals from impairment sensor and prevents said motor vehicle from starting when said transducer senses driver a driver impairment above a prescribed limit.

4. The driver authentication and monitoring system of claim 1 further comprising configuring said wireless identification and data logging module as at least one of:

a WIFI enabled device;

an RFID enabled device;

a Bluetooth enabled device;

a cellular telephone; and

a smart phone.

5. The driver authentication device of claim 4 wherein said wireless identification and data logging module is further configured to wirelessly load said operating profile for said at least one driver into said master control unit.

6. The driver authentication device of claim 4 wherein said wireless identification and data logging module is further configured to wirelessly receive driver specific vehicle performance and infraction data from said master control unit.

7. The driver authentication device of claim 6 wherein said wireless identification and data logging module is further configured to present said driver specific vehicle performance and infraction data.

8. The driver authentication device of claim 1 wherein said master control unit is further configured for wirelessly receiving data indicative of a speed of said motor vehicle, a location of said motor vehicle, and a time of day from at least one of:

a WIFI source;

an RF source;

a Bluetooth source; and

a smart-road network source.

9. The driver authentication device of claim 8 wherein said master control is configured for wirelessly receiving data indicative of a speed limit associated with a road said motor vehicle is currently traveling on from at least one of:

a WIFI source;

an RF source;

a Bluetooth source; and

a smart-road network source.

10. The driver authentication device of claim 9 wherein said master control is configured to define a maximum speed limit and a geo-fence limit for said at least one driver according to said time of day.

11. The driver authentication module of claim 1 further comprising an alarm module configured to wirelessly receive data from at least one of said master controller, said slave controller, and said GPS module wherein said alarm module is further configured to present at least one of location data, speed data, and infraction data in real time.

12. The driver authentication module of claim 11 wherein said alarm module comprises at least one of:

a cellular telephone;

a smartphone;

a computer;

a vehicle integrated wireless communication device;

a WIFI enabled device;

an RFID enabled device; and

a Bluetooth enabled device.

13. The driver authentication device of claim 1 further comprising a phone governor module configured to receive at least one instruction from said master control unit said instructions comprising at least one of:

restricting calls on said at least one driver'"'"'s cellular telephone;

powering off said at least one driver'"'"'s cellular telephone; and

disabling text messaging on said at least one driver'"'"'s cellular telephone.

14. The driver authentication device of claim 1 further comprising an Internet governor module configured to disables all integrated in-vehicle Internet related applications when said vehicle is in operation.

15. The driver authentication device of claim 2 further comprising a steering control module, a braking control module, and an acceleration control module configured to receive at least one instruction from said master control unit said instructions comprising at least one of:

reducing said vehicles speed;

increasing said vehicles speed; and

altering said vehicles direction.

16. The driver authentication and monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said slave control unit further comprises a power regulator module;

a starter relay module;

a definable relay module;

a slave microcontroller; and

an alarm synthesizer.

17. The driver authentication and monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said operating profile comprises at least one operating parameter including at least one of:

a maximum allowable vehicle speed;

an allowable vehicle location;

allowable hours of operation; and

a seatbelt usage.

18. The driver authentication and monitoring system of claim 1 wherein said slave control unit generates an alarm signal for remotely alerting said authorized user when said at least one driver violates said operating profile.