Driver Authentication System And Method For Monitoring And Controlling Vehicle Usage
Patent No. US11352020 (titled "Driver Authentication System And Method For Monitoring And Controlling Vehicle Usage") was filed by The Phelan Group Llc on Feb 28, 2019.
What is this patent about?
’020 is related to the field of vehicle safety, specifically systems designed to monitor and control vehicle usage, particularly by drivers considered to be high-risk. The background acknowledges the disproportionate number of accidents involving young and inexperienced drivers, highlighting the need for improved methods to promote safer driving habits and reduce fatalities.
The underlying idea behind ’020 is to implement a system that authenticates the driver and then enforces a pre-defined operating profile tailored to that driver's risk factors. This is achieved by using a driver identification module to verify the driver's identity, and then using a master control unit to govern the vehicle's operation based on the loaded profile. If the driver violates the profile, an alarm signal is triggered.
The claims of ’020 focus on a vehicle control system comprising a wireless identification and data logging module, a master control unit for authenticating an occupant and associating an operating profile, a module for receiving location and speed information, a data logging device for recording vehicle operation data, and a slave control unit for generating an alarm signal. The key aspect is that the master control unit provides operation governance of the vehicle within the operating profile.
In practice, the system works by first authenticating the driver, potentially via a smartphone or similar device that communicates wirelessly with the master control unit. Once authenticated, the master control unit retrieves the driver's operating profile, which may include parameters such as speed limits, geofencing boundaries, and allowable hours of operation. The GPS module provides real-time location and speed data, which is compared against the operating profile. If a violation occurs, the slave control unit generates an alarm, which could be audible, visual, or even involve limiting vehicle functionality.
The differentiation from prior approaches lies in the system's ability to dynamically adjust vehicle operation based on a combination of driver identification, pre-programmed operating profiles, and real-time data from sensors and GPS. Unlike simple speed limiters or basic tracking devices, this system offers a more comprehensive and personalized approach to driver safety, allowing for customized interventions based on specific risk factors and driving conditions. The system also allows for multiple operating profiles for a single vehicle.
How does this patent fit in bigger picture?
Technical landscape at the time
In the late 2000s when ’020 was filed, automotive systems commonly relied on embedded microcontrollers for vehicle control and monitoring. At a time when GPS technology was becoming more prevalent, systems typically relied on dedicated hardware modules for GPS data acquisition and processing rather than integrated software-defined solutions. In this era, wireless communication between vehicle components was becoming more common, but hardware or software constraints made secure and reliable over-the-air updates and configurations non-trivial.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The examiner approved the application because the prior art did not anticipate or render obvious a data logging device that records vehicle operation data, including location and speed, in conjunction with a master and slave control unit configuration. The slave control unit receives commands from the master control unit and generates an alarm signal when the master control unit provides operation governance of the vehicle within a specific operating profile. Dependent claims were allowable due to their dependence on the independent claim.
Claims
The patent has 19 claims, with claim 1 being the only independent claim. Independent claim 1 is directed to a vehicle control system that uses wireless identification to associate an operating profile with an occupant and governs vehicle operation based on that profile. The dependent claims generally elaborate on the components and functionalities of the vehicle control system described in the independent claim, adding details regarding transducers, control modules, alarm systems, and operating profile parameters.
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Date
Description
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US11352020
- Application Number
- US16288854
- Filing Date
- Feb 28, 2019
- Status
- Granted
- Expiry Date
- Jan 13, 2031
- External Links
- Slate, USPTO, Google Patents