U.S. patent application number 14/536981 was filed with the patent office on 2015-06-18 for system and method for wirelessly rostering a vehicle.
The applicant listed for this patent is Chris Outwater, William Gibbens Redmann. Invention is credited to Chris Outwater, William Gibbens Redmann.
Application Number | 20150166009 14/536981 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53367445 |
Filed Date | 2015-06-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150166009 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Outwater; Chris ; et
al. |
June 18, 2015 |
System and Method for Wirelessly Rostering a Vehicle
Abstract
A system and method for wirelessly generating a roster of
drivers and passengers in transportation vehicles. A driver's or
passenger's smartphone can communicate using short-range
communications with the vehicle, or a smartphone in the vehicle, so
that the ID associated with the phone can be linked to a vehicle
ID, date and time stamped, and stored in a log or database. Any
unauthorized person can be refused admittance (by not permitting
the vehicle to start or otherwise being denied the right to be a
driver or passenger). A downloaded application is used for this
purpose. The invention also can include a secure, remote database
as well as a mobile device such as a smartphone running the
application, a wireless receiver/transmitter in the vehicle, and a
wireless communication network such as a cellular network.
Inventors: |
Outwater; Chris; (Santa
Barbara, CA) ; Redmann; William Gibbens; (Glendale,
CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Outwater; Chris
Redmann; William Gibbens |
Santa Barbara
Glendale |
CA
CA |
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
53367445 |
Appl. No.: |
14/536981 |
Filed: |
November 10, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61902596 |
Nov 11, 2013 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
701/2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R 2325/103 20130101;
B60R 2325/205 20130101; B60R 2325/101 20130101; B60R 25/04
20130101; B60R 25/24 20130101; B60R 25/302 20130101; B60R 25/25
20130101 |
International
Class: |
B60R 25/04 20060101
B60R025/04; B60R 25/31 20060101 B60R025/31 |
Claims
1. A method of automatically generating a roster of drivers and
passengers for a particular vehicle comprising: establishing
communication between a driver or passenger's telephone and the
vehicle when the driver or passenger approaches the vehicle;
demanding personal ID information from said driver or passenger;
receiving personal ID information via said communication from the
telephone; verifying the personal ID information with a remote
computer accessing a remote database; prohibiting the driver from
driving the vehicle, or the passenger from riding in the vehicle,
when the personal ID information is insufficient or incorrect to
grant access according to a stored set of access rules.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein said communication is short-range
wireless communication.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein said communication is by
BLUETOOTH.TM..
4. The method of claim 1 wherein said personal ID information
includes biometric data.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein said personal ID information
includes a photographic image.
6. The method of claim 4 wherein said biometric data is measured in
response to said demanding.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein said communication with the
vehicle is established using a wireless device carried by said
driver.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein said prohibiting includes
disabling said vehicle.
9. The method of claim 1 further comprising requiring said driver
approaching the vehicle to also take a test showing capability to
drive the vehicle.
10. A system for generating and maintaining a roster of drivers and
passengers for a particular vehicle comprising: a first,
short-range communications system acting in cooperation with a
processor in said vehicle, said processor in the vehicle also
cooperating with a second communications system adapted to allow
communication between said processor and a remote server over a
network; a wireless application comprising executable instructions
adapted to be downloaded into a smartphone carried by a driver or
passenger, said wireless application executing said instructions on
the smartphone adapted to access personal ID data from that
smartphone, and wirelessly communicate said personal ID data to the
processor in the vehicle when the driver or passenger is in
proximity to said vehicle; said processor in the vehicle configured
to communicate the personal ID data over said second communications
system to the remote server, and configured to receive from the
remote server access authorization to said vehicle; said processor
in the vehicle adapted to either allow or deny access to said
vehicle to either the driver or the passenger.
11. The system of claim 10 wherein said personal ID data includes
biometric data.
12. The system of claim 10 wherein said personal ID data includes a
photographic image.
13. The system of claim 10 wherein said short-range communications
is BLUETOOTH.TM..
14. The system of claim 11 wherein said wireless application in the
smartphone requires measuring said biometric data before
communicating said ID.
15. The system of claim 10 wherein said second communications
system uses a cellular telephone network.
16. A method of automatically generating a roster of drivers and
passengers for a particular vehicle comprising: establishing
communication between a driver or passenger's telephone and the
vehicle when the driver or passenger approaches the vehicle;
demanding personal ID information from said driver or passenger;
receiving personal ID information via said communication from the
telephone; verifying the personal ID information with a remote
computer accessing a remote database; prohibiting the driver from
driving the vehicle, or the passenger from riding in the vehicle,
when the personal ID information is insufficient or incorrect to
grant access according to a stored set of access rules; wherein
said personal ID information includes biometric data; and, wherein
said prohibiting includes disabling said vehicle.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of
transportation and more particularly to a system and method for
automatically generating a roster of who plans to drive, who is
currently driving, who has driven, and a list of passengers for a
particular vehicle.
[0003] 2. Description of the Problem
[0004] There are many instances where it would be valuable to track
who has driven a vehicle and/or who has ridden in it as a
passenger. This is especially true with vehicles that need location
and/or data tracking. This can include commercial and fleet
vehicles as well as rental and other vehicles such as van pools,
car sharing, school buses, other buses, taxis and private vehicles.
While in many cases, a vehicle is an automobile, truck or van, it
may also be an aircraft, watercraft, train or any other vehicle
that has a driver or can carry passengers. In some cases, the
vehicle may be an autonomous vehicle with no driver. In a
commercial setting, while the monitoring and tracking of fleet
vehicles has been the subject of significant automation, the
remaining tasks of identifying who takes out a vehicle and
maintaining a passenger manifest can often be a cumbersome,
time-consuming process in which the driver has to fill out forms
and also get a key at a specific location or administrative office.
This can take a lot of time and is open to human error.
[0005] Certain vehicles, whether passenger cars, vans, buses, even
planes and trains, often have a list of authorized drivers, or
pilots, and also a list of passengers. Passengers can be part of a
known group (herein, those registered on a "passenger roster
network,"), or, unknown, or a guest. Unknown riders can be invited
to register on the passenger roster network.
[0006] The manual process of rostering the vehicle, i.e., recording
the name(s) or other identification of the driver (pilot, engineer,
etc.) as well as all possible passengers can be tedious and
error-prone. It is especially difficult to accomplish in vehicles
where passengers may ingress or egress mid-route as part of the
normal service, or where drivers may change in-route.
[0007] It would be advantageous to have a system and method that
could automatically and wirelessly roster a vehicle in real-time as
drivers or passengers enter or leave the vehicle. This can be done
with modern wireless technology. With wireless communication from a
mobile device that is logically connected to the device owner's
identity, this process can become easier, faster and less
complicated while at the same time adding security.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention relates to a system and method for
automatically, and wirelessly, generating and keeping a roster of
drivers and passengers in transportation vehicles. A vehicle
occupant recognition module may operate by recognizing a driver's
or passenger's cellular telephone or smartphone. The wireless
device, for example, a smartphone, can communicate using
short-range communications, for example BLUETOOTH.TM. or RFID that
can be detected within the vehicle so that the ID associated with
the phone and corresponding to the occupant, can be dynamically
associated to a vehicle ID, date- and time-stamped when first
recognized or for some interval of time. The associations are
stored in a log or database.
[0009] In some embodiments, the vehicle occupant recognition module
may comprise cameras that monitor the driver's seat and/or
passenger area(s) and use face recognition software or services to
make identifications of the vehicle occupants. Face recognition by
the vehicle occupant recognition module can verify or supplant
identifications made using short-range communication channels
(e.g., BLUETOOTH, RFID).
[0010] In some embodiments, an unauthorized person can be refused
transport by not permitting the vehicle to start, or otherwise
being denied the capability of being a driver, and in some cases
further being denied being a passenger. Thus, the system can
provide improved security in addition to improved record
keeping.
[0011] In other embodiments, a driver and/or passenger's smartphone
may have an application or access to a web site tailored to
interact with the vehicle occupant recognition module or rostering
system. Such interactions may include any of enrolling a new user,
which may include registering a photograph; registering a national
ID, such as a passport or driver's license, communicating the phone
ID to the occupant recognition module, verifying a user (e.g., by
entering a PIN code, password, or other security measure, which
could be biometric). The rostering system further comprises access
to a secure, remote database with a mobile device (such as a
smartphone), in-vehicle computer, or other (e.g., desktop) computer
running the application, a wireless receiver/transmitter in the
vehicle allowing connection to the remote portions of the rostering
system, and uses a wireless communication network such as a
cellular network. Communication between the smartphone and the
vehicle can be via short-range communications.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0012] Several drawings are now presented to illustrate features of
the present invention:
[0013] FIG. 1 shows a diagram of an embodiment of the rostering
system of the present invention used with a motor vehicle having an
installed roster capability.
[0014] FIG. 2 shows a possible time-sequence chart of events taking
place when a driver enters a vehicle.
[0015] FIG. 3 shows a possible time-sequence chart of events taking
place when a passenger enters a vehicle.
[0016] FIG. 4 shows a diagram of an embodiment that uses a "data
mule" technique.
[0017] FIG. 5 shows an example of records stored in a remote
database.
[0018] FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of a vehicle on-board rostering
system.
[0019] Drawings and illustrations have been presented to aid in
understanding the present invention. The scope of the present
invention is not limited to what is shown in the figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] The present invention relates to a system and method for
automatically generating and keeping a roster of drivers and
passengers in transportation vehicles. By vehicle, we mean any road
or off-road vehicle, aircraft, train, watercraft or any other means
of transportation of any type, including heavy equipment, such as
cranes. The present invention includes an occupant recognition
module able to determine drivers and/or passengers in a vehicle,
date and time stamp in records stored in a log or database the
occupants recognized. Further, in some embodiments, an unauthorized
person can be refused admittance or transport, e.g. by not
permitting the vehicle to start if the driver is not authorized, or
if a passenger is not authorized, or otherwise being denied access
as a driver or passenger. In some embodiments, this may include
unlocking the vehicle, so that only recognized, authorized
individuals can open the vehicle with the occupant recognition
module.
[0021] In a preferred embodiment, the occupant recognition module
transacts with a driver's or passenger's cellular telephone or
smartphone and communicates using short-range communications so
that the ID associated with the phone (e.g., a media access
control, or "MAC" address, BLUETOOTH.TM. device address, or
"BDADDR" or other unique identifier associated with the phone) can
be dynamically associated with a vehicle ID as an occupancy record.
Over time, the occupancy records of a vehicle constitute its
roster.
[0022] In an alternative embodiment, cameras may monitor the
driver's position (e.g., driver's seat) and/or may monitor the
passenger area(s).
[0023] By passenger, we mean any person or animal or living thing
that can be identified. By driver, we mean any person capable,
authorized, and positioned (e.g., seated) to operate the
corresponding vehicle including an operator, pilot, engineer,
conductor, captain or the like. Thus, by only registering capable
individuals as drivers, only authorizing their use of particular
vehicles, the rostering system can determine when a vehicle is
being driven by a capable, authorized individual.
[0024] Some embodiments further limit driving access to only
registered drivers, for example by disallowing the vehicle to start
unless an authorized driver is detected. In some embodiments, an
unauthorized person can be refused transport as a passenger by not
permitting the vehicle to start, or otherwise flagging access by an
unauthorized passenger (e.g., an audible or visible warning). Thus,
the system can provide improved security in addition to improved
record keeping.
[0025] In a preferred embodiment, the present invention uses a
driver or passenger's smartphone with a downloaded application that
can be tailored to this purpose. The preferred embodiment also can
include a secure, remote database as well as a mobile device such
as a smartphone running the application, a wireless
receiver/transmitter in the vehicle, and a wireless communication
network such as a cellular network. Communication between the
smartphone and the vehicle can be via short-range communications
such as BLUETOOTH.TM. or other technique.
[0026] Certain vehicles, whether passenger cars, vans, buses,
planes and trains, often have a list of authorized drivers, or
pilots, and also a list of passengers. Passengers can be part of a
known group, or be unknown, or a guest. The passenger can be
invited to or required to download an application and immediately
use their smartphone to register on the passenger roster network.
It is known in the art that owner's of mobile devices can securely
tie their identity to their device by virtue of a password and also
by biometrics. Several companies, such as Apple Inc. of Cupertino,
Calif. with their Touch ID fingerprint reader in their iPhone 6
smartphone, and LaserLock Technologies of Washington, D.C. with
their VerifyMe.TM. smartphone application, offer ways to connect
the identity of a person to their mobile device using biometrics,
such as fingerprint, facial recognition, voice recognition, and the
like. Although there can be exceptions, such as the case of a
stolen or found phone, it is true with a very high confidence level
that a mobile device carried into a vehicle is probably being
carried by its authenticated owner. This could be confirmed by
having a password or personal identification number (PIN), in
either case a token that the owner knows, is also required to
register a mobile device in a vehicle, and whether this is required
would be a matter of policy.
[0027] Once the ownership is created and verified, the mobile
device can be used by the owner as an ID token that can wirelessly
communicate with an on-board device and transmit data, such as a
digital certificate, which was sent to the owner's mobile device
over a wireless network. This certificate can be used to open a car
door or enable the vehicle to be driven.
[0028] A particular embodiment of the present invention both allows
access to a vehicle by a driver, and registers non-drivers, i.e.,
passengers that enter and exit the vehicle. This process includes
location and date- and time-stamp along with the secure ID of one
or more of the mobile device bearers. The combination of passenger
identification, authentication, permission, location, entry and
exit of a vehicle is very valuable data for many classes of
transportation asset owners, from parents who let their children
take out the family car, to a school, or a corporation or
government agency that wants to track drivers and passengers who
travel in their vehicles.
[0029] Typically, when a driver or passenger enters the vehicle,
the ID data acquired from their smartphone is sent to a remote
server that can access a remote database of rules as to when driver
or passenger's access is allowed or denied. The rules could also
reflect the route and expected time required to execute the route,
and stations along the route. For example, that database can
contain the names and other ID information of authorized drivers
(pilots, engineers, captains, etc.), and it can contain an allowed
passenger list. In some embodiments of the invention, arbitrary
passengers are allowed to ride. In this case, new passengers can
simply be added to the roster with date/time stamps as they enter
or leave the vehicle. Any other pertinent information, such as
destinations, can also be stored in the database.
[0030] FIG. 1 shows a diagram of one example embodiment of the
present invention that uses a smartphone in communication with a
vehicle, and the vehicle in communication with a remote server and
database. A potential rider 1 possessing a cellular telephone or
smartphone 2 approaches a vehicle 4 in order to enter the vehicle.
The smartphone 2 communicates wirelessly 3 with the vehicle 4 using
a low power local communication system like BLUETOOTH.TM., and more
particularly with either a computer or telematics system 9 in the
vehicle 4. In turn, the telematics system 9 communicates over a
network 6, e.g., comprising the Internet, with a remote server 7 by
using a wireless connection 5 such as the cellular telephone
system. The remote server 7 has access to a remote database 8 where
the identity of the person 1 or telephone 2 can be ascertained, and
the fact that the person is riding can be logged.
[0031] It is not certain that every rider approaching a vehicle
will have a mobile device with wireless communication, such as a
smartphone 2 having BLUETOOTH.TM., near-field communications (NFC),
and/or other wireless capability. Nor must every rider have
downloaded the passenger roster application into their smartphone,
which is designed to communicate wirelessly with an on-board
computer or telematics system 9. Therefore, an employee or guest,
as potential rider 1, who wishes to travel in vehicle 4 could
receive a physical wireless tag, token or dongle, such as an RFID
tag 10, that is securely tied to their identity by virtue of a
driver's license, or passport, or some other acceptable photo ID.
The token could also be a tag or bracelet (as shown) to be worn by
the passenger during travel.
[0032] If the potential passengers do have a smartphone 2, the
roster application could be sent to them by the authorizing entity,
or could be transmitted to their device via near field
communication, such as "tap and share" known in the art. In this
way, the on-board device could first transfer the mobile phone
application to a new passenger or driver and then, in the next
step, accept that person as a passenger in the vehicle. Once the
roster application is resident on the mobile phone, it can be
carried to other vehicles as an ID token.
[0033] The on-board computer or telematics system 9 can include a
BLUETOOTH.TM. or near-field communication (NFC) or some other
wireless transmission capability 3, a local memory chip, clock, a
form of external wireless communication, such as a cellular modem,
a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, and in some
embodiments, a secure connection to access to the operation of the
vehicle. In a preferred embodiment, the on-board device 9 can be
integrated into the dashboard and internal operations of the
vehicle. Examples of systems suitable to be adapted to incorporate
the present invention include vehicle dashboard systems such as
ENTUNE.TM. by Toyota, or ONSTAR.TM. by General Motors, and SYNC.TM.
by Ford and others.
[0034] However, the proposed manufacturer integration of the
present invention could take a long time. Therefore, a device 9 can
also be provided with all of the above features. Such a device
could be powered by a battery of its own, or by connection to a
power source in the vehicle. Such a device may be mounted such that
any passenger in the vehicle can wirelessly communicate with the
on-board device 9, or touch the device 9 with their mobile device.
Device 9 could be present strictly to monitor the passengers and
entry and exit events and locations, but in other embodiments could
be connected to the vehicle in such a fashion as to be able to
control (or inhibit) the operations of the vehicle, in this way
being able to allow only authenticated drivers and passengers to
travel in the vehicle. The device might also prevent the vehicle
from starting or moving if an unregistered or unexpected individual
is at the wheel, or if a passenger with a different destination is
in the vehicle, or if a passenger without a security clearance is
in a vehicle headed for a secure area.
[0035] This might serve to limit the number of passengers, or the
types of passengers, or not allow a vehicle to leave with
passengers who are not intending to go to the same destination. The
application may advise a passenger (or likewise, a driver)
accordingly: "Hello, Jim. Sorry, but you are on the wrong bus. This
bus is headed to New Haven. You are going to West Haven."
[0036] In another embodiment, the on-board device 9 has a GPS and
wireless communication, such as BLUETOOTH.TM. and NFC; however,
does not have a wireless modem, perhaps for cost reasons. In this
embodiment, one or more traveler's mobile device 2 could act as a
data carrier, or data "mule" as described in the present inventors'
patent Ser. No. 13/429,439 filed Mar. 26, 2012 entitled "METHOD AND
APPARATUS FOR FINDING AND ACCESSING A VEHICLE FUELING STATION,
INCLUDING AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATION"
[0037] This technique of allowing multiple, redundant, individual
carriers of data back to the secure, remote database, can be more
robust than a single cellular modem transmitting from the
vehicle.
[0038] The vehicle typically needs to have a local communication
connection available, to which any passenger in the vehicle running
the application would automatically connect (e.g., via
BLUETOOTH.TM.) so to be registered as a passenger, as there can
only be one driver in a typical motor vehicle. For watercraft and
aircraft there can be multiple "pilots" and the application can be
configured to handle this if intended for "multi-pilot" vehicles.
Thus, by virtue of existing mobile devices, existing BLUETOOTH.TM.
technology in mobile devices and in vehicles, mobile device
cameras, and a mobile device application, the present invention
offers a method for securely gathering and communicating data about
drivers and passengers in a "transportation" event that could be
combined with other vehicle location, date and time information to
give a clear picture of specific vehicle, driver and passenger
identification and movement. The information can be carried and
sent back to the secure, remote server and database by any device
that is running the application and is in communication with the
vehicle or driver or any passenger. It is possible that the same
data is sent several time to the remote, secure server and the
redundancy is parsed and removed at a back-end server.
[0039] FIG. 2 shows a driver registration transaction process 150,
illustrating events that can occur when a driver enters a vehicle.
In this example, the person 1 in FIG. 1 is to be the driver of
vehicle 4. The driver's smartphone 2 or other device 10,
represented in FIG. 2 by vertical line 100, communicates with the
vehicle 4, represented by line 101, which in turn communicates with
a remote server 7, represented by line 102 over a network. As the
driver approaches the vehicle, the driver's smartphone 2 pairs up
or otherwise links 103 with the vehicle. The vehicle interrogates
104 the driver's phone and demands ID. The ID can be stored in the
phone, or more preferred, taken at that time such as a fingerprint
or other biometric ID. The driver's phone returns 105 the ID to the
vehicle. The vehicle then sends a request 106 to a remote server.
The remote server checks if the driver is allowed to drive this
particular vehicle at this time. If so, the remote server returns
an authorization 107 to the vehicle. The vehicle's installed system
then unlocks or otherwise enables 108 the vehicle for driving. The
remote server is notified 109 whereupon it logs the vehicle,
driver, date, time, location and any other relevant information.
The vehicle also sends a clearance 110 to the driver's phone
notifying that the vehicle is enabled and ready to drive. In some
embodiments of the present invention, the driver might also be
required to prove that he or she is in condition to drive, for
example by blowing into a breathalyzer installed in the vehicle, or
taking an alertness test, before the vehicle enables 108 itself for
driving. A bad report in this case would not only keep the vehicle
disabled, but also send a message reporting the fact to the remote
server.
[0040] FIG. 3 shows a passenger registration transaction process
250, illustrating events that can occur when a passenger enters a
vehicle 4. The passenger's smartphone 2 or other device 10,
represented by line 200, communicates with the on-board device in
vehicle 4, represented by line 201, which in turn communicates with
a remote server 7, represented by line 202, over a network. As the
passenger approaches the vehicle, the passenger's smartphone pairs
or otherwise links 203 with the vehicle, or a dongle carried by the
passenger notifies the vehicle of the passenger's approach. The
vehicle interrogates 204 the passenger's phone or dongle and
demands ID. The ID can be stored in the phone or dongle, or more
preferred, taken at that time such as a fingerprint or other
biometric ID. The passenger's phone returns 205 the ID to the
vehicle. The vehicle then sends a request 206 to a remote server.
The remote server checks if the passenger is allowed to ride in
this particular vehicle at this time. If so, the remote server
returns an authorization 207 to the vehicle. The remote server is
notified 208 whereupon it logs the vehicle, driver, date, time,
location and any other relevant information concerning the
passenger. The vehicle also sends a clearance 209 to the
passenger's phone notifying that the passenger can board. Likewise,
a clearance 210 may be sent to the driver (the driver's smartphone
is not shown in FIG. 3).
[0041] In another and least expensive embodiment shown in FIG. 4,
there is no required on-board device. This embodiment uses a data
"mule". The driver 13 is running the authorized roster application
on his smartphone 11. Smartphone 11 communicates with server 7
using a wireless connection 5 (e.g., the cellular telephone
system). Driver 13 designates that he is the driver. He connects
smartphone 11 with the vehicle BLUETOOTH.TM. system (not shown in
FIG. 4) and is then known to be in the vehicle 4. This information
is date and time stamped. The process can also include facial
recognition via a photographic image from the driver's smartphone
11. This photographic image can be taken from a either forward or
reverse camera on the smartphone and can also be a short video clip
of the driver, and passengers, if any. There can be a simple
smartphone holder (not shown) on the dashboard, to hold smartphone
11 in position while it intermittently takes images of the
occupants from the front center of the vehicle looking back into
the cabin. Capture of facial images and facial recognition
processing are not required for the roster system of the present
invention to work, but when added, provide additional information
about the driver, and passenger(s), if any. In this simplest
embodiment the driver's mobile device 11 acts as the on-board
device and simply needs to be running a version of the roster
application. The smartphone 2 of a passenger 1 in FIG. 4
communicates over wireless connection 3 with the driver's
smartphone 11 in accordance with passenger registration transaction
process 250 of FIG. 3, with smartphone 11 performing in the role of
the on-board computer represented by line 201. With respect to the
driver registration transaction process 150 of FIG. 2, the driver's
smartphone 11 takes on both roles of the smartphone represented by
line 100 and the on-board device in vehicle 4, represented by line
101, with the result that transactions 106, 107, and 109 are
conducted between the server 7 and smartphone 11.
[0042] In another embodiment, there is also no need for local
communication, such as BLUETOOTH.TM., between the vehicle 4 and
smartphone 11 (or 2). Secure identification of the vehicle 4 can be
handled optically by taking a picture of, or otherwise scanning,
indicia such as a barcode, quick response (QR) code, the vehicle
license plate, or the like, that identifies the vehicle. Smartphone
barcode scanning and license plate recognition are well known in
the art. The barcode scan of the vehicle by at least one person,
such as the driver or any passenger running the application, will
suffice. This data, along with GPS reading, or other location data
from the one or more smartphones running the application or in
wireless contact with at least one phone in the vehicle that is
running the application, can give location and vehicle
identification along with a date and time stamp. This data can then
be merged with more optical data from driver and passenger facial
images captured by at least one smartphone, preferably the
driver's, and these facial images along with location data from at
least one or a multiple of smartphones in the vehicle and date and
time stamps, provide adequate information to the remote server.
[0043] For the data "mule" method, this information is carried by
one mobile device (or more, for redundancy) running the
application. Images of driver and passenger faces can be taken
intermittently, and the system is fully programmable and flexible.
Facial images can be directed to any of several databases for
identification, either a database voluntarily subscribed to by
passengers such as fleet drivers or other employees, or to other
databases such as police, or military databases. In a secure access
setting, the vehicle itself may wirelessly project, or broadcast,
using an RF system, the identification of the driver and passengers
it is carrying. Facial recognition cameras at the access point
might photograph the interior of the vehicle in order to verify the
broadcasted roster.
[0044] The images can be taken openly or discretely, voluntarily or
surreptitiously, depending on the policy of the entity that owns
the vehicle. In this embodiment, there is only need for a single,
unique identifier of the vehicle, such as a barcode or other
indicia, one passenger, preferably the driver, and in some cases
only the driver, a smartphone with a camera that is running the
roster application, some data storage capability common to most
smartphones, and a cell phone network connection, which can be
delayed or real-time.
[0045] For convenience, a centrally located "high on the dashboard"
holder for the smartphone running the application can be provided.
Other smartphones running the application, and carried by any of
the passengers, can also be gathering optical data from different
angles within the vehicle adding to the robustness of the
identification process. Smartphones can also be facing out of the
vehicle, and can be triggered to capture images and date and time
stamps based upon reaching a specific location, on imaging a scene
or light pattern outside the vehicle, such as a bridge or tunnel or
intersection, and can also be based on location as determined by at
least one of the smartphones in the vehicle.
[0046] FIG. 5 shows possible records that can be stored in the
remote database. A passenger permit record 310 may comprise the
passenger name 311; a code 312, such as a number or hash for that
passenger; identification information 313, e.g., a social security
number or driver's license number; biometric information 314, which
can be representative of actual biometric data, or a pointer to a
separate biometrics file 316; and permit information 315, which can
be the actual permit data, or a pointer to a permit file 317. The
permit file 317 gives the allowed trips that passenger is permitted
to take along with dates and the like. When a passenger actually
boards a vehicle, a trip record 300 can be created. This contains
the passenger's name 301, date 302, time 303, vehicle ID 304, pick
up location 305, and destination 306. The end-of-trip time or
arrival time 307 can also be entered to close the record. While
FIG. 5 shows examples of a database, any database and any records
or entries are within the scope of the present invention.
[0047] FIG. 6 shows one example embodiment for an on-board vehicle
rostering module 400. This unit is either temporarily or
permanently mounted or located in the vehicle 4. It includes a
processor 401 which can be a microcontroller, microprocessor, PC or
other computer or processing unit. The processor 401 interfaces
with memory 402. This may be RAM, ROM, Flash, Disk or any other
type of memory. The memory 402 may be located in the processor 401,
or it may be external. The processor 401 is in electrical
communication with a short-range wireless communication module 404,
for example a BLUETOOTH.TM. communication module. When the wireless
system is radio, the communication system 404 has one or more
antennae 405.
[0048] The processor 401 can optionally communicate through a
vehicle interface 403 and connector 406 with a vehicle computer
system or telematics system. In such an embodiment, the vehicle
telematics system can provide wide area communication (e.g.,
cellular data services as in wireless connection 5 in FIG. 1),
location (e.g., via the vehicle's GPS), and navigation.
[0049] The on-board rostering system 400 can optionally include a
GPS receiver 407 with a GPS antenna 408. This allows the on-board
unit 400 to independently determine location. The memory 402 may
contain map or location information. The processor 401 may be
connected to one or more cameras 410 in the vehicle. This
connection can be wired or wireless.
[0050] Memory 402 may also store audio greetings or announcements
to be played though a speaker 409. The in-vehicle experience can
include a voice that greets the passengers by first name, first and
last name, or an anonymous recognition if a passenger does not wish
his or her name announced. This salutation from the in-vehicle
device can be both for passengers entering or exiting the vehicle.
The acknowledgment could be as simple as a beep. Further,
passengers could listen to the driving, piloting history of the
driver or pilot. Such information could also be relayed to a
passenger's smartphone. Such reports could also be offered for the
history of the vehicle itself. Based on each passenger's profile,
and company policy, information about each passenger could also be
shared with the driver and among the other passengers. Contact
information could be voluntarily shared via the application, using
well-known interfaces such as "tap and share". The passenger name
information either comes through the vehicle via its own cellular
modem from server 202 (e.g., at step 207 in FIG. 3), or can come
from the passenger's smartphone 200 when the passenger is first
entering a vehicle (e.g., at step 205 in FIG. 3). This also applies
in the data "mule" case, where the driver's smartphone 11 is used
for the vehicle's role (i.e., line 201). This initial event would
happen each time a passenger communicates for the first time with
the in-vehicle, roster device. If the device is moved from one
vehicle to another, the passenger list remains resident within the
vehicle device, but now the device knows that it is associated
(paired) with a new vehicle, based on a new vehicle ID number
obtained by direct communication with the vehicle.
[0051] The data "mule" technique is particularly valuable in
vehicles that do not have internal cellular modem contact with a
remote network, or for customers who do not want to pay for an
in-vehicle device that includes a cellular modem and the
corresponding fees required for that data connection. The data
"mule" in-vehicle device only needs to have "local" (short-ranged)
wireless connections, for example via BLUETOOTH.TM.. Such
connections can include the vehicle's on-board system, thus
representing the rostering device's current association with a
vehicle, and each passenger's smartphone or other mobile device.
The passenger connection can be unambiguously initiated with a "tap
and share" connection that can include a unique digital
certificate, which technology is known in the art.
[0052] Embodiments of the present invention use a plurality of
local communication enabled devices, such as BLUETOOTH.TM.,
installed in vehicles. Passengers can register and pick up secure,
encrypted occupancy records (e.g., passenger permit record 310, or
trip record 300) from any in-vehicle device and then data "mule"
that passenger occupancy data to server 7: the passenger's name,
facial image(s), other biometrics, such as fingerprints, vehicle
identification, date and time stamp and location(s) back to the
network and a remote server. They can also data "mule" this data
for other passengers.
[0053] The present invention can also get driver's/pilot's records
when passengers arrive on-board. "That is how Roster looks out for
you." "We research safety records and statistics for the informed
passenger". Or, the system can give a "Risk factor" from 1 to 10,
or unknown, for travel someone is about to undertake.
[0054] The present invention can be used to verify car sharing and
get special discounts, or be part of a discount or loyalty program.
The vehicle and driver can also automatically be tied to an
entry/exit or fueling event based on time stamp and location from
GPS contained in the in-vehicle device. The system could also
include and project access information for passengers in a vehicle
approaching an access point. This could also be tied to a License
Plate Recognition (LPR) system. The LPR system matches in-vehicle
device ID and the data the vehicle broadcasts containing driver and
passengers ID's.
[0055] In some embodiments, the on-board device can be moved from
vehicle to vehicle, if desired. If the vehicle does not give a
unique ID code automatically via local communication, or
machine-readable indicia are not available to be scanned by the
device, then a unique code can be keyed in as part of inter-vehicle
transfer.
[0056] For example, the device can be sent a code describing which
vehicle it is now in, or, a preferred embodiment, the device can
pair and bond with a vehicle's installed local communication
system, much in the same way a smartphone can pair with a vehicle's
microphone and speakers for hands-free telephony. Once this is
done, the device is bonded to that vehicle until it is removed and
becomes a receiver/transmitter for the next, current target vehicle
to record all of the data about the driver and passengers, such as
their itinerary and when they entered or exited the vehicle.
[0057] The present invention is also a valuable tool for
driver-less, autonomous vehicles as access and passenger
information and tracking will be required in many cases.
[0058] In general, the on-board rostering system uses portable
telephones for ID capture, and may use cameras and face
recognition. Communication is with a secure, remote database. The
system can manage drivers and/or passengers. In some embodiments,
the vehicle will not start or otherwise function if the driver or
another occupant is not authorized. In some cases, the system will
communicate that a seat is occupied, by virtue of a seat "weight"
sensor, which is known in the transportation industry, but the
occupant has not been identified or recognized by the system. In
some embodiments, the vehicle may be allowed to proceed and merely
log the information; in other embodiments, departure may be
prohibited until an identification of the occupant can be
successfully completed. Several descriptions and illustrations have
been presented to aid in understanding the present invention. One
with skill in the art will realize that numerous changes and
variations may be made without departing from the spirit of the
invention. Each of these changes and variations is within the scope
of the present invention.
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