Fleet Vehicle Biometric Access With Cloud-Based User Profiles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for accessing distributed assets, such as cars in car-sharing services, lack assurance that the person using the asset is the same individual granted permission, as they often rely on access cards that can be shared, leading to insecurity in vehicle access control.

Innovation Solution

A method utilizing biometric data, such as facial features, to identify and authenticate users, allowing vehicles to transition into customized interaction states based on individual profiles, with a cloud service managing profiles and enabling secure access across a fleet of vehicles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If access cards are used for vehicle access control, then distribution of vehicles over wide area is enabled, but security is compromised as anybody can hold the access card

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle distribution capabilityVSAvoidaccess control security

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical access card system with a biometric recognition system using facial recognition technology. The vehicle's camera captures facial images and the system authenticates users based on biometric data, eliminating the need for physical access cards and ensuring that only authorized individuals can access vehicles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a cloud-based profile management system as an intermediary between the user and the vehicle. The system stores user profiles and biometric data in the cloud, allowing the vehicle to authenticate users remotely and customize interactions based on retrieved profiles, thereby maintaining security while enabling wide-area vehicle distribution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If centralized office access control is used, then identity verification is ensured, but convenience is reduced due to requirement of central repository

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveidentity verification accuracyVSAvoidaccess convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the centralized access control system into distributed components. Each vehicle is equipped with independent biometric recognition capabilities, allowing identity verification to occur locally at each vehicle rather than requiring users to visit a central office. The system segments the authentication process across multiple distributed vehicles while maintaining centralized profile management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables users to authenticate themselves directly at any vehicle in the fleet without requiring assistance from central office staff. The biometric recognition system automatically captures facial images, verifies identity against stored profiles, and grants access independently, allowing users to access vehicles on their own without centralized supervision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4451148A1Biometric recognition across distributed assets

Publication Date: 2024.10.23 CERENCE OPERATING CO

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AI summary

A method includes customizing interaction of a person with a vehicle from a fleet of vehicles by receiving, from an access controller in the vehicle, biometric data, the biometric data having been acquired from the person; using the biometric data, retrieving a profile for the person; and providing the profile to the vehicle. This enables the vehicle to transition into, or be reconfigured into, a state that enables the person to interact with the vehicle in a manner based on the profile.