Vehicle Driver Verification System for Safety

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vehicles equipped with autopilot systems face challenges in ensuring safe operation when driven by unqualified or unsafe human drivers, as existing technologies lack effective mechanisms to prevent unauthorized or unsafe driving based on up-to-date driver information.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle communication system that includes sensors, a vehicle component controller, a vehicular system processor, and a driver security determination unit, which transmits a driving information request to a server to retrieve and act on the driver's license and driving record information, controlling vehicle operations to prevent or limit driving by unqualified or unsafe drivers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the vehicle allows any driver to operate it without verification, then ease of operation is improved, but driving safety deteriorates due to unqualified or unsafe drivers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of vehicle operationVSAvoiddriving safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary verification of driver qualifications by automatically checking driving records, license status, and safety metrics before allowing vehicle operation. This advance verification prevents unqualified drivers from operating the vehicle, thereby maintaining safety without compromising ease of operation for qualified drivers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors driver information and vehicle operation data, providing real-time feedback to determine whether the current driver meets safety criteria. This feedback mechanism enables dynamic adjustment of operation permissions based on up-to-date driver status, ensuring safety while maintaining operational convenience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the vehicle implements comprehensive driver verification systems, then driving safety is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional sensors and processing requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriving safetyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses a multi-functional processing platform that handles both autopilot operations and driver verification tasks. By making the processing platform universal, the patent avoids adding separate dedicated hardware for verification, thereby improving safety without proportionally increasing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary verification module that acts as a mediator between the driver and the vehicle operation system. This module consolidates multiple verification functions into a single coordinated component, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive safety checks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the vehicle prevents unqualified drivers from operating it, then driving safety is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to restricted access

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriving safetyVSAvoidease of vehicle access
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs automatic verification of driver qualifications without requiring manual intervention from the driver. The processing platform autonomously checks driver status, validates credentials, and makes operation decisions, thereby maintaining ease of operation for qualified drivers while enforcing safety restrictions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Verification is performed in advance before operation restrictions are applied. Qualified drivers experience no interruption or additional steps, while unqualified drivers are prevented from operating the vehicle. This preliminary verification approach maintains ease of operation for authorized users while enforcing safety constraints.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3674162A1Controlling vehicle operations based on driver information
Publication Date: 2020.07.01 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP3674162A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3674162A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3674162A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A method, comprising the steps of: transmitting (202), from a vehicle (120), a driving information request, wherein the driving information request comprises an identification (ID) of a driver; receiving (204), at the vehicle, a driving information response, wherein the driving information response comprises driving information that is associated with the driver; and controlling (206), by at least one hardware processor (106) on the vehicle, an operation of the vehicle based on the driving information.