# US 10,246,055 B2 · Method for authorizing a driver to activate at least one system of a vehicle, based on a biometric authentication process > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,246,055 B2 - Document ID: US10246055B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/872,172 - Filed: 2018-01-16 - Published: 2018-07-19 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2017-01-16 - Assignees: Dura Operating, LLC - Applicants: Dura Automotive Holdings U.K., Ltd - Inventors: Thomas Farges - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10246055B2 ## CPC - G06F 21/32: using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints - B60R 25/25: using biometry - H04L 63/0853: {using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234)} - H04L 63/0861: {using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231)} - H04W 4/40: for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P] - H04W 12/069: using certificates or pre-shared keys - H04W 12/08: Access security - B60R 25/252: {Fingerprint recognition} - B60R 2325/205: Mobile phones - H04W 4/80: Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract A method for authorizing a driver to activate at least one system of a vehicle, includes a preliminary phase that includes an initialization step, an enrollment step scanning enrollment biometric data of the driver, an access step for the driver to enter the vehicle, and a storage step registering enrollment biometric data in memory. The method also includes a subsequent phase that includes an authentication step scanning authentication biometric data of the driver and comparing said authentication biometric data with the enrollment biometric data in the memory, then an activation step wherein, if the authentication biometric data match with the enrollment biometric data, in authorizing the driver to activate the at least one system of the vehicle, or a refusal step wherein, if the authentication biometric data does not match with the enrollment biometric data, in forbidding the driver to activate the at least one system of the vehicle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for authorizing a driver to activate at least one system of a vehicle, said method comprising a preliminary phase and a subsequent phase based on a biometric authentication process; wherein the preliminary phase comprises: an initialization step consisting for the owner of the vehicle in materially allowing the driver to perform further steps, an enrollment step consisting in scanning enrollment biometric data of the driver, an access step consisting for the driver to enter the vehicle; a storage step consisting in registering said enrollment biometric data in a secured memory of the vehicle; wherein the subsequent phase comprises: an authentication step consisting in scanning authentication biometric data of the driver inside the vehicle and comparing said authentication biometric data with the enrollment biometric data registered in the secured memory of the vehicle, then an activation step consisting, if the authentication biometric data match with the enrollment biometric data, in authorizing the driver to activate the at least one system of the vehicle, or a refusal step consisting, if the authentication biometric data does not match with the enrollment biometric data, in forbidding the driver to activate the at least one system of the vehicle; and wherein the enrollment step is performed on a biometric scanner installed at a dedicated location, outside the vehicle, wherein: in the initialization step, the owner issues a smart card configured to unlock openings of the vehicle; in the enrollment step, the enrollment biometric data of the driver are registered in a secured memory of the smart card; in the access step, the driver uses the smart card to unlock the openings of the vehicle; then in the storage step, the enrollment biometric data of the driver are transferred from the secured memory of the smart card to the secured memory of the vehicle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Method according to claim 1, wherein the initialization step and the enrollment step are performed at the same dedicated location, outside the vehicle. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) Method according to claim 1, wherein the dedicated location is an enrollment center managing a fleet of vehicles. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) Method according to claim 1, wherein the enrollment biometric data are erased from the secured memory of the vehicle after the driver relocks the vehicle or after a predefined period of time. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) Method according to claim 1, wherein in the storage step, the driver inserts the smart card in a card reader equipping the vehicle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) Method according to claim 5, wherein the reader is integrated to a shifter equipping the vehicle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein inside the vehicle, biometric scanning operations are performed on a biometric scanner integrated to a shifter equipping the vehicle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the secured memory of the vehicle is integrated to a shifter equipping the vehicle. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the refusal step further consists in issuing a warning signal inside the vehicle and/or to a fleet management center. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the subsequent phase comprises implementing a second authentication process in addition to the biometric authentication process. ### Claim 11 A method for authorizing a driver to activate at least one system of a vehicle, said method comprising a preliminary phase and a subsequent phase based on a biometric authentication process; wherein the preliminary phase comprises: an initialization step consisting for the owner of the vehicle in materially allowing the driver to perform further steps, an enrollment step consisting in scanning enrollment biometric data of the driver, an access step consisting for the driver to enter the vehicle; a storage step consisting in registering said enrollment biometric data in a secured memory of the vehicle; wherein the subsequent phase comprises: an authentication step consisting in scanning authentication biometric data of the driver inside the vehicle and comparing said authentication biometric data with the enrollment biometric data registered in the secured memory of the vehicle, then an activation step consisting, if the authentication biometric data match with the enrollment biometric data, in authorizing the driver to activate the at least one system of the vehicle, or a refusal step consisting, if the authentication biometric data does not match with the enrollment biometric data, in forbidding the driver to activate the at least one system of the vehicle; and wherein the enrollment step is performed on a biometric scanner installed at a dedicated location, outside the vehicle, wherein: in the initialization step, the owner provides access to an application on a smartphone belonging to the driver, such that the smartphone is configured to unlock openings of the vehicle; in the enrollment step, the enrollment biometric data of the driver are registered in the smartphone; in the access step, the smartphone unlocks the openings of the vehicle; then in the storage step, the enrollment biometric data of the driver are transferred from the smartphone to the secured memory of the vehicle. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) Method according to claim 11, wherein in the access step: the smartphone unlocks the openings of the vehicle and sends an identifier to the vehicle, then in response, the vehicle establishes a secured communication with the smartphone; and in the storage step, the enrollment biometric data of the driver are transferred from the smartphone to the secured memory of the vehicle via the secured communication. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) Method according to claim 11, wherein: in the initialization step, the owner registers a driver profile corresponding to the driver in an owner system, and provides access to the application on a smartphone belonging to the driver such that the smartphone is configured to unlock openings of the vehicle; in the enrollment step, the enrollment biometric data of the driver are registered in the driver profile in the owner system, then the driver profile is transferred to the smartphone, then the enrollment biometric data are erased from the owner system; in the access step, the smartphone unlocks the openings of the vehicle; then in the storage step, the driver profile including the enrollment biometric data of the driver is transferred from the smartphone to the secured memory of the vehicle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) Method according to claim 13, wherein in the access step: the smartphone having the application and the driver profile establishes a first secured communication with the owner system, the smartphone acquires an owner authorization message associated with the driver profile from the owner system via the first secured communication, then the smartphone sends the owner authorization message to the vehicle to unlock the openings of the vehicle and, in response to the owner authorization message, the vehicle establishes a second secured communication with the smartphone, and the smartphone merges the owner authorization message and the driver profile including the enrollment biometric data of the driver to create a driver authorization message; and in the storage step, the driver authorization message, which includes the driver profile itself including the enrollment biometric data of the driver, is transferred from the smartphone to the secured memory of the vehicle via the second secured communication. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) Method according to claim 11, wherein inside the vehicle, biometric scanning operations are performed on a biometric scanner integrated to a shifter equipping the vehicle. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) Method according to claim 11, wherein the secured memory of the vehicle is integrated to a shifter equipping the vehicle. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) Method according to claim 11, wherein the biometric data include at least one fingerprint, a palmar venous network, an eye iris, facial features and/or voice. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) Method according to claim 11, wherein the refusal step further consists in issuing a warning signal inside the vehicle and/or to a fleet management center. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) Method according to claim 11, wherein the subsequent phase comprises implementing a second authentication process in addition to the biometric authentication process. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, wherein in the storage step, the driver inserts the smart card in a card reader equipping the vehicle, and wherein the reader is integrated to a shifter equipping the vehicle.