US 6,498,970 B2 · Automatic access to an automobile via biometrics

Abstract

A system and method for identifying persons who are authorized to activate one or more vehicle mechanisms uses both an implicit identification of a face and an explicit identification of speech or a gesture. This system and method enables identification to be performed where a single identification is otherwise unable to perform the identification for some reason and improves the reliability and accuracy of an identification so that only authorized persons can activate the vehicle mechanisms. Vehicle mechanisms that can be activated using this multimodal identification system and method include, for example, automatic locks, automatic windows, a trunk lock, a vehicle engine, outdoor or interior lights, and a vehicle alarm.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A method for activating a vehicle mechanism, the method comprising:

capturing with a detector a first indication comprising one of a facial feature of a person, an utterance by the person, and an action performed by the person;
comparing at least one of the captured facial feature and the captured at least one of utterance and action to a database comprising at least one of facial features, utterances, and actions that are predefined by people who are authorized to activate a vehicle mechanism in order to determine whether the person is authorized to activate a vehicle mechanism;
if the person is authorized to activate a vehicle mechanism, capturing a second indication comprising one of an utterance by the authorized person and an action by the authorized person for specifying the vehicle mechanism to be activated;
and
activating the specified vehicle mechanism.

2 more elements

An activation system for activating a vehicle mechanism, comprising:

a vehicle mechanism on a vehicle;
a detector mounted to the vehicle for capturing a first indication comprising at least one of a facial feature of the person, an utterance by the person, and an action performed by the person;
a database comprising at least one of facial features, utterances, and actions that are predefined by people who arc authorized to activate a vehicle mechanism;
means for comparing the captured at least one of the attribute, speech, and action to be performed to attributes, speech, and actions stored in the database;
means for determining a vehicle mechanism to be activated from a second indication comprising a captured utterance or action by the person only if it is determined that the person is authorized to activate the vehicle by said means for comparing;
and
means for activating the determined vehicle mechanism only if it is determined that the person is authorized to activate the vehicle mechanism.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Automatic access to an automobile via biometrics

Life of this patent

Automatic access to an automobile via biometrics

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23