Patent ID: 7876197
Filing Date: 2011-01-25
Classification: B60R,G06Q,G07B,G07C,G08G,H04L,H04W

Abstract:
1. A method for providing access to a mobile asset using an access control device coupled to the mobile asset to selectively control whether the mobile asset is enabled for operation, the method comprising: storing, in the access control device, approved operator data which identifies a group of one or more approved asset operators who are permitted to operate that mobile asset, the stored data further comprising authorization condition data associated with the group of approved asset operators, the authorization condition data specifying certain environmental conditions which must exist in order for the mobile asset to be enabled for operation; receiving, by the access control device, from an accessing operator an operator identifier; comparing, by the access control device, the received operator identifier to the stored approved operator data in order to confirm that the accessing operator is one of the group of approved asset operators; comparing, by the access control device, a current environmental condition for the mobile asset to the authorization condition data in order to confirm that the specified certain environmental conditions for the group of approved asset operators to which the accessing operator belongs have been met; and controlling the mobile asset to be enabled for operation by the accessing operator if the comparisons are satisfied.