Patent ID: 6952156

Claim:
A method of controlling the operation of a vehicle including a radio communications circuit coupled to a microprocessor-based controller, the circuit being configured to communicate with a vehicle operator's handheld radio frequency transponder, the controller configured to control at least a plurality of hydraulic actuators, the method comprising the steps of: a. providing the vehicle including the radio communications circuit, the controller and the plurality of actuators; b. providing the radio transponder to the vehicle operator; c. generating electromagnetic radiation from the radio communications circuit; d. bringing the transponder within the range of the electromagnetic radiation; e. energizing the transponder by the electromagnetic radiation; f. transmitting data from the transponder after the step of energizing the transponder, the data being associated with the operator and indicating limits on use of the vehicle, the limits including a subsystem the operator is permitted to use, the subsystem including the plurality of hydraulic actuators; g. receiving at the radio communications circuit the data transmitted by the transponder; and h. controlling at least one subsystem of the vehicle in response to the data received at the radio communications circuit including the step of: the controller responsively disabling at least one subsystem.