Patent ID: 7656271

Claim:
A system for providing access to a mobile asset, comprising: an access control device on a mobile asset, the access control device in communication with the mobile asset to selectively control whether the mobile asset is enabled for operation; a memory in the access control device for storing in the access control device data which identifies a group of potential asset operators who are permitted to operate that mobile asset, the stored data further comprising authorization condition data associated with the group of one or more potential asset operators, the authorization condition data specifying certain environmental conditions which must exist in order for the mobile asset to be enabled for operation; an input for the access control device that receives from an accessing operator an identifier; a processor in the access control device configured to compare the received identifier to the stored data in order to confirm that the accessing operator is one of the group of permitted potential asset operators, compare 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 potential asset operators to which the accessing operator belongs have been met, and control the mobile asset to be enabled for operation by the accessing operator if the comparisons are satisfied.