Method and apparatus for biometric authentication of flight crew and monitoring controlled space of aircraft

Abstract

Access to a controlled space aboard a transport vehicle is controlled by sensing a biometric characteristic associated with a person requesting access to the controlled space. The biometric characteristic is evaluated, both aboard the vehicle and distinctly from the vehicle, and two determinations are made, based on the biometric characteristic, whether the person is authorized to access the controlled space. In the event that both determinations indicate that the person is authorized to access the controlled space, the person's request for access is approved; otherwise the request for access is denied.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
   
   
       20 . A system for controlling access to a controlled space aboard a transport vehicle, comprising:
 a first means aboard the transport vehicle for sensing a biometric characteristic associated with a person requesting access to the controlled space,   a second means aboard the transport vehicle for evaluating the biometric characteristic and determining, based on the biometric characteristic, whether the person is authorized to access the controlled space,   a third means distinct from the transport vehicle for evaluating the biometric characteristic and determining, based on the biometric characteristic, whether the person is authorized to access the controlled space, and   a fourth means for providing wireless communication between the second and third means and, in the event that both the second means and the third means have determined that the person is authorized to access the controlled space, approving the person's request for access and otherwise denying the request for access.   
   
   
       21 . A system according to  claim 20 , wherein the first means comprises at least one microphone and a means for prompting the person to utter a predetermined log-in statement. 
   
   
       22 . A system according to  claim 20 , wherein in the event that both the second means and the third means have determined that the person is not authorized to access the controlled space, the fourth means unconditionally denies the person's request for access. 
   
   
       23 . A system according to  claim 20 , wherein in the event that one of the second means and the third means have determined that the person is not authorized to access the controlled space and the other of the second means and the third means have determined that the person is authorized to access the controlled space, the fourth means conditionally denies the person's request for access. 
   
   
       24 . A system according to  claim 23 , wherein the first means includes a means operative for sensing a second biometric characteristic associated with the person requesting access to the controlled space in the event that the fourth means conditionally denies the person's request for access. 
   
   
       25 . A system according to  claim 20 , wherein the first means comprises at least one microphone and a means for prompting the person to utter a first predetermined log-in statement, and in the event that the fourth means conditionally denies the request for access, for prompting the person to utter a second log-in statement. 
   
   
       26 . A system according to  claim 25 , wherein the second means includes a means for determining authenticity of the person's response to the prompt to utter the second log-in statement, the third means includes a means for determining authenticity of the person's response to the prompt to utter the second log-in statement, and the fourth means include a means for transmitting an alert in the event that both the second means and the third means determine that the person's response to the prompt to utter the second log-in statement is not authentic. 
   
   
       27 . A system according to  claim 20 , including a non-volatile means for storing a database containing a record having as one field the person's response to the prompt and as another field a code that identifies the person. 
   
   
       28 . A system according to  claim 27 , including a means for receiving a list of persons authorized to access the controlled space during a predetermined time interval and for denying access to the controlled space during the predetermined time interval to any person not on the list. 
   
   
       29 . A system according to  claim 28 , including a means for disabling alteration of the database during the predetermined time interval. 
   
   
       30 . A system according to  claim 20 , wherein the controlled space includes an outer space and an inner space, and the system includes a means for temporarily approving access to the inner space by a person approved for access to the outer space. 
   
   
       31 . A system according to  claim 20 , comprising at least one microphone for acquiring sounds generated in the controlled space, a means for evaluating characteristics of the sounds acquired by the microphone, and a means for transmitting an alert in the event that the evaluation determines that the sounds originated with a person who is not authorized to be present in the controlled space. 
   
   
       32 . A system for monitoring a condition aboard a transport vehicle, comprising:
 a first means aboard the vehicle for storing a record of biometric conditions associated with persons who are authorized to access a controlled space of the vehicle,   a second means aboard the transport vehicle for sensing a current biometric condition in the controlled space,   a third means for storing a record of the current biometric condition sensed by the second means,   a fourth means responsive to the second means for comparing the current biometric condition sensed by the second means with the record stored by the first means and transmitting an alert signal if the current biometric condition does not match the record stored by the first means,   a fifth means aboard the vehicle for transmitting the record stored by the third means.   
   
   
       33 . A system according to  claim 32 , wherein the second means is a microphone for acquiring an audio signal representing utterances of persons seeking access to the controlled space. 
   
   
       34 - 44 . (canceled) 
   
   
       45 . A system according to  claim 33 , wherein the first means comprises a storage means for storing spectrograms of extracted characteristics of utterances of persons who are authorized to access said controlled space, the system comprises a processing means for processing the audio signal and generating a spectrogram of extracted characteristics of an utterance of a person seeking access to the controlled space, and the second means comprises a comparison means for comparing the spectrogram generated by the processing means with the spectrograms stored by the storage means and generating a signal that indicates whether the spectrogram generated by the processing means matches a spectrogram stored by the storage means. 
   
   
       46 . A system according to  claim 32 , further comprising a third means aboard the vehicle for transmitting the record stored by the third means.