US 12039243

US Patent 12039243, titled "Access and portability of user profiles stored as templates," was issued on July 16, 2024. The patent lists Christopher P. Ricci as the inventor. The original and current assignee is AutoConnect Holdings LLC. The filing date for this patent application (US17/515,961) was November 1, 2021.

The abstract describes a system for accessing user profiles that govern vehicle functions. This system verifies a user's authority to access these profiles using biometric information, gesture recognition, facial recognition, or device identification. The user profiles, which can be stored in the vehicle, a cloud, or a communication device, are then used to adjust one or more vehicle functions.

Independent Claims Overview:

• Independent Claim 1 (System Claim): This claim describes a system designed to manage vehicle functions through user profiles. The system includes a processor that verifies a user's authority to access specific user profiles. This verification can be done using various methods such as biometric data (e.g., fingerprints, iris scans), gesture recognition, facial recognition, or by identifying the user's device. Once the user's authority is confirmed, the system adjusts one or more vehicle functions according to the settings and preferences stored within those user profiles. These profiles can be stored in the vehicle itself, on a cloud server, or on a personal communication device.
• Independent Claim 11 (Method Claim): This claim outlines a method for accessing user profiles that control vehicle functions. The method involves a step of verifying a user's authorization to access these profiles. The verification process can utilize biometric information, gesture recognition, facial recognition, or device identification. Following successful verification, the method proceeds to adjust one or more vehicle functions based on the details contained within the accessed user profiles. These profiles can be stored in various locations, including the vehicle, a cloud service, or a communication device.
• Independent Claim 21 (Computer-Readable Medium Claim): This claim covers a non-transitory computer-readable information storage medium. This medium stores instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method for accessing user profiles that govern vehicle functions. The method performed includes verifying the user's authority to access the profiles through means like biometric data, gesture recognition, facial recognition, or device identification. Subsequently, the method adjusts vehicle functions based on the information in the user profiles, which can be stored in the vehicle, in the cloud, or on a communication device.

Litigation Information:
According to Unified Patents data, US patent 12039243 is involved in litigation. As of the current date, there are US cases filed in the Texas Eastern District Court (case 2:24-cv-00877 and 2:24-cv-00802) and a PTAB case PGR2025-00041, which is pending and instituted.