Automatic identification of a vehicle driver based on driving behavior

1. A method, comprising:

compiling, via a computing device, a candidate driver identification profile (DIP) based on received vehicle data captured during operation of a vehicle;

identifying, via the computing device, a vehicle driver by determining a match between the candidate DIP and at least one pre-stored DIP, provided that a DIP credibility score assigned to the pre-stored DIP is equal to or above a predetermined credibility threshold dependent on the least one pre-stored DIP having matched at least one candidate DIP within a period of time; and

applying, based on one or more mobile station usage policies, at least one restriction to a mobile station operated by the vehicle driver based on a match of the candidate DIP and the at least one pre stored DIP.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle data comprises at least one of a vehicle acceleration rate, pedal position, vehicle route information, time between driver operated events, and one or more vehicle peripheral activities.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the vehicle peripheral activities comprise entertainment system preferences, vehicle seat settings, vehicle mirror settings, vehicle steering wheel settings, and vehicle climate control.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one restriction is related to the DIP match.

5. The method of claim 1 , comprising deleting the at least one pre-stored DIP from memory if the DIP credibility score is below a predetermined threshold.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising declaring the candidate DIP a new DIP and storing the new DIP in memory for subsequent DIP comparison operations.

7. An apparatus, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive vehicle data captured during operation of a vehicle;

a processor configured to:

compile, via a computing device, a candidate driver identification profile (DIP) based on received vehicle data captured during operation of a vehicle;

identify, via the computing device, a vehicle driver by determining a match between the candidate DIP and at least one pre-stored DIP, provided that a DIP credibility score assigned to the pre-stored DIP is equal to or above a predetermined credibility threshold dependent on the least one pre-stored DIP having matched at least one candidate DIP within a period of time; and

apply, based on one or more mobile station usage policies, at least one restriction to a mobile station operated by the vehicle driver based on a match of the candidate DIP and the at least one pre-stored DIP.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the vehicle data comprises at least one of a vehicle acceleration rate, pedal position, time between driver operated events, vehicle route information, and one or more vehicle peripheral activities.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the vehicle peripheral activities comprise entertainment equipment preferences, vehicle seat settings, vehicle mirror settings, vehicle steering wheel settings, and vehicle climate control.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 comprising a transmitter configured to transmit the at least one restriction to the mobile station operated by the vehicle driver.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the at least one restriction is related to the DIP match.

12. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the processor is configured to delete the at least one pre-stored DIP from memory if the DIP credibility score is below a predetermined threshold.

13. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the candidate DIP is declared a new DIP and stored in memory for subsequent DIP comparison operations.

14. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium configured to store instructions that when executed cause a processor to perform:

compiling, via a computing device, a candidate driver identification profile (DIP) based on received vehicle data captured during operation of a vehicle;

identifying, via the computing device, a vehicle driver by determining a match between the candidate DIP and at least one pre-stored DIP, provided that a DIP credibility score assigned to the pre-stored DIP is equal to or above a predetermined credibility threshold dependent on the least one pre-stored DIP having matched at least one candidate DIP within a period of time; and

applying, based on one or more mobile station usage policies, at least one restriction to a mobile station operated by the vehicle driver based on a match of the candidate DIP and the at least one pre-stored DIP.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 14 , wherein the vehicle data comprises at least one of a vehicle acceleration rate, pedal position, time between driver operated events, vehicle route information, and one or more vehicle peripheral activities.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the vehicle peripheral activities comprise entertainment equipment preferences, vehicle seat settings, vehicle mirror settings, vehicle steering wheel settings, and vehicle climate control.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 14 wherein the at least one restriction is related to the DIP match.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 14 , further comprising at least one of:

deleting the at least one pre-stored DIP from memory if the DIP credibility score is below a predetermined threshold; and

declaring the candidate DIP a new DIP and storing the new DIP in memory for subsequent DIP comparison operations.