Method and apparatus for biometric vehicle activation

1. A system comprising:

a wireless transceiver configured to communicate with an off-board server; and

a processor in communication with the wireless transceiver and further configured to:

detect push-to-start (PTS) button engagement;

receive an add-new-driver instruction and personal identification number (PIN);

validate the PIN utilizing the off-board server;

scan a finger positioned on a vehicle fingerprint scanner for a fingerprint following validation of the PIN;

verify that the fingerprint corresponds to an authorized driver at the off-board server;

request a vehicle setting from the off-board server associated with the authorized driver utilizing the fingerprint;

and

engage a vehicle ignition when the fingerprint corresponds to an authorized driver.

2. A system comprising:

a wireless transceiver configured to communicate with an off-board server;

a processor in communication with the wireless transceiver, the processor configured to:

receive an add-new-driver instruction;

receive an authorization format instruction corresponding to an authorization format for authorizing new driver addition;

receive input including a personal identification number (PIN) corresponding to the authorization format;

validate the PIN utilizing the off-board server;

following validation of the PIN, scan a finger positioned on a vehicle fingerprint scanner for a new driver fingerprint; and

add the new driver based on the new driver fingerprint, including saving the new driver fingerprint in a driver profile corresponding to the new driver.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the authorization format includes verification of a master-driver fingerprint, wherein the master-driver fingerprint is associated with the new driver at time of vehicle purchase.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the processor is configured to scan a finger positioned on a vehicle fingerprint scanner for a master driver fingerprint; and

validate the master driver fingerprint based on a stored master driver fingerprint located at the off-board server.

5. The system of claim 2 , wherein the authorization format includes a verification code.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the verification code is an alpha-numeric code input to a vehicle interface.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the verification code includes a sequence of vehicle button interactions.

8. A system in a vehicle, comprising:

a processor configured to:

in response to an off-board server validating a personal identification number (PIN) entered at the vehicle, obtain a fingerprint scan utilizing a push-to-start button including a biometric sensor;

send the scan to the server for verification and to determine a vehicle setting associated with the scan;

receive the vehicle setting from the server;

engage a vehicle ignition if the fingerprint scan is verified.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the biometric sensor is provided as part of the push-to-start button, such that depression of the button with a driver finger initiates scanning of the finger pressing the push-to-start button.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the system further comprises a wireless transceiver configured to receive a secondary vehicle ignition engagement option from the off-board server, wherein the secondary vehicle ignition engagement option includes entry of the PIN.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the PIN corresponds to a known driver for which a driver profile is stored.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the PIN corresponds to an unknown driver.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to send the fingerprint to the off-board server to determine if the driver is an authorized driver.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the vehicle setting received from the off-board server is associated with a master driver.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the vehicle setting received from the off-board server is associated with another vehicle.

16. The system of claim 8 , wherein the vehicle setting received from the off-board server is associated with a secondary vehicle ignition engagement option that is limited in number of uses.

17. The system of claim 8 , wherein the vehicle setting received from the off-board server is associated with a secondary vehicle ignition engagement option that is limited in duration.

18. The system of claim 2 , wherein the driver profile includes vehicle settings associated with the driver.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the wireless transceiver is further configured to pair with a nomadic device; and

the vehicle settings are retrieved from the nomadic device paired with the wireless transceiver.