System and method for shutting down an unlawfully utilized vehicle

• US 10,081,332 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2014
• Issued: 09/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Maihofer, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, Alex C
• Application Number:
  US15/039,200
• Publication Number:
  US 20170050614A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,412 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2025/0405 from the external
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2025/1016 Remote signals alerting owner or authorities, e.g. radio signals
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/01 operating on vehicle systems or fittings, e.g. on doors, seats or windscreens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/045 by limiting or cutting the electrical supply to the propulsion unit
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner

Abstract

A system and a method for shutting down an illegally used vehicle involves a first control device of the vehicle receiving a vehicle shutdown command and a server connected to the first control device and which transmits the vehicle shutdown command to the first control device. The first control device requests confirmation of the vehicle shutdown command in an external authorization system before the shutdown of the vehicle and a second control device initiates the shutdown of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A system for shutting down an illegally used vehicle, the system comprising:

a first control device of the vehicle configured to receive a vehicle shutdown command; and

a server,

wherein the server is external to the vehicle, connected to the first control device, and is configured to transmit the vehicle shutdown command to the first control device,

wherein before the shutdown of the vehicle, the first control device is configured to request confirmation of the vehicle shutdown command from an external authorization system, wherein the external authorization system is external to the vehicle, and

wherein a second control device initiates the shutdown of the vehicle when the confirmation of the vehicle shutdown command is received and at least one shutdown requirement is satisfied,

wherein

(A) the shutdown requirement is at least one of

an elapsed period of time during which the vehicle can still continue to be driven despite the shutdown command, and

a distance the vehicle is allowed to be driven despite the shutdown command, or

(B) a speed of the vehicle is prevented from exceeding a defined maximum vehicle speed when the confirmed vehicle shutdown command has been received.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the external authorization system is configured to transmit the confirmation of the vehicle shutdown command to

the server, or

the first control device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first control device is configured to transmit the confirmed vehicle shutdown command to the second control device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle shutdown command and the confirmation of the vehicle shutdown command are encrypted.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the shutdown requirement further comprises a message for a driver that the vehicle will be shut down after a defined period of time.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the external authorization system is a mobile telephone.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein before the shutdown of the vehicle, the first control device is configured to check whether a shutdown requirement is satisfied.

5. A method for shutting down an illegally used vehicle, the comprising:

receiving, by a first control device of the vehicle from a server that is external to the vehicle, a vehicle shutdown command;

checking, by the first control device, whether a shutdown requirement is satisfied before the vehicle is shutdown;

requesting, by the first control device, a confirmation of the vehicle shutdown command from an external authorization system, wherein the external authorization system is external to the vehicle; and

initiating the vehicle shutdown by a second control device of the vehicle when the confirmation of the vehicle shutdown command is received and at least one shutdown requirement is satisfied,

wherein

(A) the shutdown requirement is at least one of

an elapsed period of time during which the vehicle can still continue to be driven despite the shutdown command, and

a distance the vehicle is allowed to be driven despite the shutdown command, or

(B) a speed of the vehicle is prevented from exceeding a defined maximum vehicle speed when the confirmed vehicle shutdown command has been received.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the shutdown requirement is a message for a driver that the vehicle will be shut down after a defined period of time.

11. The method of claim 5, wherein the external authorization system is a mobile telephone.

12. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving, by the first control device, the confirmation of the vehicle shutdown command.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the confirmation of the vehicle shutdown command is received by the first control device from the server.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the confirmation of the vehicle shutdown command is received by the first control device from the external authorization system.

7. A method for shutting down an illegally used vehicle, the comprising:

transmitting, by a server, a vehicle shutdown command to a first control device of the vehicle;

checking a shutdown requirement before the vehicle is shutdown;

requesting, by the first control device, a confirmation of the vehicle shutdown command from an external authorization system; and

initiating the vehicle shutdown by a second control device when the confirmation of the vehicle shutdown command is received and at least one shutdown requirement is satisfied,

wherein

(A) the shutdown requirement is at least one of

an elapsed period of time during which the vehicle can still continue to be driven despite the shutdown command, and

a distance the vehicle is allowed to be driven despite the shutdown command,

or

(B) a speed of the vehicle is prevented from exceeding a defined maximum vehicle speed when the confirmed vehicle shutdown command has been received.