Automotive security apparatus and associated methods

• US 10,137,859 B2
• Filed: 07/07/2017
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NXP B.V. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Original Assignee: NXP B.V. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Inventors: van Roermund, Timotheus Arthur, Moeller, Claas-Henrik
• Primary Examiner(s): Pope, Daryl
• Application Number:
  US15/644,485
• Publication Number:
  US 20180056939A1
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• Field of Search: 3405391, 34053911, 34053913, 3404261, 3404262, 34042619
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/101 Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/103 Near field communication [NFC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/108 Encryption
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/245 where the antenna reception area plays a role
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/31 of human presence inside or outside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00555 comprising means to detect or avoid relay attacks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/63 Comprising locating means for detecting the position of the data carrier, i.e. within the vehicle or within a certain distance from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/22 Electrical actuation

Abstract

An automotive security apparatus, comprising: a security-terminal, configured to receive security-location-information representative of a location of the automotive security apparatus or a vehicle key; and a vehicle-location-terminal, configured to receive vehicle-location-information representative of a location of a vehicle, a processor, configured to compare the security-location-information with the vehicle-location-information, and determine a security-condition-signal based on whether the location of the automotive security apparatus or the vehicle key is inside or outside of a predetermined-proximity of the location of the vehicle; and an output-terminal, configured to provide the security-condition-signal.

Claims

1. An automotive security apparatus, comprising:

a security-terminal, configured to receive security-location-information representative of a location of the automotive security apparatus or a vehicle key; and

a vehicle-location-terminal, configured to receive vehicle-location-information representative of a location of a vehicle,

a processor, configured to compare the security-location-information with the vehicle-location-information, and determine a security-condition-signal based on whether the location of the automotive security apparatus or the vehicle key is inside or outside of a predetermined-proximity of the location of the vehicle; and

an output-terminal, configured to provide the security-condition-signal.

2. The automotive security apparatus of claim 1, wherein if the location of the automotive security apparatus or the vehicle key is outside of the predetermined-proximity of the location of the vehicle, then the processor is configured to set a mode of operation of the automotive security apparatus.

3. The automotive security apparatus of claim 2, wherein setting the mode of operation comprises one or more of:

disabling a Passive Keyless Entry mode of operation associated with the vehicle; and

setting a security alert mode of operation.

4. The automotive security apparatus of claim 1, wherein the automotive security apparatus is movable relative to the vehicle, and further comprises a receiver-terminal configured to receive access-attempt-signalling from the vehicle.

5. The automotive security apparatus of claim 4, wherein the access-attempt-signalling comprises the vehicle-location-information.

6. The automotive security apparatus of claim 4, further comprising:

a memory configured to store vehicle-location-information and associated vehicle-identity-information, wherein;

the access-attempt-signalling comprises vehicle-identity-information; and

the automotive security apparatus is configured to determine the vehicle-location-information from the memory based on the vehicle-identity-information provided by the access-attempt-signalling; and

a transmitter-terminal configured to provide locking-signalling for locking the vehicle as part of a locking-operation,

wherein the automotive security apparatus is configured to store the vehicle-location-information in the memory as part of the locking operation.

7. The automotive security apparatus of claim 1, wherein when the location of the automotive security apparatus is inside the predetermined-proximity of the location of the vehicle, the processor is configured to provide a positive security-condition-signal to the output-terminal for controlling a transmitter to transmit an access-signal to the vehicle.

8. The automotive security apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a transmitter configured to transmit the access-signal to the vehicle, wherein the access-signal is configured to unlock the vehicle.

9. The automotive security apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit an immobilizer-signal to the vehicle for releasing an engine immobilizer of the vehicle, the immobilizer-signal based on an immobilizer-condition-signal,

wherein the processor is configured to compare the security-location-information with the vehicle-location-information, and determine the immobilizer-condition-signal based on whether or not the location of the automotive security apparatus is inside an internal-proximity of the location of the vehicle.

10. The automotive security apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a memory configured to store the security-location-information, wherein:

the security-location-information is representative of an earlier-location of the vehicle;

the vehicle-location-information is representative of a later-location of the vehicle;

the earlier-location of the vehicle relates to an earlier point in time while the later-location of the vehicle relates to a later point in time; and

wherein the automotive security apparatus is mechanically coupled to the vehicle.

11. The automotive security apparatus of claim 1, wherein, when the vehicle-location-information is representative of a location that is outside the predetermined proximity of the earlier-location, then the processor is configured to provide a negative security-condition-signal to the output-terminal for providing a security alert.

12. The automotive security apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a detection terminal configured to receive a motion-detection-signal, wherein:

the automotive security apparatus is configured to set a non-operation status in response to a vehicle locking event and to un-set the non-operation status in response to a vehicle unlocking event; and

if the detection terminal receives a motion-detection-signal when the non-operation status is set, and if the location of the automotive security apparatus is outside a predetermined-proximity of the location of the vehicle, then the processor is configured to provide a negative security-condition-signal to the output-terminal for sending a security alert.

13. The automotive security apparatus of claim 1, wherein the location of the automotive security apparatus is inside the predetermined-proximity of the location of the vehicle if the location of the automotive security apparatus is less than a predetermined distance from the location of the vehicle.

14. The automotive security apparatus of claim 1, wherein the security-location-information or the vehicle-location-information further comprises a time-criterion, and wherein the processor is configured to provide the security-condition-signal in accordance with the time-criterion, such that the security-condition-signal is provided to set a mode of operation of the vehicle.

15. The automotive security apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a transmitter configured to transmit the vehicle-location-information to a remote device for future use as security-location-information when a trigger criterion is satisfied, wherein the trigger criterion comprises one or more of:

receiving the vehicle-location-information at the vehicle-location-terminal;

a predetermined time interval having elapsed since a transmission of previous-vehicle-location-information; and

a user initiation event occurring.