System and method for disabling and/or enabling a device

• US 10,425,394 B1
• Filed: 11/22/2016
• Issued: 09/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Original Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Inventors: Smith, Arthur Quentin
• Primary Examiner(s): Najjar, Saleh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chao, Michael W
• Application Number:
  US15/358,988
• Time in Patent Office: 1,036 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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: G06F 21/305 by remotely controlling device operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/107 wherein the security policies are location-dependent, e.g. entities privileges depend on current location or allowing specific operations only from locally connected terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/108 when the policy decisions are valid for a limited amount of time
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/082 using revocation of authorisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/126 Anti-theft arrangements, e.g. protection against subscriber identity module [SIM] cloning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/63 Location-dependent; Proximity-dependent

Abstract

Operation of a device may be enabled or disabled by an instruction that may be given in a variety of ways. For example, a device (e.g., a car) may be equipped with a mechanism that disables (“kills”) and/or enables (“unkills”) some or all of the functionality of the car upon receipt of an appropriate instruction. The instruction could be given remotely. For example, the instruction could be given remotely from a wireless telephone by sending appropriate messages through a network. An instruction to re-enable operation of the device could also be given remotely. The honoring of kill and/or unkill instructions could be predicated on some type of authentication, such as the identity of the device from which the instruction is issued, a password, a biometric identification, the location from which the instruction is issued, or some other factor.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

memory coupled with the processor, the memory storing instructions that cause the processor executing the instructions to effectuate operations comprising;

receiving a first instruction, from a smart device, to disable at least a portion of a functionality of a vehicle;

disabling, based on the first instruction, the at least the portion of the functionality of the vehicle;

receiving a second instruction, from the smart device, to enable the at least the portion of the functionality of the vehicle;

determining that the smart device is not authorized to request the enablement;

determining not to enable, based on the lack of authorization, the at least the portion of the functionality of the vehicle;

receiving a third instruction, from a provider of a service associated with the vehicle, to enable the at least the portion of the functionality of the vehicle;

determining that the provider is authorized to enable the at least the portion of the functionality of the vehicle; and

enabling, based on the determination of authorization of the provider, the at least the portion of the functionality of the vehicle,

wherein the portion of the functionality of the vehicle comprises starting of an engine of the vehicle.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the determining that the source of the third instruction comprises the provider of the service is based at least on verifying the location of the source of the second instruction at the time of transmission of the second instruction.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the smart device is preapproved to disable the functionality of the vehicle.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the source of the third instruction is pre-approved to at least one of disable and enable the functionality of the vehicle.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the functionality of the vehicle further comprises at least one of a fuel component or an ignition component of the vehicle.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the provider of the service comprises a provider of insurance of the vehicle.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least the portion of the functionality of the vehicle further comprises a communication component of the vehicle.

8. A method, implemented by a computing device, comprising:

receiving a first instruction, from a smart device, to disable at least a portion of a functionality of a vehicle;

disabling, based on the first instruction, the at least the portion of the functionality of the vehicle;

receiving, from the smart device, a second instruction to enable the at least the portion of the functionality of the vehicle;

determining that the smart device is not authorized to request the enablement;

determining not to enable, based on the lack of authorization, the at least the portion of the functionality of the vehicle;

receiving a third instruction, from a provider of a service associated with the vehicle, to enable the at least the portion of the functionality of the vehicle;

determining that the provider is authorized to enable the at least the portion of the functionality of the vehicle; and

enabling, based on the determination of authorization of the provider, the at least the portion of the functionality of the vehicle,

wherein the portion of the functionality of the vehicle comprises starting of an engine of the vehicle.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the smart device is preapproved to disable the functionality of the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the first instruction comprises a first identifier and the third instruction comprises a second identifier;

and wherein the disabling and enabling the at least the portion of the functionality of the vehicle is further based the first identifier and the second identifier.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the disabling the at least the portion of the functionality of the vehicle comprises disabling the at least the portion of the functionality of the vehicle while maintaining another portion of the functionality of the vehicle.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer-readable instructions, wherein the computer-readable instructions, when executed, cause operations comprising:

receiving a first instruction to, from a smart device, disable at least a portion of functionality of a vehicle;

determining that a source of the first instruction is authorized to control the vehicle;

disabling, based on the first instruction, the at least the portion of the functionality of the vehicle;

receiving a second instruction, from the smart device, to enable the at least the portion of the functionality of the vehicle;

determining that the smart device is not authorized to request the enablement;

determining not to enable, based on the lack of authorization, the at least the portion of the functionality of the vehicle;

receiving a third instruction, from a provider of a service associated with the vehicle, to enable the at least the portion of the functionality of the vehicle;

determining that the provider is authorized to enable the at least the portion of the functionality of the vehicle; and

enabling, based at least on the determination of authorization of the provider the at least the portion of the functionality of the vehicle,

wherein the portion of the functionality of the vehicle comprises starting of an engine of the vehicle.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the enabling the at least the portion of the functionality of the vehicle is based at least on the operations further comprising determining a location of the source of the third instruction at a time of transmission of the third instruction.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, the operations further comprising causing an indication of the determination that the source of the first instruction to be transmitted to the vehicle.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the source of the third instruction is pre-approved to at least one of enable and disable the functionality of the vehicle.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the enabling the at least the portion of the functionality of the vehicle is further based on a location of the vehicle.