Vehicle security system having advanced wireless function-programming capability

• US 20010013833A1
• Filed: 12/06/2000
• Published: 08/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Directed, LLC (VOXX International Corporation)
• Original Assignee: DEI Headquarters Inc (DEI Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Chen, Chau-Ho, Birchfield, Jerry W.
• Granted Patent: US 6,452,483 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/825.22
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2025/1016 Remote signals alerting owner or authorities, e.g. radio signals
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/104 characterised by the type of theft warning signal, e.g. visual or audible signals with special characteristics

Abstract

A vehicle security system for performing selectable vehicle security functions that are programmable in a wireless manner. The system has a microcontroller controlling a vehicle security interface including at least a siren control unit and a vehicle head/signal light controlling unit. A physically independent remote programming unit is used for transmitting function-programming information to the microcontroller, and a radio receiver is connected to the microcontroller for receiving function-programming information transmitted by the remote programming unit. The remote programming unit includes a switch array for setting up a security function code pattern representing the selected security functions. The remote programming unit also includes a radio transmitter for sending, in an electromagnetic transmission, the function-programming command in a signal string representing the security function code pattern to the microcontroller. The microcontroller stores, in an onboard memory, data identifying the security functions conveyed in a security function code pattern received from the remote programming unit. The programmed functions control the various vehicle security function units. The security system provides an easy function-programming capability without having to remove any system components from the vehicle and without having to use any special and expensive additional equipment.

Claims

1. An apparatus for downloading at least one user selectable command string from a remote programmer to a base unit via a wireless link, said apparatus comprising:

a remote programmer comprising;

a remote controller;

a memory connected to said remote controller, capable of storing a representation of said at least one command string; and

an electromagnetic signal transmitter connected to the memory, the transmitter capable of transmitting said command string; and

a base controller comprising;

a microcontroller; and

a command memory connected to the microcontroller holding instructions that control the operation of the microcontroller, including instructions to;

a) determine whether or not a function-programming request code is received,

b) store the command string in a memory,

c) determine whether a security event has occurred in a default system monitoring operation if the function-programming request code is not received, and

d) initiate an alarm function in response to a determination that a security event has occurred.

2. The apparatus of

claim 1

, further comprising a display, on which a representation of at least part of the command string is displayed.

3. The apparatus of

claim 2

, wherein said display comprises a graphical user interface.

4. The apparatus of

claim 1

, wherein said microcontroller command memory further contains an instruction to:

generate at least one of a visual and audible feedback signal upon receipt of the command string.

5. The apparatus of

claim 1

, wherein said microcontroller is a part of a vehicle security system, the command string determining the configuration of the features of the vehicle security system.

6. The apparatus of

claim 1

, wherein said microcontroller is a part of a keyless entry system.

7. The apparatus of

claim 1

, wherein said microcontroller is a part of a user convenience system.

8. The apparatus of

claim 1

, wherein said microcontroller is a part of a vehicle security system, said microcontroller controlling a starter interrupter and at least one of a visual and audible feedback signal produced by a light and an auditory alarm device.

9. The apparatus of

claim 1

, wherein said remote programmer further comprises:

a communication interface connected to said remote controller; and

a printer connected to said communication interface, allowing the printer to print at least one the command string.

10. The apparatus of

claim 1

, wherein said remote programmer further comprises:

a communication interface connected to said remote controller; and

a data logger connected to said communication interface to record at least one said command string.

11. The apparatus of

claim 1

, wherein said remote programmer further comprises:

an output port connected to said remote controller, capable of activating a auxiliary device on a specified condition.

12. The apparatus of

claim 1

, further comprising a plurality of user operable switches connected to said remote controller used to modify the representation.

13. The apparatus of

claim 12

, wherein at least one of said plurality of user operable switches comprises a key on a keyboard.

14. The apparatus of

claim 13

, wherein at least one of said plurality of user operable switches comprises a button on a mouse.

15. The apparatus of

claim 12

, wherein at least one of said plurality of user operable switches is mounted on a dedicated remote programmer unit.

16. The apparatus of

claim 1

, wherein said function-programming request code contains an identification code.

17. A method of remotely programming a base controller by receiving at least one user selectable command string, said method comprising the steps of:

a) determining whether or not a function-programming request code is received;

b) programming said user selectable command string in a memory associated with said base controller;

c) determining whether a security event has occurred in a default system monitoring operation if the function-programming request code is not received by the base controller; and

d) initiating an alarm function in response to a determination that a security event has occurred.

18. The method of

claim 17

further comprising the step of producing at least one of a visual and audible feedback signal acknowledging receipt of said command string.

19. The method of

claim 17

wherein said base controller is a part of a vehicle security system.

20. The method of

claim 17

wherein said base controller is a part of a keyless entry system.

21. The method of

claim 17

wherein said base controller is a part of a user convenience system.

22. The method of

claim 19

further comprising the step of activating a starter interrupter and at least one of a light and an auditory alarm device.

23. The method of

claim 17

further comprising the step of, via a user interface, altering a second command string stored in the memory associated with a remote programming unit.

24. The method of

claim 23

, wherein said user interface comprises a keyboard.

25. The method of

claim 23

, wherein said user interface is embodied in a hand held remote programmer unit.

26. The method of

claim 23

, wherein said user interface is embodied in a graphical user interface.

27. The method of

claim 23

further comprising the step of printing the second command string via a communication interface connected the remote programming unit.

28. The method of

claim 17

further comprising the steps of, activating a radio transmitter capable of sending at least one vehicle tracking signal via at least one output unit.

29. An apparatus for a vehicle security system in which a set of configuration data is sent via a wireless link from a base unit, said base unit comprising:

a microcontroller;

a operation memory connected to the microcontroller;

a command memory connected to the microcontroller holding instructions that control the operation of the microcontroller;

an original set of configuration data in the operation memory, at least a portion of which represents the configuration of user selectable functions of the vehicle security system;

a base transceiver connected to the microcontroller, said command memory containing at least one instruction to;

transmit said original set of configuration data from the base transceiver.

30. The apparatus of

claim 29

, wherein said command memory further contains at least one instruction to:

receive a second set of configuration data, at least a portion of which represents a possible configuration of user selectable functions of the microcontroller.

31. The apparatus of

claim 30

, wherein said command memory further contains at least one instruction to:

store the second set of configuration data in the operation memory.

32. The apparatus of

claim 31

, wherein the original set of configuration data is overwritten by the second set of configuration data as it is stored in the operation memory.

33. An apparatus for a vehicle security system in which a set of configuration data is received by a remote programming unit via a wireless link, said remote programming unit comprising:

a remote transceiver, capable of receiving configuration data, at least a portion of which represents the configuration of user selectable functions of a vehicle security system; and

a memory interface to a program save memory, said interface connected to the remote transceiver and capable of transmitting said configuration data to the program save memory for storage.

34. The apparatus of

claim 33

, wherein said transceiver, said interface and said program save memory reside in a single chassis.

35. The apparatus of

claim 33

, wherein said interface comprises a write enable signal line for the program save memory.

36. The apparatus of

claim 33

, wherein said transceiver and said interface reside in a peripheral device for use with a personal computer.

37. The apparatus of

claim 36

, wherein said interface comprises an RS-232 interface.

38. The apparatus of

claim 36

, wherein said interface comprises a peripheral expansion bus interface.

39. The apparatus of

claim 33

, wherein said remote programming unit further comprises a display device that creates a display representing the data contained in the program save memory.

40. The apparatus of

claim 39

, wherein said display device renders its display on a liquid crystal display.

41. The apparatus of

claim 39

, wherein said display device renders its display on a cathode ray tube.

42. The apparatus of

claim 33

, wherein said interface is capable of receiving configuration data a program send memory.

43. The apparatus of

claim 42

, wherein the program save memory and a program send memory are embodied in the same device.

44. The apparatus of

claim 43

, wherein a program save memory and a program send memory occupy the same memory addresses in said device to form a common program memory, and configuration data received by said remote transceiver overwrites the configuration data that had been previously stored in the common program memory.

45. The apparatus of

claim 42

, wherein the remote transceiver is capable of transmitting a representation of the configuration data received from the program send memory.

46. The apparatus of

claim 42

, wherein said remote programming unit further comprises a user input device, wherein said user input device is capable of controlling said interface, wherein said interface produces signals necessary to alter the contents of the program send memory.

47. The apparatus of

claim 46

, wherein said user input device comprises a switch.

48. The apparatus of

claim 46

, wherein said user input device comprises a keyboard.