Method and system for a vehicle monitoring and control system

• US 20030036823A1
• Filed: 08/15/2001
• Published: 02/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mahvi A. Pascal
• Original Assignee: Mahvi A. Pascal
• Inventors: Mahvi, A. Pascal
• Application Number:
  US09/931,698
• Publication Number:
  US 20030036823A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/063 preventing starting of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/10 responsive to conditions relating to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/00 Vehicle fittings, acting on a single sub-unit only, for automatically controlling vehicle speed, i.e. preventing speed from exceeding an arbitrarily established velocity or maintaining speed at a particular velocity, as selected by the vehicle operator fittings acting on two or more sub-units B60W30/14; speedometers G01P; systems or devices for controlling speed in general G05D13/00 ; in traffic anti-collision system for road vehicles G08G1/16
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/304 Boats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1004 Alarm systems characterised by the type of sensor, e.g. current sensing means using door lock sensors B60R25/1001
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/241 whereby access privileges are related to the identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/60 Traffic rules, e.g. speed limits or right of way
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/501 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/701 Information about vehicle position, e.g. from navigation system or GPS signal
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/021 Introducing corrections for particular conditions exterior to the engine conjoint control of vehicle sub-units for propelling the vehicle B60W30/18
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/17 Emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/002 for traffic control, mobile tracking, guidance, surveillance or anti-collision

Abstract

This invention relates generally to vehicle monitoring and control systems and more particularly to imposing various conditions on the operation of a vehicle. The conditions may involve, but are not limited to, allowable areas of travel, acceptable times and dates, permissible occupant load, permissible vehicle speeds, and operator alcohol consumption. Various constraining events may be initiated if any and/or all of the conditions are not satisfied. For example, if the operator of a vehicle drives outside an “allowable” area, the vehicle may be disabled.

Claims

1. A vehicle control system, comprising:

a global positioning system (GPS) receiver; and

a computer communicatively coupled to the GPS receiver wherein the GPS receiver communicates a current position to the computer;

the computer adapted to communicate with an engine control unit of a vehicle and if the position of the vehicle as determined by the GPS receiver is outside of a predetermined area, the computer instructs the engine control unit to disable the vehicle.

2. A vehicle control system according to claim 1 wherein the computer communicates with a third party if the vehicle is outside of the predetermined area to inform the third party that the vehicle is outside of the predetermined area.

3. A vehicle control system according to claim 2 where the third party communicates with the computer to disable the vehicle.

4. A vehicle control system according to claim 2 where the third party communicates with the computer to continue operation of the vehicle.

5. A vehicle control system, comprising:

an occupant sensor;

a computer communicatively coupled to the occupant sensor wherein the occupant sensor communicates a number of passengers to the computer;

the computer adapted to communicate with an ignition system of a vehicle and, if the number of passengers in the vehicle as determined by the occupant sensor is less than a predetermined number, the computer permits ignition of the vehicle.

6. The vehicle control system according to claim 5 wherein the occupant sensor is an infrared sensor.

7. The vehicle control system according to claim 5 wherein the occupant sensor is a pressure sensor.

8. A vehicle control system, comprising:

a clock;

a computer communicatively coupled to the clock wherein the clock communicates a time and a date to the computer;

the computer adapted to communicate with an ignition system of a vehicle and if the time and the date as determined by the clock are not within a predetermined range, the computer instructs the ignition system to prevent ignition of the vehicle.

9. A vehicle control system, comprising:

a clock;

a computer communicatively coupled to the clock wherein the clock communicates a time and a date to the computer;

the computer adapted to communicate with an engine control unit of a vehicle and, if the time and the date as determined by the clock are not within a predetermined range of times and dates, the computer instructs the engine control unit to disable the vehicle.

10. A vehicle control system according to claim 9 wherein the computer communicates with a third party if the time and the date are not within the predetermined range of times and dates to inform the third party that the time and the date are not within the predetermined range of times and dates.

11. A vehicle control system according to claim 10 where the third party communicates with the computer to disable the vehicle.

12. A vehicle control system according to claim 10 where the third party communicates with the computer to continue operation of the vehicle.

13. A vehicle control system, comprising:

a speed detector;

a computer communicatively coupled to the speed detector wherein the speed detector communicates a current speed to the computer;

the computer adapted to communicate with an engine control unit of a vehicle and, if the current speed as determined by the speed detector exceeds a predetermined speed, the computer instructs the engine control unit to limit fuel so that the current speed does not exceed the predetermined speed.

14. A vehicle control system according to claim 13 wherein the computer communicates with a third party if the current speed exceeds the predetermined speed to inform the third party that the current speed exceeds the predetermined speed.

15. A vehicle control system according to claim 14 where the third party communicates with the computer to disable the vehicle.

16. A vehicle control system according to claim 14 where the third party communicates with the computer to continue operation of the vehicle.

17. The vehicle control system according to claim 13 wherein the speed detector is a speedometer.

18. A vehicle control system comprising

a breath alcohol measuring device;

a computer communicatively coupled to the breath alcohol measuring device wherein the breath alcohol measuring device communicates an alcohol consumption level to the computer;

the computer adapted to communicate with an engine control unit of a vehicle and, if the alcohol consumption level as determined by the breath alcohol measuring device exceeds a predetermined level, the computer instructs the engine control unit to disable the vehicle.

19. A vehicle control system according to claim 18 wherein the computer communicates with a third party if the alcohol consumption level exceeds the predetermined level to inform the third party that the alcohol consumption level exceeds the predetermined level.

20. A vehicle control system according to claim 19 where the third party communicates with the computer to disable the vehicle.

21. A vehicle control system according to claim 19 where the third party communicates with the computer to continue operation of the vehicle.

22. A method for controlling a vehicle, comprising:

ascertaining a position of a vehicle with a location device;

instructing an engine control unit of the vehicle to disable the vehicle if the position is outside a predetermined range.

23. A method for controlling a vehicle according to claim 22 wherein the location device is a GPS device.

24. A method for controlling a vehicle, comprising:

ascertaining a speed of a vehicle;

instructing an engine control unit of the vehicle to limit fuel to the vehicle if the speed exceeds a predetermined speed.

25. A method for controlling a vehicle, comprising:

ascertaining a number of passengers in a vehicle;

instructing an ignition system of the vehicle to prevent ignition of the vehicle if the number of passengers exceeds a predetermined number of passengers.

26. A method for controlling a vehicle, comprising:

ascertaining a time and a date;

instructing an ignition system of a vehicle to prevent ignition of the vehicle if the time and the date are outside a predetermined range.

27. A method for controlling a vehicle, comprising:

ascertaining an alcohol consumption level;

instructing an engine control unit of a vehicle to disable the vehicle if the alcohol consumption level exceeds a predetermined alcohol consumption level.

28. A method for controlling a vehicle, comprising:

ascertaining a position of a vehicle;

ascertaining a speed of the vehicle;

ascertaining a number of passengers in the vehicle;

ascertaining a time and a date;

instructing a fuel system of the vehicle to limit fuel to the vehicle if the position is outside a predetermined range;

instructing the fuel system of the vehicle to limit fuel to the vehicle if the speed exceeds a predetermined speed;

instructing an ignition system of the vehicle to prevent ignition of the vehicle if the number of passengers exceeds a predetermined number of passengers;

instructing an ignition system of the vehicle to prevent ignition of the vehicle if the time and the date are outside a predetermined range.

29. A method according to claim 28 further comprising:

instructing a fuel system of the vehicle to limit fuel to the vehicle if the time and the date are outside a predetermined range.

30. A vehicle audio control system, comprising

an audio system;

the audio system adapted to limit an output level if a user specified output level exceeds a predetermined maximum allowable output level.

31. A vehicle control system comprising

a sound level detector;

a computer communicatively coupled to the sound level detector wherein the sound level detector communicates a current sound level to the computer;

the computer adapted to communicate with an engine control unit of a vehicle and, if the current sound level determined by the sound level detector exceeds a predetermined sound level, the computer instructs the engine control unit to disable the vehicle.

32. A vehicle control system according to claim 31 wherein the computer communicates with a third party if the current sound level exceeds the predetermined sound level to inform the third party that the current sound level exceeds the predetermined sound level.

33. A vehicle control system according to claim 32 where the third party communicates with the computer to disable the vehicle.

34. A vehicle control system according to claim 32 where the third party communicates with the computer to continue operation of the vehicle.

35. A method for controlling a vehicle comprising:

ascertaining a sound level;

instructing the fuel system of the vehicle to limit fuel to the vehicle if the sound level exceeds a predetermined sound level.