Telematics vehicle security system and method

• US 20040085195A1
• Filed: 10/31/2002
• Published: 05/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: McKibbon, Douglas J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,960,990 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/426.36
• 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 25/1003 Alarm systems characterised by arm or disarm features
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1025 preventing jamming or interference of said signal
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates

Abstract

The invention provides a method of and system for authorizing use of a mobile vehicle, in which an entry signal is received and a disarm alarm prompt from an in-vehicle telematics unit is provided in response to the entry signal. A determination is made as to whether a disarm alarm response is received and an authorization procedure is initiated based on the disarm alarm response.

Claims

1. A method for authorizing use of a mobile vehicle, comprising:

receiving an entry signal;

providing a disarm alarm prompt from an in-vehicle telematics unit in response to the entry signal;

determining whether a disarm alarm response is received; and

initiating an authorization procedure based on the disarm alarm response.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the entry signal is selected from the group consisting of a door unlock signal, a door opening signal, a door proximity sensor signal, an occupancy sensor signal, a motion sensor signal, an ignition attempt signal, and a vehicle-entry indicator.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the disarm alarm prompt is selected from the group consisting of an audible tone, a repeating tone, a sequence of tones, a voice prompt, a flashing light, and a visual signal.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the disarm alarm response comprises a verbal input or a button input.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein determining whether the disarm alarm response is received comprises monitoring for a disarm alarm response and comparing the disarm alarm response to a set of pre-authorized disarm alarm responses.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the use of the mobile vehicle is authorized when the disarm alarm response matches one of the set of pre-authorized disarm alarm responses.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein initiating the authorization procedure comprises enabling ignition of the mobile vehicle when the disarm alarm response is authorized within a prescribed period of time.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein initiating the authorization procedure comprises disabling ignition of the mobile vehicle and originating a call from the mobile vehicle to a call center when the disarm alarm response is not authorized within a prescribed period of time.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the call comprises an identification number associated with the mobile vehicle and a set of global positioning system location coordinates of the mobile vehicle.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving an authorization inquiry from a call center when the disarm alarm response is not authorized within a prescribed period of time;

submitting an authorization inquiry reply in response to the authorization inquiry; and

initiating a call from the call center to a predetermined phone number or a security service based on the authorization inquiry reply.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

enabling ignition of the mobile vehicle based on the authorization inquiry reply.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

arming an alarm system within the mobile vehicle based on one of a verbal command or a button push.

13. A system for authorizing use of a mobile vehicle, comprising:

means for receiving an entry signal;

means for providing a disarm alarm prompt from an in-vehicle telematics unit in response to the entry signal;

means for determining whether a disarm alarm response is received; and

means for initiating an authorization procedure based on the disarm alarm response.

14. The system of claim 13 further comprising:

means for receiving an authorization inquiry from a call center when the disarm alarm response is not authorized within a prescribed period of time;

means for submitting an authorization inquiry reply in response to the authorization inquiry; and

means for initiating a call from the call center to a predetermined phone number or a security service based on the authorization inquiry reply.

15. The system of claim 14 further comprising:

means for enabling ignition of the mobile vehicle based on the authorization inquiry reply.

16. The system of claim 13 further comprising:

means for arming an alarm system within the mobile vehicle based on one of a verbal command or a button push.

17. A computer usable medium including a program for authorizing use of a mobile vehicle, comprising:

computer program code to receive an entry signal;

computer program code to provide a disarm alarm prompt from an in-vehicle telematics unit in response to the entry signal;

computer program code to determine whether a disarm alarm response is received; and

computer program code to initiate an authorization procedure based on the disarm alarm response.

18. The computer usable medium of claim 17 further comprising:

computer program code to receive an authorization inquiry from a call center when the disarm alarm response is not authorized within a prescribed period of time;

computer program code to submit an authorization inquiry reply in response to the authorization inquiry; and

computer program code to initiate a call from the call center to a predetermined phone number or a security service based on the authorization inquiry reply.

19. The computer usable medium of claim 18 further comprising:

computer program code to enable ignition of the mobile vehicle based on the authorization inquiry reply.

20. The computer usable medium of claim 17 further comprising:

computer program code to arm an alarm system within the mobile vehicle based on one of a verbal command or a button push.

21. A vehicle security system, comprising:

an in-vehicle telematics unit including a global positioning system receiver and an embedded cell phone;

a voice-recognition system operably connected to the telematics unit; and

a vehicle-use sensor electrically coupled to the telematics unit;

wherein the vehicle-use sensor provides an entry signal to the telematics unit when the vehicle is entered, the voice-recognition system determines a response to an alarm prompt provided by the telematics unit when the entry signal is provided, and a call is made to a call center when the response to the alarm prompt is not authorized.