Remote diagnostic system for detecting tampering of vehicle calibrations

• US 20070027592A1
• Filed: 07/29/2005
• Published: 02/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Tolkacz, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 7,729,824 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29
• 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

Abstract

A tampering diagnostic system for a vehicle comprises a control system that stores calibration data. A transmitter selectively wirelessly transmits the calibration data. A service assistance system that is remote from the vehicle receives the calibration data wirelessly from the transmitter. A manufacturer information system receives the calibration data from the service assistance system, compares the calibration data to factory calibration data, and selectively generates a tampering flag based on the calibration data.

Claims

1. A tampering diagnostic system for a vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle control system that stores calibration data; and

a transmitter for selectively wirelessly transmitting said calibration data.

2. A system comprising the tampering diagnostic system of claim 1 and further comprising a service assistance system that is remote from said vehicle and that receives said calibration data wirelessly from said transmitter.

3. The system of claim 2 further comprising a manufacturer information system that receives said calibration data from said service assistance system, that compares said calibration data to predetermined calibration data, and selectively generates a tampering flag based on said calibration data.

4. The tampering diagnostic system of claim 1 further comprising a remote service assistance system in said vehicle that includes said transmitter and that receives said calibration data from said control system.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein said manufacturer information system comprises an error check module that checks for data transmission errors in said calibration data using a cyclic redundancy check.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said manufacturer information system further comprises a tampering check module that compares said calibration data with said predetermined calibration data and generates a tampering flag when said calibration data is not equal to said predetermined calibration data.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein said manufacturer information system further comprises a database that includes a vehicle service file associated with said vehicle, wherein said tampering flag is associated with said vehicle service file.

8. The tampering diagnostic system of claim 1 wherein said vehicle control system includes a powertrain control system.

9. A method for detecting tampering of a vehicle control system, comprising:

storing calibration data associated with a vehicle control system; and

selectively wirelessly transmitting said calibration data.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising receiving said calibration data wirelessly from said transmitter at a location remote from said vehicle.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

comparing said calibration data to predetermined calibration data; and

selectively generating a tampering flag based on said comparison.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising using a remote service assistance system in said vehicle to transmit said calibration data from said vehicle control system.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising checking for data transmission errors in said calibration data using a cyclic redundancy check.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising generating a tampering flag when said calibration data is not equal to said predetermined calibration data.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising storing said tampering flag in a vehicle service file associated with said vehicle.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising making warranty decisions based on said tampering flag.