System and method for controlling access to mobile devices

• US 20070043489A1
• Filed: 08/19/2005
• Published: 02/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Alrabady, Ansaf, Debouk, Rami
• Application Number:
  US11/208,140
• Publication Number:
  US 20070043489A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/572 Secure firmware programming, e.g. of basic input output system [BIOS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6209 to a single file or object, e.g. in a secure envelope, encrypted and accessed using a key, or with access control rules appended to the object itself

Abstract

A system and method for controlling access to, and especially protecting against unauthorized attempts to provide input to, e.g., program, or elicit output from, a vehicular or other mobile device, such as an electronic control unit (ECU), wherein a determined location of the device or an inputted user acknowledgment provides a basis or an additional basis for allowing or denying the attempt at access.

Claims

1. A method of controlling access to a mobile device, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving an input action, wherein the input action is generated by the physical actuation of a conventional input mechanism;

(b) electronically comparing the received input action to a database of authorized input actions; and

(c) denying an attempt to access the mobile device if the received input action does not match an entry in the database of authorized input actions.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the mobile device is a vehicular device.

3. The method as set forth in claim 2, wherein the conventional input mechanism is selected from the group consisting of:

a brake pedal, an accelerator pedal, a horn, a steering wheel, a turn signal switch, and an emergency flasher switch.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the access involves providing input to the mobile device.

5. The method as set forth in claim 4, wherein the access involves programming the mobile device.

6. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the access involves eliciting output from the mobile device.

7. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein allowing a first type of access requires that a particular input action be received, and allowing a second type of access requires that a different input action be received.

8. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the input action is generated by a first party and the access is desired by a second party, and further including the step of the second party arranging for the first party to generate the input action at a particular date and time prior to the desired access.

9. The method as set forth in claim 1, further including the step of requiring satisfaction of at least one other substantially independent access-control mechanism before allowing access to the mobile device.

10. A system for implementing the method set forth in claim 1.

11. A method of controlling access to a vehicular device, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving an input action, wherein the input action is generated by the physical actuation of a conventional vehicular input mechanism;

(b) electronically comparing the received input action to a database of authorized input actions; and

(c) denying an attempt to access the vehicular device if the received input action does not match an entry in the database of authorized input actions.

12. The method as set forth in claim 11, wherein the conventional vehicular input mechanism is selected from the group consisting of:

a brake pedal, an accelerator pedal, a horn, a steering wheel, a turn signal switch, and an emergency flasher switch.

13. The method as set forth in claim 11, wherein the access involves providing input to the vehicular device.

14. The method as set forth in claim 11, wherein the access involves eliciting output from the vehicular device.

15. The method as set forth in claim 11, wherein the input action is generated by a first party and the access is desired by a second party, and further including the step of the second party arranging for the first party to generate the input action at a particular date and time prior to the desired access.

16. The method as set forth in claim 11, further including the step of requiring satisfaction of at least one other substantially independent access-control mechanism before allowing access to the vehicular device.

17. A system for implementing the method set forth in claim 11.

18. A method of controlling access to a vehicular device, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) arranging for a first party to generate an input action at a particular date and time prior to the desired access, wherein the input action is generated by the physical actuation of a conventional vehicular input mechanism selected from the group consisting of;

a brake pedal, an accelerator pedal, a horn, a steering wheel, a turn signal switch, and an emergency flasher switch;

(b) receiving the input action;

(c) electronically comparing the received input action to a database of authorized input actions;

(d) if the received input action does not match an entry in the database of authorized input actions, denying an attempt to access the vehicular device; and

(e) if the received input action does match an entry in the database of authorized input actions, requiring satisfaction of at least one other substantially independent access-control mechanism before allowing access to the vehicular device.

19. The method as set forth in claim 18, wherein the access involves providing input to the vehicular device.

20. The method as set forth in claim 18, wherein the access involves eliciting output from the vehicular device.

21. A system for implementing the method set forth in claim 18.