Geospatially Aware Vehicle Security

• US 20070115101A1
• Filed: 11/09/2006
• Published: 05/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Wireless Matrix USA Incorporated (CalAmp Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sapias, Inc. (Wireless Matrix Corporation)
• Inventors: Malani, Mahesh, Panttaja, James, Kinsfather, David, Creekbaum, William, Eftimiou, Steven
• Application Number:
  US11/558,395
• Publication Number:
  US 20070115101A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/426.220
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• 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 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates

Abstract

Methods and systems provide for controlling a vehicle in conjunction with geospatial awareness. Vehicle locations are tracked and analyzed for compliance with rule sets corresponding to maintaining minimum or maximum distances from specific geographic locations or routes. A speed control command is issued to a vehicle upon violation of a rule. Speed control commands include speed reduction commands, vehicle shutdown commands, and combinations of speed reduction and vehicle shutdown commands.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a vehicle that violates a rule corresponding to a geographically-sensitive location, comprising:

determining a location of a target vehicle;

analyzing the location against a set of rules corresponding to allowed distances between the target vehicle and one or more geographically-sensitive locations; and

responsive to a determination that a rule corresponding to a selected geographically-sensitive location has been violated by the target vehicle, issuing a speed control command to the target vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected geographically-sensitive location is contained within a geo-fence region defining the allowed distance between the target vehicle and the selected geographically-sensitive location.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the geo-fence is set and recognized by a device associated with the target vehicle.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the geo-fence is set and recognized on a server.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the rule violated by the target vehicle is exceeding a maximum allowed distance from the selected geographically-sensitive location.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the rule violated by the target vehicle is getting closer than a minimum allowed distance from the selected geographically-sensitive location.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to a determination that the target vehicle is approaching a minimum allowed distance from the selected geographically-sensitive location, issuing a first level alert; and

wherein issuing the first level alert includes adjusting the minimum allowed distance.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

responsive to a determination that the target vehicle is approaching the adjusted minimum allowed distance from the selected geographically-sensitive location, issuing a second level alert.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the second level alert further comprises issuing the speed control command.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein issuing a speed control command to the target vehicle further comprises:

initiating a secured request for remote control of the target vehicle;

confirming execution of the secured request; and

transmitting the speed control command.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the speed control command is a speed reduction command, further comprising a maximum speed threshold.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the speed control command is a vehicle shutdown command.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the shutdown further comprises:

disrupting turbo boost;

disrupting a throttle signal; and

disrupting ignition.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the speed control command further comprises an instruction to shutdown the target vehicle if the target vehicle comes to a stop.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the speed control command causes implementation of the speed control command at the target vehicle, the implementation comprising:

receiving the speed control command at the target vehicle;

translating the speed control command into a vehicle component command;

transmitting the vehicle component command to a component control module for the target vehicle; and

monitoring the component control module for implementation of the vehicle component command.

16. A system for controlling a vehicle that violates a rule corresponding to a geographically-sensitive location, comprising:

a location module for determining a location of a target vehicle;

an analysis module for analyzing the location against a set of rules corresponding to allowed distances between the target vehicle and one or more geographically-sensitive locations; and

a command module for issuing a speed control command to the target vehicle responsive to a determination that a rule corresponding to a selected geographically-sensitive location has been violated by the target vehicle.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the selected geographically-sensitive location is contained within a geo-fence region defining the allowed distance between the target vehicle and the selected geographically-sensitive location.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the speed control command is a speed reduction command, further comprising a maximum speed threshold.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the speed control command is a vehicle shutdown command.

20. A method of controlling a vehicle that violates a rule corresponding to a geographically-sensitive location, comprising:

determining a location of a target vehicle;

analyzing the location against a set of rules corresponding to allowed distances between the target vehicle and one or more geographically-sensitive locations;

responsive to a determination that a rule corresponding to a selected geographically-sensitive location has been violated by the target vehicle, issuing a speed control command to the target vehicle, wherein the selected geographically-sensitive location is contained within a geo-fence region defining the allowed distance between the target vehicle and the selected geographically-sensitive location;

wherein issuing a speed control command to the target vehicle further comprises;

initiating a secured request for remote control of the target vehicle;

confirming execution of the secured request; and

transmitting the speed control command;

responsive to a determination that the target vehicle is approaching a minimum allowed distance from the selected geographically-sensitive location, issuing a first level alert, wherein issuing the first level alert includes adjusting the minimum allowed distance; and

responsive to a determination that the target vehicle is approaching the adjusted minimum allowed distance from the selected geographically-sensitive location, issuing a second level alert, wherein the second level alert further comprises issuing the speed control command.