Method and System for Securely Storing Odometer Information in an Automobile

• US 20080189006A1
• Filed: 02/02/2007
• Published: 08/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Stringfellow, Steven A., Meehan, Terence L., Hromada, Kenneth M., Fondaw, Kevin E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,271,161 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/02 by conversion into electric waveforms and subsequent integration, e.g. using tachometer generator G01C22/002, G01C22/004, G01C22/006 take precedence

Abstract

A method and system, according to one embodiment of the present invention, provide a means to securely store odometer information in an automobile. A distance traveled by the automobile is calculated. The distance traveled is then stored in both a first and second memory unit within the automobile.

Claims

1. A method for managing odometer information in an automobile comprising:

calculating a distance traveled by the automobile;

storing the distance traveled in a first memory unit within the automobile; and

storing the distance traveled in a second memory unit within the automobile.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first memory unit is within a first automotive control module and the second memory unit is within a second automotive control module.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said calculation of the distance traveled by the automobile is performed by at least one processor within at least one of the first and second automotive control modules.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising storing the distance traveled in a third memory unit within a third automotive control module and displaying the distance traveled to a user of the automobile.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first, second, and third automotive control modules are in operable communication.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said calculation of the distance traveled by the automobile is performed by a first processor and a second processor, each of the first and second processors being within a respective automotive control module.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising performing a security check between the first, second, and third automotive control modules.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said performing of the security check comprises comparing a security check value stored within a plurality of the first, second, and third automotive control modules.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising displaying an error message in a display device to the user if the security check values from the first, second, and third automotive control modules do not match.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising locking the error message on the display device if the automobile is driven over a predetermined number of miles while the error message is displayed to the user.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first automotive control module and the second automotive control modules each include at least one of a body control module (BCM), an electronic control module (ECM), a powertrain control module (PCM), a transfer case shift control module, an inflatable restraint sensing and diagnostic module, a theft deterrent control module, a memory seat module, a driver information center (DIC), a suspension control module, and an electronic brake control module (EBCM).

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the third automotive control module is an instrument panel cluster (IPC).

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising rendering the automobile inoperative if at least one of the first and second automotive control modules is removed from the automobile.

14. A computing system for use in an automobile comprising:

at least one processor configured to calculate a distance traveled by the automobile;

a first memory unit in operable communication with the at least one processor and configured to store the distance traveled by the automobile; and

a second memory unit in operable communication with the at least one processor and configured to store the distance traveled by the automobile.

15. The computing system of claim 14, further comprising a first automotive control module and a second automotive control module, the first memory unit being within the first automotive control module and the second memory unit being within the second automotive control module.

16. The computing system of claim 15, wherein the first automotive control module and the second automotive control module each include at least one of a body control module (BCM), an electronic control module (ECM), a powertrain control module (PCM), a transfer case shift control module, an inflatable restraint sensing and diagnostic module, a theft deterrent control module, a memory seat module, a driver information center (DIC), a suspension control module, and an electronic brake control module (EBCM) and further comprising an instrument panel cluster (IPC) including a third memory unit in operable communication with the at least one processor to store the distance traveled by the automobile and a display unit to display the distance traveled by the automobile to a user.

17. The computing system of claim 16, wherein the at least one processor comprises a first processor within the first automotive control module and a second processor within the second automotive control module, both the first and second automotive control modules being configured to separately calculate and store the distance traveled by the automobile.

18. An automobile comprising:

a frame;

a first automotive control module coupled to the frame including a first processor and a first memory storage unit, the first processor configured to calculate odometer information and the first memory storage unit configured to store the odometer information;

a second automotive control module coupled to the frame including a second processor and a second memory storage unit, the second processor configured to calculate the odometer information and the second memory storage unit configured to store the odometer information; and

a third automotive control module coupled to the frame including a third memory unit configured to store the odometer information and a display unit to display the odometer information to a user of the automobile.

19. The automobile of claim 18, wherein the automobile is inoperative if at least one of the first, second, and third automotive control modules is removed therefrom.

20. The automobile of claim 19, wherein the first automotive control module and the second automotive control module each include at least one of a body control module (BCM), an electronic control module (ECM), a powertrain control module (PCM), a transfer case shift control module, an inflatable restraint sensing and diagnostic module, a theft deterrent control module, a memory seat module, a driver information center (DIC), a suspension control module, and an electronic brake control module (EBCM) and the third automotive control module is an instrument panel cluster (IPC).