VEHICLE SECURITY SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20090276120A1
• Filed: 07/07/2009
• Published: 11/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omnitracs LLC (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: HARVEY, John, Doyle, Thomas F., Segal, Michael L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,002,575 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/36
• 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

Abstract

A method and apparatus for validating a vehicle operator. In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises an input device for allowing entry of vehicle operator identification information, a transceiver for transmitting a message and receiving a response to the message, an interface for allowing a processor to communication with a vehicle sub-system, and a processor connected to the input device, the transceiver, and the interface, the processor for receiving the vehicle operator identification information from the input device, for generating the message comprising the vehicle operation identification information and providing the message to the transceiver, for receiving the response from the transceiver and for controlling the vehicle sub-system, via the interface, based on the response.

Claims

1. An apparatus for validating a vehicle operator, comprising:

an input device for allowing entry of vehicle operator identification information;

a transceiver for transmitting and receiving messages;

an interface for allowing a processor to communicate with a vehicle sub-system; and

said processor connected to said input device, said transceiver, and said interface, said processor for receiving said vehicle operator identification information from said input device, for generating a message comprising said vehicle operator identification information and providing said message to said transceiver, said transceiver for transmitting said message to a remote location, said processor further for controlling operation of said vehicle by way of said interface until a response to said message is received by said transceiver

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a memory for storing and providing a set of commands for controlling vehicle operations prior to the transceiver receiving the response to the message; and

the processor further for controlling operation of the vehicle based on the set of commands until the transceiver receives the response.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the set of commands comprises allowing a predetermined distance of travel by the vehicle, allowing a predetermined time of vehicle operation, or allowing a predetermined maximum speed of travel by the vehicle, prior to impairing operation of the vehicle associated with the apparatus.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the response comprises impairing operation of the vehicle associated with the apparatus.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein impairing operation of the vehicle further comprises preventing the vehicle from starting.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein impairing operation of the vehicle further comprises disabling a vehicle ignition system.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein impairing operation of the vehicle further comprises impairing a vehicle fuel system.

8. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein impairing operation of the vehicle further comprises flashing a vehicle headlight, a vehicle taillight, a vehicle interior light, or sounding a vehicle horn.

9. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein impairing operation of the vehicle further comprises impairing a vehicle transmission.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein impairing operation of a vehicle transmission further comprises limiting the number of gears that may be used during operation of the vehicle.

11. A method for validating an operator of a vehicle to operate selected functions of the vehicle, comprising:

receiving vehicle operator identification information via a device located at the vehicle;

generating, by the device, a message comprising the vehicle operator identification information;

transmitting the message to a remote location for validation of the vehicle operator identification information; and

controlling, by the device, operation of the vehicle until a response to the message is received by the device.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

providing a set of commands for controlling vehicle operations prior to the device receiving the response to the message; and

controlling, by the device, operation of the vehicle based on the set of commands until the device receives the response.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the set of commands comprises allowing a predetermined distance of travel by the vehicle, allowing a predetermined time of vehicle operation, or allowing a predetermined maximum speed of travel by the vehicle, prior to impairing operation of the vehicle associated with the device.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the response comprises impairing operation of the vehicle associated with the device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein impairing operation of the vehicle further comprises preventing the vehicle from starting.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein impairing operation of the vehicle further comprises disabling a vehicle ignition system.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein impairing operation of the vehicle further comprises impairing a vehicle fuel system.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein impairing operation of the vehicle further comprises flashing a vehicle headlight, a vehicle taillight, a vehicle interior light, or sounding a vehicle horn.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein impairing operation of the vehicle further comprises impairing a vehicle transmission.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein impairing operation of a vehicle transmission further comprises limiting the number of gears that may be used during operation of the vehicle.

21. A signal-bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform a method for validating an operator of a vehicle, the method comprising operations of:

receiving vehicle operator identification information via the digital processing apparatus, wherein the digital processing apparatus is located at the vehicle;

generating a message comprising the vehicle operator identification information;

transmitting the message to a remote location for validation of the vehicle operator identification information; and

controlling, by the digital processing apparatus, operation of the vehicle until a response to the message is received by the digital processing apparatus.

22. The signal-bearing medium of claim 21, wherein the method further comprises the operations of:

providing a set of commands for controlling vehicle operations prior to the digital processing apparatus receiving the response to the message; and

controlling operation of the vehicle based on the set of commands until the digital processing apparatus receives the response.

23. The signal-bearing medium of claim 22, wherein the set of commands comprises allowing a predetermined distance of travel by the vehicle, allowing a predetermined time of vehicle operation, or allowing a predetermined maximum speed of travel by the vehicle, prior to impairing operation of the vehicle associated with the digital processing apparatus.

24. The signal-bearing medium of claim 21, wherein the response comprises impairing operation of the vehicle associated with the digital processing apparatus.

25. An apparatus for validating an operator of a vehicle to operate selected functions of the vehicle, comprising:

means for receiving vehicle operator identification information via a device located at the vehicle;

means for generating a message comprising the vehicle operator identification information;

means for transmitting the message to a remote location for validation of the vehicle operator identification information; and

means for controlling operation of the vehicle until a response to the message is received by the device.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising:

means for providing a set of commands for controlling vehicle operations prior to the device receiving the response to the message; and

means for controlling operation of the vehicle based on the set of commands until the device receives the response.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the set of commands comprises allowing a predetermined distance of travel by the vehicle, allowing a predetermined time of vehicle operation, or allowing a predetermined maximum speed of travel by the vehicle, prior to impairing operation of the vehicle associated with the device.

28. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the response comprises impairing operation of the vehicle associated with the device.