Method for responding to a missing marine propulsion device

• US 20100184342A1
• Filed: 10/09/2007
• Published: 07/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
• Original Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
• Inventors: Olig, Scott M.
• Application Number:
  US11/973,570
• Publication Number:
  US 20100184342A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 440/84
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2017/0009 Methods or devices specially adapted for preventing theft, or unauthorized use of vessels, or parts or accessories thereof, other than by using locks
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 20/00 Outboard propulsion units, e.g. outboard motors or Z-drives; Arrangements thereof on vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 21/21 Control means for engine or transmission, specially adapted for use on marine vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B63J 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/39 the satellite radio beacon positioning system transmitting time-stamped messages, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System], GLONASS [Global Orbiting Navigation Satellite System] or GALILEO

Abstract

A missing outboard motor system provides a microprocessor of the outboard motor with the ability to disable or cause a malfunction of the engine of the outboard motor. This disabling of the outboard motor engine can be programmed to occur upon the detection of tampering relating to a communication system. A global positioning satellite system can be provided to monitor the current position of the outboard motor and report that current position to a remote source, such as a monitoring station. The malfunction that can be caused with regard to the engine can be minor and temporary, but severe enough to induce a thief or co-conspirator to attempt to have the outboard motor repaired. This will assist in relocating the outboard motor and capturing the thief.

Claims

1. A method for responding to a missing marine propulsion device, comprising the steps of:

providing a communication system comprising a receiver;

providing an engine control system including a microprocessor which is configured to control the operation of an engine of said marine propulsion device, said microprocessor being connected in signal communication with said receiver;

receiving a message from a remote source relating to said marine propulsion device;

determining if said message relates to a missing status of said marine propulsion device;

causing said marine propulsion device, in response to said message relating to said missing status of said marine propulsion device, to malfunction in a preselected manner; and

wherein said engine control system disables itself in response to said message.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said causing step causes said microprocessor to prevent said engine from starting.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said causing step causes said microprocessor to prevent said engine from operating above idle speed.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said causing step causes said microprocessor to prevent said engine from operating for longer than a preselected time period.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said communication system further comprises a transmitter.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a response to said remote source acknowledging receipt of said message.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

providing a global position satellite system receiver;

receiving a current position of said marine propulsion device; and

transmitting said current position to said remote source.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

repeating said current position transmitting step periodically in response to receipt of said message relating to said missing status of said marine propulsion device.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

transmitting an operability status inquiry to said remote source.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

determining, in response to said operability status inquiry transmitting step, if said communication system is operating properly; and

causing said marine propulsion device, in response to a determined inoperability status of said marine propulsion device, to malfunction in a preselected manner.

11. A method for responding to a missing marine propulsion device, comprising the steps of:

providing a communication system comprising a transmitter and a receiver;

providing an engine control system including a microprocessor which is configured to control the operation of an engine of said marine propulsion device, said microprocessor being connected in signal communication with said communication system;

receiving a message from a remote source relating to said marine propulsion device;

determining if said message relates to a missing status of said marine propulsion device;

causing said marine propulsion device, in response to said message relating to said missing status of said marine propulsion device, to malfunction in a preselected manner; and

wherein said engine control system disables itself in response to said message.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

providing a global position satellite system receiver;

receiving a current position of said marine propulsion device; and

transmitting said current position to said remote source.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

repeating said current position transmitting step periodically in response to receipt of said message relating to said missing status of said marine propulsion device.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

transmitting a response to said remote source acknowledging receipt of said message.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein:

said causing step comprises a step selected from the group consisting of causing said microprocessor to prevent said engine from starting, causing said microprocessor to prevent said engine from operating above idle speed and causing said microprocessor to prevent said engine from operating for longer than a preselected time period.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

transmitting an operability status inquiry to said remote source.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

determining, in response to said operability status inquiry transmitting step, if said communication system is operating properly; and

causing said marine propulsion device, in response to a determined inoperability status of said marine propulsion device, to malfunction in a preselected manner.

18. A method for responding to a missing marine propulsion device, comprising the steps of:

providing a communication system comprising a transmitter and a receiver;

providing an engine control system including a microprocessor which is configured to control the operation of an engine of said marine propulsion device, said microprocessor being connected in signal communication with said receiver;

receiving a message from a remote source relating to said marine propulsion device;

determining if said message relates to a missing status of said marine propulsion device;

causing said marine propulsion device, in response to said message relating to said missing status of said marine propulsion device, to malfunction in a preselected manner;

providing a global position satellite system receiver;

receiving a current position of said marine propulsion device;

transmitting said current position to said remote source; and

wherein said engine control system disables itself in response to said message.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

repeating said current position transmitting step periodically in response to receipt of said message relating to said missing status of said marine propulsion device.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

transmitting an operability status inquiry to said remote source;

determining, in response to said operability status inquiry transmitting step, if said communication system is operating properly; and

causing said marine propulsion device, in response to a determined inoperability status of said marine propulsion device, to malfunction in a preselected manner.