Device for Detecting and Tracking Motor Vehicles

• US 20120323438A1
• Filed: 06/14/2012
• Published: 12/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
• Original Assignee: Astrium GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: WENDEL, Jan
• Granted Patent: US 8,838,334 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/215 issues related to spoofing
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/22 for communication related to vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/22 including jamming detection and monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/90 related to allowing or preventing navigation or positioning, e.g. GPS

Abstract

A device for detecting and tracking vehicles includes a position-determining device for determining a current vehicle position, a transmitting device for transmitting the current vehicle position to a receiver via a communication channel, and a device for detecting an activated interfering transmitter and for triggering an action depending on the detection of an activated interfering transmitter.

Claims

1. A device for detecting and tracking vehicles, comprising:

a position-determining device configured to determine a current vehicle position;

a transmitting device configured to transmit the current vehicle position to a receiver via a communication channel;

means for detecting an activated interfering transmitter; and

means for triggering an action depending on the detection of an activated interfering transmitter.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the means for detecting the activated interfering transmitter comprises a receiver configured to receive position-determining signals of a satellite navigation system, wherein the receiver is integrated in the position-determining device, wherein the receiver is configured to monitor one or a plurality of receive parameters of received position-determining signals in order to detect the interfering transmitter that influences the receive parameters.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the means for detecting the activated interfering transmitter comprises a receiver configured to receive position-determining signals of a satellite navigation system, wherein receiver is integrated in the position-determining device, wherein the receiver is configured to detect the interfering transmitter due to the receiver not being able to perform a position determination during a predetermined time period.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the means for detecting the activated interfering transmitter comprises a receiver configured to receive position-determining signals of a satellite navigation system, wherein the receiver is integrated in the position-determining device, wherein the receiver is configured to check measurements of position-determining signals for consistency using RAIM technology.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the means for detecting the activated interfering transmitter comprises a receiver configured to receive position-determining signals of a satellite navigation system, wherein the receiver is integrated in the position-determining device, wherein the receiver is configured to compare measurements of position-determining signals with measurements of a distance meter or a speedometer, in order to be able to identify significant deviations that indicate use of the interfering transmitter.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the means for detecting the activated interference transmitter comprises a device specifically configured to detect interfering transmitters.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the means for triggering the action depending on the detection of the activated interfering transmitter is configured to transmit, using the transmitting device, a message about the detected interfering transmitter via the communication channel, which is a mobile radio channel.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the means for triggering the action depending on the detection of the activated interfering transmitter is configured for initiating a blockage of a function of the vehicle.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the means for triggering the action depending on the detection of the activated interfering transmitter is further configured to request authentication for releasing the blockage of the function of the vehicle.

10. A method for detecting and tracking vehicles, comprising:

determining, using a position-determining device, a current vehicle position;

transmitting, using a transmitting device, the current vehicle position to a receiver via a communication channel;

detecting an activated interfering transmitter; and

triggering an action depending on the detection of an activated interfering transmitter.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the detection of the activated interfering transmitter comprises:

receiving, by a receiver configured to receive position-determining signals of a satellite navigation system, position-determining signals; and

monitoring, by the receiver configured to receive position-determining signals, one or a plurality of receive parameters of received position-determining signals in order to detect the interfering transmitter that influences the receive parameters,

wherein the receiver is integrated in the position-determining device.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the detection of the activated interfering transmitter comprises:

receiving, by a receiver configured to receive position-determining signals of a satellite navigation system, position-determining signals; and

detecting the interfering transmitter due to the receiver not being able to perform a position determination during a predetermined time period,

wherein receiver is integrated in the position-determining device.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the detection of the activated interfering transmitter comprises:

receiving, by a receiver configured to receive position-determining signals of a satellite navigation system, position-determining signals; and

checking measurements of the position-determining signals for consistency using RAIM technology,

wherein the receiver is integrated in the position-determining device.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein the detection of the activated interfering transmitter comprises:

receiving, by a receiver configured to receive position-determining signals of a satellite navigation system, position-determining signals; and

comparing measurements of position-determining signals with measurements of a distance meter or a speedometer in order to be able to identify significant deviations that indicate use of the interfering transmitter,

wherein the receiver is integrated in the position-determining device.

15. The method according to claim 10, wherein the detection of the activated interference transmitter employs a device specifically configured to detect interfering transmitters.

16. The method according to claim 10, wherein the triggering of the action depending on the detection of the activated interfering transmitter comprises transmitting, using the transmitting device, a message about the detected interfering transmitter via the communication channel, which is a mobile radio channel.

17. The method according to claim 10, wherein the triggering of the action depending on the detection of the activated interfering transmitter involves initiating a blockage of a function of the vehicle.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the method further comprises requesting authentication for releasing the blockage of the function of the vehicle.