VEHICLE IMMOBILIZING DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS
First Claim
1. A vehicle immobilizing device configured to impede vehicle motion, comprising:
- a lock having a latch mechanism that is movable between locked and unlocked positions, wherein the latch mechanism locks the vehicle immobilizing device and prevents unauthorized removal of the vehicle immobilizing device from a vehicle;
a user interface;
memory configured to store an unlock code; and
a processor in communication with the user interface and memory, wherein the processor controls movement of the latch mechanism from the locked position to the unlocked position so that the vehicle immobilizing device can be removed from a vehicle upon determining that an unlock code input via the user interface matches an unlock code stored in the memory.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle immobilizing device includes a lock, a user interface, memory configured to store an unlock code, and a processor. The lock has a latch mechanism and the processor controls movement of the latch mechanism from a locked position to an unlocked position so that the immobilizing device can be removed from a vehicle. A person installing the immobilizing device on a vehicle utilizes the user interface to enter and store an unlock code and an identification code in the device memory at the time of installation. Upon payment of an outstanding fine, a vehicle owner is provided with an unlock code. To remove the device from the vehicle the owner utilizes the user interface to enter unlock code and the processor causes the latch mechanism to move to the unlocked position upon determining that the unlock code input via the user interface matches an unlock code stored in the memory.
39 Citations
71 Claims
-
1. A vehicle immobilizing device configured to impede vehicle motion, comprising:
-
a lock having a latch mechanism that is movable between locked and unlocked positions, wherein the latch mechanism locks the vehicle immobilizing device and prevents unauthorized removal of the vehicle immobilizing device from a vehicle; a user interface; memory configured to store an unlock code; and a processor in communication with the user interface and memory, wherein the processor controls movement of the latch mechanism from the locked position to the unlocked position so that the vehicle immobilizing device can be removed from a vehicle upon determining that an unlock code input via the user interface matches an unlock code stored in the memory. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A vehicle immobilizing device configured to impede vehicle motion, comprising:
-
a lock having a latch mechanism that is movable between locked and unlocked positions, wherein the latch mechanism locks the vehicle immobilizing device and prevents unauthorized removal of the vehicle immobilizing device from a vehicle; memory configured to store an unlock code; and a processor in communication with the memory, wherein the processor is configured to wirelessly receive unlock codes from a remote source, and wherein the processor is configured to move the latch mechanism from the locked position to the unlocked position so that the vehicle immobilizing device can be removed from a vehicle when a received unlock code matches an unlock code stored in memory. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
-
26. A system, comprising:
-
a plurality of vehicle immobilizing devices, each vehicle immobilizing device configured to impede vehicle motion and comprising; a lock having a latch mechanism that is movable between locked and unlocked positions, wherein the latch mechanism locks the vehicle immobilizing device and prevents unauthorized removal of the vehicle immobilizing device from a vehicle; a user interface; memory configured to store an unlock code; and a processor in communication with the user interface and memory, wherein the processor controls movement of the latch mechanism from the locked position to the unlocked position so that the vehicle immobilizing device can be removed from a vehicle upon determining that an unlock code input via the user interface matches an unlock code stored in the memory; and a server configured to wirelessly communicate with the vehicle immobilizing devices, wherein the server generates an unlock code and an identification code for a respective vehicle immobilizing device when the vehicle immobilizing device is utilized to immobilize a vehicle, wherein the server stores the generated unlock code and identification code, and wherein the server transmits the unlock code to the vehicle immobilizing device processor for storage in memory. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
-
-
39. A system, comprising:
-
a plurality of vehicle immobilizing devices, each vehicle immobilizing device configured to impede vehicle motion and comprising; a lock having a latch mechanism that is movable between locked and unlocked positions, wherein the latch mechanism locks the vehicle immobilizing device and prevents unauthorized removal of the vehicle immobilizing device from a vehicle; memory configured to store an unlock code; and a processor in communication with the memory, wherein the processor is configured to wirelessly receive unlock codes from a remote source, and wherein the processor is configured to move the latch mechanism from the locked position to the unlocked position so that the vehicle immobilizing device can be removed from a vehicle when a received unlock code matches an unlock code stored in memory; and a server configured to wirelessly communicate with the vehicle immobilizing devices, wherein the server generates an unlock code and an identification code for a respective vehicle immobilizing device when the vehicle immobilizing device is utilized to immobilize a vehicle, wherein the server stores the generated unlock code and identification code, and wherein the server transmits the unlock code to the vehicle immobilizing device processor for storage in memory. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
-
-
45. A system, comprising:
-
a plurality of vehicle immobilizing devices, each vehicle immobilizing device configured to impede vehicle motion and comprising; a lock having a latch mechanism that is movable between locked and unlocked positions;
wherein the latch mechanism locks the vehicle immobilizing device and prevents unauthorized removal of the vehicle immobilizing device from a vehicle;a user interface; memory configured to store an unlock code; and a processor in communication with the user interface and memory, wherein the processor controls movement of the latch mechanism from the locked position to the unlocked position so that the vehicle immobilizing device can be removed from a vehicle upon determining that an unlock code input via the user interface matches an unlock code stored in the memory; a server; and a code generation device configured to wirelessly communicate with the vehicle immobilizing devices and with the server, wherein the code generation device generates an unlock code and an identification code for a respective vehicle immobilizing device when the vehicle immobilizing device is utilized to immobilize a vehicle, wherein the code generation device transmits the generated unlock code and identification code to the server for storage, and wherein the code generation device transmits the unlock code to the vehicle immobilizing device processor for storage in memory. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49)
-
-
50. A method, comprising:
-
immobilizing a vehicle with an immobilizing device, wherein the immobilizing device comprises; a lock having a latch mechanism that is movable between locked and unlocked positions; memory configured to store an unlock code; and a processor in communication with the memory, wherein the processor controls movement of the latch mechanism from the locked position to the unlocked position; generating an unlock code and an identification code for the vehicle immobilizing device; and storing the unlock code in memory. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52)
-
-
53. A method of releasing a vehicle immobilizing device from a vehicle, wherein the vehicle immobilizing device includes a lock having a latch mechanism that is movable between locked and unlocked positions, a user interface, a memory having an unlock code stored therein, a transceiver, and a processor in communication with the user interface, memory, and transceiver, and wherein the processor controls movement of the latch mechanism from the locked position to the unlocked position, the method comprising:
-
receiving removal authorization information input via the user interface; and displaying an unlock code stored in memory via the user interface in response to receiving the removal authorization information. - View Dependent Claims (54)
-
-
55. A method of releasing a vehicle immobilizing device from a vehicle, wherein the vehicle immobilizing device includes a lock having a latch mechanism that is movable between locked and unlocked positions, a user interface, a memory having an unlock code stored therein, a transceiver, and a processor in communication with the user interface, memory, and transceiver, and wherein the processor controls movement of the latch mechanism from the locked position to the unlocked position, the method comprising:
-
receiving removal authorization information input via the user interface; and moving the latch mechanism from a locked position to an unlocked position so that the vehicle immobilizing device can be removed from a vehicle.
-
-
56. A method of releasing a vehicle immobilizing device from a vehicle, wherein the vehicle immobilizing device includes a lock having a latch mechanism that is movable between locked and unlocked positions, a user interface, a memory having an unlock code stored therein, a transceiver, and a processor in communication with the user interface, memory, and transceiver, and wherein the processor controls movement of the latch mechanism from the locked position to the unlocked position, the method comprising:
-
receiving financial payment information; reporting the financial payment information to a transaction approval service via the transceiver; receiving transaction approval from the transaction approval service via the transceiver; and displaying an unlock code stored in memory via the user interface. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59, 60, 61)
-
-
62. A method of releasing a vehicle immobilizing device from a vehicle, wherein the vehicle immobilizing device includes a lock having a latch mechanism that is movable between locked and unlocked positions, a user interface, a transceiver, and a processor in communication with the user interface and transceiver, and wherein the processor controls movement of the latch mechanism from the locked position to the unlocked position, the method comprising:
-
receiving financial payment information; reporting the financial payment information to a transaction approval service via the transceiver; receiving transaction approval from the transaction approval service via the transceiver; and moving the latch mechanism from the locked position to the unlocked position. - View Dependent Claims (63, 64, 65, 66)
-
-
67. A vehicle immobilizing device configured to impede vehicle motion, comprising:
-
a lock that prevents unauthorized removal of the immobilizing device from a vehicle, wherein the lock is configured to receive and store an unlock code during installation of the immobilizing device on a vehicle; and a user interface for providing the lock with an unlock code and for entering the unlock code to unlock the lock. - View Dependent Claims (68, 69)
-
-
70. A method, comprising:
-
immobilizing a vehicle with an immobilizing device, wherein the immobilizing device comprises; a lock that prevents unauthorized removal of the immobilizing device from a vehicle, wherein the lock is configured to receive and store an unlock code; and a user interface; generating an unlock code and an identification code for the vehicle immobilizing device; and storing the unlock code in the lock via the user interface. - View Dependent Claims (71)
-
Specification