WARNING OF DANGER OF UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS TO A PARKED VEHICLE

• US 20140139330A1
• Filed: 11/19/2013
• Published: 05/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: KLEINSTCK, LUTZ
• Granted Patent: US 9,327,684 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/426.19
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner

Abstract

The invention concerns a process and assistance system for warning of an unauthorized access to a parked vehicle. The process includes a first step for providing a communication as to whether the vehicle is at least partially unlocked. In a second step, in the case of an affirmative communication, the transmission of the current location of the vehicle takes place. In a third step, a comparison is made between the current location with at least one predetermined home location. In a fourth step, in the case in which the current location does not correspond with at least one home location, a wireless transmission of a warning signal to a mobile unit is given. In a fifth step, following the receipt of the warning signal by the mobile unit, a warning that is perceptible optically and/or acoustically and/or haptically is undertaken.

Claims

1. A process for warning of unauthorized access to a parked vehicle, comprising:

providing a communication of whether the vehicle is at least partially unlocked, transmitting a current location of the vehicle in response to the communication that the vehicle is at least partially unlocked,

comparing the current location of the vehicle with at least one predetermined home location,

wirelessly transmitting a warning signal to a mobile unit if the current location does not correspond to the at least one home location, and

upon receipt of the warning signal by the mobile unit, issuing by the mobile unit a warning that is perceptible optically and/or acoustically and/or haptically.

2. The process according to claim 1, wherein providing a communication is first carried out following a predetermined time period after parking of the vehicle.

3. The process according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined time period is selected from within the range of 1 min to 10 min.

4. The process according to claim 1, further comprising resending the warning signal the event that the warning signal has not been acknowledged by a manual input being made to the mobile unit.

5. The process according to claim 1, wherein parking the vehicle is defined by removal of an ignition key from the vehicle or the removal of a radio key from the vehicle from a reception coverage area of the vehicle.

6. The process according to claim 1, wherein the mobile unit is a mobile telephone or a mobile computer.

7. The process according to claim 1, further comprising transmitting a locking signal to the vehicle, which upon receipt in the vehicle brings about a complete automatic locking of the vehicle being enabled by a predetermined manual input in the mobile unit following the issuance of the warning.

8. An assistance system for warning of an unauthorized access to a parked vehicle, comprising:

first means for communicating whether the vehicle is at least partially unlocked,

second means for transmitting a current location of the vehicle if the vehicle is at least partially unlocked,

third means for comparing the current location of the vehicle with at least one predetermined home location, and

fourth means for wirelessly transmitting a warning signal to a mobile unit if the current location does not correspond with at least one home location, whereby subsequent to the receipt of the warning signal by the mobile unit, a warning that is perceptible optically and/or acoustically and/or haptically is transmitted.

9. The assistance system according to claim 8, wherein the first means is set up in such a manner that the transmission as to whether the vehicle is at least partially unlocked, will only first be undertaken after a predetermined time period following the parking of the vehicle.

10. The assistance system according to claim 8, wherein the first means is connected with a central locking system of the vehicle.

11. The assistance system according to claim 8 further comprising a fifth means for allowing the mobile unit to receive a locking signal, which brings about the automatic locking of the vehicle following receipt of the locking signal.

12. The assistance system according to claim 11, wherein the fifth means is connected with a central locking system of the vehicle.

13. A vehicle comprising an assistance system including first means for communicating whether the vehicle is at least partially unlocked, second means for transmitting a current location of the vehicle if the vehicle is at least partially unlocked, third means for comparing the current location of the vehicle with at least one predetermined home location, and fourth means for wirelessly transmitting a warning signal to a mobile unit if the current location does not correspond with at least one home location, whereby subsequent to the receipt of the warning signal by the mobile unit, a warning that is perceptible optically and/or acoustically and/or haptically is transmitted.

14. The vehicle according to claim 13, wherein the first means is set up in such a manner that the transmission as to whether the vehicle is at least partially unlocked, will only first be undertaken after a predetermined time period following the parking of the vehicle.

15. The vehicle according to claim 13, wherein the first means is connected with a central locking system of the vehicle.

16. The vehicle according to claim 13 further comprising a fifth means for allowing the mobile unit to receive a locking signal which brings about the automatic locking of the vehicle following receipt of the locking signal.

17. The vehicle according to claim 16, wherein the fifth means is connected with a central locking system of the vehicle.