SYSTEM, METHOD, AND APPARTUS FOR REMOTELY DISABLING OR ENABLING A VEHICLE

• US 20150298653A1
• Filed: 09/11/2014
• Published: 10/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ituran USA, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ituran USA, Inc.
• Inventors: Schwartz, Meir
• Granted Patent: US 9,168,893 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2025/0405 from the external
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2025/0415 with safe immobilisation
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/003 locking of control actuating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/045 by limiting or cutting the electrical supply to the propulsion unit
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/209 Remote starting of engine
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0807 Remote means
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/101 for preventing engine starter actuation or engagement
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/0803 Parking brake state
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2300/306 with external senders or receivers, e.g. receiving signals from traffic lights, other vehicles or base stations
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00 Individual registration on entry or exit
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/06 Testing, supervising or monitoring using simulated traffic

Abstract

A system, method, and apparatus for disabling and/or enabling a vehicle. In one embodiment, the invention can be a method for disabling and/or enabling a vehicle, the method comprising: receiving, with an electronic apparatus, a disable starter command, the electronic apparatus operably coupled to a starter circuit of the vehicle to enable and/or disable the starter circuit; the electronic apparatus disabling the starter circuit of the vehicle in response to the disable starter command; the electronic apparatus sending a test signal via a wireless network to a remote server when the vehicle is in a parked state and the starter circuit is disabled; and upon the electronic apparatus determining that the test signal was not successfully sent to the remote server, the electronic apparatus enabling the starter circuit of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for disabling and/or enabling a vehicle, the method comprising:

a) receiving, with an electronic apparatus, a disable starter command, the electronic apparatus operably coupled to a starter circuit of the vehicle to enable and/or disable the starter circuit;

b) the electronic apparatus disabling the starter circuit of the vehicle in response to the disable starter command;

c) the electronic apparatus sending a test signal via a wireless network to a remote server when the vehicle is in a parked state and the starter circuit is disabled; and

d) upon the electronic apparatus determining that the test signal was not successfully sent to the remote server, the electronic apparatus enabling the starter circuit of the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step d) further comprises upon the electronic apparatus determining that the test signal was successfully sent to the remote server, the electronic apparatus maintaining the disablement of the starter circuit of the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein upon the electronic apparatus determining that the test signal was not successfully sent to the remote server during the parked state and the starter circuit of the vehicle is enabled in step d), the electronic apparatus resending the test signal upon the vehicle entering into a subsequent parked state;

and wherein upon the electronic apparatus determining that the resent test signal was successfully sent to the remote server, the electronic apparatus disabling the starter circuit of the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the parked state is defined by an ignition of the vehicle being off for a predetermined period of time.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic apparatus comprises a switching mechanism;

and wherein the electronic apparatus disables the starter circuit of the vehicle during step b) by opening the switching mechanism; and

wherein the electronic apparatus enables the starter circuit of the vehicle during step d) by closing the switching mechanism.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the switching mechanism comprises a relay.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein step c) is initiated by an attempt to start the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein upon the electronic apparatus having received the disable starter command and the disable starter command is in an active state, the electronic apparatus performs step c) every time there is an attempt to start the vehicle;

and upon the electronic apparatus determining that the test signal was successfully sent to the remote server, the electronic apparatus disabling the starter circuit of the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic apparatus further comprises a global positioning system (GPS) module operably coupled to a processor, the GPS module configured to determine the location of the vehicle.

10. A method for disabling and/or enabling a vehicle, the method comprising:

e) receiving, with an electronic apparatus, a disable starter command, the electronic apparatus operably coupled to a starter circuit of the vehicle to enable and/or disable the starter circuit;

f) the electronic apparatus sending a test signal to a remote server via a wireless network when the vehicle is in a parked state, the test signal sent subsequent to the receipt of the disable starter command; and

g) upon the electronic apparatus determining that the test signal was not successfully sent to the remote server, the starter circuit remaining in or being returned to an enabled state.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein step c) further comprises upon the electronic apparatus determining that the test signal was successfully sent to the remote server, the starter circuit entering or remaining in a disabled state.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein upon the electronic apparatus determining that the test signal was not successfully sent to the remote server during the parked state and the starter circuit of the vehicle remaining in or being returned to the enabled state, the electronic apparatus resending the test signal upon the vehicle entering into a subsequent parked state;

and wherein upon the electronic apparatus determining that the resent test signal was successfully sent to the remote server, the starter circuit remaining in or entering a disabled state.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the parked state is defined by an ignition of the vehicle being off for a predetermined period of time.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the electronic apparatus comprises a relay, the relay being coupled to the starter circuit of the vehicle to enable and/or disable the starter circuit.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein step b) is initiated by an attempt to start the vehicle.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein upon the electronic apparatus having received the disable starter command and the disable starter command is in an active state, the electronic apparatus performs step b) every time the vehicle enters a subsequent parked state;

and upon the electronic apparatus determining that the test signal was successfully sent to the remote server, the starter circuit entering a disabled state.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the electronic apparatus further comprises a global positioning system (GPS) module operably coupled to a processor, the GPS module configured to determine the location of the vehicle.

18-28. -28. (canceled)

29. An electronic apparatus for disabling and/or enabling a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a switching mechanism configured (a) to operably couple to a starter circuit of the vehicle and (b) to disable and enable the starter circuit;

a transceiver configured to receive wireless command signals from a remote server; and

a processor operably coupled to the switching mechanism and the transceiver, the processor configured to;

instruct the switching mechanism to disable the starter circuit based on receipt of a starter disable command from the remote server,

instruct the transceiver to send a test signal to the remote server when the vehicle is in a parked state and the starter circuit is disabled;

determine whether the test signal was successfully sent to the remote server; and

upon determining that the test signal was not successfully sent to the remote server, instruct the switching mechanism to enable the starter circuit.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the processor is further configured to, upon determining that the test signal was successfully sent to the remote server, maintain the disablement of the starter circuit of the vehicle.

31. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the processor is further configured to:

upon determining that the test signal was not successfully sent to the remote server during the parked state and the starter circuit of the vehicle is enabled, instruct the transceiver to resend the test signal upon the vehicle entering into a subsequent parked state; and

upon the processor determining that the resent test signal was successfully sent to the remote server, disable the starter circuit of the vehicle.

32-35. -35. (canceled)