VEHICLE SECURITY SYSTEM

• US 20180056940A1
• Filed: 08/30/2016
• Published: 03/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nzube Etonye
• Original Assignee: Nzube Etonye
• Inventors: Etonye, Nzube
• Granted Patent: US 10,017,156 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2025/0405 from the external
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2025/0415 with safe immobilisation
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2025/1016 Remote signals alerting owner or authorities, e.g. radio signals
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/302 combining image information with GPS information or vehicle data, e.g. vehicle speed, gyro, steering angle data
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8006 for monitoring and displaying scenes of vehicle interior, e.g. for monitoring passengers or cargo
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8073 for vehicle security, e.g. parked vehicle surveillance, burglar detection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/042 operating on the fuel supply
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/08 operating on brakes or brake systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1004 Alarm systems characterised by the type of sensor, e.g. current sensing means using door lock sensors B60R25/1001
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/104 characterised by the type of theft warning signal, e.g. visual or audible signals with special characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/305 using a camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/31 of human presence inside or outside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/32 of vehicle dynamic parameters, e.g. speed or acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/52 Surveillance or monitoring of activities, e.g. for recognising suspicious objects recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/59 inside of a vehicle, e.g. relating to seat occupancy, driver state or inner lighting conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A vehicle security system for monitoring a vehicle and notifying a user includes at least two image capture devices (ICD), sensors, a global positioning system tracking module (GPSTM), a control module (CM), and a monitoring device. The ICD are positioned at predetermined locations of the vehicle for capturing and transmitting images of a target object. The sensors generate sensor data variables based on a detection of the target object. The GPSTM generates and transmits signals based on a position of the vehicle to a monitoring device. The CM receives the captured images and sensor data variables. The CM analyzes the received images and sensor data variables based on predefined criteria to trigger auxiliary units. The CM transmits the images and sensor data variables based on the predefined criteria to the monitoring device. A graphical user interface displays the images for monitoring the vehicle and notifies the user.

Claims

1. A vehicle security system for monitoring a vehicle and notifying a user based on the occurrence of an event, the vehicle security system comprising:

at least two image capture devices positioned at predetermined locations of a vehicle for capturing and transmitting images of a target object;

a plurality of sensors configured to generate a plurality of sensor data variables based on a detection of the target object;

a global positioning system tracking module for generating and transmitting signals based on a position of the vehicle to a monitoring device;

a control module for receiving the captured images of the target object and the generated sensor data variables, the control module configured to analyze the received images and the received sensor data variables based on predefined criteria to trigger a plurality of auxiliary units, wherein the control module transmits the received images and the sensor data variables based on the predefined criteria to the monitoring device; and

the monitoring device configured to receive the transmitted images and the sensor data variables from the control module, wherein a graphical user interface of the monitoring device displays the images and the sensor data variables for monitoring the vehicle and notifying the user based on the occurrence of the event.

2. The vehicle security system of claim 1, wherein the event is one of a tampering of the vehicle and an attempted theft of the vehicle.

3. The vehicle security system of claim 1, wherein the target object is one of a burglar and an intruder.

4. The vehicle security system of claim 1, wherein the sensors are one of proximity sensors, temperature sensors, pressure sensors, sensors for detecting target objects, speed of the vehicle, extreme braking, mileage statistics, check engine light of the vehicle, and receiving vehicle maintenance reminders.

5. The vehicle security system of claim 1, wherein the detected speed of the vehicle alerts a third image capture device for some seconds, wherein the third image capture device automatically sends a live video alert to the monitoring device of the user.

6. The vehicle security system of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary units are one of a visual notification device, an audio notification device, a braking device, an ignition system of the vehicle, and a fuel cut-off device.

7. The vehicle security system of claim 6, wherein the visual notification device are emergency lights configured to automatically turn on when braking device, an ignition system of the vehicle, and a fuel cut-off device is activated to alert police personnel when to slow down on a vehicle pursuit.

8. The vehicle security system of claim 6, wherein the user or a third party activates the fuel cut-off device to cut the vehicle'"'"'s fuel/gas and stop the vehicle at police request.

9. The vehicle security system of claim 1, wherein the user locks and unlocks the vehicle from the monitoring device using the control module of the vehicle security system.

10. The vehicle security system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is automatically locked if the vehicle key is not detected by the ignition after few minutes of being unlocked by the control module.

11. The vehicle security system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is started from the monitoring device through the control module of the vehicle security system.

12. The vehicle security system of claim 1, wherein an air conditioning system of the vehicle is operated from the monitoring device through the control module.

13. The vehicle security system of claim 1, wherein the visual notification device is one of headlamps, indicator lamps, tail lamps of the vehicle, and a live video recording on a monitoring device.

14. The vehicle security system of claim 1, wherein the audio notification device is one of electric horns, air horns of the vehicle, and ringing tones/alerts of a monitoring device.

15. The vehicle security system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring device is one of a smart phone, a tablet, a laptop, a personal computer, a smart watch, and a smart TV, etc.

16. The vehicle security system of claim 1, wherein one of the image capture devices is positioned underneath a dashboard area by the driver'"'"'s side to capture images of a target object trying to tamper with the ignition cables to start the vehicle.

17. The vehicle security system of claim 1, wherein one of the image capture devices is positioned to capture facial features of the target object.

18. The vehicle security system of claim 1, wherein one of the image capture devices is installed on the front and back of a portable rear view mirror of a vehicle, wherein the image capture device comprises a microphone and a speaker for recording exterior and interior images of the vehicle during driving or when a motion of the target object is detected by motion sensor.

19. The vehicle security system of claim 1, wherein the image capture device replaces the vehicle'"'"'s existing rear view mirror.

20. The vehicle security system of claim 1, wherein each of the at least two image capture devices comprises:

a first non-transitory computer readable storage medium configured to store the captured one or more images of the target object; and

at least one first processor communicatively coupled to the first non-transitory computer readable storage medium, the at least one first processor configured to execute the computer program instructions defined by modules of the image capture device, the modules of the image capture device comprising;

a first data communication module configured to process and transmit the captured images of the target object to one of a control module and a server via a communication network.

21. The vehicle security system of claim 1, wherein the control module comprises:

a second non-transitory computer readable storage medium configured to store the generated sensor data variables; and

at least one second processor communicatively coupled to the second non-transitory computer readable storage medium, the at least one second processor configured to execute computer program instructions defined by modules of the control module, the modules of the control module comprising;

a second data communication module configured to receive the generated sensor data variables from the sensors and the transmitted images of the target object from the at least two image capture devices;

an analyzing module configured to dynamically analyze the received sensor data variables and the received images of the target object to recognize a state of the vehicle based on previously stored sensor data variables retrieved from the second non-transitory computer readable storage medium;

a triggering module configured to trigger the auxiliary units operably coupled to the monitoring device via one or more of a plurality of interfaces based on the recognized state of the vehicle; and

the second data communication module further configured to receive activation signals from the monitoring device.

22. The vehicle security system of claim 1, wherein the interfaces are one of a wireless interface and a bus interface.

23. The vehicle security system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring device comprises:

a third non-transitory computer readable storage medium configured to store the generated sensor data variables; and

at least one third processor communicatively coupled to the third non-transitory computer readable storage medium, the at least one third processor configured to execute computer program instructions defined by modules of the monitoring device, the modules of the monitoring device comprising;

a third data communication module configured to receive the generated sensor data variables and the transmitted images of the target object from a second data communication module of the control module, and wherein the third data communication module receives the signals transmitted by the global positioning system tracking module;

a display module configured to instantaneously display the received images of the target object on the graphical user interface of the monitoring device; and

the third data communication module further configured to transmit the generated sensor data variables, the received global positioning system tracking module signals, and an alert information based on the recognized state of the vehicle to a server via a communication network.

24. A method for monitoring a vehicle and notifying a user based on the occurrence of an event, the method comprising:

providing a vehicle security system comprising;

at least two image capture devices positioned at predetermined locations of the vehicle;

a plurality of sensors;

a global positioning system tracking module;

a control module; and

a monitoring device;

detecting a target object using the sensors;

generating sensor data variables using the sensors;

capturing images of the target object using the at least two image capture devices;

analyzing the captured images and sensor data variables using the control module;

triggering auxiliary units based on predefined criteria using the control module;

displaying captured images and sensor data variables on monitoring device of the user;

preventing the vehicle from starting through the auxiliary unit; and

stopping the vehicle during a high speed chase by the control module based on police request through the auxiliary unit.