Method of and apparatus for motor vehicle security assurance employing voice recognition control of vehicle operation

• US 5,704,008 A
• Filed: 12/13/1993
• Issued: 12/30/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LoJack Corporation (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: LoJack Corporation (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Duvall, William Robert Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): MacDonald, Allen R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chawan, Vijay B.
• Application Number:
  US08/166,580
• Time in Patent Office: 1,478 Days
• Field of Search: 395/2.82, 340/426, 235/382, 381/82, 381/43, 381/51, 381/110, 307/10.2
• US Class Current: 704/273
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/257 Voice recognition

Abstract

A vehicle theft prevention/security system having a concealed module capable of learning, and then recognizing the voice of the owner or authorized operator. The module controls (switches) the operation of a concealed relay that normally interrupts current to the starter solenoid or ignition system unless the owner or authorized operator speaks into a conveniently mounted microphone within the vehicle. The module may be programmed to recognize the voice of the owner or authorized user, regardless of the spoken word(s), or the module may be programmed to recognize only a certain password spoken only by a certain owner or authorized user. Once the module recognizes the owner or authorized user, the relay then switches to provide current to the previously interrupted ignition system or starter solenoid. The module provides audio output/feedback to the owner or authorized user during operation.

Claims

1. A method of providing voice recognition motor vehicle security, that comprises, inserting a circuit-interrupting starter kill device permanently in the vehicle engine starter and/or ignition circuit that is normally started with a key switch;

connecting a voice recognition module to the starter and/or ignition circuit normally to maintain the circuit open-circuited; and

introducing an authorized vehicle user'"'"'s voice, spoken within the vehicle, to the voice recognition module, first to enable the learning and storage of the authorized user'"'"'s voice pattern and commands, and then subsequently to respond to the receipt of the authorized user'"'"'s voice, uttered when desiring to start the vehicle engine, to cause the starter kill device to cease interrupting the starter and/or ignition circuit and to close the same, thereby enabling the starting of the engine by said authorized user, and in which the said learning and storage is effected by the user turning on the ignition circuit key switch and then speaking a password or other words into a microphone connected to the voice recognition module, and in which, when the user wishes to secure the vehicle again, after speaking the password or other words, with the ignition circuit key switch on, the user requests ignition circuit re-interruption, and the voice recognition module there upon causes the starter kill device to re-interrupt the starter and/or ignition circuit.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 and in which the subsequent response to the receipt of the authorized user'"'"'s voice is effected by the user turning on the ignition key switch and speaking said password or other words into said microphone and then voice requesting the enabling of the starting of the engine.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 and in which the authorized user first commands initialization to enroll the user'"'"'s voice in the voice recognition module, and then speaks a password for learning and storage.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 and in which the voice recognition module and the starter kill relay are concealed within the vehicle.

5. A method of providing voice recognition motor vehicle security, that comprises, inserting a circuit-interrupting starter kill device permanently in the vehicle engine starter and/or ignition circuit that is normally started with a key switch;

connecting a voice recognition module to the starter and/or ignition circuit normally to maintain the circuit open-circuited; and

introducing an authorized vehicle user'"'"'s voice, spoken within the vehicle, to the voice recognition module, first to enable the learning and storage of the authorized user'"'"'s voice pattern and commands, and then subsequently to respond to the receipt of the authorized user'"'"'s voice, uttered when desiring to start the vehicle engine, to cause the starter kill device to cease interrupting the starter and/or ignition circuit and to close the same, thereby enabling the starting of the engine by said authorized user, and in which the user adds another new authorized user by first speaking to establish identity with the voice recognition module, and then speaking to introduce a new user, and with the new user then speaking to enable the new user'"'"'s voice to be learned and stored by the voice recognition module.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5 and in which the first authorized user effects the adding of another new user by turning the ignition circuit ignition key switch on and speaking such first user'"'"'s password, and then speaking the instruction that a new user is to be enrolled, following which the new user speaks the new user'"'"'s password for learning and storage.

7. A voice recognition motor vehicle security system having, in combination, an engine ignition circuit including an ignition key switch, a starter solenoid and a storage battery;

starter kill relay means interposed permanently in the starter and/or ignition circuit and adjusted to be normally open-circuited to interrupt and prevent any possible current flow from the battery to the starter solenoid;

voice recognition module means also connected with said ignition circuit and said starter kill relay means and responsive to voice commands of a vehicle user;

microphone means disposed in the vehicle for receiving such voice commands of a vehicle user and connected to the voice recognition module means to introduce an authorized user'"'"'s voice thereto;

the voice recognition module means having means for learning and storing the authorized user'"'"'s voice pattern and commands, and for subsequently responding thereto, following the uttering of the same by the authorized user after turning on said ignition key switch, to close the said starter kill relay means and complete the interrupted ignition circuit, thereby enabling the starting of the engine, and in which means is provided in the voice recognition module for learning and storing, and effective upon the user turning on the ignition key switch and then speaking a password or other words into said microphone, and in which, when the user wishes to secure the vehicle again, after speaking the password with the key switch on, means is provided for enabling the user to request ignition circuit re-interruption, and the voice recognition module, in response, thereupon causes the starter kill relay means to open and re-interrupt the ignition circuit.

8. A system as claimed in claim 7 and in which the subsequent response is effected by means operable as the user turns on the ignition key switch and speaks a password or other words into said microphone, followed by voice-requesting the enabling of the starting of the engine, the latter causing further means to thereupon generate a control signal to close the starter kill relay means.

9. A system as claimed in claim 7 and in which means is provided enabling the authorized user first to command initialization to enroll the user'"'"'s voice in the voice recognition module means, and then to speak a password for learning and storage.

10. A system as claimed in claim 7 and in which the voice recognition module means and the starter kill relay means are concealed within the vehicle.

11. A system as claimed in claim 7 and in which the user operation of the ignition key switch and the user speaking into the microphone means is effected with the vehicle windows and doors closed.

12. A system as claimed in claim 7 and in which, upon the interruption of power for more than a few seconds, means is provided for causing the starter kill relay means automatically to interrupt the ignition circuit.

13. A system as claimed in claim 7 and in which the voice recognition module means is provided with means, operable in response to the user commands, for providing audio responses to the user in the vehicle.

14. A voice recongnition motor vehicle security system having, in combination, an engine ignition circuit including an ignition key switch, a starter solenoid and a storage battery;

starter kill relay means interposed permanently in the starter and/or ignition circuit and adjusted to be normally open-circuited to interrupt and prevent any possible current flow from the battery to the starter solenoid, voice recognition module means also connected with said ignition circuit and said starter kill relay means and responsive to voice commands of a vehicle user, microphone means disposed in the vehicle for receiving such voice commands of a vehicle user and connected to the voice recognition module means to introduce an authorized user'"'"'s voice thereto, the voice recognition module means having means for learning and storing the authorized user'"'"'s voice pattern and commands, and for subsequently responding thereto, following the uttering of the same by the authorized user after turning on said ignition key switch, to close the said starter kill relay means and complete the interrupted ignition circuit, thereby enabling the starting of the engine, and in which means is provided to enable the user to add additional new authorized users by first speaking to establish identity with the voice recognition module means and then speaking to introduce a new user, and with the new user then speaking into the microphone means to enable the new user'"'"'s voice to be learned and stored by the voice recognition module means.

15. A system as claimed in claim 14 and in which the first authorized user effects the adding of another new user by turning on the ignition circuit key and speaking such first user'"'"'s password, and then speaking the instruction that a new user is to be enrolled;

means being provided, responsive to the new user speaking the new user'"'"'s password, for effecting learning by the voice recognition module means.

16. A system as claimed in claim 14 and in which the voice recognition module means is provided with means for preventing a new user enrollment when a predetermined number of users has been achieved or exceeded.

17. A voice recognition motor vehicle security system having in combination, an engine ignition circuit including an ignition key switch a starter solenoid and a storage battery;

starter kill relay means interposed permanently in the starter and/or ignition circuit and adjusted to be normally open-circuited to interrupt and prevent any possible current flow from the battery to the starter solenoid;

voice recognition module means also connected with said ignition circuit and said starter kill relay means and responsive to voice commands of a vehicle user;

microphone means disposed in the vehicle for receiving such voice commands of a vehicle user and connected to the voice recognition module means to introduce an authorized user'"'"'s voice thereto;

the voice recognition module means having means for learning and storing the authorized user'"'"'s voice pattern and commands, and for subsequently responding thereto, following the uttering of the same by the authorized user after turning on said ignition key switch, to close the said starter kill relay means and complete the interrupted ignition circuit thereby enabling the starting of the engine, and in which the voice recognition module means is provided with a reset means for rendering the system to be initializable, once again, and be able to establish a new set of authorized users.

18. A voice recognition motor vehicle security system having, in combination, an engine ignition circuit including an ignition key switch, a starter solenoid and a storage battery all interconnected by wires;

starter kill relay means interposed by direct wire connection permanently in the starter and/or ignition circuit and adjusted to be normally open-circuited to interrupt and prevent any possible current flow from the battery along the interconnecting wires to the starter solenoid;

voice recognition module means also connected with the wires connecting said ignition circuit and said starter kill relay means and responsive to voice commands of a vehicle user;

microphone means disposed in the vehicle for receiving such voice commands of a vehicle user and connected to the voice recognition module means to introduce an authorized user'"'"'s voice thereto;

;

the voice recognition module means having means for learning and storing the authorized user'"'"'s voice pattern and commands, and for subsequently responding thereto, following the uttering of the same by the authorized user after turning on said ignition key switch, to close the said starter kill relay means and complete the interrupted wire connections of the ignition circuit, thereby enabling the starting of the engine, and in which means is provided to enable the user to add additional new authorized users by first speaking to establish identity with the voice recognition module means and then speaking to introduce a new user; and

with the new user then speaking into the microphone means to enable the new user'"'"'s voice to be learned and stored by the voice recognition module means.

19. A system as claimed in claim 18 and in which the first authorized user effects the adding of another new user by turning on the ignition circuit key and speaking such first user'"'"'s password, and then speaking the instruction that a new user is to be enrolled;

means being provided, responsive to the new user speaking the new user'"'"'s password, for effecting learning by the voice recognition module means.

20. A system as claimed in claim 18 and in which the voice recognition module means and the starter kill relay means are concealed within the vehicle.

21. A system as claimed in claim 18 and in which the user operation of the ignition key switch and the user speaking into the microphone means is effected with the vehicle windows and doors closed.