Motor vehicle anti-theft system by random problem simulation

• US 6,018,291 A
• Filed: 06/04/1998
• Issued: 01/25/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Marble, Alan Dale, Neal Bragg Reasoner
• Original Assignee: Marble, Alan Dale, Neal Bragg Reasoner
• Inventors: Marble, Alan Dale, Reasoner, Neal Bragg
• Primary Examiner(s): Mullen, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US09/090,613
• Time in Patent Office: 600 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425.5, 340/426, 340/428, 340/429, 340/430, 340/825.31, 340/825.32, 340/825.34, 307/10.1, 307/10.2, 307/9.1, 180/287
• US Class Current: 340/426.12
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor

Abstract

An anti-theft vehicle subsystem disabling device including a digital controller and one or more remote receiving vehicle subsystem interface units for randomly simulating problematic vehicle behavior. The system determines user authorization based on keycode entry of either a master code or a programmable user code. Once authorized all vehicle subsystems under control operate normally. While authorized, the system also allows optional entry into a valet mode and constantly monitors a hidden anti-hijacking button. Any time unauthorized use is determined, the digital controller randomly generates a unique controlling signal with random timing variations that is communicated to the remote receiving subsystem interface units. These units can be connected in series with vital vehicle subsystem components in order to interfere with typical subsystem component operation, thereby inducing the illusion of an actual vehicle problem severe enough to inhibit vehicle driveability. This system allows unique implementation by locating disabling receivers on any variety of vital vehicle subsystems, presenting thieves with multiple unknowns specific to each vehicle. Due to this, in addition to the random nature of the device, there is no chance for a pattern to develop, and therefore very little possibility that the device will be recognized by an unauthorized operator.

Claims

1. An apparatus to prevent unauthorized operation of a motor vehicle by an operator through random problem simulation on at least one motor vehicle subsystem comprising:

input means to allow the motor vehicle operator to input operator identification;

verification means for interpreting operator identification to determine authorization of the motor vehicle operator;

random generator means for generating a random control information signal during unauthorized operation of the motor vehicle;

interface means for electromagnetically connecting said random generator means with the motor vehicle subsystem such that motor vehicle control is achieved;

said input means electromagnetically coupled to said verification means, said verification means electromagnetically coupled to said random generator means, said random generator means generating said random control information signal whenever the motor vehicle operator is not authorized, said interface means electromagnetically coupled between said random generator means and the motor vehicle subsystem such that said random control information signal is utilized to control the motor vehicle subsystem.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said random generator means comprises means for receiving a random radio frequency signal to provide said random control information signal.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said random generator means comprises digtal logic arranged in such order as to provide said random control information signal.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said random generator means comprises a microcontroller programmed to provide said random control information signal.

5. An apparatus to prevent unauthorized operation of a motor vehicle by an operator through random problem simulation on a plurality of motor vehicle subsystems comprising:

a plurality of input means to allow the motor vehicle operator to input operator identification;

verification means for interpreting operator identification to determine authorization of the motor vehicle operator;

random generator means for generating a plurality of random control information signals during unauthorized operation of the motor vehicle;

a plurality of interface means for electromagnetically coupling said random generator means with the plurality of motor vehicle subsystems such that motor vehicle control is achieved;

said plurality of input means electromagnetically coupled to said verification means, said verification means electromagnetically coupled to said random generator means, said random generator means generating said plurality of random control information signals whenever the motor vehicle operator is not authorized, said plurality of interface means electromagnetically coupled between said random generator means and said plurality of motor vehicle subsystems such that said plurality of random control information signals is utilized to control the plurality of motor vehicle subsystems.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said random generator means comprises means for receiving random radio frequency signals to provide said plurality of random control information signals.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said random generator means comprises digtal logic arranged in such order as to provide said plurality of random control information signals.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said random generator means comprises a microcontroller programmed to provide said plurality of random control information signals.

9. A method of preventing operation of a motor vehicle by an unauthorized operator, having means for determining when vehicle operation is attempted, an input circuit capable of allowing entry of operator identification, a verification circuit capable of determing if the operator is authorized to operate the motor vehicle during attempted vehicle operation, the input circuit and the verification circuit being capable of communicating with each other, a means for processing user features, a random generator circuit capable of generating a random control information signal, an interface circuit capable of controlling a motor vehicle subsystem, the random generator circuit and the interface circuit capable of communicating with each other, comprising the steps of.

a) initializing system variables;

b) checking for attempted vehicle operation, and if vehicle operation is occuring, then jumping to step (c), or if vehicle operation is not occuring, then jumping to step) (b);

c) determining authorization of operator input within the verification circuit, and if the operator input is authorized, then jumping to step (d), or if the operator input is not authorized, then jumping to step (e);

d) processing user features and jumping to step (j);

e) determining if a startup timer has expired, and if the startup timer has not expired then jumping to step (j), and if the startup timer has expired then continuing with step (f);

f) generating a random control information signal in the random generator circuit;

g) communicating the random control information signal to the interface circuit;

h) utilizing the random control information signal within the interface circuit to control the motor vehicle subsystem, thereby causing random problem simulation;

i) checking for conclusion of attempted unauthorized operation, and if attempted unauthorized operation has concluded then jumping to step (b), or if attempted unauthorized operation has not concluded then jumping to step (f);

j) allowing normal vehicle operation;

k) jumping to step (b).

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the random generator circuit is capable of providing run and off signal types, and wherein generating the random control information signal comprises the following additional steps for step (f):

f-1) selecting a signal type at random from the signal types of run and off;

f-2) selecting a random duration for the selected signal type;

f-3) performing the selected signal type for the selected duration.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the random generator is additionally capable of providing stutter and severely impaired signal types, and wherein generating the random control information signal comprises replacing step (f-1) with the following step:

f-4) selecting a signal type at random from the signal types of run, stutter, severely impaired, and off.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the input circuit is also capable of generating a security code, and the verification circuit is also capable of interpreting security codes, and wherein secured communication from the verifying circuit is added, comprising skipping step (c) and adding the following additional steps for step (c):

c-1) communicating a security code with the operator input;

c-2) verifying the correct security code is present within the verification circuit, and if the correct security code is present, then jumping to step (c-3), or if the correct security code is not present, then jumping to step (e).

c-3) determining authorization of operator input within the verification circuit, and if the operator is authorized, then jumping to step (j), or if the operator is not authorized, then continuing with step (e).

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the random generator circuit is also capable of generating a security code, and the interface circuit is also capable of interpreting security codes, and wherein secured communication with the interface circuit is added, comprising adding the following additional steps after step (g):

g-1) communicating a security code with the random control information signal;

g-2) verifying the correct security code is present at the interface circuit before any operation is allowed.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein an anti-hijacking mode is added by including an anti-hijacking circuit comprising an anti-hijacking flag, an anti-hijacking timer and an anti-hijacking input, and comprising the following step being added after step (j):

j-1) checking to determine if the anti-hijacking flag is set, and if the antihijacking flag is set, then jumping to step (j-2), or if the anti-hijacking flag is not set, then jumping to step (j-3);

j-2) checking to determine if the anti-hijacking timer has expired, and if the anti-hijacking timer has expired, then jumping to step (f), or if the anti-hijacking timer has not expired, then jumping to step (h);

j-3) checking to determine if the anti-hijacking input has occured, and if the anti-hijacking input has occured, then setting the anti-hijacking flag.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein a valet mode is added by including a valet circuit comprising a valet flag, a valet timer, and a valet input, and comprising adding the following step after step (a):

b-1) checking to determine if the valet flag has been set by a previous authorized operator, and if the valet flag has been set, then allowing valet operation to occur by jumping to step (j), or if the valet flag has not been set, then jumping to step (c);

and adding the following steps after step (j);

j-1) checking to determine if the valet flag is set, and if the valet flag is not set, then jumping to step (j-5), or if the valet flag is set, then jumping to step j-2);

j-2) checking to determine if the valet timer has expired, and if the valet timer has expired, then jumping to step (f), or if the valet timer has not expired, then jumping to step (j-3);

j-3) checking to determine if the valet input has occured, and if the valet input has occured, clearing the valet flag;

j-4) jumping to step (k);

j-5) checking to determine if the valet input has occured, and if the valet input has occured, setting the valet flag.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein a programming mode is added by including a programming circuit comprising a programming flag and a programming input, and comprising adding the following steps after step (j):

j-1) checking to determine if the programming input has occured, and if the programming input has occured, then setting the programming flag;

j-2) checking to determine if the programming flag is set, and if the programming flag is set, then jumping to step (j-3), or if the programming flag is not set, then jumping to step (k);

j-3) recording a new verification code.