Vehicle disabling system employing global positioning satellite

• US 6,392,531 B1
• Filed: 08/10/2000
• Issued: 05/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nicholas Kenton Gabbard
• Original Assignee: Charles H. Gabbard
• Inventors: Gabbard, Charles H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Edwards, Jr., Timothy
• Application Number:
  US09/636,207
• Time in Patent Office: 649 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.31, 340/425.5, 340/426, 340/463, 701/36, 307/10.2, 180/287
• US Class Current: 340/5.31
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• 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 25/25 using biometry
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/252 Fingerprint recognition
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/16 operated by remote control, i.e. initiating means not mounted on vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1418 Removal detected by failure in electrical connection between the appliance and a control centre, home control panel or a power supply
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/61 Password, biometric
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental

Abstract

A vehicle disabling system for terminating operation of a vehicle. The system first includes a transmit unit in communication with a global positioning satellite for conveying a command shutdown message via the satellite to a target vehicle. Second, the system includes a command-receiver vehicle unit in two-way communication with the transmit unit via the global positioning satellite such that a shutdown message from the transmit unit can reach the vehicle unit. The vehicle unit is in communication with at least one operational component of the vehicle and capable of shutting down that component upon receipt of a shutdown message from the transmit unit to thereby terminate vehicle operation.

Claims

1. A vehicle disabling system for terminating operation of a vehicle, the system comprising:

a) a transmit unit for transmitting a command shutdown message, said transmit unit in communication with a global positioning satellite for transmitting a command shutdown message via said satellite; and

b) a vehicle unit for receiving the shutdown message, with said vehicle unit being in communication with at least one operational component of the vehicle for shutting down said component upon receipt of the shutdown message from the transmit unit via the satellite for terminating vehicle operation, said operation component being in communication with a visually observable tamper-evident indicator disposed at an external site of the vehicle whereby tampering with the operational component activates the indicator for drawing attention to the vehicle while concealing activation of said indicator from an occupant of the vehicle.

2. A vehicle disabling system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the transmit unit thereof additionally comprises a reset message transmittable via the satellite to the vehicle unit for reversal of a pre-transmitted shutdown message.

3. A vehicle disabling system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the system additionally comprises a communication linkage via the satellite between the vehicle unit and a monitor station for sending a usage record of the transmit unit to said monitor station.

4. A vehicle disabling system as claimed in claim 1 wherein transmissions and responses between the transmit unit and the vehicle unit via the satellite are encoded with a continuously changing key determined by time of day and an algorithm common to the query message, shutdown message and query message response.

5. A vehicle disabling system for terminating operation of a vehicle, the system comprising:

a) a transmit unit in communication with a global positioning satellite for transmitting via the satellite a query message and a shutdown message and for receiving via the satellite a response to the query message; and

b) a vehicle unit for receiving the query message and the shutdown message and for providing via the satellite a query message response activated and generated by the vehicle unit, with said vehicle unit being in communication with at least one operational component of the vehicle for shutting down said component upon receipt of a shutdown message from the transmit unit to thereby terminate vehicle operation, said operation component being in communication with a visually observable tamper-evident indicator disposed at an external site of the vehicle whereby tampering with the operational component activates the indicator for drawing attention to the vehicle while concealing activation of said indicator from an occupant of the vehicle.

6. A vehicle disabling system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the transmit unit thereof additionally comprises a reset message transmittable via the satellite to the vehicle unit for reversal of a pre-transmitted shutdown message.

7. A vehicle disabling system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the system additionally comprises a communication linkage via the satellite for sending a usage record of the transmit unit and a remote receiver in communication with the satellite for receiving said usage record.

8. A vehicle disabling system as claimed in claim 5 wherein transmissions and responses between the transmit unit and the vehicle unit are encoded with a continuously changing key determined by time of day and an algorithm common to the query message, shutdown message and query message response.

9. A vehicle disabling system for terminating operation of a vehicle, the system comprising:

a) a transmit unit for transmitting a command shutdown message, said transmit unit in communication with a global positioning satellite for transmitting a command shutdown message via said satellite;

b) a vehicle unit for receiving the shutdown message, with said vehicle unit being in communication with at least one operational component of the vehicle for shutting down said component upon receipt of the shutdown message from the transmit unit via the satellite for terminating vehicle operation; and

c) a communication linkage via the satellite between the vehicle unit and a monitor station for sending a usage record of the transmit unit to said monitor station.

10. A vehicle disabling system for terminating operation of a vehicle, the system comprising:

a) a transmit unit in communication with a global positioning satellite for transmitting via the satellite a query message and a shutdown message and for receiving via the satellite a response to the query message;

b) a vehicle unit for receiving the query message and the shutdown message and for providing via the satellite a query message response activated and generated by the vehicle unit, with said vehicle unit being in communication with at least one operational component of the vehicle for shutting down said component upon receipt of a shutdown message from the transmit unit to thereby terminate vehicle operation; and

c) a communication linkage via the satellite for sending a usage record of the transmit unit and a remote receiver in communication with the satellite for receiving said usage record.