Vehicle security and maintenance

• US 6,701,231 B1
• Filed: 03/06/2002
• Issued: 03/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Volvo Trucks North America Incorporated (AB Volvo)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Trucks North America Incorporated (AB Volvo)
• Inventors: Borugian, Dennis A.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US10/091,719
• Time in Patent Office: 727 Days
• Field of Search: 701/30, 340/426, 340/428, 340/438, 340/493, 340/992, 340/993, 342/357.07, 307/10.2, 307/10.5, 307/10.6
• US Class Current: 701/30
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1018 Alarm systems characterised by features related to the general power supply
• 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 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/043 Identity of occupants
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 53/10 with means for preventing accidental uncoupling
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 53/12 engaging automatically
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00293 anti-theft
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/08 With time considerations, e.g. temporary activation, valid time window or time limitations
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00698 actuated in function of displayed informations
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00944 Details of construction or manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/207 with respect to certain areas, e.g. forbidden or allowed areas with possible alerting when inside or outside boundaries

Abstract

A method and apparatus for detecting conditions that indicate unauthorized usage of a vehicle and for responding to the conditions that indicate the vehicle is being used in an unauthorized or unintended way. A vehicle computer is used to monitor conditions of a driver and unintended usage. The computer is also used to respond to conditions that indicate an unauthorized or unintended vehicle usage has occurred.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring a vehicle location when electrical power supplied to an onboard vehicle computer is removed, comprising:

a) determining that a main electrical power supply is not available to the vehicle onboard computer;

b) activating a battery backup to power the vehicle onboard computer;

c) determining a location of the vehicle;

d) transmitting said location to a central control;

e) providing an indication to said driver that electrical power to the vehicle onboard computer has been removed.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising shutting said vehicle down when it is determined that the main electrical supply is not available to the vehicle onboard computer.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising taking a picture of a driver when electrical power is removed from said onboard computer.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising transmitting said picture to said central control.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising requesting that a driver enter a disarming code to avoid disabling of the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising retransmitting a global positioning system location to a central control only if a vehicle location changes.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising periodically transmitting a global positioning system location of said vehicle until said vehicle stops moving.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising deflating a tire of the vehicle when it is determined that the main electrical supply is not available to the vehicle onboard computer.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising disabling the vehicle when it is determined that the main electrical supply is not available to the vehicle onboard computer.

10. An apparatus for monitoring a vehicle location when electrical power supplied to an onboard vehicle computer is removed, comprising:

a) an onboard vehicle computer programmed to determine that a main electrical power supply is not available the vehicle onboard computer;

b) a battery backup coupled to said onboard computer, said computer being programmed to activate said battery backup when said main electrical power supply is not available to said computer;

c) a global positioning system coupled to said computer for determining a location of the vehicle;

d) a communications system coupled to said computer for transmitting said location to a central control; and

e) a display coupled to said computer for providing an indication to said driver that electrical power to the vehicle onboard computer has been removed.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said computer is programmed to shut said vehicle down when said main power supply is removed.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a camera coupled to said computer for taking a picture of the driver when said main power supply is removed.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the computer is programmed to disable the vehicle when the main power supply is removed.