Portable communication terminal and communication method, antitheft apparatus and antitheft method, and antitheft system

• US 6,756,899 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2001
• Issued: 06/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Original Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Inventors: Ando, Tanichi, Mukaigawa, Shinichi, Kobayashi, Hideyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US09/993,882
• Publication Number:
  US 20020080015A1
• Time in Patent Office: 945 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425--42, 340/426-3-4, 340/426.16, 340/426.17, 340/539--53
• US Class Current: 340/539.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/202 Personal digital assistant [PDA]
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1003 Alarm systems characterised by arm or disarm features
• 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

Abstract

It is possible to certainly prevent a vehicle from being stolen at low cost. A user of an automobile 31 registers an on or off state of a security mode with a center apparatus 33 in advance. When abnormality is detected by a sensor 41, the abnormality is notified to a center communication device 52 from an on-vehicle communication device 43 through a communication network 34. When the security mode is on, a center control device 51 notifies the abnormality to a portable telephone 32 of the user of the automobile 31 through the communication network 34.

Claims

1. An antitheft system comprising a portable communication terminal and a center apparatus for taking charge of a vehicle against theft, wherein the portable communication terminal comprises:

access means for accessing the center apparatus; and

instruction means for instructing the center apparatus to register a security mode, the security mode indicating whether security for the vehicle is on or off, and

wherein the center apparatus comprises;

first reception means for receiving an instruction to register the security mode from the instruction means;

registration means for registering the security mode on the basis of the instruction received by the first reception means;

second reception means for receiving an abnormality detection signal from the vehicle;

judgment means for judging the security mode registered in the registration means when the second reception means receives the abnormality detection signal; and

notification means for notifying the portable communication terminal of abnormality on the basis of a judgment result by the judgment means, wherein the access means, center apparatus, instruction means, first reception means, registration means, second reception means, judgment means, and notification means are external to and separate from the vehicle.

2. A portable communication terminal used in an antitheft system for preventing a vehicle from being stolen, comprising:

access means for accessing a center apparatus; and

instruction means for instructing the center apparatus to register a security mode, the security mode indicating whether security for the vehicle is on or off, wherein the access means, center apparatus and instruction means are external to and separate from the vehicle, and wherein the instructing means is configured to directly set the security mode to the center apparatus.

3. A portable communication terminal according to claim 2, further comprising:

reception means for receiving notification of an abnormality from the center apparatus.

4. A communication method of a portable communication terminal used in an antitheft system for preventing a vehicle from being stolen, the communication method comprising:

accessing a center apparatus using an access means; and

instructing the center apparatus using an instructing means to register a security mode, the security mode indicating whether security for the vehicle is on or off, wherein the access means, center apparatus and instruction means are external to and separate from the vehicle, and wherein the instructing means is configured to directly set the security mode to the center apparatus.

5. An antitheft apparatus used in an antitheft system for preventing a vehicle from being stolen, comprising:

a first reception component for receiving a request for registration of a security mode, the security mode indicating whether security for the vehicle is on or off;

a registration component for registering the security mode on the basis of the request received by the first reception component;

a second reception component for receiving an abnormality detection signal from the vehicle;

a judgment component for judging the security mode registered in the registration component when the second reception component receives the abnormality detection signal; and

a notification component for notifying a user of abnormality on the basis of a judgment result by the judgment component, wherein the first reception component, registration component, second reception component, judgment component, and notification component are external to and separate from the vehicle.

6. An antitheft apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising detection means which communicates with a communication device installed in the vehicle at a predetermined period and detects a state of the vehicle.

7. An antitheft method used in an antitheft system for preventing a vehicle from being stolen, the method comprising:

receiving a request for registration of a security mode using a first reception component, the security mode indicating whether security for the vehicle is on or off;

registering the security mode using a registration component on the basis of the request received in the first reception step;

receiving an abnormality detection signal using a second reception component from the vehicle;

judging the security mode using a judgement component when the abnormality detection signal is received; and

notifying a user of abnormality using a notification component on the basis of a judgment result from the step of judging the security mode, wherein the first reception component, registration component, second reception component, judgment component, and notification component are external to and separate from the vehicle.

8. An antitheft method of an antitheft system comprising a portable communication terminal and a center apparatus for taking charge of a vehicle against theft, wherein an antitheft method of the portable communication terminal comprises:

accessing the center apparatus using an accessing means; and

instructing the center apparatus using an instruction means to register a security mode, the security mode indicating whether security for the vehicle is on or off, and

wherein an antitheft method of the center apparatus comprises;

receiving an instruction using a first reception means to register the security mode on the basis of the instruction step;

registering the security mode using a registration means on the basis of the instruction received at the first reception step;

receiving an abnormality detection signal using a second reception means from the vehicle;

judging the mode registered at the registration step using a judgement means when the abnormality detection signal is received at the second reception step; and

a notification step of notifying the portable communication terminal of abnormality using a notification component on the basis of a judgment result at the judgment step, wherein the access means, center apparatus, instruction means, first reception means, registration means, second reception means, judgment means, and notification means are external to and separate from the vehicle.