Vehicle security system

• US 7,224,261 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2005
• Issued: 05/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Shimomura, Toshio
• Primary Examiner(s): Pope; Daryl C.
• Application Number:
  US11/052,063
• Publication Number:
  US 20050179320A1
• Time in Patent Office: 840 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426.11, 340/425.5, 340/426.1, 340/426.12, 340/426.13, 340/426.14, 340/539.1, 340/539.16, 340/539.17, 340/5.1, 340/5.51
• US Class Current: 340/426.11
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2018 Central base unlocks or authorises unlocking

Abstract

When transmitting an instruction for activating an immobilizer function to a vehicle, a base station also transmits a given password for releasing the immobilizer function. When receiving the instruction and the given password, an immobilizer ECU outputs an instruction for prohibiting an engine from starting. Prohibition of engine start is released only when the given password is inputted on a display. Therefore, a regular user alone, who knows the given password, can start the engine.

Claims

1. A vehicle security system comprising:

a driving-device controlling unit that controls a driving device provided in a vehicle;

a signal receiving unit configured to receive a signal that is transmitted from a wireless base station and requires the driving device to be prohibited from starting, the signal including a first password for releasing the driving device from the prohibition of starting;

a password inputting unit configured to input a second password;

a prohibition instruction outputting unit configured to output an instruction for prohibiting the driving device from starting, the instruction for prohibiting being outputted to the driving-device controlling unit based on the signal received by the signal receiving unit; and

a permission instruction outputting unit configured to output an instruction for allowing the driving device, which is prohibited from starting, to start, the instruction for allowing being outputted to the driving-device controlling unit when the second password inputted by the password inputting unit is identical to the first password included in the signal received by the signal receiving unit.

2. The vehicle security system of claim 1, further comprising:

a data center configured to facilitate communicating with the wireless base station and manages vehicle robbery information,

wherein the data center includes;

a recognizing unit configured to recognize a vehicle robbery;

a password determining unit configured to determine the first password based on recognizing of the vehicle robbery; and

a transmitting unit configured to transmit the determined first password to the wireless base station.

3. The vehicle security system of claim 1, further comprising:

a data center configured to facilitate communicating with the wireless base station and manages vehicle robbery information,

wherein the data center includes;

a receiving unit configured to receive numeral information transmitted from a user of the vehicle;

a password determining unit that determines a configured to determine the first password based on the received numeral information; and

a transmitting unit configured to transmit the determined first password to the wireless base station.

4. The vehicle security system of claim 1,

wherein the password inputting unit includes an information inputting unit provided in an interior of the vehicle.

5. The vehicle security system of claim 1,

wherein the password inputting unit includes a portable information inputting unit that is capable of communicating using wireless communications.

6. The vehicle security system of claim 1,

wherein the password inputting unit includes an information inputting unit that is detachable from a connecting terminal provided in the vehicle.

7. The vehicle security system of claim 1,

wherein the driving-device controlling unit is configured to cause the driving device, which is running, to stop when the driving-device controlling unit receives an instruction for prohibiting the driving device from starting.

8. A method for unsetting an immobilizer function in a driving device provided in a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving a signal transmitted via a wireless base station to activate an immobilizer function to immobilize the driving device, the signal including an unsetting password for unsetting the immobilizer function;

activating the immobilizer function to immobilize the driving device upon receiving the signal;

inputting, without the wireless base station intervening, a password via an inputting unit in the vehicle while the driving device is immobilized; and

releasing the activated immobilizer function in the driving device when the password inputted via the password inputting unit is identical to the unsetting password included in the signal received via the wireless base station.