Systems and methods for providing theft protection in a machine

• US 7,295,098 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2003
• Issued: 11/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Hilbert, Mark J., Zwetz, David L., Fonseca, Roy C., Betts, Edward H. Jr., Booth, Timothy Alan, Swords, Daniel Douglas, Taylor, Nathan Ralph
• Primary Examiner(s): Sherry; Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kaplan; Hal I.
• Application Number:
  US10/742,810
• Publication Number:
  US 20050134115A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,421 Days
• Field of Search: 702/62, 307/10.4, 340/5.1, 340/5.2, 340/5.8, 340/678, 340/679, 361/269, 701/32, 701/34
• US Class Current: 340/5.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor

Abstract

Methods and systems may provide theft protection in one or more work machines. Methods and systems may control one or more operational systems and may provide and manage varying levels of access to work machines. Methods and systems may react to override attempts in order to provide robust theft protection. One or more control modules embedded in a work machine may be leveraged to perform theft protection services. Methods and systems may activate a first control module to restrict access to a first operational system in a work machine and activate a second control module to restrict access to a second operational system in the work machine. The first control module may detect a substitution of a new control module for the second control module and automatically configure the new control module to restrict access to the second operational system in the work machine.

Claims

1. A method for providing theft protection in a machine, comprising:

activating a first control module to restrict access to a first operational system in the machine;

activating a second control module to restrict access to a second operational system in the machine;

detecting, by the first control module, a substitution of a new control module for the second control module; and

automatically configuring the new control module to restrict access to the second operational system in the machine.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein activating the first control module includes activating the first control module to engage one of a transmission lock, a throttle lock, an ignition lock, a fuel injection lock, and an RPM limit of the machine.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein activating the second control module includes activating the second control module to engage one of a transmission lock, a throttle lock, an ignition lock, a fuel injection lock, and an RPM limit of the machine.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting includes examining, by the first control module, a parameter in a memory of the new control module.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting includes receiving a message, from a third control module, indicating the substitution.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second control module is configured to send a signal to the first control module within a predetermined period of time, and wherein detecting includes determining when the first control module fails to receive the signal within the predetermined period of time.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically configuring the new control module includes configuring at least one parameter in a memory of the new control module.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically configuring the new control module includes transmitting executable instructions to the new control module.

9. A control apparatus for providing theft protection in a machine, comprising:

a first port that interfaces a first control module;

a second port that interfaces a communication device;

a third port coupled to a first operational system in the machine;

a memory including executable instructions for;

restricting access to the first operational system in response to a command received from the communication device;

detecting a substitution of a second control module for the first control module; and

automatically configuring the second control module to restrict access to a second operational system in the machine; and

a processor for executing the instructions included in the memory.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first control module is an engine control module.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the communication device is a display device.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first port interfaces the first control module via a proprietary data link.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the second port interfaces the communication device via a first non-proprietary data link, and the third port is coupled to the first operational system via a second non-proprietary data link.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein at least one of the first and second non-proprietary data links is a J1939 data link.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first operational system includes at least one of a transmission system, a fuel injection system, an ignition system, and a throttle system.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the memory includes executable instructions for examining a parameter in a memory of the second control module to detect the substitution of the second control module for the first control module.

17. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the memory includes executable instructions for receiving a message, from a third control module, indicating a substitution of the second control module for the first control module.

18. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the memory includes executable instructions for configuring at least one parameter in a memory of the second control module to automatically configure the second control module.

19. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the memory includes executable instructions for transmitting executable instructions to the second control module to automatically configure the second control module.

20. A theft protection system, comprising:

means for activating a first control module to restrict access to a first operational system in a machine;

means for activating a second control module to restrict access to a second operational system in the machine;

means for detecting, by the first control module, a substitution of a new control module for the second control module; and

means for automatically configuring the new control module to restrict access to the second operational system in the machine.

21. A theft protection system in a machine, comprising:

a first control module coupled to a first data link and coupled to a first operational system in the machine;

a second control module coupled to the first data link and coupled to a second operational system in the machine; and

a communication module coupled to the first control module by a second data link and configured to receive commands from a user of the machine;

wherein the first control module is configured to;

restrict access to the first operational system in response to a first command received by the communication device;

activate the second control module to restrict access to the second operational system in response to a second command received by the communication device;

detect a substitution of a new control module for the second control module; and

automatically activate the new control module to restrict access to the second operational system.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein each of the first and second control modules is an engine control module.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the first data link is a proprietary data link.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the second data link is a non-proprietary data link.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the second data link is a J1939 data link.

26. The system of claim 21, wherein the first control module is coupled to the first operational system via a J1939 data link.

27. The system of claim 21, wherein the second control module is coupled to the second operational system via a J1939 data link.

28. The system of claim 21, wherein the first operational system includes one of a transmission system, a fuel injection system, an ignition system, and a throttle system.

29. The system of claim 21, wherein the second operational system includes one of a transmission system, a fuel injection system, an ignition system, and a throttle system.

30. The system of claim 21, wherein the first control module detects the substitution of a new control module for the second control module by examining a parameter in a memory of the new control module.

31. The system of claim 21, wherein the first control module detects the substitution of a new control module for the second control module by receiving a message, from a third control module, indicating the substitution.

32. The system of claim 21, wherein the first control module automatically activates the new control module to restrict access to the second operational system by configuring at least one parameter in a memory of the new control module.

33. The system of claim 21, wherein the first control module automatically activates the new control module to restrict access to the second operational system by transmitting executable instructions to the new control module.

34. A theft protection system in a machine, comprising:

a first control module coupled to a first data link and coupled to a first operational system in the machine;

a second control module coupled to the first data link and coupled to a second operational system in the machine; and

a computer system remotely located with respect to the machine and coupled to the first control module by a network;

wherein the first control module is configured to;

restrict access to the first operational system in response to a first command received from the computer system;

activate the second control module to restrict access to the second operational system in response to a second command received from the computer system;

detect a substitution of a new control module for the second control module; and

automatically activate the new control module to restrict access to the second operational system.

35. A computer-readable medium including instructions for performing a method in a machine, the method comprising:

activating a first control module to restrict access to a first operational system in the machine;

activating a second control module to restrict access to a second operational system in the machine;

detecting, by the first control module, a substitution of a new control module for the second control module; and

automatically configuring the new control module to restrict access to the second operational system in the machine.