System and method of using telematics units for locking and unlocking vehicle functions

• US 7,312,691 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2005
• Issued: 12/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Zambo, Michael G., Oesterling, Christopher L., Economos, George A., Ross, Steven J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): SYED, NABIL H
• Application Number:
  US11/079,707
• Publication Number:
  US 20060202799A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,016 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.72, 340/825, 701/33
• US Class Current: 340/5.72
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00817 where the code of the lock can be programmed

Abstract

A method for remotely locking or unlocking vehicle functions including receiving a lock request at a vehicle telematics unit, modifying a vehicle identification number based on the request and locking or unlocking at least one vehicle function based on the modified vehicle identification number and the lock request.

Claims

1. A method for remotely locking or unlocking vehicle functions, the method comprising:

receiving a lock request at a vehicle telematics unit;

modifying a vehicle identification number based on the request; and

locking or unlocking at least one vehicle function based on the modified vehicle identification number, and the lock request.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the lock request is one of a request to lock a module or unlock the module, wherein the module is selected from the group consisting of a powertrain control module, an engine control module, a body control module, a radio, an entertainment unit module, an antilock brakes system, an instrument panel cluster, a vehicle ignition module, a remote start key fob, and combinations thereof.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the request includes a user identifier, the method further comprising:

comparing the user identifier in the request with a user identifier in the telematics unit,

wherein modifying a vehicle identification number based on the request is based on the comparison and wherein the user identifier includes one or more of a group consisting of a customer number associated with the vehicle, a password, a security code and a personal identification number.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying a vehicle identification number comprises:

reprogramming the vehicle identification number of a module in a vehicle to match the vehicle identification number in the telematics unit.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying a vehicle identification number comprises:

reprogramming the vehicle identification number of a module in a vehicle to not match the vehicle identification number in the telematics unit.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying a vehicle identification number comprises:

reprogramming the vehicle identification number of a slave module in a vehicle to match the vehicle identification number of a control module in the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying a vehicle identification number comprises:

reprogramming the vehicle identification number of a slave module in a vehicle to not match the vehicle identification number of a control module in the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the request is one of a request to lock a radio and unlock the radio.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the request is one of a request to lock a plurality of modules and unlock the plurality of modules.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying a vehicle identification number comprises:

reprogramming the vehicle identification number of a radio in a vehicle to one of matching and not matching the vehicle identification number in the telematics unit.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying a vehicle identification number comprises:

reprogramming the vehicle identification number of a radio in a vehicle to one of matching and not matching the vehicle identification number of a control module in the vehicle.

12. A computer readable medium storing a computer program comprising:

computer readable code for receiving a lock request at a vehicle telematics unit;

computer readable code for modifying a vehicle identification number based on the request; and

computer readable code for locking or unlocking at least one vehicle function based on the modified vehicle identification number and the lock request.

13. The medium of claim 12, wherein the request includes a user identifier, the medium further comprising:

computer readable code for comparing the user identifier in the request with a user identifier in the telematics unit.

14. The medium of claim 12, wherein computer readable code for modifying a vehicle identification number comprises:

computer readable code for reprogramming the vehicle identification number of a module in a vehicle to match the vehicle identification number in the telematics unit.

15. The medium of claim 12, wherein computer readable code for modifying a vehicle identification number comprises:

computer readable code for reprogramming the vehicle identification number of a module in a vehicle to not match the vehicle identification number in the telematics unit.

16. The medium of claim 12, wherein computer readable code for modifying a vehicle identification number comprises:

computer readable code for reprogramming the vehicle identification number of a slave module in a vehicle to match the vehicle identification number of a control module in the vehicle.

17. The medium of claim 12, wherein computer readable code for modifying a vehicle identification number comprises:

computer readable code for reprogramming the vehicle identification number of a slave module in a vehicle to not match the vehicle identification number of a control module in the vehicle.

18. The medium of claim 12, wherein computer readable code for modifying a vehicle identification number comprises:

computer readable code for reprogramming the vehicle identification number of a radio in a vehicle to one of matching and not matching the vehicle identification number in the telematics unit.

19. The medium of claim 12, wherein computer readable code for modifying a vehicle identification number comprises:

computer readable code for reprogramming the vehicle identification number of a radio in a vehicle to one of matching and not matching the vehicle identification number of a control module in the vehicle.

20. A system for remotely locking or unlocking vehicle functions, the system comprising:

means for receiving a lock request at a vehicle telematics unit;

means for modifying a vehicle identification number based on the request; and

means for locking or unlocking at least one vehicle function based on the modified vehicle identification number and the lock request.