Vehicle control system and associated method for counteracting rogue command

• US 7,729,814 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2004
• Issued: 06/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omega Patents, L.L.C.
• Original Assignee: Omega Patents, L.L.C.
• Inventors: Flick, Kenneth E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Keith; Jack W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen; Chuong P
• Application Number:
  US11/000,160
• Publication Number:
  US 20060129282A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,009 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/2, 340/426.1, 340/426.13, 340/426.24, 34042614-42617, 34042627-42636, 307/10.2
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0022 characterised by the communication link data switching networks in general H04L12/00

Abstract

A vehicle control system is for a vehicle including a data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle, and at least one vehicle device connected to the data communications bus. The vehicle control system includes a a true controller at the vehicle for controlling the vehicle device via a true command on the data communications bus. The true controller also controls the vehicle device via a respective counteracting command on the data communications bus based upon detecting a rogue controller attempt to control the at least one vehicle device via a rogue command on the data communications bus. The true controller may thus counteract a rogue controller attempt to start the engine, unlock vehicle doors, roll down windows, and/or disarm the vehicle security system, for example.

Claims

1. A vehicle control system for a vehicle comprising a data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle, and at least one vehicle device connected to the data communications bus, the vehicle control system comprising:

a true controller at the vehicle for controlling the at least one vehicle device via a true command on the data communications bus;

said true controller also controlling the at least one vehicle device via a respective counteracting command on the data communications bus based upon detecting a rogue controller attempt to control the at least one vehicle device via a rogue command on the data communications bus.

2. The vehicle control system according to claim 1 wherein the counteracting command renders inoperable the at least one vehicle device for a period of time.

3. The vehicle control system according to claim 1. wherein the true command comprises a sequence of true command codes;

wherein the rogue command comprises a sequence of rogue command codes;

wherein said true controller detects the rogue controller attempt based upon at least one difference between the sequence of true command codes and the sequence of rogue command codes.

4. The vehicle control system according to claim 3 wherein said true controller detects the rogue controller attempt based upon a difference in timing between the sequence of true command codes and the sequence of rogue command codes.

5. The vehicle control system according to claim 3 wherein said true controller detects the rogue controller attempt based upon a difference in content between the sequence of true command codes and the sequence of rogue command codes.

6. The vehicle control system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one vehicle device is associated with engine starting;

and wherein said true controller generates an engine shutdown command as the counteracting command.

7. The vehicle control system according to claim 6 wherein the vehicle further comprises an engine speed sensor;

and wherein said true controller cooperates with the engine speed sensor to detect the rogue controller attempt.

8. The vehicle control system according to claim 6 wherein the vehicle further comprises an ignition switch sensor;

and wherein said true controller cooperates with the ignition switch sensor to detect the rogue controller attempt.

9. The vehicle control system according to claim 1. wherein the at least one vehicle device is associated with vehicle door lock actuation;

and wherein said true controller generates a door lock command as the counteracting command.

10. The vehicle control system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one vehicle device is associated with vehicle window actuation;

and wherein said true controller generates a window roll-up command as the counteracting command.

11. The vehicle control system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one vehicle device is associated with vehicle control;

and wherein said true controller generates a re-arm vehicle control command as the counteracting command.

12. The vehicle control system according to claim 1 wherein said true controller comprises a processor.

13. A vehicle control system for a vehicle comprising a data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle, and at least one vehicle device associated with engine starting connected to the data communications bus, the vehicle control system comprising;

a true controller at the vehicle for

controlling the at least one vehicle device via a true engine start command on the data communications bus,

controlling the at least one vehicle device via a respective Counteracting engine shutdown command on the data communications bus based upon detecting a rogue controller attempt to control the at least one vehicle device via a rogue engine start command on the data communications bus, and

rendering inoperable the at least one vehicle device for a period of time with the counteracting engine shutdown command.

14. The vehicle control system according to claim 13 wherein the true engine start command comprises a sequence of true engine start command codes;

wherein the rogue engine start command comprises a sequence of rogue engine start command codes;

wherein said true controller detects the rogue controller attempt based upon at least one difference between the sequence of true engine start command codes and the sequence of rogue engine start command codes.

15. The vehicle control system according to claim 14 wherein said true controller detects the rogue controller attempt based upon a difference in timing between the sequence of true engine start command codes and the sequence of rogue engine start command codes.

16. The vehicle control system according to claim 14 wherein said true controller detects the rogue controller attempt based upon a difference in content between the sequence of true engine start command codes and the sequence of rogue engine start command codes.

17. The vehicle control system according to claim 13 wherein the vehicle further comprises an engine speed sensor;

and wherein said true controller cooperates with the engine speed sensor to detect the rogue controller attempt.

18. The vehicle control system according to claim 13 wherein the vehicle further comprises an ignition switch sensor;

and wherein said true controller cooperates with the ignition switch sensor to detect the rogue controller attempt.

19. The vehicle control system according to claim 13 wherein said true controller comprises a processor.

20. A vehicle control system for a vehicle comprising a data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle, and at least one vehicle device associated with vehicle door lock actuation connected to the data communications bus, the vehicle control system comprising:

a true controller at the vehicle for

controlling the at least one vehicle device via a true door unlock command on the data communications bus,

controlling the at least one vehicle device via a respective Counteracting door lock command on the data communications bus based upon detecting a rogue controller attempt to control the at least one vehicle device via a rogue door unlock command on the data communications bus, and

rendering inoperable the at least one vehicle device for a period of time with the counteracting door lock command.

21. The vehicle control system according to claim 20 wherein the true door unlock command comprises a sequence of true door unlock command codes;

wherein the rogue door unlock command comprises a sequence of rogue door unlock command codes;

wherein said true controller detects the rogue controller attempt based upon at least one difference between the sequence of true door unlock command codes and the sequence of rogue door unlock command codes.

22. The vehicle control system according to claim 21 wherein said true controller detects the rogue controller attempt based upon a difference in timing between the sequence of true door unlock command codes and the sequence of rogue door unlock command codes.

23. The vehicle control system according to claim 21 wherein said true controller detects the rogue controller attempt based upon a difference in content between the sequence of true door unlock command codes and the sequence of rogue door unlock command codes.

24. The vehicle control system according to claim 20 wherein said true controller comprises a processor.

26. The vehicle control system according to claim 23 wherein the true roll-down command comprises a sequence of true roll-down command codes;

wherein the rogue roll-down command comprises a sequence of rogue roll-down command codes;

wherein said true controller detects the rogue controller attempt based upon at least one difference between the Sequence of true roll-down command codes and the sequence of rogue roll-down command codes.

27. The vehicle control system according to claim 26 wherein said true controller detects the rogue controller attempt based upon a difference in timing between the Sequence of true roll-down command codes and the sequence of rogue roll-down command codes.

28. The vehicle control system according to claim 26 wherein said true controller detects the rogue controller attempt based upon a difference in content between the sequence of true roll-down command codes and the sequence of rogue roll-down command codes.

25. A vehicle control system for a vehicle comprising a data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle, and at least one vehicle device associated with vehicle window actuation connected to the data communications bus, the vehicle control system comprising:

a true controller at the vehicle for

controlling the at least one vehicle device via a true roll-down command on the data communications bus,

controlling the at least one vehicle device via a respective counteracting rollup command on the data communications bus based upon detecting a rogue controller attempt to control the at least one vehicle device via a rogue roll-down command on the data communications bus, and

rendering inoperable the at least one vehicle device for a period of time with the Counteracting roll up command.

29. The vehicle control system according to claim 25 wherein said true controller comprises a processor.

30. A vehicle control system for a vehicle comprising a data Communications bus extending throughout the vehicle, and at least one vehicle device associated with vehicle control connected to the data communications bus, the vehicle control system comprising:

a true controller at the vehicle for

controlling the at least one vehicle device via a true disarm vehicle control command on the data communications bus,

controlling the at least one vehicle device via a respective counteracting re-arm vehicle control command on the data communications bus based upon detecting a rogue controller attempt to control the at least one vehicle device via a rogue disarm vehicle control command on the data communications bus, and

rendering inoperable the at least one vehicle device for a period of time with the counteracting re-arm vehicle control command.

31. The vehicle control system according to claim 30 wherein the true disarm vehicle control command comprises a sequence of true disarm vehicle control command codes;

wherein the rogue disarm vehicle control command comprises a sequence of rogue disarm vehicle control command codes;

wherein said true controller detects the rogue controller attempt based upon at least one difference between the sequence of true disarm vehicle control command codes and the sequence of rogue disarm vehicle control command codes.

32. The vehicle control system according to claim 31 wherein said true controller detects the rogue controller attempt based upon a difference in timing between the sequence of true disarm vehicle control command codes and the sequence of rogue disarm vehicle control command codes.

33. The vehicle control system according to claim 31 wherein said true controller detects the rogue controller attempt based upon a difference in content between the sequence of true disarm vehicle control command codes and the sequence of rogue disarm vehicle control command codes.

34. The vehicle control system according to claim 30 wherein said true controller comprises a processor.