Remote vehicle control system and associated method for counteracting rogue command

• US 7,734,382 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2004
• Issued: 06/08/2010
• 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:
  US11/000,159
• Publication Number:
  US 20060129284A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,016 Days
• Field of Search: 701/2, 340/426.1, 340/426.13, 34042614-42617, 34042627-42636, 307/10.2
• US Class Current: 701/2
• 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

Abstract

A vehicle remote 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 remote control system includes a remote transmitter, and a true controller at the vehicle for controlling the vehicle device via a true command on the data communications bus, and based upon the remote transmitter. 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 remote 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 remote control system comprising:

a remote transmitter; and

a true controller at the vehicle for controlling the at least one vehicle device via a true command on the data communications bus and based upon said remote transmitter;

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 remote 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 remote 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 remote 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 remote 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 remote 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 remote 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 remote 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 remote 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 remote 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 remote control system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one vehicle device is associated with vehicle security;

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

12. The vehicle remote control system according to claim 1 wherein said true controller comprises a processor and a receiver connected thereto.

13. A vehicle remote 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 remote control system comprising:

a remote transmitter; and

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 and based upon said remote transmitter,

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 remote 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 remote 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 remote 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 remote 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 remote 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 remote control system according to claim 13 wherein said true controller comprises a processor and a receiver connected thereto.

20. A vehicle remote 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 remote control system comprising:

a remote transmitter; and

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 and based upon said remote transmitter,

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 remote 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 remote 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 remote 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 remote control system according to claim 20 wherein said true controller comprises a processor and a receiver connected thereto.

25. A vehicle remote 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 remote control system comprising:

a remote transmitter; and

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 and based upon said remote transmitter,

controlling the at least one vehicle device via a respective counteracting roll-up 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.

26. The vehicle remote control system according to claim 25 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 remote 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 remote 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.

29. The vehicle remote control system according to claim 25 wherein said true controller comprises a processor and a receiver connected thereto.

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

a remote transmitter; and

a true controller at the vehicle for

controlling the at least one vehicle device via a true disarm vehicle security command on the data communications bus and based upon said remote transmitter,

controlling the at least one vehicle device via a respective counteracting re-arm vehicle security 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 security 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 security command.

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

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

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

32. The vehicle remote 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 security command codes and the sequence of rogue disarm vehicle security command codes.

33. The vehicle remote 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 security command codes and the sequence of rogue disarm vehicle security command codes.

34. The vehicle remote control system according to claim 30 wherein said true controller comprises a processor and a receiver connected thereto.