Apparatus and method for broadcasting the detection of RF jammer presence

• US 8,320,872 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2009
• Issued: 11/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Snider, James
• Primary Examiner(s): MILLER, BRANDON J
• Application Number:
  US12/643,825
• Publication Number:
  US 20110151827A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,072 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 455/410, 455/414.1, 455418-420, 455/450, 455/448, 455/451, 455/452.1
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• 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 25/2072 with means for preventing jamming or interference of a remote switch control signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/16 for telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/22 for communication related to vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/22 including jamming detection and monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/02 Access restriction performed under specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0833 Random access procedures, e.g. with 4-step access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

The jamming of a radio frequency (RF) transmission after the vehicle is parked is detected. When the jamming is detected, an emergency message is broadcast on a first random access channel (RACH) associated with the vehicle according to a last known broadcast channel (BCH). When the jamming is detected, at least one last known neighbor serving cell from a stored data structure is determined, and the emergency message is broadcast on one or more second RACHs associated with each of the at least one last known neighbor serving cells.

Claims

1. A method for broadcasting an emergency message regarding a theft or an attempted theft of a vehicle, the method comprising:

detecting a jamming of a radio frequency (RF) transmission;

when the jamming is detected, broadcasting an emergency message on a first random access channel (RACH) associated with the vehicle according to a last known broadcast channel (BCH);

when the jamming is detected, determining at least one last known neighbor serving cell from a stored data structure, and broadcasting the emergency message on one or more second RACHs associated with each of the at least one last known neighbor serving cells.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the stored data structure comprises a base allocation table.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising halting broadcasting on the first RACH upon the occurrence of a predetermined event.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the predetermined event comprises a receipt of an indication that the emergency message has been received by an outside entity.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the predetermined event comprises an expiration of a timer.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising halting broadcasting on the one or more second RACHs associated with each of the last known neighbor serving cells upon an occurrence of a predetermined event.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the predetermined event comprises a receipt of an indication that the emergency message has been received from the outside entity.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the predetermined event comprises an expiration of a timer.

9. An apparatus for broadcasting an emergency message regarding a theft or an attempted theft of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

an antenna configured to receive a radio frequency (RF) transmission;

an interface coupled to the antenna;

a memory configured to store a data structure, the data structure indicating at least one last know neighbor serving cell;

a controller coupled to the interface and the memory, the controller configured to detect a jamming of the RF transmission received at the antenna after the vehicle is parked, the controller being further configured to, when the jamming is detected, broadcast an emergency message on a first random access channel (RACH) at the output of the interface according to a last known broadcast channel (BCH), the controller being further configured to, when the jamming is detected, determine the at least one last known neighbor serving cell from the stored data structure in the memory, and to broadcast at the output of the interface the emergency message on one or more second RACHs associated with each of the at least one last known neighbor serving cells.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the stored data structure comprises a base allocation table.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the controller is further configured to halt broadcasting on the first RACH upon the occurrence of a predetermined event.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the predetermined event comprises a receipt of an indication that the emergency message has been received by an outside entity.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the predetermined event comprises an expiration of a timer.

14. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the controller is further configured to halt broadcasting on the one or more second RACHs associated with each of the last known neighbor serving cells upon an occurrence of a predetermined event.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the predetermined event comprises a receipt of an indication that the emergency message has been received from the outside entity.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the predetermined event comprises an expiration of a timer.

17. A non-transitory computer usable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein, said computer readable program code adapted to be executed to implement method for broadcasting an emergency message regarding a theft or an attempted theft of a vehicle, the method comprising:

detecting a jamming of a radio frequency (RF) transmission;

when the jamming is detected, broadcasting an emergency message on a first random access channel (RACH) associated with the vehicle according to a last known broadcast channel (BCH);

when the jamming is detected, determining at least one last known neighbor serving cell from a stored data structure, and broadcasting the emergency message on one or more second RACHs associated with each of the at least one last known neighbor serving cells.

18. The non-transitory computer usable medium of claim 17 wherein the stored data structure comprises a base allocation table.

19. The non-transitory computer usable medium of claim 17 further comprising halting broadcasting on the first RACH upon the occurrence of a predetermined event.

20. The non-transitory computer usable medium of claim 19 wherein the predetermined event comprises a receipt of an indication that the emergency message has been received by an outside entity.