Method and apparatus for vehicle hardware theft prevention
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- determining, via a vehicle computing system, that an infotainment system has been activated;
retrieving a unique vehicle identifier, from a vehicle network, associated with the vehicle in which the infotainment system is installed;
comparing the unique vehicle identifier to a stored vehicle identifier previously associated with the infotainment system;
permitting access to the infotainment system only if the unique vehicle identifier matches the stored vehicle identifier; and
locking out the infotainment system from use if the unique vehicle identifier does not match the stored vehicle identifier, wherein the infotainment system has limited functionality during the locking out, including the operability to provide contact and/or address information of at least one party authorized to unlock the infotainment system.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A computer-implemented method includes determining that an infotainment system has been activated. The method further includes accessing a vehicle network containing at least a unique vehicle identifier. The method additionally includes comparing the unique vehicle identifier to a stored vehicle identifier. The method further includes permitting access to the infotainment system only if the unique vehicle identifier matches the stored vehicle identifier.
-
Citations
9 Claims
-
1. A method comprising:
-
determining, via a vehicle computing system, that an infotainment system has been activated; retrieving a unique vehicle identifier, from a vehicle network, associated with the vehicle in which the infotainment system is installed; comparing the unique vehicle identifier to a stored vehicle identifier previously associated with the infotainment system; permitting access to the infotainment system only if the unique vehicle identifier matches the stored vehicle identifier; and locking out the infotainment system from use if the unique vehicle identifier does not match the stored vehicle identifier, wherein the infotainment system has limited functionality during the locking out, including the operability to provide contact and/or address information of at least one party authorized to unlock the infotainment system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
-
-
4. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium, storing instructions that, when executed, cause a processor of a vehicle computing system to perform the method comprising:
-
determining that an infotainment system has been activated; retrieving a unique vehicle identifier, from a vehicle network, associated with the vehicle in which the infotainment system is installed; comparing the unique vehicle identifier to a stored vehicle identifier previously associated with the infotainment system; permitting access to the infotainment system only if the unique vehicle identifier matches the stored vehicle identifier; and locking out the infotainment system from use if the unique vehicle identifier does not match the stored vehicle identifier, wherein the infotainment system has limited functionality during the locking out, including the operability to provide contact and/or address information of at least one party authorized to unlock the infotainment system. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
-
-
7. A system comprising:
-
a processor configured to; access a vehicle network to obtain a unique vehicle identifier, compare the unique vehicle identifier to a stored vehicle identifier associated with a vehicle-installed infotainment system, and permit access to the infotainment system only if the unique vehicle identifier matches the stored vehicle identifier; and lock out the vehicle computing system from use if the unique vehicle identifier does not match the stored vehicle identifier, wherein the vehicle computing system has limited functionality during the locking out, including the operability to provide contact and/or address information of at least one party authorized to unlock the vehicle computing system. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
-
Specification