Method and apparatus for vehicle hardware theft prevention

• US 9,079,554 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2013
• Issued: 07/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Westra, Michael Raymond, Esselink, Chad Evert, Zank, Uwe, Hurr, Simon John
• Primary Examiner(s): HOLLOWAY, JASON R
• Application Number:
  US14/071,704
• Publication Number:
  US 20140058631A1
• Time in Patent Office: 616 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/202 Personal digital assistant [PDA]
• 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 25/01 operating on vehicle systems or fittings, e.g. on doors, seats or windscreens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2018 Central base unlocks or authorises unlocking
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/241 whereby access privileges are related to the identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/44 Program or device authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/84 Vehicles

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.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

determining, by a processor, that a requested-upload corresponds to a locked vehicle infotainment system (VIS) unlocking procedure;

verifying, by the processor, requested-upload authenticity;

activating, by the processor, the requested-upload to unlock the VIS;

responsive to the unlocking, deleting, by the processor, a vehicle identification number (VIN) associated with the locked VIS;

obtaining, by the processor, a new VIN, from a vehicle containing the VIS, for VIS association; and

saving, by the processor, the new VIN as a VIN which must be detected upon startup to prevent VIS relocking.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the verifying includes verifying an electronic serial number (ESN) associated with the requested-upload.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the verifying includes ensuring that the ESN of the requested-upload is the same as an ESN associated with the locked VIS.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the VIN is obtained from a vehicle bus.

5. A system comprising:

a processor configured to;

determine a requested-upload corresponds to a locked vehicle infotainment system (VIS) unlocking procedure;

verify requested-upload authenticity;

activate requested-upload to unlock the VIS;

responsive to the unlocking, delete a vehicle identification number (VIN) associated with the locked VIS;

obtain a new VIN, from a vehicle containing the VIS, for VIS association; and

save the new VIN as a VIN which must be detected upon startup to prevent VIS relocking.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the verifying includes verifying an electronic serial number (ESN) associated with the requested-upload.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the processor is configured to ensure that the ESN of the requested-upload is the same as an ESN associated with the locked VIS.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the VIN is obtained from a vehicle bus.

9. A non-transitory, computer readable storage medium, storing instructions, that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising:

determining that a requested-upload corresponds to a locked vehicle infotainment system (VIS) unlocking procedure;

verifying requested-upload authenticity;

activating the requested-upload to unlock the VIS;

responsive to the unlocking, deleting a vehicle identification number (VIN) associated with the locked VIS;

obtaining a new VIN, from a vehicle containing the VIS, for VIS association; and

saving the new VIN as a VIN which must be detected upon startup to prevent VIS relocking.

10. The storage medium of claim 9, wherein the verifying includes verifying an electronic serial number (ESN) associated with the requested-upload.

11. The storage medium of claim 10, wherein the verifying includes ensuring that the ESN of the requested-upload is the same as an ESN associated with the locked VIS.

12. The storage medium of claim 9, wherein the VIN is obtained from a vehicle bus.