Vehicle immobilizing devices, systems, and methods

• US 9,156,436 B2
• Filed: 02/29/2012
• Issued: 10/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PRA Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: PRA Group, Inc.
• Inventors: Hopper, Gregory S., McCammon, Peter Kent, Stern, Neal Harris, Shumadine, Elizabeth Wells
• Primary Examiner(s): BUTLER, RODNEY ALLEN
• Application Number:
  US13/408,342
• Publication Number:
  US 20130226795A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,322 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 70/19, 702/26, 188/32, 188/36, 188/37, 340/3.1, 340/3.2, 340 51- 592, 340/12.51, 340/13.26
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/09 by restraining wheel rotation, e.g. wheel clamps
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00388 code verification carried out according to the challenge/response method
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/40 Portable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5889 For automotive vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/625 Operation and control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/70 Operating mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8027 Condition indicators

Abstract

A vehicle immobilizing device includes a lock, user interface, memory configured to store an unlock code, and processor. The lock has a latch mechanism and the processor controls movement of the latch mechanism from a locked position to an unlocked position so that the immobilizing device can be removed from a vehicle. A person installing the immobilizing device on a vehicle utilizes the user interface to enter and store an unlock code and an identification code in the device memory at the time of installation. Upon payment of an outstanding fine, a vehicle owner is provided with an unlock code. To remove the device from the vehicle, an unlock code is entered via the user interface and the processor causes the latch mechanism to move to the unlocked position upon determining that the unlock code input via the user interface matches an unlock code stored in the memory.

Claims

1. A vehicle immobilizing device configured to impede vehicle motion, comprising:

a lock having a latch mechanism that is movable between locked and unlocked positions, wherein the latch mechanism locks the vehicle immobilizing device and prevents unauthorized removal of the vehicle immobilizing device from a vehicle;

a user interface comprising a display;

memory configured to store an unlock code; and

a processor in communication with the user interface and memory, wherein the processor is configured to wirelessly receive an unlock code from a remote source and store the unlock code in the memory, wherein the processor is configured to receive removal authorization information input via the user interface and display the unlock code stored in memory via the display in response to receiving the removal authorization information, wherein the processor controls movement of the latch mechanism from the locked position to the unlocked position so that the vehicle immobilizing device can be removed from a vehicle in response to user entry of the displayed unlock code via the user interface.

2. The vehicle immobilizing device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to receive an unlock code via the user interface and store the unlock code in memory.

3. The vehicle immobilizing device of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises a touch screen display.

4. The vehicle immobilizing device of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises a keypad.

5. The vehicle immobilizing device of claim 1, wherein the processor generates an unlock code and stores the unlock code in memory when the vehicle immobilizing device is utilized to immobilize a vehicle.

6. The vehicle immobilizing device of claim 1, further comprising a transceiver, and wherein the processor is configured to:

receive financial payment information;

report the financial payment information to a transaction approval service via the transceiver;

receive transaction approval or denial from the transaction approval service via the transceiver; and

display an unlock code stored in memory via the display in response to receiving transaction approval.

7. The vehicle immobilizing device of claim 1, wherein the vehicle immobilizing device comprises:

a base; and

a pair of clamping members extending from the base, wherein the clamping members are movable relative to each other from an open position wherein a vehicle wheel can be inserted between the clamping members to a closed position wherein the clamping members engage the vehicle wheel to prevent the vehicle immobilizing device from being removed from the vehicle wheel, and wherein the latch mechanism locks the clamping members in the closed position.

8. The vehicle immobilizing device of claim 5, further comprising a clock, and wherein the unlock code is generated using time and/or date information from the clock.

9. The vehicle immobilizing device of claim 5, further comprising an environmental sensor configured to obtain environmental condition information in a vicinity of the vehicle immobilizing device, and wherein the unlock code is generated using environmental condition information from the environmental sensor.

10. The vehicle immobilizing device of claim 5, further comprising a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, and wherein the unlock code is generated using location information from the GPS receiver.

11. The vehicle immobilizing device of claim 6, wherein the processor is configured to receive financial payment information input via the user interface.

12. The vehicle immobilizing device of claim 6, further comprising a slot for receiving a payment card and a magnetic stripe reader associated with the slot, and wherein the processor is configured to receive financial payment information from a magnetic stripe of a payment card via the magnetic stripe reader.

13. The vehicle immobilizing device of claim 6, further comprising a near field communication (NFC) reader, and wherein the processor is configured to receive payment information from an NFC tag in proximity with the near field communication reader.

14. The vehicle immobilizing device of claim 6, further comprising a radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader, and wherein the processor is configured to receive payment information from an RFID tag in proximity with the RFID reader.

15. A system, comprising:

a plurality of vehicle immobilizing devices, each vehicle immobilizing device configured to impede vehicle motion and comprising;

a lock having a latch mechanism that is movable between locked and unlocked positions, wherein the latch mechanism locks the vehicle immobilizing device and prevents unauthorized removal of the vehicle immobilizing device from a vehicle;

a user interface;

memory configured to store an unlock code; and

a processor in communication with the user interface and memory, wherein the processor controls movement of the latch mechanism from the locked position to the unlocked position so that the vehicle immobilizing device can be removed from a vehicle upon determining that an unlock code input via the user interface matches an unlock code stored in the memory; and

a server configured to wirelessly communicate with the vehicle immobilizing devices, wherein the server generates an unlock code and an identification code for a respective vehicle immobilizing device when the vehicle immobilizing device is utilized to immobilize a vehicle, wherein the server stores the generated unlock code and identification code, and wherein the server transmits the unlock code to the vehicle immobilizing device processor for storage in memory.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the server generates an unlock code and/or an identification code for a respective vehicle immobilizing device via a random number generator.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein a vehicle immobilizing device comprises a clock, and wherein the server generates an unlock code and/or an identification code for the vehicle immobilizing device using time and/or date information from the clock.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein a vehicle immobilizing device comprises an environmental sensor that is configured to obtain environmental condition information in a vicinity of the vehicle immobilizing device, and wherein the server generates an unlock code and/or an identification code for the vehicle immobilizing device using environmental condition information from the environmental sensor.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein a vehicle immobilizing device comprises a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, and wherein

the server generates an unlock code and/or an identification code for the vehicle immobilizing device using location information from the GPS receiver.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the user interface comprises a display, and wherein a vehicle immobilizing device processor is configured to receive removal authorization information input via a respective user interface and display an unlock code stored in memory via the display in response to receiving the removal authorization information.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein a vehicle immobilizing device processor is configured to receive removal authorization information input via a respective user interface and move a respective latch mechanism from a locked position to an unlocked position so that the vehicle immobilizing device can be removed from a vehicle.

22. The system of claim 15, wherein a respective vehicle immobilizing device comprises a display and a transceiver, and wherein the vehicle immobilizing device processor is configured to:

receive financial payment information;

report the financial payment information to a transaction approval service via the transceiver;

receive transaction approval or denial from the transaction approval service via the transceiver; and

display an unlock code stored in memory via the display in response to receiving transaction approval.

23. The system of claim 15, wherein the server is configured to send a command to a vehicle immobilizing device processor to cause the processor to move the latch mechanism from the locked position to the unlocked position so that the respective vehicle immobilizing device can be removed from a vehicle.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the processor is configured to receive financial payment information input via the user interface.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein a vehicle immobilizing device comprises a slot for receiving a payment card and a magnetic stripe reader associated with the slot, and wherein the vehicle immobilizing device processor is configured to receive financial payment information from a magnetic stripe of a payment card via the magnetic stripe reader.

26. The system of claim 22, wherein a vehicle immobilizing device comprises a near field communication (NFC) reader, and wherein the vehicle immobilizing device processor is configured to receive financial payment information from an NFC tag in proximity with the near field communication reader.

27. The system of claim 22, wherein a vehicle immobilizing device comprises a radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader, and wherein the vehicle immobilizing device processor is configured to receive financial payment information from an RFID tag in proximity with the RFID reader.

28. A vehicle immobilizing device configured to impede vehicle motion, comprising:

a lock having a latch mechanism that is movable between locked and unlocked positions, wherein the latch mechanism locks the vehicle immobilizing device and prevents unauthorized removal of the vehicle immobilizing device from a vehicle;

memory configured to store an unlock code; and

a processor in communication with the memory, wherein the processor is configured to wirelessly receive unlock codes from a remote source, and wherein the processor is configured to move the latch mechanism from the locked position to the unlocked position so that the vehicle immobilizing device can be removed from a vehicle when a received unlock code matches an unlock code stored in memory.

29. The vehicle immobilizing device of claim 28, wherein the processor is configured to wirelessly receive an unlock code from a remote source and store the unlock code in memory.

30. The vehicle immobilizing device of claim 28, wherein the processor generates an unlock code and stores the unlock code in memory when the vehicle immobilizing device is utilized to immobilize a vehicle.

31. The vehicle immobilizing device of claim 28, wherein the vehicle immobilizing device comprises:

a base; and

a pair of clamping members extending from the base, wherein the clamping members are movable relative to each other from an open position wherein a vehicle wheel can be inserted between the clamping members to a closed position wherein the clamping members engage the vehicle wheel to prevent the vehicle immobilizing device from being removed from the vehicle wheel, and wherein the latch mechanism locks the clamping members in the closed position.

32. The vehicle immobilizing device of claim 30, further comprising a clock, and wherein the unlock code is generated using time and/or date information from the clock.

33. The vehicle immobilizing device of claim 30, further comprising an environmental sensor configured to obtain environmental condition information in a vicinity of the vehicle immobilizing device, and wherein the unlock code is generated using environmental condition information from the environmental sensor.

34. The vehicle immobilizing device of claim 30, further comprising a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, and wherein the unlock code is generated using location information from the GPS receiver.

35. A system, comprising:

a plurality of vehicle immobilizing devices, each vehicle immobilizing device configured to impede vehicle motion and comprising;

a lock having a latch mechanism that is movable between locked and unlocked positions, wherein the latch mechanism locks the vehicle immobilizing device and prevents unauthorized removal of the vehicle immobilizing device from a vehicle;

memory configured to store an unlock code; and

a processor in communication with the memory, wherein the processor is configured to wirelessly receive unlock codes from a remote source, and wherein the processor is configured to move the latch mechanism from the locked position to the unlocked position so that the vehicle immobilizing device can be removed from a vehicle when a received unlock code matches an unlock code stored in memory; and

a server configured to wirelessly communicate with the vehicle immobilizing devices, wherein the server generates an unlock code and an identification code for a respective vehicle immobilizing device when the vehicle immobilizing device is utilized to immobilize a vehicle, wherein the server stores the generated unlock code and identification code, and wherein the server transmits the unlock code to the vehicle immobilizing device processor for storage in memory.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the server generates an unlock code and/or an identification code for a respective vehicle immobilizing device via a random number generator.

37. The system of claim 35, wherein a vehicle immobilizing device comprises a clock, and wherein the server generates an unlock code and/or an identification code for the vehicle immobilizing device using time and/or date information from the clock.

38. The system of claim 35, wherein a vehicle immobilizing device comprises an environmental sensor that is configured to obtain environmental condition information in a vicinity of the vehicle immobilizing device, and wherein the server generates an unlock code and/or an identification code for the vehicle immobilizing device using environmental condition information from the environmental sensor.

39. The system of claim 35, wherein a vehicle immobilizing device comprises a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, and wherein

the server generates an unlock code and/or an identification code for the vehicle immobilizing device using location information from the GPS receiver.

40. The system of claim 35, wherein the server is configured to send a command to a vehicle immobilizing device processor to cause the processor to move the latch mechanism from the locked position to the unlocked position so that the respective vehicle immobilizing device can be removed from a vehicle.

41. A system, comprising:

a plurality of vehicle immobilizing devices, each vehicle immobilizing device configured to impede vehicle motion and comprising;

a lock having a latch mechanism that is movable between locked and unlocked positions, wherein the latch mechanism locks the vehicle immobilizing device and prevents unauthorized removal of the vehicle immobilizing device from a vehicle;

a user interface;

memory configured to store an unlock code; and

a processor in communication with the user interface and memory, wherein the processor controls movement of the latch mechanism from the locked position to the unlocked position so that the vehicle immobilizing device can be removed from a vehicle upon determining that an unlock code input via the user interface matches an unlock code stored in the memory;

a server; and

a code generation device configured to wirelessly communicate with the vehicle immobilizing devices and with the server, wherein the code generation device generates an unlock code and an identification code for a respective vehicle immobilizing device when the vehicle immobilizing device is utilized to immobilize a vehicle, wherein the code generation device transmits the generated unlock code and identification code to the server for storage, and wherein the code generation device transmits the unlock code to the vehicle immobilizing device processor for storage in memory.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the code generation device generates an unlock code and/or an identification code for a respective vehicle immobilizing device via a random number generator.

43. The system of claim 41, wherein a vehicle immobilizing device comprises a clock, and wherein the code generation device generates an unlock code and/or an identification code for the vehicle immobilizing device using time and/or date information from the clock.

44. The system of claim 41, wherein a vehicle immobilizing device comprises an environmental sensor that is configured to obtain environmental condition information in a vicinity of the vehicle immobilizing device, and wherein the code generation device generates an unlock code and/or an identification code for the vehicle immobilizing device using environmental condition information from the environmental sensor.

45. The system of claim 41, wherein a vehicle immobilizing device comprises a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, and wherein

the code generation device generates an unlock code and/or an identification code for the vehicle immobilizing device using location information from the GPS receiver.

46. A method of releasing a vehicle immobilizing device from a vehicle, wherein the vehicle immobilizing device includes a lock having a latch mechanism that is movable between locked and unlocked positions, a user interface, a memory having an unlock code stored therein, a transceiver, and a processor in communication with the user interface, memory, and transceiver, and wherein the processor controls movement of the latch mechanism from the locked position to the unlocked position, the method comprising:

receiving financial payment information input via the user interface;

reporting the financial payment information to a transaction approval service via the transceiver;

receiving transaction approval from the transaction approval service via the transceiver; and

displaying an unlock code stored in memory via the user interface in response to receiving the transaction approval from the transaction approval service via the transceiver.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the vehicle immobilizing device comprises a slot for receiving a payment card and a magnetic stripe reader associated with the slot, and wherein receiving financial payment information comprises receiving financial payment information from a magnetic stripe of a payment card via the magnetic stripe reader.

48. The method of claim 46, wherein the vehicle immobilizing device comprises a near field communication (NFC) reader, and wherein receiving financial payment information comprises receiving financial payment information from an NFC tag in proximity with the near field communication reader.

49. The method of claim 46, wherein the vehicle immobilizing device comprises a radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader, and wherein receiving financial payment information comprises receiving financial payment information from an RFID tag in proximity with the RFID reader.

50. The method of claim 46, further comprising moving the latch mechanism from the locked position to the unlocked position in response to receiving user input of the unlock code via the user interface.

51. A method of releasing a vehicle immobilizing device from a vehicle, wherein the vehicle immobilizing device includes a lock having a latch mechanism that is movable between locked and unlocked positions, a user interface, a transceiver, and a processor in communication with the user interface and transceiver, and wherein the processor controls movement of the latch mechanism from the locked position to the unlocked position, the method comprising:

receiving financial payment information;

reporting the financial payment information to a transaction approval service via the transceiver;

receiving transaction approval from the transaction approval service via the transceiver; and

moving the latch mechanism from the locked position to the unlocked position.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein receiving financial payment information comprises receiving financial payment information input via the user interface.

53. The method of claim 51, wherein the vehicle immobilizing device comprises a slot for receiving a payment card and a magnetic stripe reader associated with the slot, and wherein receiving financial payment information comprises receiving financial payment information from a magnetic stripe of a payment card via the magnetic stripe reader.

54. The method of claim 51, wherein the vehicle immobilizing device comprises a near field communication (NFC) reader, and wherein receiving financial payment information comprises receiving financial payment information from an NFC tag in proximity with the near field communication reader.

55. The method of claim 51, wherein the vehicle immobilizing device comprises a radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader, and wherein receiving financial payment information comprises receiving financial payment information from an RFID tag in proximity with the RFID reader.