Systems and methods for odometer monitoring

• US 9,367,967 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2009
• Issued: 06/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company), GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Biondo, William A., Baker, George
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, John Q
• Assistant Examiner(s): Torchinsky, Edward
• Application Number:
  US12/569,846
• Publication Number:
  US 20110077816A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,450 Days
• Field of Search: 701/29.1, 701/30.7, 701/30.8, 701/32.3, 701/32.5
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers

Abstract

Systems and methods for odometer monitoring are disclosed herein. One example method includes storing an odometer value and a vehicle position in response to an initial triggering event, and determining a second odometer value and a second vehicle position in response to a subsequent triggering event. The odometer value is compared with the second odometer value to detect any odometer value change from the initial triggering event to the subsequent triggering event. The vehicle position is compared with the second vehicle position to detect any vehicle position change from the initial triggering event to the subsequent triggering event. From the comparisons, it is determined whether odometer tampering has occurred.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring an odometer, the method comprising:

storing an odometer value and a vehicle position in response to an initial triggering event;

determining a second odometer value and a second vehicle position in response to a subsequent triggering event;

comparing the odometer value with the second odometer value to detect any odometer value change from the initial triggering event to the subsequent triggering event;

comparing the vehicle position with the second vehicle position to detect any vehicle position change from the initial triggering event to the subsequent triggering event; and

determining, from the comparing steps, whether odometer tampering has occurred.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein when the odometer value change is zero and the vehicle position change is detected in the step comparing the vehicle position with the second vehicle position, determining includes concluding that odometer tampering has occurred.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the initial triggering event is an ignition off cycle, and wherein the subsequent triggering event is an ignition on cycle subsequent to the ignition off cycle.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the initial triggering event is an interval timer recording event, and wherein the subsequent triggering event is a second interval timer recording event.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the initial triggering event is receipt of a message from a party outside a vehicle for which the odometer value and vehicle position are to be stored, wherein the subsequent triggering event is receipt of a second message from the party outside the vehicle, and wherein the messages are received at a telematics unit of the vehicle.

6. A method for monitoring an odometer, the method comprising:

storing an odometer value and a vehicle position;

storing a second odometer value and a second vehicle position;

comparing a distance between the first and second vehicle positions to a distance between the first and second odometer readings;

recognizing a discrepancy between the vehicle position distance and the odometer reading distance, thereby identifying potential odometer tampering;

generating i) at least one possible indirect route between the first and second vehicle positions, and ii) a distance corresponding with the at least one possible route;

comparing the distance between the first and second vehicle positions with the distance corresponding with the at least one possible indirect route; and

determining, from the comparing, whether odometer tampering has occurred.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the determining whether odometer tampering has occurred is accomplished by:

calculating a difference between the distance between the first and second vehicle positions and the distance corresponding with the at least one possible indirect route; and

comparing the difference to a predetermined threshold to determine if the difference is outside the predetermined threshold.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the predetermined threshold ranges is up to +/−

5% of the distance corresponding with the at least one possible indirect route.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the odometer value and the vehicle position are stored at one cycle in a regular time interval data recording period, wherein the second odometer value and the second vehicle position are stored at an other cycle in the regular time interval data recording period and wherein the method further comprises, storing subsequent odometer values and vehicle positions during subsequent cycles in the regular time interval data recording period.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the cycles in the regular time interval data recording period occur at least one second apart.

11. A system for monitoring an odometer, the system comprising:

a call center; and

a vehicle in selective communication with the call center, the vehicle including;

a telematics unit;

a global positioning system device configured to transmit a then-current time and a then-current vehicle position to the telematics unit or to the call center via the telematics unit; and

an odometer configured to continuously monitor a distance traveled by the vehicle and to transmit then-current odometer values to the telematics unit or to the call center via the telematics unit;

at least one of the telematics unit or the call center configured to;

store, in response to an initial triggering event, the then-current vehicle position and the then-current odometer value;

retrieve, in response to a subsequent triggering event, a last stored then-current vehicle position and a last stored then-current odometer value;

receive, in response to the subsequent triggering event, a new then-current vehicle position and a new then-current odometer reading; and

compare the new then-current vehicle position and the new then-current odometer reading with the retrieved last stored then-current vehicle position and the retrieved last stored then-current odometer value.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the initial triggering event is an ignition off cycle, and the subsequent triggering event is an ignition on cycle subsequent to the ignition off cycle.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising an internal timer operatively connected to the telematics unit, wherein the initial triggering event is an interval timer recording event, and wherein the subsequent triggering event is a second interval timer recording event.

14. The system of claim 11, further comprising a device outside the vehicle and in communication with the vehicle, wherein the initial triggering event is receipt of a message at the telematics unit from the device, and wherein the subsequent triggering event is receipt of a second message at the telematics unit from the device.

15. A system for monitoring an odometer, the system comprising:

a call center; and

a vehicle in selective communication with the call center, the vehicle including;

a telematics unit;

a global positioning system device configured to transmit a then-current time and a then-current vehicle position to the call center via the telematics unit; and

an odometer configured to continuously monitor a distance traveled by the vehicle and to transmit then-current odometer values to the call center via the telematics unit;

the call center including;

a database configured to store at least first and second odometer values and first and second vehicle positions received from the telematics unit; and

an advisor program configured to;

compare a distance between the first and second vehicle positions to a distance between the first and second odometer readings; and

recognize a discrepancy between the vehicle position distance and the odometer reading distance, thereby identifying potential odometer tampering;

a route generating device configured to generate i) at least one possible route between the first and second vehicle positions, and ii) a distance corresponding with the at least one possible route; and

a sub-system configured to;

compare the distance between the first and second vehicle positions with the distance corresponding with the at least one possible route; and

determine, from the comparing, whether odometer tampering has occurred.