Vehicle security system

• US 9,720,416 B1
• Filed: 04/18/2016
• Issued: 08/01/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Rao, Manoharprasad K.
• Primary Examiner(s): HEINLE, COURTNEY D
• Application Number:
  US15/131,109
• Time in Patent Office: 470 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/403 Image sensing, e.g. optical camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/408 Radar; Laser, e.g. lidar
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/54 Audio sensitive means, e.g. ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/802 Longitudinal distance
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/35 Data fusion
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18 Propelling the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 60/00188 related to detected security violation of control systems, e.g. hacking of moving vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3461 Preferred or disfavoured areas, e.g. dangerous zones, toll or emission zones, intersections, manoeuvre types, segments such as motorways, toll roads, ferries
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/42 Determining position
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/06 Emergency
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

A determination is made that a vehicle is unoccupied. Detecting of at least one of an unexpected object in the vehicle and an intrusion into a vehicle compartment is performed. A route to a location is selected according to detected object and/or intrusion. The vehicle is navigated to the location.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

determining that a vehicle is unoccupied;

detecting at least one of an unexpected object in the vehicle and an intrusion into a vehicle compartment;

classifying, according to a risk, the at least one of the unexpected object and the intrusion;

determining a route to a location selected according to the at least one of the unexpected object and the intrusion; and

navigating the vehicle to the location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting includes at least one of receiving image data from an imaging system, receiving audio data from microphones, receiving seat occupancy status from seat occupancy sensors, detecting a short range data link to a mobile device, and receiving a GPS-location from a GPS-equipped mobile device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the image data is at least one of image, infrared, thermal, and ultra sound data.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the unexpected object in the vehicle includes at least one of comparing an image data to reference images, performing object detection on the image data, detecting the object based on an audio signal, and detecting an intrusion to a restricted area in the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the image data is at least one of an optical image, an infrared image, a thermal image, and an ultra sound image.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the route to the location further includes selecting the location based in part on the classification.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the route to the location further includes assigning a route restriction based on the classification.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein determining the route to the location is based on the route restriction.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a message indicating the detection.

10. A system, comprising a computing device in a vehicle, the computing device comprising a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor, including instructions to:

determine that the vehicle is unoccupied;

detect at least one of an unexpected object in the vehicle and an intrusion into a vehicle compartment;

classify, according to a risk, the at least one of the unexpected object and the intrusion;

determine a route to a location selected according to the at least one of the unexpected object and the intrusion; and

navigate the vehicle based on the route.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor is further programmed to receive at least one of image data from an imaging system, audio data from microphones, seat occupancy status from seat occupancy sensors, status of detecting a short range data link to a mobile device, a GPS-location from a GPS-equipped mobile device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the image data is at least one of image, infrared, thermal, and ultra sound data.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor is further programmed to at least one of compare an image data to reference images, perform object detection on the image data, detect the object based on an audio signal, and detect an intrusion into a restricted area in the vehicle.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the image data is at least one of an optical image, an infrared image, a thermal image, and an ultra sound image.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the process is further programmed to select the location based in part on the classification.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor is further programmed to assign a route restriction based on the classification.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein determining the route to the location is based on the route restriction.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor is further programmed to transmit a message indicating the detection.