Disabling vehicle with in-vehicle telematics unit

• US 20040239488A1
• Filed: 06/02/2003
• Published: 12/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Douglass, William A. Jr., Oesterling, Christopher L.
• Application Number:
  US10/452,335
• Publication Number:
  US 20040239488A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/426.11
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/101 Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/246 characterised by the challenge triggering
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates

Abstract

The present invention provides a system and method for disabling a mobile vehicle. A data signal for disabling the vehicle is received at an in-vehicle telematics unit, which monitors for a trigger event in response to the receipt of the data signal. A disable command is sent from the telematics unit to a vehicle control module when the trigger event is detected. A computer usable medium with suitable computer program code is employed to disable a mobile vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for disabling a mobile vehicle comprising:

receiving a data signal for disabling the vehicle at an in-vehicle telematics unit;

monitoring for a trigger event in response to the receipt of the data signal; and

sending a disable command from the telematics unit to a vehicle control module when the trigger event is detected.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the data signal for disabling the vehicle is sent from a call center.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the disable command is a disable engine command.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the disable command is a discrete signal.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the disable command is a vehicle bus message.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the trigger event is selected from the group consisting of a mobile vehicle ignition event, a mobile vehicle operational parameter change, a predetermined mileage limit, a predetermined time limit, a predetermined travel distance, an improper access code entry, or a mobile vehicle location change.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the data signal for disabling the mobile vehicle comprises a vehicle data upload (VDU) record.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the control module comprises a powertrain control module (PCM).

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the data signal for disabling the mobile vehicle is sent over a wireless carrier system.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the data signal for disabling the mobile vehicle is sent over a satellite carrier system.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the data signal for disabling the vehicle is sent from a local provisioning system.

12. A computer usable medium including a program for disabling a mobile vehicle comprising:

computer program code to receive a data signal for disabling the vehicle at an in-vehicle telematics unit;

computer program code to monitor for a trigger event in response to the receipt of the data signal; and

computer program code to send a disable command from the telematics unit to a vehicle control module when the trigger event is detected.

13. The computer usable medium of claim 12 further comprising:

computer program code to send the data signal for disabling the vehicle from a call center.

14. The computer usable medium of claim 12 further comprising:

computer program code to send data signal for disabling the vehicle from a local provisioning system.

15. A system for disabling a mobile vehicle comprising:

means for receiving a data signal for disabling the vehicle at an in-vehicle telematics unit;

means for monitoring for a trigger event in response to the receipt of the data signal; and

means for sending a disable command from the telematics unit to a vehicle control module when the trigger event is detected.

16. The system of claim 15 further comprising:

means for sending the data signal for disabling the vehicle from a call center.

17. The system of claim 15 further comprising:

means for sending the data signal for disabling the vehicle from a local provisioning system.