System and Method for Remotely Deactivating a Vehicle

• US 20080258890A1
• Filed: 05/31/2007
• Published: 10/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Inthinc Technology Solutions Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Inthinc Technology Solutions Incorporated
• Inventors: McClellan, Scott, Follmer, Todd
• Application Number:
  US11/756,315
• Publication Number:
  US 20080258890A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/439
• 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 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 15/00 Identifying, scaring or incapacitating burglars, thieves or intruders, e.g. by explosives
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/052 with provision for determining speed or overspeed speed measuring in general G01P
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles

Abstract

System and method for remotely deactivating a vehicle, comprising monitoring operations of the vehicle using an on-board monitoring system, detecting when one or more of the operations meet one or more preset criteria, and disabling the vehicle via the on-board monitoring system.

Claims

1. A method for remotely deactivating a vehicle, comprising:

monitoring operations of the vehicle using an on-board monitoring system;

detecting when one or more of the operations meet one or more preset criteria; and

disabling the vehicle via the on-board monitoring system.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

notifying a central server when the one or more operations meet the one or more preset criteria; and

receiving, at the on-board monitoring system, a vehicle deactivation message from the central server.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the vehicle deactivation message authorizes a vehicle deactivation process already running on the on-board monitoring system.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the vehicle deactivation message initiates a deactivation process on the on-board monitoring system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the preset criteria are selected from the group consisting of:

aggressive driving events; and

speeding violations.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the speeding violations comprise:

speeding in a school zone;

speeding in a hospital zone;

or speeding in a speed-restricted area.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the aggressive driving events comprise events selected from the group consisting of:

exceeding acceleration thresholds in a lateral direction;

exceeding acceleration thresholds in a longitudinal direction;

exceeding acceleration thresholds in a vertical direction;

hard turns;

hard braking; and

hard vertical movement of the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the preset criteria are selected from the group consisting of:

failure to respond to a message from a central server; and

issuing an improper response to a central server query.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the preset criteria are selected from the group consisting of:

operation of the vehicle in a prohibited area;

operation of the vehicle outside an approved area;

operation of the vehicle off of an approved route;

operation of the vehicle at an unauthorized time of day;

operation of the vehicle for an unauthorized period of time; and

failure to operate the vehicle in accordance with an approved schedule.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein disabling the vehicle comprises one or more of the following:

shutting down an engine in the vehicle;

preventing the vehicle'"'"'s engine from starting;

preventing a vehicle transmission from operating;

or preventing vehicle wheels from moving.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the on-board monitoring system disables the vehicle via a fuel control unit, an ignition system, or an engine control computer.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting when one or more of the operations meet one or more preset criteria comprises:

detecting when the vehicle has been involved in an accident.

13. A method for remotely deactivating a vehicle, comprising:

monitoring an authorization for operation of the vehicle;

detecting when the authorization to operate the vehicle is invalid; and

disabling the vehicle via an on-board monitoring system.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the authorization is a government vehicle registration, and wherein the vehicle is disabled when the vehicle is not currently registered.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the authorization is an insurance policy, and wherein the vehicle is disabled when the vehicle is not covered by adequate insurance.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the authorization is a driver'"'"'s motor vehicle license, and wherein the vehicle is disabled when the driver'"'"'s motor vehicle license is not current.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the authorization is a driver'"'"'s motor vehicle license, and wherein the vehicle is disabled when the driver'"'"'s motor vehicle license has been suspended or canceled.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein monitoring an authorization for operation of the vehicle further comprises:

polling a database regarding a registration status of the vehicle.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the authorization to operate the vehicle is invalid when the vehicle is not currently registered.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein monitoring an authorization for operation of the vehicle further comprises:

polling a database regarding an insurance status of the vehicle.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the authorization to operate the vehicle is invalid when the vehicle is not adequately insured.

22. The method of claim 13, wherein monitoring an authorization for operation of the vehicle further comprises:

polling a database regarding a license status for a driver of the vehicle.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the authorization to operate the vehicle is invalid when the driver of the vehicle is not currently licensed or has a suspended license.

24. A method for remotely disabling a vehicle, comprising:

receiving, at an on-board vehicle monitoring system, an authorization to disable the vehicle;

initiating a vehicle disabling process; and

triggering an external caution signal on the vehicle.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the external caution signal is flashing vehicle lights.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the external caution signal is a honking vehicle horn.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the vehicle disabling process immediately deactivates the vehicle.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the vehicle disabling process deactivates the vehicle at a next stop of the vehicle.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein the vehicle disabling process deactivates the vehicle after a next shutdown of an engine of the vehicle.

30. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

notifying a public safety organization that the vehicle is disabled.

31. The method of claim 24, wherein notifying the public safety organization that the vehicle is disabled further comprises:

sending the public safety organization a location of the vehicle.