Apparatus And Method For Reducing False Alarms In Stolen Vehicle Tracking

• US 20110148609A1
• Filed: 12/21/2009
• Published: 06/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Cruz, Michael, D'Avello, Robert F., Dabholkar, Harsha
• Granted Patent: US 9,102,293 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/426.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/10 actuating a signalling device
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2072 with means for preventing jamming or interference of a remote switch control signal

Abstract

A determination is made as to whether an expected signal has not been received from a stolen vehicle tracking (SVT) module in a vehicle. When the expected signal has not been received, at least one operating parameter of the vehicle is determined and based upon the at least one operating parameter, a reason for the absence of the expected signal is determined. Based upon the determined reason for the absence of the expected signal, it is then determined whether or not to issue an alarm.

Claims

1. A method of reducing false alarms in stolen vehicle tracking (SVT) applications, comprising:

determining whether an expected signal has not been received from a stolen vehicle tracking (SVT) module in a vehicle;

when the expected signal has not been received, determining at least one operating parameter of the vehicle and based upon the at least one operating parameter, determining a reason for the absence of the expected signal;

based upon the determined reason for the absence of the expected signal, determining whether or not to issue an alarm.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the operating parameter is selected from the group consisting of:

a vehicle location, a time of day, and a quality of service of a coverage area.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the reason is selected from the group consisting of:

a poor coverage area of the vehicle, the vehicle is parked, and the vehicle is stolen.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the expected signal is transmitted over a traffic channel in a cellular network.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the expected signal is transmitted periodically.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the expected signal comprises at least two consecutive reports.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the expected signal comprises one report that is expected to be received at a predetermined time.

8. An apparatus for reducing false alarms in stolen vehicle tracking (SVT) applications, comprising:

an interface with an input and an output;

a controller coupled to the interface, the controller being configured to determine whether an expected signal has not been received from a stolen vehicle tracking (SVT) module at the input of the interface, the controller being further configured to when the expected signal has not been received, determine at least one operating parameter of the vehicle and based upon the at least one operating parameter, determine a reason for the absence of the expected signal, the controller being further configured to based upon the determined reason for the absence of the expected signal, determine whether to issue an alarm at the output of the interface.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the operating parameter is selected from the group consisting of:

a vehicle location, a time of day, and a quality of service of coverage area.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the reason is selected from the group consisting of:

a poor coverage area of the vehicle, the vehicle is parked, and the vehicle is stolen.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the expected signal is transmitted over a traffic channel in a cellular network via the output of the interface.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the expected signal is transmitted periodically at the output of the interface.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the expected signal comprises at least two consecutive reports.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the expected signal comprises one report that is expected to be received at a predetermined time.

15. A computer usable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein, said computer readable program code adapted to be executed to implement a method of reducing false alarms in stolen vehicle tracking (SVT) applications, comprising:

determining whether an expected signal has not been received from a stolen vehicle tracking (SVT) module in a vehicle;

when the expected signal has not been received, determining at least one operating parameter of the vehicle and based upon the at least one operating parameter, determining a reason for the absence of the expected signal;

based upon the determined reason for the absence of the expected signal, determining whether or not to issue an alarm.

16. The computer usable medium of claim 15 wherein the operating parameter is selected from the group consisting of:

a vehicle location, a time of day, and a quality of service of a coverage area.

17. The computer usable medium of claim 15 wherein the reason is selected from the group consisting of:

a poor coverage area of the vehicle, the vehicle is parked, and the vehicle is stolen.

18. The computer usable medium of claim 15 wherein the expected signal is transmitted over a traffic channel in a cellular network.

19. The computer usable medium of claim 15 wherein the expected signal is transmitted periodically.

20. The computer usable medium of claim 15 wherein the expected signal comprises at least two consecutive reports.