Method and Apparatus for Vehicle Hardware Theft Prevention

• US 20130041558A1
• Filed: 08/09/2011
• Published: 02/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Westra, Michael Raymond, Esselink, Chad Evert, Hurr, Simon John William, Zank, Uwe
• Granted Patent: US 8,849,519 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/202 Personal digital assistant [PDA]
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/01 operating on vehicle systems or fittings, e.g. on doors, seats or windscreens
• 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 25/2018 Central base unlocks or authorises unlocking
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/241 whereby access privileges are related to the identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/44 Program or device authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/84 Vehicles

Abstract

A computer-implemented method includes determining that an infotainment system has been activated. The method further includes accessing a vehicle network containing at least a unique vehicle identifier. The method additionally includes comparing the unique vehicle identifier to a stored vehicle identifier. The method further includes permitting access to the infotainment system only if the unique vehicle identifier matches the stored vehicle identifier.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

determining that an infotainment system has been activated;

retrieving a unique vehicle identifier associated with the vehicle in which the infotainment system is installed;

comparing the unique vehicle identifier to a stored vehicle identifier previously associated with the infotainment system; and

permitting access to the infotainment system only if the unique vehicle identifier matches the stored vehicle identifier.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the unique vehicle identifier is a vehicle identification number.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising, locking out the infotainment system from use if the unique vehicle identifier does not match the stored vehicle identifier.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the locking out persists until an unlock procedure is performed by an authorized party.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the infotainment system has limited functionality during the locking out.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the limited functionality includes the operability to provide contact and/or address information of at least one party authorized to unlock the infotainment system.

7. A computer readable storage medium, storing instructions that, when executed, cause a processor of a vehicle computing system to perform the method comprising:

determining that an infotainment system has been activated;

retrieving a unique vehicle identifier associated with the vehicle in which the infotainment system is installed;

comparing the unique vehicle identifier to a stored vehicle identifier previously associated with the infotainment system; and

permitting access to the infotainment system only if the unique vehicle identifier matches the stored vehicle identifier.

8. The computer readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the unique vehicle identifier is a vehicle identification number.

9. The computer readable storage medium of claim 7, further comprising, locking out the infotainment system from use if the unique vehicle identifier does not match the stored vehicle identifier.

10. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the locking out persists until an unlock procedure is performed by an authorized party.

11. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the infotainment system has limited functionality during the locking out.

12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the limited functionality includes the operability to provide contact and/or address information of at least one party authorized to unlock the infotainment system.

13. A system comprising:

a vehicle computing system; and

at least one module running on the vehicle computing system, wherein the module is operable to access a vehicle network to determine if a unique vehicle identifier is present,

wherein the module is further operable to compare the unique vehicle identifier to a stored vehicle identifier, and

wherein the module is operable to permit access to the infotainment system only if the unique vehicle identifier matches the stored vehicle identifier.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the unique vehicle identifier is a vehicle identification number.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the module is further operable to lock out the vehicle computing system from use if the unique vehicle identifier does not match the stored vehicle identifier.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the locking out persists until an unlock procedure is performed by an authorized party.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the vehicle computing system has limited functionality during the locking out.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the limited functionality includes the operability to provide contact and/or address information of at least one party authorized to unlock the vehicle computing system.

19. A computer-implemented method comprising:

determining that a requested upload corresponds to a procedure for unlocking a locked vehicle infotainment system;

verifying the authenticity of the requested upload;

activating a verified upload to unlock the locked vehicle infotainment system;

responsive to the unlocking, deleting a VIN associated with the locked vehicle infotainment system;

obtaining a new VIN for association with the vehicle infotainment system, the new VIN being available on a vehicle bus in which the infotainment system is installed, and corresponding to the vehicle'"'"'s VIN; and

saving the new VIN as a VIN which must be detected upon system startup to prevent relocking of the vehicle infotainment system.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the verifying includes verifying an ESN associated with the requested upload.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the verifying includes ensuring that the ESN of the requested upload is the same as an ESN associated with the locked vehicle infotainment system.