Route control system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of disabling a vehicle, comprising:
- a) determining that a driver is not authorized to drive the vehicle;
b) determining that said vehicle has deviated from a planned route;
c) requesting that the driver enter an authorized driver code within a given period of time;
d) determining that an authorized driver code has not been entered by the driver;
e) tracking a location of the vehicle and notifying a central control of said location; and
f) disabling said vehicle once it has been determined that the driver is not authorized to drive the vehicle and the vehicle has deviated from the planned route.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for detecting conditions that indicate unauthorized usage of a vehicle and for responding to the conditions that indicate the vehicle is being used in an unauthorized or unintended way. A vehicle computer is used to monitor conditions of a driver and unintended usage. The computer is also used to respond to conditions that indicate an unauthorized or unintended vehicle usage has occurred. The vehicle is shut down and/or disabled when an unauthorized usage is detected.
111 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method of disabling a vehicle, comprising:
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a) determining that a driver is not authorized to drive the vehicle;
b) determining that said vehicle has deviated from a planned route;
c) requesting that the driver enter an authorized driver code within a given period of time;
d) determining that an authorized driver code has not been entered by the driver;
e) tracking a location of the vehicle and notifying a central control of said location; and
f) disabling said vehicle once it has been determined that the driver is not authorized to drive the vehicle and the vehicle has deviated from the planned route. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An apparatus for disabling a vehicle, comprising:
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a) a vehicle computer having an interface that allows a driver to enter a driver authorization code, said computer being programmed to determine that a driver is not authorized to operate the vehicle;
b) a global positioning system coupled to said computer for determining that said vehicle has deviated from a planned route, said computer being programmed to disable said vehicle when said driver is not authorized and said vehicle has deviated from said planned route. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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7. A method of disabling a vehicle and identifying a vehicle driver, comprising:
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a) defining an authorized route with an acceptable deviation radius;
b) determining that a location of said vehicle is outside said acceptable deviation radius; and
c) taking a picture of the driver when the vehicle is outside the acceptable deviation radius; and
d) shutting said vehicle down. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. An apparatus for disabling a vehicle and identifying a vehicle driver, comprising:
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a) a computer programmed to define an authorized route with an acceptable deviation radius;
b) a global positioning system coupled to said computer for determining a location of the vehicle, said computer being programmed to determine whether a location of said vehicle is outside said acceptable deviation radius and to shut the vehicle down if the vehicle is outside the acceptable deviation radius for a predetermined time period; and
c) a camera coupled to said computer, said computer being programmed to cause said camera to take a picture of the driver when the vehicle is outside the acceptable deviation radius for the predetermined time periods.
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10. A method of selectively disabling a vehicle driven by a driver, comprising:
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a) defining an authorized route with an acceptable deviation radius;
b) determining whether a location of said vehicle is outside said acceptable deviation radius;
c) notifying the driver and a central control that the vehicle has deviated from said authorized route;
d) providing an interface between the driver and said central control that allows the driver to request authorization to deviate from said authorized route;
e) determining whether authorization from said central control to deviate from said authorized route is granted;
f) allowing said vehicle to deviate from said authorized route when said authorization to deviate from said authorized route is granted; and
g) shutting the vehicle down if the vehicle fails to enter said acceptable deviation radius or obtain authorization to deviate from said authorized route. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus of selectively disabling a vehicle driven by a driver, comprising:
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a) a computer programmed to define an authorized route with an acceptable deviation radius;
b) a global positioning system coupled to said computer for determining a location of said vehicle, said computer being programmed to determine whether a location of said vehicle is outside said acceptable deviation radius;
c) a communication system coupled to said computer for notifying the driver and a central control that the vehicle has deviated from said authorized route, said communication system provides an interface between the driver and said central control that allows the driver to request authorization to deviate from said authorized route, said computer being programmed to determine whether authorization from said central control to deviate from said authorized route is granted, said computer being programmed to allow the vehicle to deviate from said authorized route when said authorization to deviate from said authorized route is granted to shut the vehicle down if the vehicle fails to enter said acceptable deviation radius or obtain authorization to deviate from said authorized route. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of selectively shutting down a vehicle, comprising:
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a) defining a perimeter around a restricted area;
b) determining that a location of said vehicle is inside said perimeter; and
c) shutting said vehicle down. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. An apparatus for selectively shutting down a vehicle, comprising:
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a) a computer programmed to define a perimeter around a restricted area; and
b) a global positioning system coupled to said computer for determining a location of the vehicle, said computer being programmed to determine whether a location of said vehicle is inside said perimeter and to shut the vehicle down if the vehicle is inside said perimeter. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. A method of selectively shutting down a vehicle driven by a driver, comprising:
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a) defining a perimeter around a restricted area;
b) determining that a location of said vehicle is inside said perimeter;
c) notifying the driver, a central control, and a restricted area site that the vehicle is in said perimeter;
d) determining whether authorization from said restricted area site to enter said perimeter is granted;
e) allowing said vehicle to enter said perimeter when said authorization to enter said perimeter is granted; and
f) shutting the vehicle down if the vehicle fails to leave said perimeter or obtain authorization to enter said perimeter. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An apparatus for selectively shutting down a vehicle driven by a driver, comprising:
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a) a computer programmed to define a restricted area and a perimeter around a restricted area;
b) a global positioning system coupled to said computer for determining a location of said vehicle, said computer being programmed to determine whether a location of said vehicle is within said perimeter; and
c) a communication system coupled to said computer for notifying the driver, a central control and a restricted area site that the vehicle has entered said perimeter, said computer being programmed to determine whether authorization from said restricted area site to enter said perimeter is granted, said computer being programmed to allow the vehicle to enter said perimeter when said authorization to enter said perimeter is granted and to shut the vehicle down if the vehicle fails to leave said perimeter or obtain authorization to enter said perimeter. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
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Specification