Vehicle anti theft system, vehicle anti theft method, and computer program

• US 7,350,615 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2004
• Issued: 04/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Miyamoto, Naotoshi, Takeuchi, Hiroshi, Harumoto, Satoshi, Yamato, Toshitaka, Maeno, Yoshihiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming; Faye M.
• Application Number:
  US10/805,461
• Publication Number:
  US 20040188164A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,471 Days
• Field of Search: 180/287, 180/271, 280/735, 701/36
• US Class Current: 180/287
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1004 Alarm systems characterised by the type of sensor, e.g. current sensing means using door lock sensors B60R25/1001
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/305 using a camera

Abstract

A theft-deterrent system for a vehicle includes at least one detecting unit that detects information on damage of the vehicle including vehicle theft or vandalizing of the vehicle, at least one prevention unit that executes a preventive measure against the damage, a situation identifying unit that identifies a situation of the damage based on order of detection of the information, a degree-of-danger judging unit that judges a degree of danger based on the situation, and a theft-deterrent control unit that selects and controls the at least one prevention unit corresponding to the degree of danger to execute the preventive measure against the damage.

Claims

1. A theft-deterrent system for a vehicle, comprising:

at least one detecting unit that detects information on damage of the vehicle including vehicle theft or vandalizing of the vehicle;

at least one prevention unit that executes a preventive measure against the damage;

a situation identifying unit that identifies a situation of the damage based on order of detection of the information;

a degree-of-danger judging unit that judges a degree of danger based on the situation; and

a theft-deterrent control unit that selects and controls the at least one prevention unit corresponding to the degree of danger to execute the preventive measure against the damage;

wherein information for damage identification includes a plurality of scenes classified in chronological order from before occurrence of the damage to after the occurrence of the damage; and

wherein the situation identifying unit identifies the situation of the damage based on the information.

2. The theft-deterrent system according to claim 1, further comprising an information acquiring/managing unit that acquires the information detected by the at least one detecting unit, and at least manages the information, wherein

the degree-of-danger judging unit takes the information into account when judging the degree of danger.

3. The theft-deterrent system according to claim 2, wherein the information acquiring/managing unit selectively controls acquisition of the information in accordance with the situation.

4. The theft-deterrent system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a map that displays a frequency of occurrence of the damage; and

a location identifying unit that identifies a current location of the vehicle, wherein

the degree-of-danger judging unit takes the frequency of occurrence of the damage corresponding to the current location of the vehicle into account when judging the degree of danger.

5. The theft-deterrent system according to claim 1, further comprising a database that stores data on a past case of the damage, wherein

the theft-deterrent control unit refers to the database when selecting the at least one prevention unit.

6. The theft-deterrent system according to claim 1, further comprising a database that stores data on a past case of the damage, wherein

the degree-of-danger judging unit refers to the database when judging the degree of danger.

7. The theft-deterrent system according to claim 1, further comprising a deducting unit that deducts at least one of selection of the at least one prevention unit, identification of the situation, and judgment of the degree of danger.

8. The theft-deterrent system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one preventive unit includes an executing unit that executes a plurality of preventive measures corresponding to the degree of danger.

9. The theft-deterrent system according to claim 1, further comprising a memory that stores at least one of results of identification by the situation identifying unit, judgment by the degree-of-danger judging unit, execution of the preventive measure, and identification of the current location of the vehicle.

10. The theft-deterrent system according to claim 9, further comprising a selecting unit that selects the at least one detecting unit to be activated next, based on the results stored in the memory, and activates the at least one detecting unit selected.

11. The theft-deterrent system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one detecting unit includes any one of or a combination of a camera, a microphone, a communication device, an approach sensor, a contact sensor, an inclination sensor, a glass break sensor, a door pre-opening sensor, an engine pre-ignition sensor, an intrusion sensor, an odometer, and a key-loss detector.

12. The theft-deterrent system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one prevention unit includes any one of or a combination of a speaker, a monitor, a horn, a blinker light, a smoke generator, a flash, a communication device, a human figure generator, a security operation expressing device, a windshield shutter operation unit.

13. A theft-deterrent method for a vehicle, comprising:

detecting information on damage of the vehicle including vehicle theft or vandalizing of the vehicle;

identifying a situation of the damage based on order of detection of the information;

judging a degree of danger based on the situation;

selecting a preventive measure corresponding to the degree of danger; and

executing the preventive measure against the damage;

wherein information for damage identification includes a plurality of scenes classified in chronological order from before occurrence of the damage to after the occurrence of the damage; and

wherein a situation identifying unit identifies the situation of the damage based on the information.

14. A computer program for theft deterrent of a vehicle, making a computer execute:

detecting information on damage of the vehicle including vehicle theft or vandalizing of the vehicle;

identifying a situation of the damage based on order of detection of the information;

judging a degree of danger based on the situation;

selecting a preventive measure corresponding to the degree of danger; and

executing the preventive measure against the damage; and

wherein information for damage identification includes a plurality of scenes classified in chronological order from before occurrence of the damage to after the occurrence of the damage; and

wherein the situation of the damage is identified based on the information.