System for identifying an unauthorized use of a telematic device

• US 7,688,197 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2003
• Issued: 03/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Gieseke, Arnold, Lappe, Dirk, Becker, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman; Brian A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jiang; Yong Hang
• Application Number:
  US10/506,092
• Publication Number:
  US 20050206509A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,588 Days
• Field of Search: 340/988, 340/992, 340/5.3, 340/991, 340/426.1, 340/426.12, 340/571, 340/457, 340/539.13, 340/5.61, 340/5.65, 4554561-4566
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network

Abstract

The invention relates to a system of identifying an unauthorized use of a telematic device or a vehicle equipped with a telematic device. The telematic device includes an identification code, which is transmitted to a service provider. The identification codes of those telematic devices, which have been reported as being used in unauthorized, are stored at the service provider. The identification codes received at the service provider is compared for a match with the stored identification codes.

Claims

1. A method of identifying on unauthorized use of a telematic device or a vehicle equipped therewith, the telematic device having an identification code, which is transmitted to a service provider, comprising:

storing at the service provider, the identification codes of those telematic devices which have been reported as being used unauthorized;

receiving at the service provider an on-line service request from a first telematic device having a first identification code and a second telematic device having a second identification code;

receiving the first and the second identification codes from the first and the second telematic devices in their ordinary operating routine, which comprises the on-line service request requested by an unauthorized user and a billing for the on-line service request, where the on-line service request with the telematic device is known to-the unauthorized user such that the unauthorized user can select and request on-line service;

comparing identification codes received at the service provider for a match with the stored identification codes;

comparing the first identification code received at the service provider for a match with the stored identification codes;

comparing the second identification code received at the service provider for a match with the stored identification codes;

identifying that a use of the first telematic device is authorized and a use of the second telematic device is unauthorized;

providing the requested service to both the first and the second telematic devices, even though the use of the second telematic device is unauthorized, to prevent an unauthorized user of the second telematic device from becoming aware that the second identification code is compared and that the use of the second telematic device is identified to be an unauthorized; and

providing the requested service to the second telematic device, even though the second telematic device is manipulated by changing an identity card inserted by the unauthorized user to use radio mobile communication, and detecting the unauthorized use of the second telematic device by the identification code obtained through an ordinary operation routine of the second telematic device.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of requesting by the service provider transmission of the present position coordinates of the telematic device when a match is found.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the position coordinates are determined at the telematic device using a global positioning system module and displayed at the service provider.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the communication between the telematic device and the service provider is carried out using a standard cellular communications unit.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the identification code is transmitted to the service provider when the change of the identity card providing access to the telematic device is detected.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the identification code is transmitted to the service provider in cyclic intervals and the cyclic intervals comprises once per day.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the cyclic transmission of the identification is disabled and enabled upon input of a security code into the telematic device.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein all steps are carried out by an automatic operational routine at the telematic device without requiring interaction by a user.

9. The method according to claim 2, wherein the communication between the telematic device and the service provider is carried out using a standard cellular communications unit.

10. The method according to claim 3, wherein the communication between the telematic device and the service provider is carried out using a standard cellular communications unit.

11. The method according to claim 2, wherein the identification code is transmitted to the service provider when the change of the identity card providing access to the telematic device is detected.

12. The method according to claim 3, wherein the identification code is transmitted to the service provider when the change of the identity card providing access to the telematic device is detected.

13. The method according to claim 4, wherein the identification code is transmitted to the service provider when the change of the identity card providing access to the telematic device is detected.

14. The method according to claim 2, wherein the service provider initiates communication with the telematic devices when online services are requested by the telematic devices from the service provider.

15. The method according to claim 3, wherein the service provider initiates communication with the telematic devices when the identification codes are transmitted from those telematic devices in cyclic intervals.

16. The method according to claim 4, wherein the service provider initiates communication with the first and the second telematic devices when online services are requested from the service provider by the first telematic device and when the second identification code is received at the service provider in cyclic intervals.

17. The method according to claim 2, wherein first identification code is transmitted to the service provider in response to a request by the service provider.

18. The method according to claim 2, wherein the first identification code is transmitted to the service provider in cyclic intervals and the cyclic intervals comprises once per day.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the cyclic transmission of the first identification code is disabled and enabled upon input of a security code into the telematic device.

20. The method according to claim 2, wherein all steps are carried out by an automatic operational routine at the telematic device without requiring interaction by a user.

21. The method according to claim 3, wherein all steps are carried out by an automatic operational routine at the telematic device without requiring interaction by a user.

22. The method according to claim 4, wherein all steps are carried out by an automatic operational routine at the telematic device without requiring interaction by a user.

23. The method according to claim 5, wherein all steps are carried out by an automatic operational routine at the telematic device without requiring interaction by a user.

24. A telematic device comprising:

a memory storing an identification code;

a global positioning system module for determining position coordinates;

a mobile communication unit operating under applicable telecommunication standards and communicating with a service provider to transmit the identification code;

a module for reading an identity card inserted by a user to enable communication by the mobile telecommunication unit; and

a mechanism for enabling/disabling cyclic transmission of the identification code to the service provider;

where independently of the unauthorized use of the telematic device, the mobile communication unit transmits the identification code in an ordinary operation routine of the telematic device and the ordinary operation routine comprises an on-line service request requested by an unauthorized user and a billing for the on-line service request, and

where the on-line service request with the telematic device in the unauthorized use is known to the unauthorized user such that the unauthorized user can select and request on-line service; and

where even if the telematic device is manipulated by changing the identity card inserted by the unauthorized user, the unauthorized use of the telematic device is detectable by the identification code of the telematic device obtained through the ordinary operation routine of the telematic device.

25. The telematic device according to claim 24, further comprising a standard cellular communications unit.

26. The telematic device according to claim 24, where the telematic device is resident to a vehicle.

27. The telematic device according to claim 24, where the mechanism further comprises means for inputting a security code for disabling/enabling the cyclic transmission of the identification code.

28. The telematic device according to claim 24, where the mobile communication unit receives location-based information, security information and entertainment services form the service provider.

29. The telematic device according to claim 24, further comprising a radio receiver and a television receiver and means for receiving video signals.

30. The telematic device according to claim 24, where all operations are carried out by an automatic operational routine at the telematic device without requiring interaction by a user.

31. A system for identifying unauthorized use of a telematic device or a vehicle equipped therewith, comprising:

a memory for storing the identification codes at the service provider of those telematic devices, which have been reported a being used unauthorized;

means for comparing identification codes received at the service provider for a match with the stored identification cedes; and

a communication unit operable to receive a service request from a first telematic device having a first identification code and a second telematic device having a second identification code;

where the means for comparing operates to compare the first identification code and the second identification code for the match with the stored identification codes and the means for comparing identifies that a use of the first telematic device is authorized and a use of the second telematic device is unauthorized; and

where the communication unit provides the requested service to both the first and second telematic devices, even though the use of the second telematic device is unauthorized, to prevent an unauthorized user of the second telematic device from becoming aware that the second identification code is compared for match with the stored identification codes and the use of the second telematic device is identified to be unauthorized; and

where the telematic device comprising;

a memory storing an identification code;

a global positioning system module for determining position coordinates;

a mobile communication unit operating under applicable telecommunication standards and communicating with a service provider to transmit the identification code;

a module for reading an identity card inserted by a user to enable communication by the mobile telecommunication unit; and

a mechanism for enabling/disabling cyclic transmission of the identification code to the service provider;

where independently of the unauthorized use of the telematic device, the mobile communication unit transmits the identification code in an ordinary operation routine of the telematic device and the ordinary operation routine comprises an on-line service request requested by an unauthorized user and a billing for the on-line service request where the on-line service request with the telematic device in the unauthorized use is known to the unauthorized user such that the unauthorized use can select and request on-line service; and

where even if the telematic device is manipulated by changing the identity card inserted by the unauthorized user, the unauthorized use of the telematic device is detectable by the identification code of the telematic device obtained through the ordinary operation routine of the telematic device.

32. The system according to claim 31, where the service provider further comprises means for requesting the transmission of the present position coordinates from the telematic device.

33. The system according to claim 31, where all operations are carried out by an automatic operational routine at the telematic device without requiring interaction by a user.