Patents by Inventor Terry E Downs

Terry E Downs has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Diagnostic system and method for detecting tampering of vehicle software or calibrations
    Patent number: 7894978
    Abstract: A tamper detection system for a control module of a vehicle comprises first nonvolatile memory that stores N rewriteable components including at least one of calibration and software that is used to operate a controlled device of the vehicle, wherein N is an integer greater than zero. The N rewriteable components include an embedded part number (EPN) and an embedded verification number (EVN). Second nonvolatile memory includes a history buffer. A tampering detection module includes a calculated verification number (CVN) generator that generates a CVN for at least one of the N rewriteable components and that stores the CVN in the history buffer. A locking module selectively locks the history buffer under certain conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Inventors: James T. Kurnik, Terry E Downs, Marcelleaus P. Baines, Ronald J. Gaynier
  • DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING TAMPERING OF VEHICLE SOFTWARE OR CALIBRATIONS
    Publication number: 20090195368
    Abstract: A tamper detection system for a control module of a vehicle comprises first nonvolatile memory that stores N rewriteable components including at least one of calibration and software that is used to operate a controlled device of the vehicle, wherein N is an integer greater than zero. The N rewriteable components include an embedded part number (EPN) and an embedded verification number (EVN). Second nonvolatile memory includes a history buffer. A tampering detection module includes a calculated verification number (CVN) generator that generates a CVN for at least one of the N rewriteable components and that stores the CVN in the history buffer. A locking module selectively locks the history buffer under certain conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: James T. Kurnik, Terry E Downs, Marcelleaus P. Baines, Ronald J. Gaynier