Of Burglary Or Unauthorized Use Patents (Class 340/426.1)
  • Patent number: 9002575
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for validating a vehicle operator. In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises an input device for allowing entry of vehicle operator identification information, a transceiver for transmitting a message and receiving a response to the message, an interface for allowing a processor to communication with a vehicle sub-system, and a processor connected to the input device, the transceiver, and the interface, the processor for receiving the vehicle operator identification information from the input device, for generating the message comprising the vehicle operation identification information and providing the message to the transceiver, for receiving the response from the transceiver and for controlling the vehicle sub-system, via the interface, based on the response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Omnitracs, LLC
    Inventors: John Harvey, Thomas F. Doyle, Michael L. Segal
  • Patent number: 8996229
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system and a method for information management of a construction machinery using a communication terminal mounted on the construction machinery. To this end, the information management system of the construction machinery of the present disclosure includes: a control server managing information of the construction machinery; a memory unit storing driving information of the construction machinery when the construction machinery is in a starting off state; and a communication terminal reading the corresponding information from the memory unit and transmitting the information to the control server when receiving a request for predetermined information from the control server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Doosan Infracore Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jung Mug Shin
  • Patent number: 8988205
    Abstract: Methods, systems, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for expanding the functionality of a security system are disclosed. The security system may be integrated with a vehicle security system. For example, a vehicle security node of a vehicle may transmit a signal that may be received by the security system. The security system may authenticate the vehicle security node and integrate the vehicle security node into its network. Various information may be communicated in both directions between the security system and the vehicle security node. The vehicle security node may communicate with an alarm panel that may include a dock for connecting a portable device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventor: Jim Poder
  • Patent number: 8976016
    Abstract: An alarm system for a vehicle charge cord is provided. The alarm system has an armed state and a disarmed state. The alarm system includes a battery, a charge cord sensor, a battery state estimator (“BSE”) module, and an interface module. The battery has state of charge (“SOC”), and is rechargeable to a predetermined level of charge. The charge cord sensor is configured to detect if the vehicle charge cord is connected to or disconnected from a vehicle. The BSE module is configured to monitor the SOC of the rechargeable battery and determine if the battery is charged to the predetermined level of charge. The interface module is in communication with the charge cord sensor and the BSE module. The interface module is configured to switch the alarm system from the armed state to the disarmed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Andrew P. Oury, Andres V. Mituta
  • Publication number: 20150062343
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for premises security is described. In one embodiment, a person passing through a perimeter of a predefined area is detected via a boundary sensor. Upon detecting the person passing through the perimeter of the predefined area, a camera is activated to capture an image of the person, the camera being positioned in relation to the predefined area. A notification is sent to a user determined to be nearest to the predefined area. The notification may include the image of the person. A proximity of a person in relation to a vehicle is detected via a proximity sensor. Upon determining the proximity of the person satisfies a predetermined threshold, a notification is sent to a user. Upon determining the proximity of the person satisfies the predetermined threshold, a camera positioned in relation to the vehicle is activated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Jungtaik Hwang, Matthew J. Eyring, Jeremy B. Warren, James Ellis Nye
  • Patent number: 8963706
    Abstract: To provide a direction indicating apparatus that is less susceptible to a change of a power supply voltage and can reduce the difference in brightness of a direction indicating lamp using an LED element between a direction indicating operation and a hazard operation. A direction indicating apparatus includes a pulse signal generating part, a first switching element, a variable resistor circuit, a direction indicating switch, a hazard switch, first and second direction indicating lamps, a voltage detecting part and a lighting status detecting part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Shindengen Electric Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Isao Ohki
  • Patent number: 8963699
    Abstract: A catalytic converter theft protection arrangement includes a metal cage rigidly attached to an underside of a vehicle such that the cage surrounds a catalytic converter of the vehicle. An electronic tamper-detecting device is disposed within the cage and transmits an alarm signal in response to detecting motion around the catalytic converter and/or vibration of the cage. A remote controller selectively activates and deactivates the electronic tamper-detecting device in response to actuation of the remote controller by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Inventor: David P. Potter
  • Patent number: 8941478
    Abstract: A vehicle system for determining that at least one mobile electronic device is generally stationary and is potentially forgotten is provided. The system includes a vehicle data bus and a control module. The vehicle data bus transmits a signal indicating at least one trigger event. The trigger event indicates a vehicle exit condition. The control module is in communication with the mobile electronic device and the vehicle bus. The control module is in communication with the mobile device through a data connection to receive information. The control module includes control logic for receiving the trigger signal from the vehicle data bus. The control module includes control logic for determining if the mobile electronic device has moved based on information received from the data connection. The control module includes control logic for determining if the mobile electronic device is generally stationary if the trigger signal is received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Sanjeev C. Mirle, Eric S. Kaufman
  • Publication number: 20150022332
    Abstract: Method for preventing security breaches via the two-thief method of attack of passive remote keyless entry systems for vehicles. The method involves the transmission of a signal between a fob and the vehicle, where the level of the signal changes in a particular pattern. At the receiving side, anomalies in the pattern of the received signal (e.g., levels, timing) are detected and used to detect attempts to mimic the signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventor: Xing Ping Lin
  • Patent number: 8928473
    Abstract: A fuel monitoring device for a vehicle having one or more fuel tank sensors, the fuel monitoring device comprising a control module in communication with the or each fuel tank sensor, wherein the control module is operable to receive data from the or each fuel tank sensor and operable to output fuel level related data to a mobile communications system transmitter for transmission to an end user. The fuel monitoring device may be installed covertly within a vehicle and communicate with the vehicle's fuel tank sensor and, optionally, further sensors. The fuel monitoring device facilitates the transmission of information to an end user allowing the end user to identify occurrences of fuel theft from a remote location and/or the fuel monitoring device is operable to generate an alarm condition in or in the proximity of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Inventors: James Wilson Gilchrist, Ronald Thomas Meechan, Andrew Robert Meechan
  • Patent number: 8928470
    Abstract: Rule-based intoxicating substance testing associated with vehicles. At least some of the various embodiments are methods including: receiving a signal that a prospective driver intends to drive a vehicle; retrieving at least one previously stored rule regarding intoxicating substance testing associated the vehicle; retrieving data relevant to the rule; determining whether intoxicating substance testing is indicated by the rule; enabling the vehicle responsive to an indication that intoxicating substance testing is not indicated; and administering an intoxicating substance test to the prospective driver responsive to an indication that an intoxicating substance test is indicated. And if the intoxicating substance test is administered: enabling the vehicle responsive to the prospective driver passing the intoxicating substance test, the enabling by the onboard device; and disabling the vehicle responsive to the prospective driver failing the intoxicating substance test, the disabling by the onboard device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Gordon*Howard Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald A. Morgan, Christopher M. Macheca, Amy E. Rossetter, Stanley G. Schwarz
  • Patent number: 8922356
    Abstract: An entryway control and monitoring system includes a remote controller to open and close an entryway and a telematics unit. The remote controller and the telematics unit are each disposed in a vehicle. The system further includes any of i) a vehicle bus that operatively connects the remote controller to the telematics unit, or ii) respective short range wireless connection units disposed in each of the remote controller and the telematics unit that selectively operatively connect the remote controller and the telematics unit. Computer readable code embedded on a non-transitory, tangible computer readable medium is executable by a processor of the telematics unit to at least one of control or monitor an operation of the remote controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: General Motors LLC
    Inventors: Craig A. Lambert, Lei Hua
  • Publication number: 20140375476
    Abstract: A system of a vehicle may provide a parking assist function and/or an alert function. The system includes a sensor, a control and a display. The sensor is disposed at a vehicle and is operable to, at least in part, determine a geographical location of the vehicle. The control may be responsive to an output of the sensor and at least one of (i) a database and (ii) a communication from a remote server. Responsive to an input, the control may display parking information pertaining to parking spaces at or near the current geographical location of the vehicle. The system may be part of a plurality of networked vehicles equipped with respective sensors and controls. The control of the equipped vehicle may be operable to communicate information pertaining to a determination of an event or break-in to other nearby vehicles of the plurality of networked vehicles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Nathaniel S. Johnson, Paul A. VanOphem
  • Patent number: 8896430
    Abstract: According to various embodiments, a fleet management system is provided for capturing, storing, and analyzing telematics data to improve fleet management operations. The fleet management system may be used, for example, by a shipping entity (e.g., a common carrier) to capture telematics data from a plurality of vehicle sensors located on various delivery vehicles and to analyze the captured telematics data. In particular, various embodiments of the fleet management system are configured to analyze engine idle data in relation to other telematics data in order to identify inefficiencies, safety hazards, and theft hazards in a driver's delivery process. The fleet management system may also be configured to assess various aspects of vehicle performance, such as vehicle travel delays and vehicle speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: United Parcel Service of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark J Davidson, John A Olsen, III
  • Patent number: 8896465
    Abstract: A method is described for providing an advanced indication to a driver that a road segment which will require his attention is located along his route. The method comprising: a) detecting the vehicle's current location and identifying a road segment that the driver is about to reach; b) for the identified road segment, retrieving values of driving performance parameters associated therewith; c) evaluating whether any of the retrieved values exceeds a pre-defined threshold, and based on that evaluation, determining whether the identified road segment is a low service level segment and thus would require the driver's attention; and d) providing the driver with an advanced indication indicating the road segment which has been determined as being a segment of a low service level for the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Greenroad Driving Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Ofer Nissim Raz, Oren Musicant
  • Patent number: 8890669
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for collaboratively monitoring by means of MTC devices in a wireless communication network and related MTC devices and system. Each of the MTC devices is connected to a MTC server via said wireless communication network and includes a transceiver having a unique ID and security code, and said transceiver periodically broadcasts its normal or abnormal status information to other MTC devices within a certain range in the vicinity of that MTC device and detects and identifies other MTC devices within said range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventors: Hongfei Du, Yu Chen
  • Patent number: 8874280
    Abstract: In order to allow the broader selection of modules that configure a vehicle, this information processing system, which is for checking a vehicle configured by combining a plurality of vehicle modules, is characterized by being provided with: a first judgment means that judges whether or not each vehicle module has been certified; a second judgment means that judges whether or not the combination of the plurality of vehicle modules can be certified; and a determination means that determines the conditions necessary for the combination of the plurality of vehicle modules to receive certification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Doi, Koyo Uemura, Satoko Itaya, Yoshiaki Wakabayashi, Satoru Oga, Junich Miyamoto, Hajime Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 8866611
    Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) input sensing system includes a 3D input device, a host, and a power managing unit. The 3D input device includes at least one 3D motion sensing unit, and transmits a radio frequency (RF) signal obtained from detected motion of the 3D input device. The host receives the RF signal from the 3D input device and obtains 3D coordinate information of the 3D input device. The power managing unit controls supply of power in the 3D input device upon determining that the latter has remained motionless for a predetermined time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Inventor: Meng-Ta Yang
  • Patent number: 8866909
    Abstract: The device comprises an intrusion detection module (6), an image acquisition module (14), an energy management module (13) and an autonomous power source (9), the said detection module (6) being designed to furnish a detection signal having a first predetermined state when an intrusion is detected and a second predetermined state otherwise, and the said management module (13) being designed to make the said device change over from a waiting mode to a working mode by activating the supply of the image acquisition module (14) by the said autonomous power source (9) when the said signal changes over from the second state to the first state. The method includes a step consisting in furnishing the detection signal and, when the detection signal changes over from the second state to the first predetermined state, a step consisting in making the said device change over from the waiting mode to the working mode and a step consisting in achieving image acquisition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS
    Inventor: Philippe Bramoulle
  • Patent number: 8855575
    Abstract: A device-vehicle interoperability verification method is disclosed herein. Vehicle information is obtained by a mobile communications device, and this vehicle information pertains to a vehicle within which the device is being used or is going to be used. The vehicle information and device identification information is transmitted from the device to a server. The transmission occurs in response to a command generated by an application resident on the device, which includes computer readable code, embedded on a tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium, for performing the transmission. A data aggregator at the server queries a database to obtain data pertaining to an interoperability between the device and the vehicle, and a communications module at the server sends a message to the device that includes at least the data pertaining to the interoperability between the device and the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: General Motors LLC
    Inventors: Richard F. Heines, Christopher L. Oesterling
  • Patent number: 8854183
    Abstract: A working machine is provided with a plurality of exchangeable components, and each component is provided with a wireless tag. A component ID is stored in advance in the wireless tag. When, on the side of the working machine, a component exchange timing or an engine starting timing is detected, the component ID stored in the wireless tag is acquired, and is transmitted to a working machine management device. The working machine management device checks the component ID which has been received from the working machine and a component ID which is stored in a component ID storage means against one another. And, if these two component IDs do not match one another, an abnormal state detection means outputs a warning signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsutomo Komine, Yukihiro Tsuda, Hidenori Koizumi
  • Patent number: 8847731
    Abstract: A system for communicating with a vehicle includes a control module equipped with a remote keyless entry (RKE) receiver and configured to control vehicle functions in response to a RKE signal. The system includes a fob equipped with a RKE transmitter and a short range transceiver, such as BLUETOOTH™, IEEE 802.11, or near field communication (NFC). The fob transmits a RKE signal in response to receiving a message from a consumer device, such as a cellular phone, smart phone, tablet computer, or personal computer equipped with a short range transceiver, enabling the user to control the vehicle from the consumer device. The system may be configured to transmit vehicle status information to the consumer device. The control module may include a third short range transceiver that communicates with the consumer device when the distance is between the vehicle and the consumer device is less than the distance threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Craig A. Tieman
  • Patent number: 8841994
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an intelligent traffic safety system based on comprehensive state detection and decision method thereof. The intelligent traffic safety system includes a person condition detection unit, a vehicle condition detection unit, a road condition detection unit, an intelligent decision unit, a driver warning unit, a current vehicle mandatory processing unit, a barrier warning unit, a pursuer warning unit and an after-crash warning unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Beijing Its-Star Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minghang Li, Zhibin Li, Rose Shao, Tao Ma, Zongli Lin, Bin Li, Zhengbin Yao, Jianchao Mou, Ying Li
  • Patent number: 8836489
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting unauthorized vehicle movement that includes measuring a resting angle of a vehicle using a vehicle sensor; thereafter, detecting a change in the measured resting angle of the vehicle; determining that the detected change is not authorized; and sending an alert message based on the determination via a vehicle telematics unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: General Motors LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey P. Christensen, Daryl L. Carr, Michael D. Solomon, Christopher L. Oesterling
  • Patent number: 8838332
    Abstract: In one example, a network device stores a mapping of application operation modes to vehicle conditions such as a first condition of the vehicle powered but not moving and a second condition of the vehicle moving. The network device receives a wirelessly transmitted request for a particular application to utilize an interface powered by the vehicle. The network device compares an application identifier specified by the received request to the mapping. The network device then identifies a portion of the vehicle interface according to the comparison and signals control software on the vehicle to grant the particular application access to only the identified portion of the vehicle interface itself. The application can reside on the mobile device and utilize the vehicle interface as an extended interface, or the application can reside on the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Airbiquity Inc.
    Inventors: Kamyar Moinzadeh, Leon L. Hong, Lee Zhao
  • Patent number: 8830031
    Abstract: A working machine is provided with a plurality of exchangeable components, and each component is provided with a wireless tag. A component ID is stored in advance in the wireless tag. When, on the side of the working machine, a component exchange timing or an engine starting timing is detected, the component ID stored in the wireless tag is acquired, and is transmitted to a working machine management device. The working machine management device checks the component ID which has been received from the working machine and a component ID which is stored in a component ID storage means against one another. And, if these two component IDs do not match one another, an abnormal state detection means outputs a warning signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihiro Tsuda, Hidenori Koizumi, Michiko Komine, Keisuke Komine, Chihiro Saito
  • Patent number: 8823502
    Abstract: An asset's TCU, or a mobile device coupled thereto, receives and stores geographical boundary definitions to a memory. A processor uses the boundary definition to determine an initial-location boundary based on the definition and the current location of the TCU at the time it received the boundary request message. As the TCU's GPS unit generates location information, the processor retrieves the initial-location boundary definition from the memory and compares the current location from the GPS receiver to it according to an algorithm. If the processor determines that the current location of the vehicle has crossed the boundary, the processor generates an alert message, which may be an e-mail, SMS, telephonic, internet, IM, or other electronic message indicating that an asset crossed the boundary, and sends it wirelessly using a transceiver to a central computer for further processing, or directly to another device, according to a notification destination identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: HTI IP, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Eric C. Berkobin, Alex Berkobin, Deep Kalinadhabhotla
  • Patent number: 8810364
    Abstract: A working machine is provided with a plurality of exchangeable components, and each component is provided with a wireless tag. A component ID is stored in advance in the wireless tag. When, on the side of the working machine, a component exchange timing or an engine starting timing is detected, the component ID stored in the wireless tag is acquired, and is transmitted to a working machine management device. The working machine management device checks the component ID which has been received from the working machine and a component ID which is stored in a component ID storage means against one another. And, if these two component IDs do not match one another, an abnormal state detection means outputs a warning signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihiro Tsuda, Hidenori Koizumi, Michiko Komine, Keisuke Komine, Chihiro Saito
  • Publication number: 20140218186
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a detection device 100 for a vehicle, which can prevent damage to the vehicle by detecting occurrence of abnormality before the vehicle is damaged, and can accurately detect abnormality inside and outside the vehicle. The detection device 100 for a vehicle of the present invention includes: a transmission antenna 1, installed inside a vehicle 50, for transmitting a radio wave; reception antennae 2, 3, 4, and 5, installed inside the vehicle 50, for receiving the radio wave; and an abnormality detection calculation section 6 that calculates a spatial feature amount P(t) based on the radio wave received by each of the reception antennae 2, 3, 4, and 5, and detects, based on the calculated spatial feature amount P(t), a motion of a person outside the vehicle 50 and a motion of a person intruding into the vehicle 50.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Koji Kawamoto
  • Patent number: 8798855
    Abstract: A system and method for self-detecting vehicle theft is provided that includes a first antenna and a second antenna, both located on a vehicle. The first antenna transmits the signal and the second antenna receives the signal. A monitoring module in communication with the second antenna is configured to determine whether the signal has changed. A vehicle security system is configured to activate based on a change in the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc
    Inventors: Shafer Seymour, Peter Saladin
  • Patent number: 8773249
    Abstract: A car alarm apparatus includes a first horn; a second horn; an electrical source; a theft detection section; a horn switch; a first relay closed when the horn switch is operated; a first fuse connected to the electrical source in series with the first relay and the first horn; a second fuse connected to the electrical source separately from the first fuse; and a second relay connected to the electrical source in series with the second fuse and the second horn, wherein the second relay includes a first contact that connects the second horn to an electrical source through the first fuse and the first relay in parallel with the first horn and a second contact that connects the second horn to the electrical source through the second fuse, and closes the second contact when the occurrence of the theft is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hidetoshi Horie
  • Patent number: 8768300
    Abstract: The present invention provides a remote control method and system for a smart card. The remote control method for a smart card includes the following steps: a smart card management platform receives a request for destruction of a smart card from a user (S101); the smart card management platform carries out short message interactive processing with a terminal via a mobile network platform according to the request to make the terminal destruct the smart card (S103).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: ZTE Corporation
    Inventors: Chuanxi Wu, Jingwang Ma
  • Patent number: 8754743
    Abstract: An electronic device that includes an interface that connects to a charging apparatus and exchanges authentication information with a server via a network. The electronic device also includes a control unit that controls charging of a battery of the electronic device based on power received from the charging apparatus. Upon completion of the charging operation, the interface of the electronic device transmits information for calculating a tax based on the charging operation to the server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihito Ishibashi
  • Patent number: 8751104
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a computing platform configured with first configuration information, an identification module that receives driver identification information and determines whether to enable the computing platform based on the identification information, and a communication module that establishes communications between the computing platform and an off-vehicle information store storing second configuration information if the computing platform is enabled. The vehicle also includes an update module that updates the computing platform with the second configuration information if the second configuration information is different than the first configuration information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Thomas Hermann, Timothy P. Curtis
  • Patent number: 8749385
    Abstract: A device for recognizing when an object or a person crosses a threshold that is marked by a magnetic field comprises a first magnetic field sensor that is designed to detect a first magnetic field component of the magnetic alternating field and to deliver an associated magnetic field sensor signal. The device comprises a second magnetic field sensor that is designed to detect a second magnetic field component of the alternating magnetic field. The device also comprises an evaluator that is designed to deliver information in response to a change in a phase relationship between the magnetic field sensor signal delivered by the first magnetic field sensor and a reference signal based on the detection of the second magnetic field component by the second magnetic field sensor, said information indicating that the object or person has crossed the marked threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Josef Bernhard, Thomas Leipold, Thomas von der Gruen
  • Publication number: 20140152431
    Abstract: A vehicle safeguard device includes a setting unit, which is operative to set a vehicle that is in a parked state in a safeguard state; a detection unit, which is electrically connected to the setting unit to detect a horizon state and a signal interrupted state of the vehicle when the vehicle is in the safeguard state; a sensing unit, which receives the horizon state and the signal interrupted state of the vehicle detected by the detection unit; and a signal processing and control unit, which is electrically connected to the sensing unit to receive an abnormality signal of the horizon state and the signal interrupted state of vehicle sensed by the sensing unit and convert the abnormality signal into an alarm signal and transmit the alarm signal to an external management center.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: YUEYOU PROTECTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: YUE-YOU LIU
  • Patent number: 8744403
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method and system for remote control of a smart card. The method comprises that: a smart card management platform receives a request of locking or unlocking a smart card from a subscriber; and the smart card management platform performs interactive processing with a terminal side according to the request via a mobile network platform, so as to enable the terminal side to perform the locking or unlocking of the smart card. The present disclosure enables the payment subscriber to avoid loss when the terminal is robbed, lost, stolen, or is illegally used seriously, and provide a higher flexibility to the payment system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: ZTE Corporation
    Inventors: Chuanxi Wu, Jingwang Ma
  • Patent number: 8742924
    Abstract: A panic device operable in conjunction with a local device is configured to unlock a locking mechanism. The panic device can take the form of an electronic key fob, a key shaft, or a key holder. A first trigger on the panic device triggers a local alarm that is on-board or off-board the panic device. A second trigger on the panic device can activate an alarm circuitry that utilizes a local device to provide position information to a distant dispatch station. The local device uses a GPS-aware circuitry or other non-GPS means such as triangulation to determine the position information. The position information can then be sent to the distant dispatch station with or without the aid of the local device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Global Life-Line, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Eisenman
  • Patent number: 8742908
    Abstract: Object tracking is facilitated. In accordance with one or more embodiments, an object tracking apparatus (200) includes a proximate-range circuit (212), a positioning circuit (214) and a communications circuit (216). The proximate-range circuit wirelessly verifies the identity and presence of at least one proximate-range communications device (220), and the positioning circuit determines positioning information of the object tracking apparatus. The communications circuit receives outputs from the proximate-range circuit and positioning circuit respectively regarding the verification and positioning information, and wirelessly communicates data to a remote communications station based upon the received outputs (140).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: NXP, B.V.
    Inventor: Cedric Boudy
  • Patent number: 8744412
    Abstract: The various examples disclosed herein relate to systems, methods, and equipment that allow law enforcement to access vehicle identification information stored in a vehicle telematics unit, as well as other vehicle related information, wirelessly directly from a user's vehicle without going through wireless mobile network using an authorization code. The authorization code allows authorized law enforcement personnel to communicate directly with the vehicle and gain access to vehicle information while still keeping the information private.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Cellco Partnership
    Inventors: Carlos A. Cazanas, Azam Khan, Matthew Butz
  • Patent number: 8736433
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method to detect vehicle theft. In one embodiment, a processor may be configured to execute instructions to: receive a vehicle detection signal from a vehicle detector; determine whether a vehicle is present or absent based upon the vehicle detection signal; establish an authentication credential after the vehicle is determined to present; and validate the authentication credential to indicate validated parking. If the vehicle is determined to be absent and an authentication credential to un-park the vehicle has not been validated, a notification action may be transmitted to appropriate personnel to indicate that the vehicle has been moved or un-parked without proper authentication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Arun Balakrishnan, Alexander Gantman, Brian M. Rosenberg, Yinian Mao, Renwei Ge
  • Patent number: 8731741
    Abstract: A system and method that enables a user of a telematics-equipped vehicle to initiate security services by activating their vehicle keyfob. If a user senses an emergency situation, such as a person breaking into their home, they can engage a panic button on their vehicle keyfob. This causes the vehicle to send a wireless warning signal to a call center which already has emergency contact numbers on file. The call center can then call the user to see if they require assistance from a police department, fire department, ambulance, etc. In one embodiment, the method also determines if the vehicle is currently located within a certain proximity of one or more designated locations (usually the user's home or work) before contacting the user. This can reduce responses to non-emergencies, such as when a user simply presses their panic button in order to locate their vehicle in a crowded parking lot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: General Motors LLC
    Inventor: Christopher L. Oesterling
  • Patent number: 8718602
    Abstract: The disclosure discloses a method and a system for remote control of a smart card; the method comprises: receiving, by a smart card management platform, a request for performing a LOCKING/UNLOCKING operation for a smart card from a user (S101); and the smart card management platform performs a short message interaction with a terminal side through a mobile network platform based on the request, so as to make the terminal side perform the LOCKING/UNLOCKING operation for the smart card (S103). By means of the disclosure, the effects are achieved that the user can apply to a smart card supervision department for locking/unlocking the smart card and a terminal through a short message and disabling or enabling the smart card, when the smart card and the terminal in which the smart card is located are robbed, lost, stolen and has a serious illegal behavior, so as to protect the security of the user and the smart card relevant department to the greatest extent and provide a better flexibility for a payment system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: ZTE Corporation
    Inventors: Chuanxi Wu, Jingwang Ma
  • Patent number: 8718866
    Abstract: A system for controlling the operation of at least one of commanding an occupant communication device and entering data into the occupant communication device based on whether a driver is a primary or a secondary driver is provided. A controller is configured to receive a driver status signal indicative of whether the driver is the primary driver or the secondary driver. The controller is configured to determine whether the driver of the vehicle is one of the primary and the secondary driver based on the at least one driver status signal. The controller is configured to selectively control the operation of at least one of commanding the occupant communication device and entering data into the occupant communication device based on whether the driver of the vehicle is the primary driver or the secondary driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Lee Miller, John Shutko
  • Patent number: 8717154
    Abstract: A computing device and an automobile controlling method stores identification information in an electronic tag of authorized communication devices and a memory of the computing device. The identification information of an electronic tag of a communication device is obtained and a door of an automobile is unlocked if the obtained identification information matches identification information stored in the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Chi Mei Communication Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Yu-Chieh Lin
  • Patent number: 8686841
    Abstract: Activating geo-fence boundaries and collecting location data. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including: activating a geo-fence for a pre-determined area responsive to an event related to a vehicle; receiving Global Positioning System (GPS) signals indicative of a location of the vehicle, the receiving by an onboard device coupled to the vehicle; detecting that the vehicle has crossed the geo-fence; creating a data set comprising data regarding locations of the vehicle with respect to the geo-fence; determining a parameter associated with an existing insurance policy based on the data set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Gordon*Howard Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher M. Macheca, Franco Chirico, Gerald A. Morgan, Stanley G. Schwarz
  • Patent number: 8660709
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for validating a vehicle operator. In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises an input device for allowing entry of vehicle operator identification information, a transceiver for transmitting a message and receiving a response to the message, an interface for allowing a processor to communication with a vehicle sub-system, and a processor connected to the input device, the transceiver, and the interface, the processor for receiving the vehicle operator identification information from the input device, for generating the message comprising the vehicle operation identification information and providing the message to the transceiver, for receiving the response from the transceiver and for controlling the vehicle sub-system, via the interface, based on the response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Omnitracs, Inc.
    Inventors: John Harvey, Thomas F. Doyle, Michael L. Segal
  • Patent number: 8659388
    Abstract: A wireless communication system is provided. The communication system comprises a key fob comprising a wireless transmitter adapted to transmit a first signal having a first transmission field strength and first transmission duration, and a second signal having a second transmission field strength and second transmission duration and a vehicle comprising a wireless receiver adapted to receive the first and second signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: William A. Biondo, David T. Proefke
  • Patent number: 8653955
    Abstract: A method for exchanging information between a vehicle (1) and a mobile ID provider (11) has the following process steps: transmitting status request signals of the ID provider (11) to a communications device (21) in the vehicle having a prescribed period, wherein the periodically occurring action has the status request signal and a predefined pause, —activating the communications device (21) in the vehicle in case of alarm in a receiving mode, receiving the status request signal of the ID provider (11) by the activated communications device (21) in the vehicle, —transmitting an alarm message by the communications device (21) in the vehicle to the mobile ID provider (11); and display of the alarm signal on the ID provider (11). The method is particularly suited for the display of alarm messages of a vehicle on a mobile ID provider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Aunkofer, Herbert Froitzheim, Christian Kursawe, Thomas Reisinger, Ingo Tschauschner, Roland Wagner
  • Patent number: 8653956
    Abstract: An asset's TCU, or a mobile device coupled thereto, receives and stores geographical boundary definitions to a memory. A processor uses the boundary definition to determine an initial-location boundary based on the definition and the current location of the TCU at the time it received the boundary request message. As the TCU's GPS unit generates location information, the processor retrieves the initial-location boundary definition from the memory and compares the current location from the GPS receiver to it according to an algorithm. If the processor determines that the current location of the vehicle has crossed the boundary, the processor generates an alert message, which may be an e-mail, SMS, telephonic, interne, IM, or other electronic message indicating that an asset crossed the boundary, and sends it wirelessly using a transceiver to a central computer for further processing, or directly to another device, according to a notification destination identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: HTI IP, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Eric Berkobin, Alex Berkobin, Deep Kalinadhabhotla