GB2415077A

GB2415077A - Electronic vehicle identification device

Info

Publication number: GB2415077A
Application number: GB0410734A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gulam Mahomed Patel
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-05-14
Filing date: 2004-05-14
Publication date: 2005-12-14
Also published as: GB0410734D0

Abstract

An electronic vehicle identification device comprises a microchip programmed to store vehicle specific data. The vehicle data can include a chassis or vehicle identification number, engine number, make, model and colour of the vehicle and a registration number. A hand held or roadside reader may be used to extract data from the chip wirelessly. The readers may also be connected to a central computer through a network. The hand held reader may also be used to immobilise the vehicle either though ignition or fuel cut offs under the control of the chip. A further embodiment of the application describes the use of an LED number plate.

Description

VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM (/5SX INTEGRATED REN10TE-CONTROLLED VEHICLE

DISABLER MODULES FIrrED TO VEHICLES 1) DATA MODULE UNIT A programmable data module with an integrated sender / receiver chip, and a code activated response chip, to disable the vehicle. Programmed with a serial number and headers A, B. C, G & E (see table below) and software recognition security Feature, at the manufacturing stage to accept relevant information, and supplied to the vehicle manufacturers. This programming process Will be a one off installation and cannot be changed or re-installed.

With the software supplied, the vehicle manufacturers can then install the required information only to headers A, B. C & D, on completion of the vehicle. The information can be instailed.through a computer seria' po,t or sin,iiar. The port / socket on the vehicle can be located next to the fuse box where the manufacturers are now locating the diagnostic port.

The dealers, on the sale of the vehicle and after the registration process can then install only the registration number of that particular vehicle, through the same port as described above. DVLA will be informed of all the relevant information installed by both, the manufacturer and the dealer, including the module serial number at the registration process.

The dealers can be supplied with two software versions.

1) The full version: To be used when the module, engine and vehicle shell have to be replaced for some reason and the information has to be changed or re installed (restricted use to Manager or similar). The ownerlagent will have to apply to DVLA for change to the information and preferred dealer. The DVLA will then ask the dealer to verify and change the relevant information and report back when the process is completed.

11) The restricted version: IJsed only to install the registration number information.

A. Chassis or VIN Numbers Info installed by the vehicle manufacturer E3. Engine Number r,,^ ,^ I C:. Make, modl&colourofvehic,e ^ ,, ,. .

| E}. 'only A-vatiori Bode 4 l | E. Registration Number I Info installed by the vehicle dealer l SECURITY ISSUE: The serial number allocated to each module and installed as a one off installation which cannot be changed or re-instalied. Although special security features will have to be adopted to enable the information installation only by the software supplied, if by chance, the information to items A, B. C, D, & E is changed, the serial numberwill not match the information and the fraud can easily be traceable.

There are a number of other security options available.

If the socket is disconnected or the cables are cut to change the module, the information installed by the manufacturers and the dealers will be automatically erased, and the relevant information will have to be reinstalied.

There are a number of options available fQ extract or send information from the reader to the data module, i.e. infra-red, bluetnoth, rad,cfrequency or any other suitable option.

The infra-red unit can be fitted to the Font and rear of the vehicle just behind the windscreen (can also be fitted to the rear-view mirror on the front and the eve-leve' brake li2n'nt on Tess r3Gi Screerif Vr l\:eLet Lne;nl;a-red icicared irsloe t',,e module and JSe fibre-QpiCS fitted to strategic points.

2) E1EMOrE-CONTROLLED ELECTRON'0 FUEL OR iGNiTIoN CUT OFF Waives fitted to all new vehicles and controlled by a chip on the lOata ModEle which will only respond afte; an activation code is entered on the Gontroller and accepted by the chip to cut off the fuel supply, or the power to the ignition system. The activation code will allow the control!2r to lock on and disable only that particular vehicle and any other venicle within the vicinity will not be affected.

There are a number of of her options available, i.e.: 1. Temporarily feed wrong info to the electronic control unit engine management system) so that the engine will misfire resulting in loss of power ar,d therefore cannot pick up speed.

Recommended, due to loss of power the driver will have to bring the vehicle to the slow lane a nd then the police can then stop the vehicle easily.

2. Apply a short burst OT voltage to blow the fuse to disable the fuel pump or the ignition system.

I. . . 7<

Example

ELECTRONIC READER AND FUEL/IGNITION coNrRoLLER 1) Reader and fuel/ignition Controller fiffed to Police Patrol Vehicles The reader to extract all relevant information including the activation code and to enable the user through inputting the activation code to disable or enable the fuel or the ignition of the vehicle in front of the Police vehicle (rather then giving chase to stolen vehicles) 2) Hand held Reader Used by the traffic police, parking inspectors, the MO T station, or other registered user.

PURPOSE

1} Reader'!uel!'gnit'<, controller Random checks by the police to identify the vehicle through all the relevant data obtained and if the vehicle is stolen (and the driver dues not stop voluntarily), to deploy the fuel/.g.ion controller by remotely disabling either the fuel or the ignition thereby forcing the stolen vehicle to stop without a high speed chase (which would normally result in a lot of damage to other vehicles and/or deaths) A. Crosscheck the registration number against the dispisyed number-plate B. Stolen vehicle (with or without the correct displayed number plate) C. MOT & Tax disc is valid and not counterfeited D. Any other police reason 2) TheEtand-held Reader When used by the parking inspectors. '-4 To identify the vehicle with an the relevant data obtained: A. Crosscheck the registration number against the displayed number-plate B. Stolen vehicle (with or without the correct displayed number plate) C. MOT & Tax disc is valid and not counterfeited O. Cross check the serial number against the vehicle data on the module to eliminate fraud.

When used by the MC)T testing station.

The hand-held reader can be directly connected to a computer which in turn should be networked to a central server at the DVLA in Swansea, so the vehicle particular as well as the certificate details can be transferred and stored at the DVLA, and the test certificate can also be printed out.

From the information extracted, one can determine if: A. The vehicle being tested has the correct information displayed (the registration number and chassis plate has not been changed to obtain a certificate), doing away with the \'ehicie Inspection C:er.ificate (VIC) which has to be obtained if purchasing a damaged vehicle.

B. Cross check the serial number against the vehicle data on the module to eliminate fraud.

C. The complete vehicle history with the correct mileage reading (has not been tampered with) E). All pervious testing certificate history is ava. 'aDie If required.

BY t6 eClltep3!l I ' i,_. en -'! C-I ids adjust Again to obtain the required information 3; FLoad Fed Pickup Reader Type 1 Can 1: e tiffed on rnotor\,ays across ridges andJo" at gill e way/stops of the round -about on the slip roads exits OT the motorways T,ps 2: Can be fitted in Cities and Towns at strategic points on He traffic light poles or similar.

These readers should be connected to the computers of the relevant Regional Police Authority, which should be networked to either the DVLA or a Central Police Control Unit (OPCU) A request by the Regional Police Authority for information on any vehicle would go through the CPCU to ail the other Regional Police Authorities, with any information returning through the same route.

The wanted or stolen vehicle information card be fed into the database to alert the relevant authority, when it is picked up by readers. While the vehicle is mobile and with the Action traceable, a police vehicle can easily be positioned to disable it.

TAX OlSC The issuing of the Tax Disc should also be computer generated or at the least computer related, whereby all the relevant data is transferred to the DVLA server and is available to the Police and the MQT Station to verify the physical check, eliminating fraud.

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CONCLUSION

The project could rue implemented in stages, darting at fitting modules with all the features to the vehicles, with the cut off valves but only issue readers to the traffic police and parking inspectors. Later fitting the reader/controller to the motorway police vehicles, and then the mad fitted pick-up readers until the whose project is implemented to eliminate theft as well as fraud completely.

The handheld readers could later be integrated to the GSM and GPS system which will enhance the performance of the whole project.

At the later stage when the road fitted pick-up readers are adopted, the system will A perform very much- like a Tracker System

Claims

Page 3 Claims 1. The concept of electronic vehicle identification.
2. The concept of the vehicle data storage on a programmable microchip on a circuit board and housed within a module.
3. The data module housing a programmable microchip, a data accumulating microchip/processor, integrated with a sender / receiver chip, claim 4 associated to claim 5 or claim 6 (to temporarily disable a vehicle) and claim 7, fined on a circuit board and programmed with the vehicle data, module serial number and an activation code.
4. A code activated response chip associated to claim 5 or claim 6.
5. A chip controlled fuel cut-off valve.
6. A chip controlled Ignition system cut-ok
7. A speed reading chip associated to the speed reader on the gearbox or the speedo meter
8. A vehicle fitted reader and controller as a means to remotely/wirelessly extract vehicle data and if required, to temporarily disable the vehicle.
9. A hand held reader as a means to remotely/wirelessly extract vehicle data.
10. The roadside pickup readers as a means to remotely/wirelessly extract vehicle data.
11. The concept of remote/wireless vehicle data extraction by use of claim 7, claim 8 and claim 9.
12. The concept of remotely/wirelessly disabling a vehicle.
13. The concept of networking the claim 8 to Regional Data Processing Centres and in turn networked to a Central Unit to enable data sharing within the whole country.
14. The concept of LED number plates
15. The concept of the LED number plates displaying the registration mark installed in claim 3
16. The 'bum in process of the LED number plate so other then the 'bums in' registration mark, no other registration can be displayed.

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