GB2439137A

GB2439137A - A vehicle security device utilising a mobile phone

Info

Publication number: GB2439137A
Application number: GB0611712A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Terence Halliwell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-06-14
Filing date: 2006-06-14
Publication date: 2007-12-19
Also published as: GB0611712D0

Abstract

A vehicle security device has an integrated mobile phone capable of receiving text messages to immobilise the vehicle. Reactivation of the vehicle may only be achieved by sending a further reactivation message. Further disclosed is a method of locking the bonnet or boot of the vehicle via signals received. If a satellite navigation system is present, the vehicle may be tracked and the said tracking information relayed to a remote receiver such as a further mobile phone. The system may be integrated into the ECU of a vehicle or in older vehicles into the ignition system.

Description

1 2439137 Patent Application Title The use of Mobile Phone Technology

in Motor Vehicle Security.

Description and Method of Operation

a) Increasing numbers of expensive and sought after motor vehicles are being stolen, often in broad daylight, by car jacking', also by the unfortunate drivers being threatened and even attacked on their own driveways, in car parks, or during burglaries of their home for the vehicle security keys, before the criminals then drive the vehicle away, using the stolen keys.

Most of these vehicles, are stolen to order, the rest are used in the furtherance of other crime.

In these situations the vehicle's expensive and sophisticated on board', security system has been by-passed and rendered useless.

These offences are usually all over in seconds, and resistance to the thieves, has often resulted in serious injury and even death.

It is ironic that the increased effectiveness of vehicle anti-theft systems, which can now, once activated, almost completely prevent the entry into, and the driving away of protected vehicles, without the use of vehicle's own security key, which has caused the criminals to adopt such violent tactics in order to circumvent these systems and steal the vehicles.

As a general rule, these stolen vehicles are never recovered, and those which are have frequently been burnt out.

Both situations, lead to serious financial loss and inconvenience, to the vehicle insurer and the owner.

Also the stealing and driving away of older and less protected vehicles by joyriders', who are often juveniles, is a growing and dangerous menace, both to other road users and the Police.

b) It is the proposal of this Patent Application, that by the use of Mobile Phone, (Cell Phone), technology, that a vehicle can be immobilised and secured, remotely, minutes or even hours, after it has been stolen, i.e., whilst it is still being driven away by, or is in the longer term possession of criminals or unautherised persons.

By this means the vehicle's very effective security system is used against the criminal, and in a way that can be made extremely difficult for him to nullify, because once the vehicle's security system has been activated by its own on board Mobile Phone Device, and provided that this system is itself sufficiently protected from tampering, the vehicle cannot be re-entered or driven again, even by the use its own security key.

c) This Patent Application proposes that such a system can be achieved simply, and relatively inexpensively by having a Mobile Phone Device, installed and hidden within the vehicle.

This Device is powered from the vehicles electrical system, and has its own automatically charged back up batteries.

This Vehicle Mobile Phone Device is then used to activate the vehicles existing security/engine immobilising system on receipt of the requisite telephone call, from any other mobile phone, followed and confirmed after connection, by a code of three Security Letters or Digits then being Texted into the vehicle's own Mobile Phone.

The system is designed such that it can only be dis-armed by the Texting of a different set of Security Letters or Digits, again sent by using any mobile phone, into the vehicles on board', Mobile Phone Device.

Not even the vehicles own security key, can be used to re-enter the vehicle or de-activate the security/engine immobilising system, once this has been armed by the vehicle's own Mobile Phone.

d) Ideally for the best level of security, the vehicle bonnet (hood), and boot (trunk), should lock automatically and not just be secured by their catches, when they are closed down, such that they can be unlocked, Only by using the vehicle's own Mobile Phone, and never by use of the vehicle's security key.

This entails the installation of a separate electrically driven system of locking bolts, for the bonnet and boot, since both these components allow access to the vehicle's electrical and immobilising systems, which must always be as secure as possible from tampering.

With these bolts in place even expert thieves, fully equipped with the requisite tethnology, would have to cause considerable damage to the vehicle before they could access it and then disarm its security system.

Having to expend time trouble and expense in replacing either or both the boot lid and bonnet, of an expensive vehicle would eat considerably into the criminal's ill gotten gains, and so help reduce the overall incentive for theft.

e) To prevent high speed accidents, whilst the car is being stolen and driven away, it is probably necessa,y to give a loud verbal warning inside the vehicle, lasting probably 30 seconds, prior to the engine being stopped and immobilised immediately following the arming of the vehicle's security system by the external mobile phone call.

The locking of all the vehicle's access doors by the vehicle's Mobile Phone Device, is necessary, but again for safety reasons it is probably desirable that the criminals are able to exit the vehicle, once onjy, after the security system has been armed, and the audible warning given.

This can be achieved, by the access door locking system being held off until triggered by the operation of any of the interior, door release handles, and then fully engaged when any of the vehicle access doors closes shut again.

f) Since most of the vehicles concerned will have a Satellite Navigation System already fitted, it is also possible for the vehicles location to be transmitted constantly, by the vehicle's own Mobile phone, immediately this has been activated by the external mobile telephone connection.

Video screens are now a common feature on mobile phones, so that the vehicle's actual Satellite Navigation map display, could be transmitted into the external mobile phone which has just been used to set off the vehicle's security system.

g) For those easier to steal older vehicles, often without an adequate security protection system in place, a simpler and basic version of this Security Device, still operated by an on board' vehicle Mobile Phone Device, is used to short out the ignition circuits, for petrol engines, or interrupt a Diesel engine's fuel supply, either by the use of a remotely activated fuel valve, or by a simple electrically operated air bleed valve which when activated, admits air into the low pressure fuel feed side of the engine injector pump.

Such a basic system, would be sufficient to deter most juveniles, but for added security, being also able to lock the vehicle's bonnet release, using the on board Mobile Phone Device, is necessary.

Again, once armed, this security system cannot be disarmed, even by the use of the vehicle's own key, or by-passed by hot wiring', but only via the on board', Mobile Phone Device, receiving the necessary coded Text command, from any outside mobile phone.

Claims

CLAIMS

1) A Vehicle Security System which is based on the installation of a Mobile Phone (Cell Phone), Device on board the Vehicle, this Device, is powered from the vehicle's electrical system and which also has its own back up batteries, such that this Device's electrical circuits are incorporated into and are able to activate and also switch off the existing or suitably modified, vehicle's security and engine immobilising system, on receipt of a coded and distinct Text command issued from any other separate and remote mobile telephone, which has engaged with it, and which then results in the remote activation of the vehicle's security and engine immobilising system, after the vehicle has been, orJ being stolen and driven away, or is otherwise in the possession of criminals, or unauthorised persons, and which when once activated, the Device prohibits the further driving of, or entry into the vehicleL even by the use of the vehicle's own security key, but Qt permits the disarming of the Vehicle's Security System, and re-entry into the vehicle, by the action of the owner or approved person, transmitting a further and different, coded command being Texted into the Vehicle's installed, on board', Mobile Phone Device, from any other remote mobile phone, in order to disarm the activated vehicle's security system, so that the vehicle can then be recovered.

2) For maximum security, access to the vehicle's engine compartment, the on board Mobile Phone Device, the vehicle's electrical system and battery, must be prevented in order to stop interference and tampering, by the criminals, This is achieved through the fitting of electrically driven bolts, to the vehicle's bonnet, (hood), and boot, (trunk).

These bolts are locked automatically, whenever these items are closed shut, and can only be unlocked by the command of the Mobile Phone Device, and never by use of the vehicle's security key.

Un-authorised or criminal access to the vehicle security system and Mobile Phone Device, would require expensive damage being caused to the vehicle itself.

3) If the Vehicle to which this Device is installed, also has a Satellite Navigation System already fitted, then the output signal of this System is fed into, and transmitted by the vehicle's on board', Mobile Phone, once this has been connected to and activated by the transmission of the requisite system armed', Text command, from any remote mobile telephone, and that once this connection has been made and confirmed, the position of the Vehicle as indicated by the map display of its Satellite Navigation System, being continuously transmitted into the video screen of the remote and activating mobile telephone, so as to give an ongoing visual indication of the Vehicle's whereabouts.

3) For those older vehicles which lack an effective security and engine immobilising system, and which are easier to steal by joy riders', and petty thieves, a simplified version of this Device is required, whereby the vehicle's bonnet release mechanism can be locked by the vehicle's installed Mobile Phone Device, and or, the ignition system interrupted, (for vehicles with petrol engines), or air being allowed into the fuel injection system, and or, the supply of fuel stopped, (for vehicles with Diesel engines), by the operation of suitable valves, which are activated by the vehicle's Mobile Phone Device, on receipt of the appropriate Texted command, to arm the system' being received from any outside mobile telephone.

Once armed the system is such that it can only be disarmed on receipt of the appropriate Texted command from any external mobile phone.

4) The widespread fitting of this Device, could over time, become such a deterrent to thieves, that leaving a car unlocked, with the keys in, could be more safe from criminal violence and more secure from theft, than the present situation of parking it locked, on the owner's premises, or even driving it in the street, since once activated by the onboard Mobile Phone Device, the vehicles security system, which prevents both re-entry into and further driving of the vehicle, cannot be disarmed even by the vehicle's own security key.

A simplified version of this Device, when fitted to older or more vulnerable vehicles, would significantly reduce the numbers of such vehicles stolen by youngsters for joy riding', and petty crime.