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EP1040971A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method and apparatus for detection notification and location of vehicle theft

Assignee: Ford Motor Co
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Filing: 2000-03-22
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2020-03-22
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Abstract

Abstract A security system for an automotive vehicle (10) including a positioning device (20) which, in co-operation with a Global Positioning System ("GPS") satellite network (18) provides location information regarding the vehicle's position. The security system further includes a passive operator identification device (24) having a first security code and a theft control unit (22) including memory (29) storing a second security code. The passive operator identification device (24) and the theft control unit (22) work together to ensure the vehicle operator is authorised to operate the vehicle (10). An event detector communicates with the theft control unit (22) to provide an event signal associated with the vehicle such as vehicle movement. If an event signal is received by the theft control unit (22), and the first and second security codes are not equal, the theft control unit (22) communicates the vehicle position as determined by the position detector (20) to a monitoring station (14). The monitoring station (14) could be the local police department, a security service firm, or the vehicle owner's residence, for instance.

Inventors

  • 👤 Thomas A. Gioia

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-24 19:33
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R25/00; B60R25/10; B60R25/102; B60R25/30; B60R25/33; B60W; B60W2556/00; B60W2556/45; B60W2556/50

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim 113 words
A security system (12) for an automotive vehicle (10) comprising: a position detector (20) responsive to navigation signals transmitted by a satellite navigation system (18) and providing location information regarding the vehicle's position based on the navigation signals; a passive operator identification device (24) including a first security code; an event detector for providing an event signal associated with the vehicle; and a theft control unit (22) including memory (29) storing a second security code, the theft control unit (22), responsive to the event signal, operative to communicate the vehicle position to a monitoring station (14) upon the occurrence of the event signal if the first and second security codes are not equal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 24 words
The security system of claim 1 wherein the event detector is a motion sensor (38) and the event signal is indicative of vehicle movement.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 25 words
The security system of claim 1 wherein the event detector is an engine sensor and the event signal is indicative of an engine start command.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 23 words
The security system of any preceding claim wherein the theft control unit (22) communicates with the monitoring station (14) via radio frequency transmissions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 25 words
The security system of claim 4 wherein the theft control unit (22) communicates with the monitoring station (14) via a cellular telephone communications network (16).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 49 words
The security system of any preceding claim wherein the theft control unit memory (29) further includes vehicle identification information which, upon the occurrence of the event signal if the first and second security codes are not equal, is communicated with the vehicle position information to the monitoring station (14).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 40 words
The security system of any preceding claim wherein the passive operator identification device (24) is a key (30) having a transponder (32), said transponder (32) retaining said first security code said first security code being a unique digitally encoded signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 49 words
The security system of any preceding claim wherein said theft control unit memory (29) further includes vehicle identification information which, upon the occurrence of the event signal if the first and second security codes are not equal, is communicated with the vehicle position information to the monitoring station (14).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 135 words
A security system for an automotive vehicle (10) having an engine operatively connected to engine running electrical components comprising: a position detector (20) responsive to navigation signals transmitted by a GPS satellite network (18) the position detector (20) providing location information regarding the vehicle's position based on the navigation signals; a passive operator identification device (24) including a first security code; an event detector for providing an event signal associated with the vehicle; and a theft control unit (22) including a transmitter (26) and memory (29) storing a second security code, the theft control unit (22) operative to communicate the vehicle position to a monitoring station (14) upon the occurrence of an event signal if the first and second security codes are not equal and disconnect the engine running electrical components thereby disabling the engine.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 26 words
The security system of claim 9 wherein the passive operator identification device is a lock switch operator having a memory device containing said first security code.

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