GB2371170A - An anti theft device which uses the mobile telecommunications network to identify and control a vehicle via the mobile communications network - Google Patents

Abstract

A transmitter and receiver units comprise the identification and control apparatus for a surveillance and anti theft system The IC2IDU is an electronic memory, programmable with a unique identification number corresponding to the vehicle to which it is attached, connected to a transmitter unit which transmits a continuous scrambled pulse containing the identification number. The receiver unit identifies the scrambled pulse as a digital number, compares it to the number stored in the memory/data base and either verifies the authenticity of the number or generates an alarm or message. The transmitter circuit is also able to be connected to a vehicle's controller network and to control the vehicle via the mobile telecommunications network by either causing a restriction or interruption to the flow of fuel to the engine or by causing a misfire in the ignition cycle.

Description

IC2IDU.Description.

The IC2IDU is an apparatus for identification purposes connect to a mobile telephone unit installation into a vehicle of any description. Mechanical or electrical.

The unit's purpose is to Identify/Halt operation of/Verify the particular equipment.

The IC2IDU will consist of a mobile telephone chipset which will be interfaced with a controller unit.

This controller unit will in turn be wired into the ignition or fuel circuit or Fieldbus wiring of a motor vehicle or piece of equipment.

Activation of the device will be achieved by telephoning the unit through the mobile telecommunications network.

When activated via an encrypted password or PIN number, the IC2IDU will allow the user/owner to energize the'user level'control of the device.

The device will be fitted with different levels of control which will be accessed by entering passwords to gain access to these levels of encrypted software control.

User level of the device will activate an inbuilt transmitter which will broadcast a message back through the mobile telephone network, the location and identity of the said vehicle or equipment.

This broadcast message when collected by an answering service, will be passed to the Police or law enforcement agency for recording and action.

Via further decoding or decryption by the Police it will be possible for them to take control of the vehicles fuel supply and/or ignition system and/or Fieldbus controller in order to demobilize the said vehicle or if it necessary, bring the said vehicle to rest in an orderly and controlled fashion electronically.

Principle of operation.

The IC2IDU will have two models. a. Ignition model.

The ignition model will be connected into the ignition circuit, low or high volt side, of a vehicles electrical system.

Once activated as described above, the IC2IDU will interrupt, sequentially or otherwise, the flow of current through the'coil' & /or'the distributor' & /or'spark plug leads'so as to disallow the respective spark plug to ignite and therefore cause a'Misfire'into the ignition cycle.

The process will allowed to either increase or decrease in frequency as decided by the controlling interface. b. The Fuel model.

The fuel model will cause a restriction, stoppage, deviation or interruption of the flow ofPetrol/Diesel/Liquid Petroleum Gas and/or Gas to the fuel pump or carburetor/s or injectors of a vehicle and therefore to the engines combustion cycle, once the IC2IDU is activated in the sequence described above.

The unit consists of :

a. A circuit board or CHIP and/or ROM and/or RAM and/or EEPROM and/or erasable-non "'erasable andlor cha geable programmable unit interfaced/wired/connected to a mobile telephone. b. a power circuit c. an eeprom. d. a control circuit. e. a switch/electronic gate/electric or electronic relay.

This unit will transmit a programmed serial/identification/registration number to be specified, in digital format. The signal will be a low power transmission or mobile telephone communication interface.

The coding will be protected and scrambled.

Transmission will be a digital (binary), array, code of numbers, which identify the vehicle/article to which the receiving (IC2IDU), unit. f. The power to drive the unit and it's sub-circuits, will be fed from a source and protected to surge by volt regulators & /or step up-down transformers/regulators.

Claims (1)

1. Claims.

   The IC2IDU is an identification and/or control apparatus.

   It has been designed for the purpose of identifying and/or controlling Equipment & Vehicles.

   Tracking/Monitoring and checking for stolen or rogue articles/motor vehicles or bringing the foresaid equipment/vehicle to rest in a controlled fashion.

   The IC2IDU circuit will be mounted internally of the Vehicle/Equipment and when activated transmit a message using the mobile telephone network for collection by a predetermined station.

   This digital number when compared with a digital number stored in a data base will verify the authenticity of the first number being transmitted by the TC2IDU and subsequently the details of the equipment/and or vehicle/truck/vans/lorry etc.

   This method of tracking will: a. Allow for quick and easy identification of stolen equipment/vehicles and or other movable of removable equipment. b. Allow for easy identification of equipment. c. Allow for quick and easy verification of equipment & road vehicles. d. Allow for the rogue vehicle to be stopped safely and quickly when the IC2IDU unit is electronically connected into the wiring Fieldbus wiring/circuitry/fuel Iines/electronics & /or ignition circuits of the article/equipment/vehicle.

   We will be using medium to high tech equipment to develop the concept.

   We will be developing an interface unit from a mobile telephone chipset with an Eeprom, a micro controller and a ram drive unit to perform a specified task.

   This interface module will activate either the opening and closing of a micro valve in the fuel line in step controlled mode, the introduction of excess air into the manifold in step controlled mode, an electrical impulse being fed into the low voltage side of an engines coil/ignition circuit in controlled mode or a series of interrupts/control impulses fed into the Fieldbus controller of a vehicles electronics.

   The electronic interfaces that will be required to perform this operation are similar to those being used in control and telecommunication systems.

   This interface will need to be designed from new, be built and be tested.

   The chance of success of this interface/controller unit are very strong.

   The same principles will apply to the interface as is used in data exchange in digital mobile telephones.