Systems and methods for securing a vehicle during extended idle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10366554-B2
Application number	US-201715630603-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 22, 2017
Priority date	Jun 22, 2017
Publication date	Jul 30, 2019
Grant date	Jul 30, 2019

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for an extended secure idle (SI) for a mobile platform. The SI may be entered and exited responsive to a variety of SI entry and SI exit conditions. SI entry and exit conditions include receiving key fob data from a key fob authenticated with the mobile platform. In addition, various predetermined safeguard conditions for scenarios to monitor may be designated a priori. The described system and method will continually check that the predetermined safeguard conditions are not violated during an extended SI.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A control module for a secure idle (SI) in a vehicle, the control module comprising:
a memory device comprising SI entry conditions and SI exit conditions; and
a processor coupled to the memory device and configured to,
determine that concurrently (i) the vehicle has an active powertrain, and (ii) the vehicle is parked;
process a received first key fob data received from a key fob command, the key fob data comprising SI entry conditions comprising an authorized SI entry request to determine that a SI entry condition is met;
begin locking the powertrain on the vehicle responsive to determining that the SI entry condition is met; and
subsequent to beginning locking the powertrain on the vehicle, cease locking the powertrain on the vehicle upon determining that a SI exit condition, comprising an authorized SI exit request received in second key fob data, is met;

wherein the SI exit conditions further comprise a safeguard condition, the safeguard condition comprising one from the set including: a low fuel level, a shift of the transmission out of park, an increase in an engine speed, an increase in a throttle position, and an indication that vehicle exterior locks have been tampered with; and
the processor is configured to, while inhibiting vehicle mobility:
determine that the safeguard condition has been violated; and
responsive to determining that the safeguard condition has been violated, deactivate the powertrain of the vehicle;

command a display device to display, while locking the powertrain, an indication that the vehicle is in a SI; and
command the display device to cease displaying the indication that the vehicle is in SI upon ceasing the locking of the powertrain;

the SI entry conditions further comprising an unattended SI entry request, comprising the conditions (i) the key fob is external to the vehicle, and (ii) an absence of the authorized SI entry request;
the processor further configured to,
allow a first delay time to elapse, subsequent to determining that the unattended SI entry request conditions are met; and
determine that the SI entry condition is met after the elapse of the first delay time; and
subsequent to beginning locking the powertrain, allow a second delay time to elapse, and cease operation of the powertrain of the vehicle after the elapse of the second delay time.

2. A method for a secure idle (SI) in a vehicle, the method comprising:
initializing SI entry conditions and SI exit conditions in a memory device;
determining that both conditions are met (i) the vehicle has an active powertrain, and (ii) the vehicle is parked;
processing a first key fob data with SI entry conditions to determine that an SI entry condition is are met, the first key fob data being received from a key fob;
beginning inhibiting of vehicle mobility responsive to determining that the SI entry condition is met, wherein inhibiting mobility of the vehicle comprises locking the powertrain;
subsequent to beginning inhibiting vehicle mobility, ceasing the inhibiting of vehicle mobility upon determining that an SI exit condition is met;
commanding a display device to display, while inhibiting vehicle mobility, an indication that the vehicle is in a SI;
commanding the display device to cease displaying the indication that the vehicle is in SI upon ceasing inhibiting vehicle mobility;
wherein the SI entry conditions comprise an authorized SI defined by an authorized SI entry request, and further comprising: (i) determining that SI entry conditions are met responsive to determining that the first key fob command comprises the authorized SI entry request, or (ii) detecting user actions in the presence of an authorized passively communicating key fob;
wherein the SI exit conditions comprise an authorized SI exit request, and further comprising ceasing the inhibiting of vehicle mobility upon determining that (i) a received second key fob command comprises the authorized SI exit request, or (ii) detecting user actions in the presence of an authorized passively communicating key fob;
wherein the SI exit conditions further comprise a safeguard condition, and further comprising deactivating the powertrain of the vehicle responsive to determining that the safeguard condition has been violated;
wherein the safeguard condition comprises one from the set including: a low fuel level and an indication that vehicle exterior locks have been tampered with;
wherein the SI entry conditions further comprise an unattended SI entry request, comprising the concurrent conditions (i) the key fob is external to the vehicle, and (ii) an absence of the authorized SI entry request; and

further comprising:
allowing a first delay time to elapse, subsequent to determining that the conditions for the unattended SI entry request are met;
determining that the SI entry conditions are met after the elapse of the first delay time;
allowing a second delay time to elapse subsequent to determining that the SI entry conditions for the unattended SI are met;
determining that the SI exit conditions are met responsive to the second delay time elapsing; and
deactivating the powertrain of the vehicle responsive to determining that the SI exit conditions are met.

3. A method for a secure idle (SI) in a vehicle, the method comprising:
determining that both conditions are concurrent (i) the vehicle has an active powertrain, and (ii) the vehicle is parked; and then
beginning locking the powertrain responsive to determining that an SI entry condition is met based on a received first key fob command received from a key fob; and
ceasing locking the powertrain responsive to (i) determining that an SI exit condition is met based on a received second key fob command, wherein the SI exit condition comprises an authorized SI exit request, or (ii) upon detecting user actions in the presence of an authorized passively communicating key fob; and
further comprising:
allowing a first delay time to elapse, in response to detecting the concurrent conditions (i) the key fob is external to the vehicle, and (ii) an absence of an authorized SI entry request;
determining that an authorized SI entry request occurred after the elapse of the first delay time;
allowing a second delay time to elapse subsequent to detecting the concurrent conditions (i) the key fob is external to the vehicle, and (ii) an absence of the authorized SI entry request;
determining that the SI exit conditions are met and deactivating the powertrain of the vehicle after the elapse of the second delay time.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Huntzicker Fred W
• Kumar Pratyush
• Proefke David T
• Biondo William A

Classifications

• B60R25/042

  operating on the fuel supply · CPC title

• G07C9/00182 Primary

  operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks · CPC title

• B60R25/209 Primary

  Remote starting of engine · CPC title

• G07C9/00174

  Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers without mechanical keys (mechanical locks with electric permutation E05B49/00; arrangements for sensing or reading record carriers G06K7/00; electronic switching H03K17/00) · CPC title

• B60R16/023 Primary

  for transmission of signals between vehicle parts or subsystems · CPC title