Methods and systems for vehicle protection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11214236-B2
Application number	US-202016780395-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 3, 2020
Priority date	Feb 5, 2019
Publication date	Jan 4, 2022
Grant date	Jan 4, 2022

Abstract

A method ( 500 ) for protection of a vehicle ( 100 ), the method comprising: receiving information from a sensor ( 502 ); comparing the information with known signatures indicative of a likely attack ( 504 ); determining whether a known signature indicative of a likely attack is present ( 506 ); and if a known signature indicative of a likely attack is present, placing at least one system of the vehicle into a heightened state of alert ( 508 ).

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1. A method for protection of an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle, the method comprising:
receiving information from at least one sensor configured to run continuously when the vehicle is unattended, wherein the at least one sensor comprises:
a PIR sensor configured to detect motion;
a temperature sensor configured to detect the presence of body heat or the heat of an engine; and/or
a wireless signal detector;

comparing the information with known signatures indicative of a likely attack;
determining whether a known signature indicative of a likely attack is present;
comparing the information with known attack mode signatures;
determining whether a known attack mode signature is present;
if a known signature indicative of a likely attack is present, placing at least one system of the vehicle into a heightened state of alert; and
if it is determined that at least one of: a known signature indicative of a likely attack; and a known attack mode signature, is present, the vehicle is configured to drive away from the environment,
wherein placing at least one system of the vehicle into the heightened state of alert comprises at least one of:
activating at least one further sensor;
sending a notification to a location remote from the vehicle; and
performing steps to further secure the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method comprises:
if a known attack mode signature is present, activating an additional vehicle system and configuring it to counter an attack having the known attack mode signature.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the method comprises:
comparing the information with known intruder signatures;
determining whether a known intruder signature is present; and
if a known intruder signature is present, activating the additional vehicle system and configuring it to repel an intruder.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein when the at least one vehicle system is in the heightened state of alert, the method comprises at least one of:
transmitting at least one live sensor output to a remote location;
recording at least one sensor output;
performing an action to draw attention to the vehicle; and
performing an action to counter the attack.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor is fixed within the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein machine learning is used to learn at least one of:
signatures indicative of a likely attack;
attack mode signatures; and
intruder signatures.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor includes at least one of:
an audio sensor, a motion sensor, a radio frequency sensor, an accelerometer, a vibration sensor, a passive infrared sensor, a Bluetooth sensor, and a camera.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method comprises:
comparing the information with known signatures of authorized people;
determining if a known signature of an authorized person is present; and
if the known signature of the authorized person is present, allowing the authorized person access to the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of sending to the vehicle an instruction to treat a new person not known to the vehicle as an authorized person.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the step of sending to the vehicle an instruction comprises sending a message to the vehicle from a mobile device of a vehicle user who already has authority to use the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the method comprises the step of downloading onto a mobile device of the vehicle user an electronic signature of the mobile device of the new person, the signature of the mobile device then being sent to the vehicle by the vehicle user so that the vehicle can recognize the new person by the signature of their mobile device.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the signature of the mobile device of the new person is the Bluetooth signature of their mobile device.

13. A system configured to perform the method of claim 1 , the system comprising:
a plurality of sensors configured to gather information relating to the environment of the vehicle; and
a controller configured to be in communication with the plurality of sensors.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Safir Tarik
• Mitchell Gabriel
• Harris Sam
• Murray James Nicholas
• Abentheuer Aaron
• Smith Betsy Fields

Classifications

• B60R25/31 Primary

  of human presence inside or outside the vehicle · CPC title

• G08B13/19

  using infrared-radiation detection systems {(G08B13/194 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• G08B13/1672

  using sonic detecting means, e.g. a microphone operating in the audio frequency range · CPC title

• B60R25/10 Primary

  actuating a signalling device · CPC title

• B60R2025/1016

  Remote signals alerting owner or authorities, e.g. radio signals · CPC title