Vehicle security system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11738713-B2
Application number	US-202016750250-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 23, 2020
Priority date	Jan 23, 2020
Publication date	Aug 29, 2023
Grant date	Aug 29, 2023

Abstract

A computer includes a processor and a memory. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor to determine, based on vehicle sensor data, that an object is present in a vehicle compartment; and to actuate the vehicle compartment to close based on the object presence, a user proximity to the vehicle, and environmental data including at least a risk index and an environmental condition.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer, comprising a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to:
determine, based on vehicle sensor data, that an object is present in a vehicle compartment;
determine a number of mobile devices present within a distance of the vehicle; and
actuate the vehicle compartment to close based on the object presence, a user proximity to the vehicle, and environmental data including at least a risk index and an environmental condition, wherein the risk index is determined at least in part based on the number of the mobile devices present within the distance of the vehicle.

2. The computer of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to actuate the vehicle compartment to open upon determining that at least one of the user and a second authorized user are within a proximity of the vehicle.

3. The computer of claim 2 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to:
identify the vehicle compartment based on the vehicle object presence; and
actuate a second vehicle compartment to close while the user is within the proximity of the vehicle upon determining that the risk index exceeds a threshold.

4. The computer of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle compartment is a vehicle trunk, a vehicle passenger cabin, or a container.

5. The computer of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to:
determine the risk index based at least in part where the number of the mobile devices present within the distance of the vehicle is more than one.

6. The computer of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to determine the risk index based on a time of day.

7. The computer of claim 6 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to determine a risk threshold based on a type of identified object stored in the vehicle compartment and actuate the compartment to close further based on the determined risk threshold.

8. The computer of claim 6 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to determine a distance threshold based on a location of the vehicle, wherein a first distance threshold for a first area with a first risk index is less than a second distance threshold for a second area with a second risk index less than the first risk index.

9. The computer of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to determine that the risk index is below a threshold upon determining that an average absence interval of the user is shorter than a time threshold; and maintain the vehicle compartment in an open state upon determining that the risk index is less than a risk threshold.

10. The computer of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to identify the user based on stored user identification data and data received from vehicle sensors including an audio sensor, an image sensor, or a wireless communication interface.

11. The computer of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to:
identify a second authorized user based on a proximity of a mobile device, image data received from a vehicle camera sensor, or audio data received from a vehicle audio sensor stored data; and
actuate the vehicle compartment to open upon determining that the second authorized user is proximate to the vehicle while the user is not proximate to the vehicle.

12. The computer of claim 11 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to determine that a user is proximate to the vehicle upon (i) determining that a user mobile device is within a distance of the vehicle, or (ii) identifying the user based on image data received from the vehicle camera sensor.

13. The computer of claim 11 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to identify the second authorized user upon recognizing a verbal communication of the user and the second authorized user exceeding a minimum time threshold based on the received audio data.

14. The computer of claim 11 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to identify the second authorized user upon recognizing an interaction of the user and the second authorized user exceeding a minimum time threshold based on the received image data.

15. The computer of claim 11 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to maintain a second vehicle compartment in a locked state upon determining that a risk index exceeds a first threshold and is less than a second threshold.

16. The computer of claim 15 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to unlock the second vehicle compartment upon determining that the risk index is less than the first threshold.

17. The computer of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to actuate the vehicle compartment to close upon determining that the user is not proximate to the vehicle based on a distance of the user to the vehicle and determining, based on an ambient temperature included in the environmental condition and an object temperature, that a difference between the object temperature and the ambient temperature exceeds a threshold.

18. The computer of claim 1 , wherein the environmental data includes an ambient light intensity and the instructions further include instructions to actuate the vehicle compartment to close based on the ambient light intensity.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Salter Stuart C
• White Kendra
• Huebner Annette Lynn
• Brown Kristopher Karl

Classifications

• B60R25/01 Primary

  operating on vehicle systems or fittings, e.g. on doors, seats or windscreens · CPC title

• B60R25/24

  using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user · CPC title

• B60R25/305

  using a camera · CPC title

• B60R25/31

  of human presence inside or outside the vehicle · CPC title

• B60R2325/20

  Communication devices for vehicle anti-theft devices · CPC title