Vehicle Starter Circuit Control for Remote Disable Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Financial institutions face challenges in repossessing vehicles due to the mobile nature of vehicles and the limitations of existing GPS and homing beacon systems, particularly in areas with no cellular network coverage, which complicates the disabling and re-enabling of vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A system and method involving an electronic apparatus coupled to a vehicle's starter circuit, capable of transitioning between enabled and disabled states, which sends a test signal over a wireless network when parked, and re-enables if the signal is not successfully sent, ensuring the vehicle can be reactivated even in areas without cellular coverage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a vehicle is disabled in an area without cellular network coverage, then the vehicle cannot be re-enabled remotely, but the vehicle may move into such areas after being disabled
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs a preliminary check by attempting to send a test signal to the server before disabling the vehicle. This preliminary action ensures that the vehicle is in an area with cellular coverage, guaranteeing that future re-enabling commands can be transmitted. The test signal attempt occurs before the disabling action, preventing the vehicle from being disabled in locations where remote re-enabling would fail.
2Measurement precision
If GPS modules or homing beacons are activated to locate vehicles, then vehicle location can be determined, but the system becomes ineffective if the vehicle frequently changes location
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically disables the vehicle at its current location rather than attempting to track and locate a moving vehicle. By making the disabling action immediate and location-independent, the system adapts to vehicles that frequently change location. The vehicle is disabled where it currently is, eliminating the need for continuous tracking and making the repossession method effective regardless of how often the vehicle moves.
3Ease of operation
If a vehicle is disabled remotely, then repossession becomes easier, but the vehicle cannot be re-enabled if it moves to an area without cellular coverage
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from the test signal transmission to determine whether to proceed with disabling the vehicle. The test signal attempt provides feedback about cellular coverage availability, and this feedback is used to control the disabling action. Only if the test signal succeeds (indicating coverage is available) does the system disable the vehicle, ensuring that re-enabling capability is preserved.
Data Source
AI summary
A system, method, and apparatus for disabling and/or enabling a vehicle. In one embodiment, the invention can be a method including transmitting a disable command to an electronic apparatus that is operably coupled to a vehicle. The electronic apparatus may be configured to transition the vehicle between an enabled state wherein operation of the vehicle is permitted and a disabled state wherein operation of the vehicle is prohibited. The method may further include, after the electronic apparatus receives the disable command, sending a test signal from the electronic apparatus to a remote server over a wireless network upon the vehicle being parked. When the test signal is not successfully sent to the remote server, the vehicle may remain in or be returned to the enabled state. When the test signal is successfully sent to the remote server, the vehicle may remain in or be returned to the disabled state.