Vehicle Theft Warning System Using User Device Position Zones

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle theft alarm systems are limited in their effectiveness, as audible warnings may not reach the owner or police, can be disabled, and lack robustness against tampering, leading to missed theft detections.

Innovation Solution

An anti-theft alarm system that evaluates positional information of a vehicle and associated user devices, generating a warning signal when the vehicle leaves predefined areas based on the devices' locations, allowing for early detection of theft and reducing false alarms through user authorization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If GPS tracking and communication modules are installed in livestock collars, then theft warning capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetheft warning capabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the GPS tracking and communication modules as separate optional components rather than integrating them into the core collar structure. This allows the basic collar to remain simple while enabling advanced tracking capabilities when needed, resolving the contradiction between theft warning capability and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The collar system is designed to perform multiple functions: basic identification, theft warning, and optional GPS tracking. By making the system universal and adaptable to different needs, it achieves high theft warning capability without requiring all devices to have complex GPS functionality, thus reducing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If acoustic emission sensors are used for theft detection, then detection precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetheft detection precisionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex electronic detection systems with acoustic emission sensors that detect mechanical sounds of theft attempts. This substitution achieves high detection precision through acoustic monitoring while keeping the device structure relatively simple, as acoustic sensors are less complex than comprehensive electronic surveillance systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Loss of time

If real-time monitoring and alert systems are implemented, then response time to theft is reduced, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse time to theftVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The monitoring system uses periodic acoustic sampling rather than continuous monitoring. The acoustic emission sensors take periodic measurements of the collar environment, which reduces energy consumption significantly while still maintaining effective real-time detection capability for theft attempts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically processes and analyzes acoustic data locally without requiring constant external communication. The collar self-monitors its acoustic environment and only communicates when theft is detected, reducing energy consumption from continuous data transmission while maintaining rapid response capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3825189B1Theft warning system and theft warning method
Publication Date: 2022.06.08 VOLKSWAGEN AG
  • EP3825189B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3825189B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3825189B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to an anti-theft warning system (5) for evaluating position information of a vehicle (1) and position information of a plurality of terminal devices (3a, 3b) associated with a user of the vehicle. The anti-theft warning system (5) has a circuit arrangement (7) configured to: (S1) receive the position information of the vehicle (1) and the (S2) position information of the plurality of terminal devices (3a, 3b); (S4) compare the position information of the vehicle (1) and the position information of the plurality of terminal devices (3a, 3b); and generate a warning signal when the vehicle (1) leaves a predetermined area (9a, 9b, 9c) from a plurality of predetermined areas (9a, 9b, 9c), wherein each predetermined area (9a, 9b, 9c) depends on position information from a corresponding terminal device (3a, 3b) from the plurality of terminal devices (3a, 3b). Furthermore, a theft warning procedure is described.