Vehicle Tracking Device Interference Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vehicle tracking devices are susceptible to tampering and interference, such as GPS signal jamming, signal blocking shields, and counterfeit GPS signals, which disrupt the collection and transmission of location data, compromising their reliability and effectiveness.

Innovation Solution

A monitoring system that detects potential interference by identifying periods when a tracking device fails to acquire a desired signal during a vehicle's movement, determining if the device is being interfered with by analyzing signal acquisition over a threshold distance and predetermined time, and differentiating between types of interference like GPS jamming, signal spoofing, and signal blocking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a tracking device is deployed to monitor vehicle location, then location data collection and transmission are enabled, but the device becomes susceptible to tampering and interference such as GPS jamming and signal blocking

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetracking device reliabilityVSAvoidinterference susceptibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system proactively detects potential interference by monitoring signal acquisition status and comparing expected versus actual tracking data. It identifies anomalies such as GPS jamming, spoofing, or blocking before they completely compromise tracking reliability, allowing preventive alerts and countermeasures to be initiated.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors tracking device performance and provides feedback about signal acquisition status. By comparing expected tracking data with actual received signals, the system detects deviations indicating interference and communicates this information to users, enabling real-time adjustments and responses.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If signal monitoring is continuously performed to detect interference, then tracking reliability is improved, but system complexity and energy consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetracking data integrityVSAvoidmonitoring system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs monitoring at strategic intervals and thresholds rather than continuous full-spectrum analysis. It triggers detailed interference detection only when specific conditions are met, such as unexpected signal loss or anomalies in tracking data patterns, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The monitoring system divides interference detection into separate functional modules: signal acquisition monitoring, tracking data analysis, interference type classification, and alert generation. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall system architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11531116B2Methods and systems for detecting potential interference with a tracking device associated with a vehicle

Publication Date: 2022.12.20 VERIZON PATENT & LICENSING INC

AI summary

An exemplary method includes a monitoring system identifying a time period during which a vehicle equipped with a tracking device travels at least a threshold distance, determining that the tracking device fails to acquire a desired signal for a predetermined amount of time during the time period, and, in response to determining that the tracking device fails to acquire the desired signal, determining that the tracking device is potentially being interfered with during the time period by a signal jamming device.