Vehicle security and maintenance

Abstract

A method and apparatus for detecting conditions that indicate unauthorized usage of a vehicle and for responding to the conditions that indicate the vehicle is being used in an unauthorized or unintended way. A vehicle computer is used to monitor conditions of a driver and unintended usage. The computer is also used to respond to conditions that indicate an unauthorized or unintended vehicle usage has occurred.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A method of monitoring a vehicle location when electrical power supplied to an onboard vehicle computer is removed, comprising: 
 a) determining that a main electrical power supply is not available to the vehicle onboard computer;    b) activating a battery backup to power the vehicle onboard computer;    c) determining a location of the vehicle; and    d) transmitting said location to a central control.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising providing an indication to said driver that electrical power to the vehicle onboard computer has been removed.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising shutting said vehicle down.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising taking a picture of a driver when electrical power is removed from said vehicle.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising transmitting said picture to said central control.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising requesting that a driver enter a disarming code to avoid disabling of the vehicle.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising retransmitting a global positioning system location to a central control only if a vehicle location changes.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising periodically transmitting a global positioning system location of said vehicle until said vehicle stops moving.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising deflating a tire of the vehicle.  
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for monitoring a vehicle location when electrical power supplied to an onboard vehicle computer is removed, comprising: 
 a) an onboard vehicle computer programmed to determine that a main electrical power supply is not available the vehicle onboard computer;    b) a battery backup coupled to said onboard computer, said computer being programmed to activate said battery backup when said main electrical power supply is not available to said computer;    c) a global positioning system coupled to said computer for determining a location of the vehicle;    d) a communications system coupled to said computer for transmitting said location to a central control.    
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a display coupled to said computer for providing an indication to said driver that electrical power to the vehicle onboard computer has been removed.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said computer is programmed to shut said vehicle down when said main power supply is removed.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a camera coupled to said computer for taking a picture of the driver when said main power supply is removed.  
     
     
         14 . A method of scheduling vehicle maintenance, comprising: 
 a) comparing a vehicle mileage to a predetermined mileage required for maintenance;    b) comparing a number of hours of vehicle operation to a predetermined number of hours of vehicle operation;    c) providing an indication that maintenance is required when said vehicle mileage exceeds said predetermined mileage or when said number of hours of vehicle operation to exceeds said predetermined number of hours of vehicle operation;    d) identifying a location of the vehicle; and    e) providing directions to a maintenance facility that is near said vehicle.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising automatically scheduling service at said maintenance facility for said vehicle.  
     
     
         16 . An apparatus for scheduling vehicle maintenance, comprising: 
 a) an onboard vehicle computer programmed to compare a vehicle mileage to a predetermined mileage required for maintenance and to compare a number of hours of vehicle operation to a predetermined number of hours of vehicle operation;    b) a display coupled to said computer for providing an indication that maintenance is required when said vehicle mileage exceeds said predetermined mileage or when said number of hours of vehicle operation exceeds said predetermined number of hours of vehicle operation; and    c) a global positioning system coupled to said computer for identifying a location of the vehicle, said computer being programmed to provide directions to a maintenance facility that is near said vehicle.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said computer is programmed to automatically schedule service at said maintenance facility for said vehicle.