Vehicle Immobilizing Devices, Systems, and Methods

Abstract

A vehicle immobilizing device includes a lock, a user interface, memory configured to store an unlock code, and a processor. The lock has a latch mechanism and the processor controls movement of the latch mechanism from a locked position to an unlocked position so that the immobilizing device can be removed from a vehicle. A person installing the immobilizing device on a vehicle utilizes the user interface to enter and store an unlock code and an identification code in the device memory at the time of installation. Upon payment of an outstanding fine, a vehicle owner is provided with an unlock code. To remove the device from the vehicle the owner utilizes the user interface to enter unlock code and the processor causes the latch mechanism to move to the unlocked position upon determining that the unlock code input via the user interface matches an unlock code stored in the memory.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vehicle immobilizing device configured to impede vehicle motion, comprising:
 a lock having a latch mechanism that is movable between locked and unlocked positions, wherein the latch mechanism locks the vehicle immobilizing device and prevents unauthorized removal of the vehicle immobilizing device from a vehicle;   a user interface comprising a display;   memory configured to store an unlock code; and   a processor in communication with the user interface and memory, wherein the processor is configured to receive removal authorization information input by a user via the user interface and display the unlock code stored in the memory via the display in response to receiving the removal authorization information, wherein the processor controls movement of the latch mechanism from the locked position to the unlocked position so that the vehicle immobilizing device can be removed from a vehicle in response to user entry of the displayed unlock code via the user interface.   
     
     
         2 . The vehicle immobilizing device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to receive an unlock code via the user interface and store the unlock code in memory. 
     
     
         3 . The vehicle immobilizing device of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface comprises a touch screen display and/or a keypad. 
     
     
         4 . The vehicle immobilizing device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor generates an unlock code and stores the unlock code in the memory when the vehicle immobilizing device is utilized to immobilize a vehicle. 
     
     
         5 . The vehicle immobilizing device of  claim 4 , further comprising a clock, and wherein the unlock code is generated using time and/or date information from the clock. 
     
     
         6 . The vehicle immobilizing device of  claim 4 , further comprising an environmental sensor configured to obtain environmental condition information in a vicinity of the vehicle immobilizing device, and wherein the unlock code is generated using environmental condition information from the environmental sensor. 
     
     
         7 . The vehicle immobilizing device of  claim 4 , further comprising a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, and wherein the unlock code is generated using location information from the GPS receiver. 
     
     
         8 . The vehicle immobilizing device of  claim 1 , further comprising a transceiver, and wherein the processor is configured to:
 receive financial payment information;   report the financial payment information to a transaction approval service via the transceiver;   receive transaction approval or denial from the transaction approval service via the transceiver; and   display an unlock code stored in the memory via the display in response to receiving transaction approval.   
     
     
         9 . The vehicle immobilizing device of  claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to receive financial payment information input via the user interface. 
     
     
         10 . The vehicle immobilizing device of  claim 8 , further comprising a slot for receiving a payment card and a magnetic stripe reader associated with the slot, and wherein the processor is configured to receive financial payment information from a magnetic stripe of a payment card via the magnetic stripe reader. 
     
     
         11 . The vehicle immobilizing device of  claim 8 , further comprising a near field communication (NFC) reader, and wherein the processor is configured to receive payment information from an NFC tag in proximity with the near field communication reader. 
     
     
         12 . The vehicle immobilizing device of  claim 8 , further comprising a radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader, and wherein the processor is configured to receive payment information from an RFID tag in proximity with the RFID reader. 
     
     
         13 . The vehicle immobilizing device of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle immobilizing device comprises:
 a base; and   a pair of clamping members extending from the base, wherein the clamping members are movable relative to each other from an open position wherein a vehicle wheel can be inserted between the clamping members to a closed position wherein the clamping members engage the vehicle wheel to prevent the vehicle immobilizing device from being removed from the vehicle wheel, and wherein the latch mechanism locks the clamping members in the closed position.   
     
     
         14 . A vehicle immobilizing device configured to impede vehicle motion, comprising:
 a lock having a latch mechanism that is movable between locked and unlocked positions, wherein the latch mechanism locks the vehicle immobilizing device and prevents unauthorized removal of the vehicle immobilizing device from a vehicle;   a user interface;   memory configured to store an unlock code; and   a processor in communication with the user interface and memory, wherein the processor is configured to receive removal authorization information input via the user interface and move the latch mechanism from a locked position to an unlocked position so that the vehicle immobilizing device can be removed from a vehicle, wherein the removal authorization information comprises financial payment information and/or verification that payment has been made for an outstanding debt or fine.   
     
     
         15 . A method, comprising:
 immobilizing a vehicle with an immobilizing device, wherein the immobilizing device comprises:   a lock having a latch mechanism that is movable between locked and unlocked positions;   memory configured to store an unlock code; and   a processor in communication with the memory, wherein the processor controls movement of the latch mechanism from the locked position to the unlocked position;   generating an unlock code and an identification code for the vehicle immobilizing device via an electronic device in wireless communication with the vehicle immobilizing device processor; and   storing the unlock code in the memory.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising wirelessly transmitting the generated unlock code and identification code to a remote location for storage. 
     
     
         17 . A method of releasing a vehicle immobilizing device from a vehicle, wherein the vehicle immobilizing device includes a lock having a latch mechanism that is movable between locked and unlocked positions, a user interface, a memory having an unlock code stored therein, and a processor in communication with the user interface and memory, and wherein the processor controls movement of the latch mechanism from the locked position to the unlocked position, the method comprising:
 receiving removal authorization information input via the user interface; and   displaying an unlock code stored in the memory via the user interface in response to receiving the removal authorization information.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising moving the latch mechanism from the locked position to the unlocked position in response to receiving user input of the unlock code via the user interface. 
     
     
         19 . A vehicle immobilizing device configured to impede vehicle motion, comprising:
 a lock that prevents unauthorized removal of the immobilizing device from a vehicle, wherein the lock is configured to receive and store an unlock code during installation of the immobilizing device on a vehicle, wherein the unlock code is generated by an electronic device external to the vehicle immobilizing device and that is in wireless communication with the vehicle immobilizing device; and   a user interface for providing the lock with an unlock code and for entering the unlock code to unlock the lock.   
     
     
         20 . The vehicle immobilizing device of  claim 19 , wherein the user interface comprises a dial and/or a keypad. 
     
     
         21 . A method, comprising:
 immobilizing a vehicle with an immobilizing device, wherein the immobilizing device comprises a user interface and a lock that prevents unauthorized removal of the immobilizing device from the vehicle and that is configured to receive and store an unlock code;   generating an unlock code for the vehicle immobilizing device via an electronic device external to the immobilizing device; and   storing the unlock code in the lock via the user interface.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further generating an identification code for the vehicle immobilizing device via the electronic device and storing the identification code in the lock via the user interface. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising storing the unlock code and identification code at a remote location via the electronic device.