IP Library Granted Patent US 11,827,230
Granted Patent B2
US 11,827,230 · App. 17/217,572 · Granted Nov 28, 2023

Method and system of anti-circumvention monitoring in vehicle ignition interlock operation

Inventors: David Livingston Smith (Des Moines, IA); Carol A. Vokes (Adel, IA)
Assignee: Consumer Safety Technology, LLC
B60W40/08B60L58/12G07C9/00182B60W2040/0836G07C2009/00285
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,827,230
App. No.
17/217,572
Granted
Nov 28, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system and method of detecting an anti-circumvention attempt associated with an ignition interlock device of a vehicle. The method comprises detecting an electrical parameter associated with an electrical power state of the vehicle electrical system that includes the ignition interlock device having at least a relay device and a controller device electrically interconnected within the vehicle electrical system; comparing, responsive to the detecting, the electrical parameter to a threshold condition; inferring an IID circumvention event in accordance with the electrical parameter being one of above and below the threshold condition, and reporting, responsive to the inferring, the IID circumvention event to a central monitoring server computing system.

Claims (38)

1. A method performed in a processor, the method comprising:

detecting an electrical power state of a vehicle electrical system in a vehicle comprising an ignition interlock device (IID) that includes at least a relay device and a controller device electrically interconnected within the vehicle electrical system, wherein the electrical power state comprises one of a voltage state and a current draw state of the vehicle electrical system;

measuring a rate of degradation of the electrical power state;

comparing the measured rate of degradation of the electrical power state to a threshold rate of degradation;

inferring an IID circumvention event in accordance with the measured rate of degradation being above the threshold rate of degradation;

reporting, responsive to the inferring, the IID circumvention event to a central monitoring server computing system; and

initiating, responsive to the inferring, a timed countdown to a vehicle lockout state, wherein the vehicle is rendered inoperable at the end of the timed countdown.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising reporting, in conjunction with the IID circumvention event, IID account information associated with the IID.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the timed countdown spans at least a three-day period.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising reporting, to the central monitoring server computing system, the vehicle lockout state in conjunction with the IID account and a timestamp associated with the generating.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the vehicle electrical system comprises a battery and the electrical power state comprises one of a voltage state and a current draw state of the battery.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising not inferring an IID circumvention event in accordance with the measured rate of degradation being below the threshold rate of degradation.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the detecting is based at least in part on at least one analog to digital converter voltage sensor acquiring data associated with a voltage potential across opposite polarity terminals of the battery.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the vehicle electrical system comprises a battery and the electrical power state is a voltage potential of the battery.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the voltage potential detected at least once every 30 seconds and the rate of degradation is measured by comparing the successively measured voltage potentials.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the threshold rate of degradation is a voltage degradation rate of 1 volt per minute.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the threshold rate of degradation is dynamically adjusted based on the electrical power state.

12. An ignition interlock device (IID) comprising:

a processor; and

a non-transitory memory including instructions, the instructions when executed in the processor causing operations comprising:

detecting an electrical power state of a vehicle electrical system in a vehicle comprising an ignition interlock device (IID) that includes at least a relay device and a controller device electrically interconnected within the vehicle electrical system, wherein the electrical power state comprises one of a voltage state and a current draw state of the vehicle electrical system;

measuring a rate of degradation of the electrical power state;

comparing the measured rate of degradation of the electrical power state to a threshold rate of degradation;

inferring an IID circumvention event in accordance with the measured rate of degradation being above the threshold rate of degradation;

reporting, responsive to the inferring, the IID circumvention event to a central monitoring server computing system; and

initiating, responsive to the inferring, a timed countdown to a vehicle lockout state, wherein the vehicle is rendered inoperable at the end of the timed countdown.

13. The ignition interlock device of claim 12 further comprising instructions causing operations including reporting, in conjunction with the IID circumvention event, IID account information associated with the IID.

14. The ignition interlock device of claim 12 wherein the timed countdown spans at least a three-day period.

15. The ignition interlock device of claim 14 further comprising instructions causing operations including reporting, to the central monitoring server computing system, the vehicle lockout state in conjunction with the IID account and a timestamp associated with the generating.

16. The ignition interlock device of claim 12 wherein the vehicle electrical system comprises a battery and the electrical power state comprises one of a voltage state and a current draw state of the battery.

17. The ignition interlock device of claim 16 further comprising not inferring an IID circumvention event in accordance with the measured rate of degradation being below the threshold rate of degradation.

18. A non-transitory computer readable memory storing instructions executable in a processor device, the instructions when executed in the processor causing operations comprising:

detecting an electrical power state of a vehicle electrical system in a vehicle comprising an ignition interlock device (IID) that includes at least a relay device and a controller device electrically interconnected within the vehicle electrical system, wherein the electrical power state comprises one of a voltage state and a current draw state of the vehicle electrical system;

measuring a rate of degradation of the electrical power state;

comparing the measured rate of degradation of the electrical power state to a threshold rate of degradation;

inferring an IID circumvention event in accordance with the measured rate of degradation being above the threshold rate of degradation;

reporting, responsive to the inferring, the IID circumvention event to a central monitoring server computing system; and

initiating, responsive to the inferring, a timed countdown to a vehicle lockout state, wherein the vehicle is rendered inoperable at the end of the timed countdown.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 1, 2022
From: CONSUMER SAFETY TECHNOLOGY, LLC; ALCOHOL DETECTION SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY, LLC
To: ARES CAPITAL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 061617/0407 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 30, 2021
From: SMITH, DAVID LIVINGSTON; VOKES, CAROL A.
To: CONSUMER SAFETY TECHNOLOGY LLC
Reel/Frame 055771/0708 →
Continuity (1)
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