System and method for tire pressure monitoring including vehicle immobilization

In a vehicle having an engine and a plurality of tires, a system for remote monitoring of tire pressure and for remote immobilization of the vehicle comprising:

• a plurality of transmitters, each transmitter for mounting in one of the plurality of tires and for transmitting wireless tire information signals for use in conveying tire pressure information to a vehicle occupant;
• and
• a receiver for mounting on the vehicle, the receiver for receiving both the tire information signals transmitted by the transmitters and a remote wireless encrypted vehicle immobilization signal including an authentication code, and for processing the encrypted vehicle immobilization signal to determine if the immobilization signal is valid based on the authentication code and to generate a control signal for use in immobilizing the vehicle if the immobilization signal is determined valid.

In a vehicle having an engine and a plurality of tires, a system for remote monitoring of tire pressure and for remote immobilization of the vehicle comprising:

• a plurality of transmitters, each transmitter for mounting in one of the plurality of tires and for transmitting wireless tire information signals for use in conveying tire pressure information to a vehicle occupant;
• and
• a receiver for mounting on the vehicle, the receiver for receiving both the tire information signals transmitted by the transmitters and a remote wireless encrypted vehicle immobilization signal including an authentication code, wherein the receiver is provided in communication with an engine controller, the engine controller for processing the encrypted vehicle immobilization signal to determine if the immobilization signal is valid based on the authentication code and to immobilize if the immobilization signal is determined valid.

In a vehicle having an engine and a plurality of tires, each tire having a transmitter mounting therein for transmitting wireless tire information signals for use in conveying tire pressure information to a vehicle occupant, a method for remote monitoring of tire pressure and for remote immobilization of the vehicle comprising providing a receiver for mounting on the vehicle, the receiver for receiving both the tire information signals transmitted by the transmitters and a remote wireless encrypted vehicle immobilization signal including an authentication code, and for processing the encrypted vehicle immobilization signal to determine if the immobilization signal is valid based on the authentication code and to generate a control signal for use in immobilizing the vehicle if the immobilization signal is determined valid.

In a vehicle having an engine and a plurality of tires, each tire having a transmitter mounted therein for transmitting wireless tire information signals for use in conveying tire pressure information to a vehicle occupant, a method for remote monitoring of tire pressure and for remote immobilization of the vehicle comprising providing a receiver for mounting on the vehicle, the receiver for receiving both the tire information signals transmitted by the transmitters and a remote wireless encrypted vehicle immobilization signal including an authentication code, wherein the receiver is provided in communication with an engine controller, the engine controller for processing the encrypted vehicle immobilization signal to determine if the immobilization signal is valid based on the authentication code and to immobilize if the immobilization signal is determined valid.