Patent ID: 7568616

Claim:
A method of authenticating the use of a vehicle, comprising: installing a vehicle disable unit inside a vehicle, the vehicle disable unit being operative to disable an entry or operation of the vehicle without an appropriate authorization; providing a card reader system separate from the vehicle, said card reader system having a keypad and a display, said card reader system comprising a transmitter and a receiver, and where said card reader system is capable of: receiving a user request from a user for entry or operation of the vehicle equipped with the vehicle disable unit; in response to said user request, authenticating said user and generating a request upon authentication; encrypting the generated request; and transmitting said encrypted generated request to the vehicle disable unit; receiving the encrypted generated request at the vehicle disable unit, and communicating the encrypted generated request from the vehicle disable unit to a third party; decrypting the encrypted generated request and validating the request at the third party; receiving a signal at the vehicle disable unit from the third party, the signal indicating the validation of the generated request and thereby the authentication of the user to enter or operate said vehicle; and if the signal indicates that the generated request is validated by the third party then deactivating the vehicle disable unit so that the vehicle can be entered or operated.