Patent ID: 7342324

Claim:
A system for securing a vehicle electronically, the system being capable of controlling the performance of a vehicle function in response to a user performing a user action, the system comprising: an electronic security device ( 10 ) fitted to the vehicle, the electronic security device being capable of controlling the performance of the vehicle function in response to being provided with a first security code; an electronic key ( 12 ), the key being capable of providing the first security code to the electronic security device in response to the user action; and an electronic configuring device ( 16 ) which is separate to the electronic security device and separate to the key, which electronic configuring device is capable of providing a second security code and a third security code, the system being arranged to provide a secured mode of operation and an unsecured mode of operation, the secured mode of operation and the unsecured mode of operation being provided based upon one or more predetermined criteria: wherein the secured mode of operation in which the electronic security device must be set to a limited authorisation state to enable performance of the vehicle function, following which the system automatically sets the electronic security device to an unauthorised state in which the user performing the action does not enable performance of the vehicle function; and wherein the unsecured mode of operation in which the user performing the action enables performance of the vehicle function without requiring the limited authorisation state to be set, wherein in said secured mode of operation the electronic security device is arranged to authenticate the second security code based upon the one or more predetermined criteria including a predetermined user ID, and in response to said authentication, altering its mode of operation from said secured mode to said unsecured mode, and wherein in said secured mode of operation the electronic security device is arranged to authenticate the third security code, and in response to said authentication, to alter its state from said unauthorised state to said limited authorisation state.