Vehicle tracker cooperating with a starter interrupt and related methods
First Claim
1. A vehicle tracking system comprising:
- a monitoring station;
a vehicle tracking unit for a vehicle of a type comprising an engine starter interrupt device, said vehicle tracking unit comprising a vehicle position determining device, a wireless communications device, and a controller;
said controller switching between an armed mode and a disarmed mode based upon operation of the engine starter interrupt device, said controller when in the armed mode for cooperating with said wireless communications device to send an alert message to said monitoring station and including vehicle position information;
said controller also selectively operating the engine starter interrupt device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle tracking unit is preferably for a vehicle of a type including an engine starter interrupt device. The vehicle tracking unit preferably includes a vehicle position determining device, a wireless communications device, and a controller. The controller may switch between an armed mode and a disarmed mode based upon operation of the engine starter interrupt device. The controller when in the armed mode may cooperate with the wireless communications device to send an alert message to the monitoring station and including vehicle position information, for example. The controller is also for selectively operating the engine starter interrupt device. The controller may include a combination input and output terminal for connection to the engine starter interrupt device.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A vehicle tracking system comprising:
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a monitoring station;
a vehicle tracking unit for a vehicle of a type comprising an engine starter interrupt device, said vehicle tracking unit comprising a vehicle position determining device, a wireless communications device, and a controller;
said controller switching between an armed mode and a disarmed mode based upon operation of the engine starter interrupt device, said controller when in the armed mode for cooperating with said wireless communications device to send an alert message to said monitoring station and including vehicle position information;
said controller also selectively operating the engine starter interrupt device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A vehicle tracking unit for communicating with a monitoring station and for use in a vehicle of a type comprising an engine starter interrupt device, the vehicle tracking unit comprising:
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a vehicle position determining device;
a wireless communications device; and
a controller switching between an armed mode and a disarmed mode based upon operation of the engine starter interrupt device, said controller when in the armed mode for cooperating with said wireless communications device to send an alert message to the monitoring station;
said controller also selectively operating the engine starter interrupt device. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for operating a vehicle tracking unit in a vehicle of a type comprising an engine starter interrupt device, the vehicle tracking unit comprising a vehicle position determining device, a wireless communications device, and a controller connected to the engine starter interrupt device, the method comprising:
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switching the controller between an armed mode and a disarmed mode based upon operation of the engine starter interrupt device, the controller when in the armed mode for cooperating with the wireless communications device to send an alert message to a monitoring station;
using the controller to also selectively operate the engine starter interrupt device. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification