Telematics system

• US 20020115436A1
• Filed: 10/01/2001
• Published: 08/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Remote Knowledge, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Remote Knowledge, Inc.
• Inventors: Stevenson, Timothy J., Howell, Robert M.
• Application Number:
  US09/968,746
• Publication Number:
  US 20020115436A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/426.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner

Abstract

Disclosed is a telematics system that is self-contained and includes a number of anti-defeat counter-measure features that prevent the disablement of the system. In addition, the present system utilizes event sensors, such as motion sensors, to detect the existence of an event after the remote unit has been armed. Location data is then sent to a base station that calculates if the unit has been moved beyond a predetermined perimeter which causes the generation of a alarm condition. The telematics system is also capable of adjusting the transmission frequency period of location data and prioritizing the data that is sent. Further, the system reduces the amount of location data that is sent from the remote unit by eliminating redundant data. Transmission rates of the data are maximized by adjusting the baud rate according to the signal strength of a communication link between the remote unit and a base station. The base station is capable of generating dead reckoning data from raw direction and speed data as well as GPS location data provided by the remote unit. Dual antennas are provided that minimize space requirements by placing both the GPS antenna and a cellular phone antenna on a single substrate, printed circuit board. An isolation fence is provided between the antennas to isolate the electromagnetic waves. Voltage supplies are also monitored by the remote unit to determine if an external power supply has been cut or if the vehicle battery is dead.

Claims

1. A method of generating an alarm condition in a telematics system comprising:

transmitting location information from a remote unit to a base station after said remote unit has been armed and said remote unit has detected an event;

determining if said remote unit has moved beyond a preprogrammed perimeter;

generating an alarm condition whenever said remote unit has moved beyond said perimeter.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising allowing a user to establish said preprogrammed perimeter.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said detection of an event comprises the detection of a magnetic sensor change.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said detection of an event comprises detecting a signal indicating the activation of the ignition of a vehicle to which said remote unit is connected.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said detection of an event comprises detecting a signal from a mercury switch indicating that the remote unit has been moved.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said detection of an event comprises detecting a speed signal from said remote unit.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said detection of an event comprises detection of a signal indicating that a check-in timer has expired.

8. A telematics system that generates an alarm condition whenever a remote unit has moved beyond a predetermined perimeter after said remote unit has been armed comprising:

event sensors located in said remote unit for detecting an event and generating an event signal;

a microprocessor disposed in said remote unit that detects said event signal and generates a control signal to cause said remote unit to transmit location data to a base station;

a processor disposed in said base station that determines if said remote unit has been moved beyond a predetermined perimeter and generates an alarm signal.

9. The telematics system of claim 8 wherein said event sensor is a magnetic sensor.

10. The telematics system of claim 8 wherein said event sensor is an ignition sensor.

11. The telematics system of claim 8 wherein said event sensor is a mercury switch.

12. The telematics system of claim 8 wherein said event sensor is a speed sensor.

13. The telematics system of claim 8 wherein said event sensor is a timer sensor.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

obtaining data strings at said base station that have been previously transmitted;

comparing said previously transmitted data strings with data strings that are last received by said base station;

reconstituting said data strings last received by said base station with data that does not match previously transmitted data.

14. A method of adjusting the transmission frequency period of a remote unit in a telematics system comprising:

determining the speed of movement of said remote unit;

adjusting said transmission frequency period in response to said speed of movement of said remote unit so that said period is increased whenever said remote unit is moving at a lower speed and decreased whenever said remote unit is moving at a higher speed.

15. A telematics system that adjusts the transmission frequency period of a remote unit to minimize the amount of location data transmitted from said remote unit to a base station comprising:

a microprocessor that determines the speed of movement of said remote unit and adjusts said transmission frequency period of said remote unit based upon said speed of movement of said remote unit;

a transmitter that transmits data to said base station at a rate based upon said transmission frequency period.

16. A method of decreasing the amount of data that is transmitted by a remote unit in a telematics device comprising:

comparing data that has been previously transmitted by said remote unit with data to be transmitted by said remote unit;

extracting data strings from said data to be transmitted that does not match data strings of said data that has previously been transmitted to generate extracted data strings;

transmitting said extracted data strings.

18. A telematics system that decreases the amount of data that is transmitted by a remote unit comprising:

a microprocessor disposed in said remote unit that compares data that has been previously transmitted by said remote unit with data to be transmitted by said remote unit and extracts data strings that do not match;

a transmitter that transmits said data strings to a base station.

19. A telematics system that decreases the amount of data that is transmitted by a remote unit comprising:

a microprocessor disposed in said remote unit that compares data that has been previously transmitted by said remote unit with data to be transmitted by said remote unit and extracts data strings that do not match;

a transmitter that transmits said data strings to a base station.

20. A method of adjusting the data transmission rate of a cellular radio module in a remote unit of a telematics device and maintaining quality data transmissions comprising;

detecting signal strength of a communication link between said cellular radio module and a base station;

adjusting said data transmission rate of said cellular radio module based upon said signal strength.

21. A remote unit of a telematics system that is capable of adjusting the data transmission rate of data transmissions from a cellular radio module comprising:

a signal strength detector that generates a signal strength indicator signal that indicates the strength of a communications link between said cellular radio module and a base station;

a microprocessor connected to said signal strength detector that determines said strength of said communications link and generates a control signal that is applied to said cellular radio module to control said data transmission rate.

22. A method of prioritizing the transmission data from a remote unit to a base station in a telematics device comprising:

determining when a communication link is broken between said remote unit and said base station;

storing location data while said communication link is broken;

determining when said communication link has been re-established;

transmitting current location data prior to stored location data.

28. The antenna system of claim 27 wherein said isolation fence is coupled to a ground plane of said substrate.

29. The antenna system of claim 27 wherein said isolation fence is coupled to a conductive housing of said telematics device.

23. A telematics system that prioritizes the transmission of location data comprising:

a cellular radio module that establishes a communication link between a remote unit and a base station to transmit said location from said remote unit to said base station;

a microprocessor disposed in said remote unit that detects whenever said communication link is broken and stores location data, and provides current location data to said cellular radio module prior to stored location data whenever said communication link is re-established.

24. A method of providing dead reckoning location information in a telematics device whenever a communication link between a remote unit and a base station is lost comprising:

generating raw direction and speed data at a remote unit of said telematics device and GPS location data;

transmitting said GPS location data and said raw direction and speed data from said remote unit to a base station;

calculating location information at said base station using said GPS location data and said raw direction and speed data using dead reckoning techniques.

25. A telematics system that is capable of generating dead reckoning data comprising:

a compass disposed in a remote unit that generates direction data;

a microprocessor disposed in said remote unit that generates speed data and GPS location data;

a transmitter disposed in said remote unit that transmits said direction data, said speed data and said GPS location data;

a receiver disposed in a base station that receives said direction data, said speed data and said GPS location data;

a processor disposed in said base station that calculates location information using dead reckoning techniques.

26. A method of providing dual antennas in a telematics device that minimize space requirements and provide isolation comprising:

placing a GPS antenna on a first portion of a substrate having a first ground plane that is isolated from other ground planes in said telematics device;

placing a cellular phone antenna on a second portion of said substrate having a second ground plane that is isolated from other ground planes in said telematics device and from said first ground plane;

placing an isolation fence between said GPS antenna and said cellular phone antenna to isolate said GPS antenna and said cellular phone antenna.

27. A antenna system for a telematics device comprising:

a GPS antenna disposed on a first portion of a substrate having a first ground plane that is isolated from other grounds in said telematics device;

a cellular phone antenna disposed on a second portion of said substrate having a second ground plane that isolated from said first ground plane and other grounds in said telematics device;

an isolation fence disposed between said GPS antenna and said cellular phone antenna in said telematics device that isolate said GPS antenna and said cellular phone antenna.

30. A device for monitoring voltage levels of an external power source connected to a telematics remote unit comprising:

a monitor voltage circuit connected to said external power source;

a logic device connected to said monitor voltage circuit that detects the duration and amplitude of voltage drops of said power source and generates an alarm signal whenever said duration an amplitude of said voltage drop exceeds a predetermined threshold.

31. A method of determining if external power has been lost to a telematics remote unit comprising:

monitoring voltage levels of said external power with a logic device;

detecting duration and amplitude of voltage drops of said voltage level;

generating an alarm signal whenever said duration and amplitude of said voltage drops exceed a predetermined threshold.

32. The method of claim 31 further comprising:

automatically applying power from backup batteries located in said telematics remote unit upon generation of said alarm signal.

33. A self contained telematics remote tracking unit that includes anti-defeat countermeasure features that reduce the ability to disable said telematics remote tracking unit comprising:

internal backup batteries located in said telematics remote tracking unit to provide power to said telematics remote tracking unit to wherever external power is lost;

flash suppression circuitry in said telematics remote tracking unit and in series with said external power;

multiple isolated ground planes connected to separate circuits in said telematics remote tracking unit;

a housing constructed of a conductive polymer that protects internal circuitry from electrical impulses;

antennas that are disposed internally in said telematics remote tracking unit adjacent windows in said housing that are non-conductive and transmit electromagnetic waves.

34. A method of reducing the ability to disable a telematics remote tracking unit by including anti-defeat countermeasure features comprising:

providing internal backup batteries in said telematics remote tracking unit to provide power whenever external power is lost;

providing flash suppression circuitry in series with said external power;

providing multiple isolated ground planes for separate circuits in said telematics remote tracking unit;

providing a conductive polymer housing that protects telematics remote tracking unit circuitry from electrical and electromagnetic impulses;

providing antennas that are disposed internally within said telematics remote tracking unit adjacent windows in said housing that are non-conductive and transmit electromagnetic waves.