Anti-theft system and method

• US 20050012591A1
• Filed: 05/21/2004
• Published: 01/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John Tomljenovic, Lee Knight
• Original Assignee: John Tomljenovic, Lee Knight
• Inventors: Tomljenovic, John, Knight, Lee
• Granted Patent: US 7,961,081 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.310
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/127 to a central station ; Indicators in a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental

Abstract

A system and apparatus for detecting unauthorized movement of a moveable object where the system includes a GPS receiver, cellular modulator, processor, pager modem, sensor and two-way pager. When the system is coupled to a moveable object and is armed via the pager, the sensor is monitored by the processor to determine when a possible theft of the moveable object may be occurring. In an embodiment, the sensor is a multiple axis accelerometer. In one embodiment the accelerometer is a two axes accelerometer where the sensor detects small movements of the object is two axes. When the sensor is triggered, the processor pages the two-way pager. The processor also determines the system'"'"'s location via the GPS receiver. The processor generates a message including the system'"'"'s location and unique system identifier. The processor transmits the message to a monitoring center via a cellular network (and the cellular modulator). In one embodiment, the message is a text message and transmitted using a GSM, GPRS, or Short Messaging Service cellular based network.

Claims

1. An apparatus for detecting unauthorized movement of a moveable object, the apparatus comprising:

a concealable case, the case including;

a processor;

a GPS receiver coupled to the processor, the GPS receiver capable of receiving GPS signals from one or more satellites;

a cellular modem coupled to the processor, the cellular modem capable of communicating messages on a cellular network;

a pager modem coupled to the processor, the cellular modem capable of communicating messages to a pager; and

a movement sensor, the movement sensor capable of generating a movement signal when the sensor is moved in at least one direction; and

a concealable GPS antenna coupled to the GPS receiver;

a concealable cellular antenna coupled to the cellular modem; and

a pager, the pager capable of communicating with the pager modem;

wherein the processor is capable of determining a location signal based a signal received from the GPS receiver and creating and sending an unauthorized movement message including the location signal and unique apparatus identifier to a central location via the cellular modem and sending an alarm signal to the pager via the pager modem when the movement sensor generates a movement signal.

2. The apparatus for detecting unauthorized movement of a moveable object of claim 1, wherein the movement sensor includes a multiple axis accelerometer.

3. The apparatus for detecting unauthorized movement of a moveable object of claim 1, wherein the movement sensor includes a two axes accelerometer where the accelerometer detects small movements of the case in one of two axes.

4. The apparatus for detecting unauthorized movement of a moveable object of claim 3, wherein the unauthorized movement message is a text message and transmitted using a GSM, GPRS, or Short Messaging Service cellular based network.

5. The apparatus for detecting unauthorized movement of a moveable object of claim 3, wherein the cellular modem communicates text messages using one of a GSM, a GPRS, and a Short Messaging Service cellular based network.

6. The apparatus for detecting unauthorized movement of a moveable object of claim 5, further comprising a kill switch that disables operation of the moveable object upon receipt of a kill operation message via the cellular modem.

7. The apparatus for detecting unauthorized movement of a moveable object of claim 6, wherein the moveable object is one of a motorcycle, a jet ski, an all terrain vehicle, and a snowmobile.

8. A system for detecting unauthorized movement of a moveable object, the system comprising:

a central monitoring center, the center capable of communicating messages on a cellular network; and

an apparatus, the apparatus comprising;

a concealable case, the case including;

a processor;

a GPS receiver coupled to the processor, the GPS receiver capable of receiving GPS signals from one or more satellites;

a cellular modem coupled to the processor, the cellular modem capable of communicating messages on the cellular network;

a pager modem coupled to the processor, the cellular modem capable of communicating messages to a pager; and

a movement sensor, the movement sensor capable of generating a movement signal when the sensor is moved in at least one direction; and

a concealable GPS antenna coupled to the GPS receiver;

a concealable cellular antenna coupled to the cellular modem; and

a pager, the pager capable of communicating with the pager modem;

wherein the processor is capable of determining a location signal based a signal received from the GPS receiver and creating and sending an unauthorized movement message including the location signal and unique apparatus identifier to the central monitoring center via the cellular modem and sending an alarm signal to the pager via the pager modem when the movement sensor generates a movement signal.

9. The system for detecting unauthorized movement of a moveable object of claim 8, wherein the movement sensor includes a multiple axis accelerometer.

10. The system for detecting unauthorized movement of a moveable object of claim 8, wherein the movement sensor includes a two axes accelerometer where the accelerometer detects small movements of the case in one of two axes.

11. The system for detecting unauthorized movement of a moveable object of claim 10, wherein the unauthorized movement message is a text message and transmitted using a GSM, GPRS, or Short Messaging Service cellular based network.

12. The system for detecting unauthorized movement of a moveable object of claim 10, wherein the cellular modem communicates text messages using one of a GSM, a GPRS, and a Short Messaging Service cellular based network.

13. The system for detecting unauthorized movement of a moveable object of claim 12, the apparatus further comprising a kill switch that disables operation of the moveable object upon receipt of a kill operation message via the cellular modem.

14. The system for detecting unauthorized movement of a moveable object of claim 13, wherein the moveable object is one of a motorcycle, a jet ski, an all terrain vehicle, and a snowmobile.

15. The system for detecting unauthorized movement of a moveable object of claim 13, wherein the monitoring center is capable of logging the time and date receipt of an unauthorized movement message.

16. The system for detecting unauthorized movement of a moveable object of claim 13, wherein the monitoring center is capable of forwarding the tracking information to one of a police computer, a staffed office, and a designated contact.

17. A method of detecting unauthorized movement of a moveable object, the method comprising the steps of:

a. generating a movement signal when a movement sensor is moved in at least one direction;

b. receiving GPS signals from one or more satellites;

c. determining a location signal based a signal received GPS signals;

d. generating an unauthorized movement message including the location signal and unique identifier;

e. sending the unauthorized movement message to a central location via a cellular network; and

f. sending a page message indicating an unauthorized movement to pager.

18. The method of detecting unauthorized movement of a moveable object of claim 17, wherein the movement sensor includes a multiple axis accelerometer.

19. The method of detecting unauthorized movement of a moveable object of claim 18, wherein the movement sensor includes a two axes accelerometer and where step a. includes generating a movement signal when the accelerometer detects small movements in one of two axes.

20. The method of detecting unauthorized movement of a moveable object of claim 19, wherein the unauthorized movement message is a text message and step e. includes sending the unauthorized movement message to a central location using one of a GSM, a GPRS, and a Short Messaging Service cellular based network.

21. The method of detecting unauthorized movement of a moveable object of claim 19, further comprising the step of disabling operation of the moveable object upon receipt of a kill operation message via the cellular network.

22. The method of detecting unauthorized movement of a moveable object of claim 20, wherein the moveable object is one of a motorcycle, a jet ski, an all terrain vehicle, and a snowmobile.

23. An article of manufacture for use in detecting unauthorized movement of a moveable object, the article of manufacture comprising computer readable storage media including program logic embedded therein that causes control circuitry to perform the steps of:

a. generating a movement signal when a movement sensor is moved in at least one direction;

b. receiving GPS signals from one or more satellites;

c. determining a location signal based a signal received GPS signals;

d. generating an unauthorized movement message including the location signal and unique identifier;

e. sending the unauthorized movement message to a central location via a cellular network; and

f. sending a page message indicating an unauthorized movement to pager.

24. The article of manufacture of claim 23, wherein the movement sensor includes a multiple axis accelerometer.

25. The article of manufacture of claim 23, wherein the movement sensor includes a two axes accelerometer and wherein step a. includes generating a movement signal when the accelerometer detects small movements in one of two axes.

26. The article of manufacture of claim 25, wherein the unauthorized movement message is a text message and wherein step e. includes sending the unauthorized movement message to a central location using one of a GSM, a GPRS, and a Short Messaging Service cellular based network.

27. The article of manufacture of claim 25, further causing the control circuitry to perform the step of disabling operation of the moveable object upon receipt of a kill operation message via the cellular network.

28. The article of manufacture of claim 25, wherein the moveable object is one of a motorcycle, a jet ski, an all terrain vehicle, and a snowmobile.