Vehicle tracking unit for controlling operable vehicle devices using a vehicle data bus and related methods

• US 20050190080A1
• Filed: 03/10/2005
• Published: 09/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omega Patents, L.L.C.
• Original Assignee: Omega Patents, L.L.C.
• Inventors: Flick, Kenneth E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,015,830 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/989
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/202 Personal digital assistant [PDA]
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/104 characterised by the type of theft warning signal, e.g. visual or audible signals with special characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0269 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the exact location of child or item using a navigation satellite system, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/127 to a central station ; Indicators in a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/207 with respect to certain areas, e.g. forbidden or allowed areas with possible alerting when inside or outside boundaries

Abstract

A vehicle tracking unit is provided for a vehicle of a type comprising a vehicle data bus extending throughout the vehicle and at least one operable vehicle device connected thereto. The at least one operable vehicle device may be responsive to at least one data bus code on the vehicle data bus. The vehicle tracking unit may include a vehicle position determining device, a wireless communications device, and a controller cooperating with the vehicle position determining device and the wireless communications device to send vehicle position information to a user. Moreover, the controller may generate the at least one data bus code on the vehicle data communications bus to control the at least one operable vehicle device based upon a command signal received by the wireless device.

Claims

1-25. -25. (canceled)

26. A vehicle tracking unit for a vehicle of a type comprising a vehicle data bus extending throughout the vehicle and at least one operable vehicle device connected thereto, the at least one operable vehicle device responsive to at least one data bus code on the vehicle data bus, the vehicle tracking unit comprising:

a vehicle position determining device;

a wireless communications device; and

a controller spaced apart from the at least one operable vehicle device and connected to the vehicle data bus so that the vehicle data bus extends from said controller to the at least one operable vehicle device, said controller for cooperating with said vehicle position determining device and said wireless communications device to send vehicle position information to a user;

said controller generating the at least one data bus code on the vehicle data bus to control the at least one operable vehicle device based upon a command signal received by said wireless communications device.

27. The vehicle tracking unit according to claim 26 wherein the command signal received by said wireless communications device includes the at least one data bus code.

28. The vehicle tracking unit according to claim 26 wherein the command signal received by said wireless communications device relates to the at least one data bus code;

and wherein said controller processes the command signal to generate the at least one data bus code on the vehicle data bus.

29. The vehicle tracking unit according to claim 26 wherein said controller also cooperates with said wireless communications device to send a response message to the user based upon receiving the command signal.

30. The vehicle tracking unit according to claim 26 wherein the at least one operable vehicle device comprises a plurality of operable vehicle devices.

31. The vehicle tracking unit according to claim 26 wherein the at least one operable vehicle device comprises at least one of a vehicle alarm device, a keyless entry device, an engine starter interrupt device, a car starter device, a door lock actuator, a horn, a vehicle light, and a siren.

32. The vehicle tracking unit according to claim 26 wherein said vehicle position determining device comprises a Global Positioning System (GPS) device.

33. The vehicle tracking unit according to claim 26 wherein said wireless communications device comprises a cellular telephone communications device.

34. The vehicle tracking unit according to claim 26 wherein said wireless communications device receives the vehicle data bus device code via a wireless pager network.

35. A vehicle tracking unit for a vehicle of a type comprising a vehicle data bus extending throughout the vehicle and at least one operable vehicle device connected thereto, the at least one operable vehicle device responsive to at least one data bus code on the vehicle data bus, the vehicle tracking unit comprising:

a vehicle position determining device;

a wireless communications device; and

a controller spaced apart from the at least one operable vehicle device and connected to the vehicle data bus so that the vehicle data bus extends from said controller to the at least one operable vehicle device, said controller for cooperating with said vehicle position determining device and said wireless communications device to send vehicle position information to a user;

said controller generating the at least one data bus code on the vehicle data bus to control the at least one operable vehicle device based upon a command signal provided by the user and received by said wireless communications device;

said controller also cooperating with said wireless communications device to send a response message to the user based upon receiving the command signal.

36. The vehicle tracking unit according to claim 35 wherein the command signal received by said wireless communications device includes the at least one data bus code.

37. The vehicle tracking unit according to claim 35 wherein the command signal received by said wireless communications device relates to the at least one data bus code;

and wherein said controller processes the command signal to generate the at least one data bus code on the vehicle data bus.

38. The vehicle tracking unit according to claim 35 wherein the at least one operable vehicle device comprises a plurality of operable vehicle devices.

39. The vehicle tracking unit according to claim 35 wherein the at least one operable vehicle device comprises at least one of a vehicle alarm device, a keyless entry device, an engine starter interrupt device, a car starter device, a door lock actuator, a horn, a vehicle light, and a siren.

40. The vehicle tracking unit according to claim 35 wherein said vehicle position determining device comprises a Global Positioning System (GPS) device.

41. The vehicle tracking unit according to claim 35 wherein said wireless communications device comprises a cellular telephone communications device.

42. The vehicle tracking unit according to claim 35 wherein said wireless communications device receives the vehicle data bus device code via a wireless pager network.