System and method for safe disablement of mobile pieces of equipment (MPEs)
First Claim
1. A method for controlled disablement of a mobile piece of equipment MPE from a remote location, comprising:
- providing a host processor coupled to a communications means operable to transmit a wireless Operational Commands to a MPE remotely located from the host processor, wherein the Operational Commands include Enable and Disable Commands;
providing a communications unit onboard a MPE operable to receive the wireless operational commands, wherein said communications unit is coupled to a CPU onboard the MPE;
providing at least one component control unit (CCU) linked to the CPU by a communications means and actuatable by the CPU, wherein the CCU is coupled to at least one critical component of the MPE and is operable in a first mode of operation to disable the at least one critical component to effect immobilization of the MPE in response to a Disable Command and is operable in a second mode of operation to enable the at least one critical component in response to an Enable Command;
providing a software algorithm resident on the CPU which initiates a Disable Procedure in response to a Disable Command received by the CPU;
wherein the Disable Procedure comprises the steps of;
querying the binary status of the MPE key power circuit, wherein said step of querying the binary status of the key power circuit is repeated continuously at a pre-set interval if the key power circuit is on; and
disabling the at least one critical component if key power circuit is off for a pre-determined interval by actuating the CCU.
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Abstract
A system for safe disablement of a mobile piece of equipment (MPE) in which an onboard processor (CPU) includes a component control unit (CCU) coupled to a critical operational component of the MPE. The CCU is operable to effect immobilization of the MPE in a first mode of operation and to enable the critical operational component in second more of operation. Using an integral communications interface, the CPU can be accessed by a cellular telephone network, pager signal, RF transmission, or via a satellite network. A software algorithm initiates a Disable Procedure which continuously queries the binary status of the key power circuit at preset intervals to determine if it is on or off. If the status of the key power circuit remains off for a predetermined interval, the critical component is then disabled by actuating the CCU. A disable command can originate remotely using wireless transmission means. The disablement can also be automatic based on calendar and geographic location parameters. Disablement is also effected when system tampering is detected.
67 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A method for controlled disablement of a mobile piece of equipment MPE from a remote location, comprising:
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providing a host processor coupled to a communications means operable to transmit a wireless Operational Commands to a MPE remotely located from the host processor, wherein the Operational Commands include Enable and Disable Commands;
providing a communications unit onboard a MPE operable to receive the wireless operational commands, wherein said communications unit is coupled to a CPU onboard the MPE;
providing at least one component control unit (CCU) linked to the CPU by a communications means and actuatable by the CPU, wherein the CCU is coupled to at least one critical component of the MPE and is operable in a first mode of operation to disable the at least one critical component to effect immobilization of the MPE in response to a Disable Command and is operable in a second mode of operation to enable the at least one critical component in response to an Enable Command;
providing a software algorithm resident on the CPU which initiates a Disable Procedure in response to a Disable Command received by the CPU;
wherein the Disable Procedure comprises the steps of;
querying the binary status of the MPE key power circuit, wherein said step of querying the binary status of the key power circuit is repeated continuously at a pre-set interval if the key power circuit is on; and
disabling the at least one critical component if key power circuit is off for a pre-determined interval by actuating the CCU. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for confining a mobile piece of equipment (MPE) to a prescribed geographic area by controlled automatic disablement of the MPE, comprising:
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providing a CPU having a memory onboard the MPE, wherein the CPU is in operative communication with a global positioning system (GPS) resident on the MPE;
providing at least one component control unit (CCU) linked to the CPU by a communications means and actuatable by the CPU, wherein the CCU is coupled to at least one critical component of the MPE and is operable to disable the at least one critical component to effect immobilization of the MPE;
defining a geographic coordinate perimeter wherein the perimeter circumscribes a containment area for the MPE;
providing a software algorithm operable to perform the steps of;
retrieving real-time GPS coordinates for the physical location MPE at pre-set intervals;
comparing the real-time GPS coordinates with the defined coordinates perimeter to determine if the MPE is within the containment area; and
initiating a Disable Procedure if the MPE is outside of the containment area, wherein said step of initiating a Disable Procedure comprises the steps of;
querying the binary status of the MPE'"'"'s key power circuit, wherein said step of querying the binary status of the key power circuit is repeated continuously at a pre-set interval if the key power circuit is on; and
disabling the at least one critical component if key power circuit is off for a pre-determined interval by actuating the CCU. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. The method of claim l5, wherein the host processor is coupled to an Internet server and the host processor is in communication with a remote workstation via a web browser.
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27. A method for establishing date and time dependent operation of a mobile piece of equipment (MPE) by controlled automatic enablement and disablement of the MPE, comprising:
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providing an on board CPU having an integral date and time function calibrated to output Current Time and Date;
programming the CPU to define Authorized Time Intervals for use of the MPE;
providing at least one component control unit (CCU) linked to the CPU by a communications means and actuatable by the CPU, wherein the CCU is coupled to at least one critical component of the MPE and is operable in a first mode operation to disable the at least one critical component to effect immobilization of the MPE and in a second mode of operation to enable the at least one critical component;
providing a software algorithm resident on the CPU which is operable to perform the steps of;
determining if concurrency exists between the Current Time and Date and the Authorized Time Intervals;
initiating a Disable Procedure if no concurrency exists, wherein said step of initiating a Disable Procedure comprises the steps of;
querying the binary status of the MPE key power circuit, wherein said step of querying the binary status of the key power circuit is repeated continuously at a pre-set interval if the key power circuit is on; and
disabling the at least one critical component if key power circuit is off for a pre-determined interval by actuating the CCU. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method for automatic disablement of a mobile piece of equipment (MPE), comprising:
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providing a CPU onboard the MPE;
providing a plurality of component control units (CCUs) linked to the CPU by and actuatable by the CPU, wherein the plurality of CCUs are respectively coupled to a plurality of critical operational components of the MPE and are independently operable to disable the critical operational components to effect immobilization of the MPE;
providing a means whereby the CPU can monitor the positive or negative operational status of each of the CCUs;
providing a software algorithm resident on the CPU which continuously executes a Tamper Detection Procedure comprising the steps of;
querying the operational status of each of the plurality of CCUs; and
initiating a Disable Procedure if said step of querying the operational status at least one of the CCU is unresponsive status;
wherein said step of initiating a Disable Procedure includes actuating at least one CCU having positive operational status whereby at least one critical component is disabled. - View Dependent Claims (36)
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Specification