Key-fob locating method and apparatus
First Claim
1. A key-fob adapted to provide information on its whereabouts by interacting with one or more communication nodes having determinable location(s), comprising:
- a transmitter;
a receiver;
a motion detector;
memory; and
a controller operatively coupled to the transmitter, receiver, motion detector and memory;
wherein the controller operates under the direction of instructions stored in the memory to operate the transmitter in response to a first signal provided by the motion detector indicating that the key-fob is in motion and a second signal provided by the receiver indicating that the key-fob is in communication range of one of the communication nodes, to send to such communication node via the transmitter information useful in tracking the whereabouts of the key-fob.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus are provided for obtaining information on the whereabouts of a vehicle key-fob. The apparatus comprises a transmitter, a receiver, a motion detector, memory, and a controller operatively coupled thereto. The controller uses instructions stored in the memory to operate the transmitter in response to a first signal provided by the motion detector indicating that the key-fob is in motion and a second signal provided by the receiver when the key-fob is in range of a communication node, to send thereto via the transmitter information useful in tracking the key-fob. The user interrogates the node to retrieve the location information deposited thereon by the key-fob. The stored information may be a time dated list of nodes the key-fob has visited or current position information generated within the key-fob itself and/or the nodes, or a combination thereof.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A key-fob adapted to provide information on its whereabouts by interacting with one or more communication nodes having determinable location(s), comprising:
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a transmitter;
a receiver;
a motion detector;
memory; and
a controller operatively coupled to the transmitter, receiver, motion detector and memory;
wherein the controller operates under the direction of instructions stored in the memory to operate the transmitter in response to a first signal provided by the motion detector indicating that the key-fob is in motion and a second signal provided by the receiver indicating that the key-fob is in communication range of one of the communication nodes, to send to such communication node via the transmitter information useful in tracking the whereabouts of the key-fob. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for determining at least in part the location of a key-fob, comprising:
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detecting when the key-fob is in motion;
providing location history information concerning the key-fob to one or more communication nodes that come within communication range of the key-fob; and
interrogating the one or more communication nodes to obtain therefrom the location history information concerning the key-fob stored thereon. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for determining the location of a key-fob, comprising:
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when the key-fob is in motion, forming an ad-hoc network with one or more communication nodes in its vicinity;
storing on such communication nodes information related to the current position or the current and one or more past positions of the key-fob; and
interrogating such communication nodes to obtain therefrom the stored information related to the current position or the current and one or more past positions of the key-fob. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification