WIRELESS LOCATING AND MONITORING SYSTEM

• US 20070213887A1
• Filed: 12/05/2006
• Published: 09/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Monterey Research, LLC (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation (Infineon Technologies AG)
• Inventors: Woodings, Ryan
• Granted Patent: US 7,761,232 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/002 for traffic control, mobile tracking, guidance, surveillance or anti-collision
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• 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

Abstract

A wireless tracking device including a positioning system for determining a location of the device and a processor connected to the positioning system. The wireless tracking device further including a wireless radio connected to the processor for transmitting the location of the device across a wireless area network. A vehicle monitoring system including a sensor, a microcontroller configured to receive a sensor input from the sensor and determine a vehicle condition data, and a wireless transmitter in communication with the microcontroller. The wireless transmitter is configured to transmit the vehicle condition data to a remote data network access point. A method of monitoring a vehicle including determining a status of the vehicle, locating an available wireless data network access point, and transmitting the status of the vehicle though the access point.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring a vehicle comprising:

determining a status of the vehicle;

locating an available wireless data network access point; and

transmitting the status of the vehicle though the access point.

2. The method according to claim 1 where the status includes a location of the vehicle, and the status is determined according to a global positioning system signal.

3. The method according to claim 1 where the status includes a time of day, a vehicle speed or a vehicle direction.

4. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

determining that the vehicle is being used by an unauthorized operator; and

transmitting an alert message.

5. The method according to claim 4 including shutting down a vehicle operation.

6. The method according to claim 1 including providing an access code or login to the wireless data network access point

7. The method according to claim 1 where the wireless data network access point is located using passive scanning.

8. The method according to claim 7 where no radio frequency signals are transmitted during the passive scanning.

9. The method according to claim 1 where the wireless data network access point is located using active scanning.

10. A wireless tracking device, comprising:

a positioning system for determining a location of the device;

a processor connected to the positioning system; and

a wireless radio connected to the processor for transmitting the location of the device across a wireless area network.

11. The wireless tracking device according to claim 10 where the processor is configured to receive a vehicle sensor input and request the wireless radio to transmit a vehicle status across the wireless area network.

12. The wireless tracking device according to claim 11 where the vehicle sensor input includes a vehicle speed or a vehicle direction.

13. The wireless tracking device according to claim 11 where the vehicle sensor input includes a car alarm signal or a key ignition detection signal.

14. The wireless tracking device according to claim 10 where the wireless radio scans for an available wireless area network access point without transmitting radio frequency signals.

15. A vehicle monitoring system comprising:

a sensor;

a microcontroller configured to receive a sensor input from the sensor and determine a vehicle condition data; and

a wireless transmitter in communication with the microcontroller and configured to transmit the vehicle condition data to a remote data network access point.

16. The vehicle monitoring system according to claim 15 including a configuration device that provides an operator selectable mode of wireless transmission.

17. The vehicle monitoring system according to claim 16 where the mode of wireless transmission includes passive scanning, active scanning or account management of the remote data network access point.

18. The vehicle monitoring system according to claim 16 where the mode of wireless transmission includes selection of a data transmission protocol.

19. The vehicle monitoring system according to claim 16 where the mode of wireless transmission includes selection of a destination of the vehicle condition data.

20. The vehicle monitoring system according to claim 19 where the destination includes a computer, a website or an e-mail account.