Vehicle recovery system and method
First Claim
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1. A vehicle recovery system comprising:
- a vehicle alarm detectable external to the vehicle for signaling that the vehicle is being misappropriated;
an alarm discharge apparatus for discharging the vehicle alarm;
a misappropriation signal for communicating to the alarm discharge apparatus that the vehicle is being misappropriated;
a public response system for reporting a detection of the vehicle alarm;
and a recovery service agency for directing recovery of the vehicle.
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Abstract
A vehicle recovery system and method are disclosed. The system and method disable a misappropriated vehicle, position and ignite a smoke flare for ready detection of the public as to the whereabouts of the vehicle and provide a recovery center service. Use of unlicensed wireless data radio spectrum is used thus avoiding the cost of maintaining a mobile phone subscription for a dedicated on-boar phone. Part of the system and method is to run a campaign to inform the public as to the significance of the flare discharge. Further the campaign also advises the public to place a call to local law enforcement agency or the recovery service agency holding out an incentive to do so.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A vehicle recovery system comprising:
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a vehicle alarm detectable external to the vehicle for signaling that the vehicle is being misappropriated; an alarm discharge apparatus for discharging the vehicle alarm; a misappropriation signal for communicating to the alarm discharge apparatus that the vehicle is being misappropriated; a public response system for reporting a detection of the vehicle alarm; and a recovery service agency for directing recovery of the vehicle.
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2. The vehicle recovery system of claim [c1] wherein the alarm discharge apparatus comprises:
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a recovery processor for implementing a recovery action; a misappropriation signal handler for processing the misappropriation signal wherein the misappropriation signal handler provides input to the recovery processor; and a trigger apparatus for triggering the vehicle alarm wherein the recovery processor activates the trigger apparatus thus discharging the vehicle alarm.
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3. The vehicle recovery system of claim [c2] wherein the misappropriation signal handler comprises a receiver for receiving an external recovery signal.
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4. The vehicle recovery system of claim [c3] wherein the external recovery signal receiver is a radio receiver operating in unlicensed frequency spectrum.
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5. The vehicle recovery system of claim [c2] wherein the misappropriation signal handler comprises logic for generating an internal recovery signal.
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6. The vehicle recovery system of claim [c2] wherein the recovery processor further comprises a vehicle shutoff system for disabling the vehicle whereby the vehicle shutoff system disables the vehicle close in time to discharging the vehicle alarm.
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7. The vehicle recovery system of claim [c6] wherein the recovery processor further comprises a speed sensor for detecting the vehicle'"'"'s speed whereby the vehicle shutoff system will only operate when the vehicle'"'"'s speed is below some predetermined speed.
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8. The vehicle recovery system of claim [c1] wherein the public response system comprises:
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a means for reporting an observance of the vehicle alarm and an incentive for encouraging a member of the public for reporting the approximate location of the vehicle alarm.
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9. A vehicle recovery system comprising:
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a vehicle alarm detectable external to the vehicle for signaling that the vehicle is being misappropriated wherein the vehicle alarm is a smoke flare; an alarm discharge apparatus for discharging the smoke flare; a misappropriation signal for communicating to the alarm discharge apparatus that the vehicle is being misappropriated; a public response system for reporting a detection of the smoke flare; and a recovery service agency for directing recovery of the vehicle.
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10. The vehicle recovery system of claim [c9] wherein the alarm discharge apparatus comprises:
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a misappropriation signal handler for processing a recovery required signal; a recovery processor for implementing a recovery action; a positioning apparatus for positioning the smoke flare; and a trigger apparatus for igniting the smoke flare wherein the recovery processor activates the trigger apparatus thus discharging the smoke flare.
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11. The vehicle recovery system of claim [c10] wherein the misappropriation signal handler further comprising a receiver for receiving an external recovery signal.
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12. The vehicle recovery system of claim [c11] wherein the external recovery signal receiver is a radio receiver operating in unlicensed frequency spectrum.
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13. The vehicle recovery system of claim [c10] wherein the misappropriation signal handler further comprising logic for generating an internal recovery signal.
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14. The vehicle recovery system of claim [c10] further comprising a vehicle shutoff system for disabling the vehicle whereby the vehicle shutoff system disables the vehicle close in time to discharging the smoke flare.
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15. The vehicle recovery system of claim [c14] further comprising a speed sensor for detecting the vehicle'"'"'s speed whereby the vehicle shutoff system will only operate when the vehicle'"'"'s speed is below some predetermined speed.
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16. The vehicle recovery system of claim [c10] further comprising an enclosure sensor for detecting whether the vehicle is enclosed whereby the smoke flare will be discharged only if the vehicle is not enclosed.
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17. The vehicle recovery system of claim [c9] wherein the public response system comprises:
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a means for reporting an observance of the smoke flare and an incentive for encouraging a member of the public for reporting the approximate location of the smoke flare.
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18. A vehicle recovery method comprising:
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discharging a vehicle alarm for signaling that a vehicle is being misappropriated, said vehicle alarm being highly detectable from outside the vehicle wherein detection of the vehicle alarm does not require line of sight to the vehicle; educating the public that there is an incentive to reporting a detection of the vehicle alarm; providing a communications means to a recovery service agency for reporting the detection of the vehicle alarm; and the recovery service agency coordinating the recovery of the vehicle.
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19. The vehicle recovery method of claim [c18] wherein the vehicle alarm is a smoke flare.
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20. The vehicle recovery method of claim [c18] further comprising the vehicle transmitting a signal to the recovery service agency indicating that the vehicle is being misappropriated.
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21. The vehicle recovery method of claim [c18] further comprising a recovery service agency subscriber communicating to the recovery service agency that a recovery service agency subscriber'"'"'s vehicle has been misappropriated.
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22. The vehicle recovery method of claim [c18] further comprising the recovery service agency transmitting an external recovery signal to the vehicle.
Specification