Phone Power Adapter for Car with GPS Tracking and Auto-Upload

• US 20110143785A1
• Filed: 12/15/2009
• Published: 06/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Eli Finkelman, Meir S. Cohen
• Original Assignee: Eli Finkelman, Meir S. Cohen
• Inventors: Cohen, Meir S., Finkelman, Eli
• Application Number:
  US12/638,232
• Publication Number:
  US 20110143785A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/16 Anti-theft; Abduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/48 for in-vehicle communication

Abstract

Disclosed herein are embodiments of a power adapter, adapted for electrical engagement with a power outlet found in a cabin of a vehicle and with a device to be powered. The adapter further comprises a satellite receiver to receive data used to determine position (e.g. GPS) and logs such data. Upon obtaining network connectivity through either a network adapter in the device or a network connection of the device to be powered, such logged data is uploaded to a remote location. Video, audio, or other data may also be logged and uploaded.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a first electrical interface adapted for engagement with an in-vehicle power outlet;

a second electrical interface adapted for engagement with a handheld electrical device comprising network connectivity;

a global navigation satellite system receiver;

a data storage device configured for storage of received global navigation system data from said global navigation satellite system receiver.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said device provides an electrical current through said second electrical interface to charge a battery in said handheld electrical device.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising a wireless network adapter.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein said wireless network adapter is configured to seek out an available wireless network and upload data stored in said data storage device to a remote server upon connection to said wireless network.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein said seeking out of said available wireless network comprises seeking out of unsecured 802.11 wireless networks.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein said seeking out of said available wireless network comprises seeking out of only wireless devices pre-programmed into said device.

7. The device of claim 2, wherein said wireless cellular device comprises connectivity with a cellular network and data stored on said data storage device is uploaded, at least in part, through said wireless cellular device and via said cellular network to a remote server.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein a data connection is sought with said server via a network adapter in said device and a network adapter in said wireless cellular device and upon establishing network connectivity, said data stored on said data storage device is uploaded to said server.

9. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one sensory input device configured to record sensory information to said data storage device.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein said sensory input device is selected from the group consisting of microphones, cameras, and thermometers.

11. A method for charging a battery in a handheld wireless device and logging position data comprising the steps of:

electrically engaging an adapter with a power outlet provided in a cabin of a vehicle;

electrically engaging said adapter with a power receiving outlet provided in said handheld wireless device;

receiving global navigation satellite data and storing said data on a data storage device located within said adapter.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said device provides an electrical current through said power receiving outlet to charge a battery in said handheld wireless device.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said adapter further comprises a wireless network adapter.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said wireless network adapter seeks out an available wireless network and sends data stored in said data storage device to a remote server upon connection to said wireless network.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said seeking out of said available wireless network comprises seeking out of unsecured 802.11 wireless networks.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said seeking out of said available wireless network comprises seeking out of only wireless devices pre-programmed into said device.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising a step of uploading data stored on said data storage device to a server through a data connection between said handheld wireless device and a cellular network.

18. The device of claim 12, further comprising a step of seeking a data connection with a server via a wireless network adapter of said adapter and a cellular network associated with said handheld wireless device and uploading at least some data from said data storage device to said server upon establishing a data connection from said adapter to a wireless network.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising a step of receiving data from a sensory input device and storing said data on said data storage device.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein said sensory input device is selected from the group consisting of microphones, cameras, and thermometers.