Dealer information and security apparatus and method

• US 5,373,282 A
• Filed: 02/04/1992
• Issued: 12/13/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GE Security Incorporated (Carrier Global Corporation), Dealer Security and Information Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dealer Security and Information Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Carter, Ronald L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, John K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lefkowitz, Edward
• Application Number:
  US07/830,678
• Time in Patent Office: 1,043 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426, 340/542, 340/543, 340/539, 340/932.2, 340/825.31, 340/429, 70/63, 70/277, 235/382, 235/385
• US Class Current: 340/5.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 49/006 actuating opto-electronic devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5031 Receptacle

Abstract

A security key control information system and method for vehicle dealerships and the like is provided. A key storage device A mounted to each vehicle window has a compartment for storing access keys B to the respective vehicles and contains a sensing device H which produces a signal indicating whether an event related to that vehicle is routine or hostile. A second device may be permanently attached to the vehicle for regularly transmitting identifying information as to that vehicle. Both devices report the information by radio through an intermediate transmitter network to a computer D inside the dealership which records the information along with the time of the event. The information is stored for subsequent retrieval for the purpose of generating reports useful to the dealership management. If an event is hostile, appropriate action may be taken including suitable signaling.

Claims

1. A key operated control system for vehicles comprising:

a central computer for monitoring a group of vehicles;

a plurality of storage devices each storing an operating key carried by respective vehicles;

an access key for gaining access to said storage devices and said operating keys stored therein;

a radio frequency transmitter carried by said storage devices actuated responsive to said access key transmitting a signal that a respective vehicle storage device has been accessed; and

a transceiver inputting said signal into said central computer.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1 including a plurality of encoded access keys, said storage devices including sensing means indicating changes of state responsive to the occurrence of an event adjacent the sensing means actuating said radio frequency transmitter.

3. The structure set forth in claim 1 including a signal generator, and a transmitter carried by said vehicles transmitting a signal identifying said vehicles to said central computer.

4. A key operated control system for vehicles comprising:

a plurality of storage devices each storing a vehicle operating key of a respective vehicle on said vehicle;

a plurality of encoded access keys for limiting and gaining access to said storage devices and said vehicle keys stored therein;

a radio frequency transmitter carried by said vehicles actuated responsive to said access key transmitting a signal that a respective vehicle has been accessed by a particular coded key;

a central computer for monitoring vehicles on a premises of said vehicle dealership; and

a transceiver inputting said signal into said central computer.

5. The method of operating a key control system for vehicles comprising the steps of:

providing a central computer for monitoring a group of vehicles;

positioning a plurality of storage devices each storing an operating key upon respective vehicles;

providing an access key each capable of gaining access to said storage devices and said operating keys stored therein to a number of persons;

providing a transmitter carried by said storage devices actuated responsive to said access key transmitting a signal that a respective vehicle storage device has been accessed; and

providing a transceiver for receiving said signal and inputting said signal into said central computer.

6. The method set forth in claim 5 including encoding said access keys and decoding said access key.

7. The method set forth in claim 5 including the step of providing sensing means indicating changes of state responsive to the occurrence of an event adjacent the sensing means actuating said radio frequency transmitter.

8. The method set forth in claim 5 including receiving, storing and retransmitting said signal at a later time and at the same frequency at which it was received.

9. The method set forth in claim 7 including providing remote means receiving signals indicating changes of state, storing and retransmitting to said transceiver said signals at the same frequency at which they were received and receiving a responsive signal from said transceiver at said remote means.

10. A sensor operated control system for a group of vehicles comprising:

a sensor array carried at each respective vehicle of said group of vehicles for periodically sampling conditions adjacent said vehicle;

a first computer;

a change of state pulse generator actuating said first computer on any change of state in the sensor array responsive to conditions adjacent a vehicle;

a radio transmitter;

said first computer having means for providing an output responsive to a predetermined change of state of said sensor array energizing said radio transmitter;

a central computer receiving an output from said radio transmitter;

storage boxes positionable upon said vehicles containing said sensor array, said pulse generator, said radio transmitter and said first computer; and

a lock limiting access to said storage box responsive to any of a plurality of encoded access keys;

whereby conditions adjacent a vehicle may be signaled to operators of the group of vehicles.