Monitoring system for remote units
First Claim
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1. A monitoring system for monitoring a plurality of mobile units located randomly about a selected security area, and comprising:
- a set of modules for monitoring the respective said units each including a housing formed with an interior compartment, a signal generator in said compartment programmed to generate a proximity signal, a condition sensor in said compartment operative in response to a selected security condition of said each module to generate a detector flag signal, a battery in said compartment and in circuit with said generator and said sensor, a transmitter and an antenna in said compartment and in circuit with said generator, said sensor and said battery responsive to said proximity signal and said detector flag signal to generate a radio frequency status signal, an encoder in said compartment and in circuit with said transmitter and said antenna responsive to said radio frequency status signal to encode said radio frequency status signal with a code signal unique to the individual modules of said set and with said detector flag signal to produce an encoded radio frequency signal, said transmitter operative in response to said encoded radio frequency signal to cause said antenna to transmit said encoded radio frequency signal at a signal strength equal to but not exceeding a predetermined magnitude for a distance up to but not exceeding a selected distance bounded by said selected security area;
a local receiver responsive to the respective said encoded radio frequency signal of a signal strength equal to or greater than but not less than said predetermined magnitude to generate a respective receiver signal characteristic of the respective said encoded radio frequency signal; and
a computer coupled to said receiver and responsive to the respective said receiver signal to generate an alarm signal, said computer including a discriminator responsive to said receiver signal to decode said code signal from said encoded radio frequency status signal, and a monitor responsive to said code signal to identify the module emitting said proximity signal and said detector flag signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for monitoring the status of mobile units includes a module and a local station. The module attaches to the mobile unit and includes a sensor and transmitter. The module transmits signals to a receiver at the local station. The signals can indicate shock, tampering, or theft. The receiver delivers the signal to a computer at the local station. The computer stores and analyzes the data. The computer includes a display, a keyboard, and a printer. The computer is programmed to present the data to the user and is fitted with an internal card to dial a monitoring station.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A monitoring system for monitoring a plurality of mobile units located randomly about a selected security area, and comprising:
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a set of modules for monitoring the respective said units each including a housing formed with an interior compartment, a signal generator in said compartment programmed to generate a proximity signal, a condition sensor in said compartment operative in response to a selected security condition of said each module to generate a detector flag signal, a battery in said compartment and in circuit with said generator and said sensor, a transmitter and an antenna in said compartment and in circuit with said generator, said sensor and said battery responsive to said proximity signal and said detector flag signal to generate a radio frequency status signal, an encoder in said compartment and in circuit with said transmitter and said antenna responsive to said radio frequency status signal to encode said radio frequency status signal with a code signal unique to the individual modules of said set and with said detector flag signal to produce an encoded radio frequency signal, said transmitter operative in response to said encoded radio frequency signal to cause said antenna to transmit said encoded radio frequency signal at a signal strength equal to but not exceeding a predetermined magnitude for a distance up to but not exceeding a selected distance bounded by said selected security area; a local receiver responsive to the respective said encoded radio frequency signal of a signal strength equal to or greater than but not less than said predetermined magnitude to generate a respective receiver signal characteristic of the respective said encoded radio frequency signal; and a computer coupled to said receiver and responsive to the respective said receiver signal to generate an alarm signal, said computer including a discriminator responsive to said receiver signal to decode said code signal from said encoded radio frequency status signal, and a monitor responsive to said code signal to identify the module emitting said proximity signal and said detector flag signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for monitoring a plurality of mobile units and for receiving and analyzing information from the mobile units to detect unauthorized tampering with such units and to account for their status, comprising:
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a plurality of identifiable modules to be attached to the respective said mobile units to be monitored and including respective security sensors, proximity signal generators, batteries, antennas and transmitters connected in a circuit; the respective said proximity signal generators being programmable to generate respective periodic proximity signals; the respective said security sensors being responsive to vibrations of a predetermined magnitude to generate respective vibration signals and attempted module tampering to generate respective tamper signals; the respective said transmitters and antennas being responsive to the respective said proximity signals, the respective said vibration signals and the respective said tamper signals to generate respective radio frequency status signals and including an encoder operative in response to said radio frequency status signals to encode the respective said radio frequency status signals with respective identification codes identifying the respective modules and to further encode the respective said vibration signals and the respective said tamper signals in said radio frequency status signal to generate an encoded radio frequency status signal; a local station including a local receiver responsive to said encoded status signals to generate a receiver signal; and a computer coupled to said local receiver responsive to said receiver signal to generate an alert signal. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A set of modules adapted for use in a system including a plurality of said modules attachable to respective automobiles to automatically monitor their status and responsive to a predetermined condition to generate an alarm signal for communication to a central monitoring station, comprising:
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a plurality of said modules including respective housings for mounting from the respective said automobiles, respective proximity signal generators in the respective said housings to generate respective proximity signals at a periodic rate, respective tamper switches in the respective said housings responsive to removal of the respective said housings from the respective said automobiles to generate respective tamper signals, respective batteries in the respective said housings and coupled in circuit with said generators and said switches, respective transmitters and antennas in the respective said batteries, the respective said generators and the respective said switches, the respective said transmitters being responsive to the respective said proximity signals and the respective said tamper signals to generate respective radio frequency status signals, respective encoders responsive to the respective said radio frequency status signals to encode the respective said radio frequency status signals with specific identification code signals corresponding to the respective said modules and with respective said tamper signals to generate respective encoded radio frequency signals, and the respective said transmitters are responsive to the respective said encoded radio frequency signals to cause the respective said antennas to transmit the respective said encoded radio frequency signal at a signal strength equal but no exceeding a predetermined magnitude for a distance up to but not exceeding a selected distance; and a local station including a receiver responsive to the respective said encoded radio frequency signals of a signal strength equal to or greater than but not less than said predetermined magnitude to generate respective encoded receiver signals and a computer coupled to said receiver and responsive to both the respective said encoded receiver signals and to the absence of the respective said encoded receiver signals over a predetermined period of time to generate said alarm signal, and wherein said computer includes an internal dialer card coupled between said computer and a telephone line and responsive to said alarm signal to transmit said alarm signal over said telephone line to said central monitoring station. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A monitoring module for use in monitoring the proximity of a mobile unit to a local station, and comprising:
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a plastic housing formed with an opening, an antenna, a battery, an annular magnet carried on said housing and including a contact surface for attaching said housing to the surface of said mobile units and formed with a hole positioned over said opening to define a button path; a tamper sensor including a normally closed switch closable to generate a tamper signal and carrying a spring loaded button for travel through said button path to normally project beyond said contact surface such that mounting of said magnet flush on said surface of said mobile unit will depress said button to open said switch; a shock sensor including a ceramic piezoelectric transducer operative to generate a shock signal when a shock of a predetermined magnitude is sensed; a proximity signal generator programmed to generate a periodic proximity signal; a battery sensor responsive to decreasing battery voltage to generate a battery voltage indicator signal; a transmitter responsive to said tamper signal, said shock signal, said proximity signal or said battery voltage indicator signal, for generating a status signal; and an encoder responsive to said status signal to encode it with an identification signal and flags representative of said shock signal, said tamper signal, said proximity signal, and said battery voltage indicator and to transmit the resultant encoded status signal to said local station.
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20. A security sensor for sensing vibration of a unit and travel of said unit beyond a predetermined distance from a local station having a radio receiver responsive to a radio frequency signal of a signal strength equal to or greater than but not less than predetermined magnitude and a proximity monitor operative in response to the absence of said signal during a predetermined interval of time to generate an alarm signal, and comprising:
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a housing formed with an interior compartment and including an attachment means carried on said housing for attaching said housing to the surface of said unit; a vibration sensing transducer in said compartment operative in response to vibration of a predetermined magnitude to generate a vibration signal; a signal generator in said compartment in circuit with said transducer and programmed to generate a periodic signal; a battery in circuit with said transducer and said generator; a transmitter and an antenna in said compartment in circuit with said transducer, said generator and said battery and responsive to either or both said vibration signal and said periodic signal to generate a radio frequency status signal; an encoder in said compartment in circuit with said transmitter and responsive to said radio frequency status signal and also responsive to said vibration signal to generate an identification code signal identifying said security sensor and to encode said radio frequency status signal with both said identification code signal and said vibration signal to generate an encoded radio frequency status signal; and said transmitter and said antenna being responsive to said encoded radio frequency status signal to cause said antenna to transmit said encoded radio frequency status signal at a signal strength equal to but not exceeding said predetermined magnitude for a distance up to but not exceeding said predetermined distance. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A security sensor for sensing vibration of a unit and travel of said unit beyond a predetermined distance from a local station, and comprising:
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a housing formed with an interior compartment and including an attachment means carried on said housing for attaching said housing to the surface of said unit; a vibration sensing transducer in said compartment operative in response to vibration of a predetermined magnitude to generate a vibration signal; a signal generator in said compartment in circuit with said transducer and programmed to generate a periodic signal; a battery in circuit with said transducer and said generator; a transmitter and an antenna in said compartment in circuit with said transducer, said generator and said battery and responsive to either or both said vibration signal and said periodic signal to generate an radio frequency status signal; an encoder in said compartment in circuit with said transmitter and responsive to said radio frequency status signal and also responsive to said vibration signal to generate an identification code signal identifying said security sensor and to encode said radio frequency status signal with both said identification code signal and said vibration signal to generate an encoded radio frequency status signal; and said transmitter and said antenna being responsive to said encoded radio frequency status signal to cause said antenna to transmit said encoded radio frequency status signal at a signal strength equal to but not exceeding a predetermined magnitude for a distance up to but not exceeding said predetermined distance.
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Specification