Vehicle tracking system using cellular network
First Claim
1. A method of locating a stolen vehicle provided with a locating cellular transceiver, using the existing cellular network infrastructure, comprising the steps of:
- receiving an indication that said vehicle has been stolen;
receiving transmitted signals from said cellular transceiver at one or more cell cites within operational range of said cellular transceiver, establishing and maintaining an open voice channel with said locating cellular transceiver of said stolen vehicle;
determining a cell site sector within said network in which the stolen vehicle is located based on the location of said one or more cell sites communicating with said locating cellular transceiver;
determining a general geographical location of a search vehicle with respect to said one or more cell sites;
despatching said search vehicle to said cell site sector of said stolen vehicle and monitoring said open voice channel from said search vehicle; and
locating said stolen vehicle based on the direction of arrival of RF signals emitted by said cellular transceiver in said stolen vehicle and received at said search vehicle.
12 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle tracking method and system using the cellular network infrastructure is disclosed. A cellular transceiver which is installed in a vehicle that requires tracking, operates on a continuous standby mode to remain constantly accessible to the cellular security provider. The cellular transceiver is turned to an active mode when tracking of the vehicle is initiated. The general location of the stolen vehicle can be determined by paging the cellular transceiver located in the stolen vehicle to identify one or more cell sites located near the stolen vehicle. The information is then relayed to a tracking vehicle which makes use of a radio direction finder to obtain an accurate bearing on the location of the stolen vehicle. In another embodiment, the tracking vehicle which is provided with a radio direction finder can determine using a global positioning system receiver its location with respect to one or more cell sites identified as being close to the stolen vehicle such that the tracking vehicle can quickly travel to the area identified by the selected cell sites.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method of locating a stolen vehicle provided with a locating cellular transceiver, using the existing cellular network infrastructure, comprising the steps of:
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receiving an indication that said vehicle has been stolen; receiving transmitted signals from said cellular transceiver at one or more cell cites within operational range of said cellular transceiver, establishing and maintaining an open voice channel with said locating cellular transceiver of said stolen vehicle; determining a cell site sector within said network in which the stolen vehicle is located based on the location of said one or more cell sites communicating with said locating cellular transceiver; determining a general geographical location of a search vehicle with respect to said one or more cell sites; despatching said search vehicle to said cell site sector of said stolen vehicle and monitoring said open voice channel from said search vehicle; and locating said stolen vehicle based on the direction of arrival of RF signals emitted by said cellular transceiver in said stolen vehicle and received at said search vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10)
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9. A system for locating a stolen vehicle provided with a locating cellular transceiver, said system operating using the existing cellular network infrastructure, comprising:
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means for receiving an indication that said vehicle has been stolen; cellular radio means for maintaining an open voice channel with said locating cellular transceiver of said stolen vehicle; means for determining a cell site sector within said network in which the stolen vehicle is located based on the location of one or more cell sites communicating with said locating cellular transceiver; locator means for determining a general geographical location of a search vehicle with respect to said one or more cell sites; radio means for monitoring said open voice channel from said search vehicle; and radio location finder means for locating said stolen vehicle based on the direction of arrival of RF signals emitted by said cellular radio means in said stolen vehicle and received at said search vehicle.
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Specification