Vehicle locating system utilizing global positioning
First Claim
1. A vehicle locating system, comprising:
- a beacon carried by a vehicle being tracked;
at least two mobile communication devices which comprise a first receiver utilized to receive a location signal identifying a current geographic location of a mobile communication device, and a transceiver utilized to provide communication between said mobile communication device and a communication system controller, said at least two mobile communication devices further comprising a second receiver utilized to receive the vehicle identification signal broadcast by said beacon, a vehicle tracking controller responsive to the vehicle identification signal which is received, for controlling a transmission of the vehicle identification signal and the location signal designating the current geographic location of said mobile communication device, and a tracking control station for generating a beacon activation signal which enables said beacon to broadcast a vehicle identification signal, and further enables said transceiver to receive the vehicle identification signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle locating system (200) includes a beacon (108) carried by a vehicle, a tracking control station (106) for generating a beacon activation signal (110) which enables the beacon (108) to broadcast a vehicle identification signal (112), and one or more mobile communication devices (116, 118) which include a first receiver (516) utilized to receive a location signal (122) identifying a geographic location of a mobile communication device, and a transceiver (406) utilized to provide communication between said mobile communication device and a communication system controller. The one or more mobile communication devices (116, 118) further include a second receiver (502) utilized to receive the vehicle identification signal (112) broadcast by the beacon (108), and a vehicle tracking controller (520), responsive to the vehicle identification signal (112) which is received, for controlling a transmission of the vehicle identification signal (112) and the location signal (122).
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A vehicle locating system, comprising:
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a beacon carried by a vehicle being tracked;
at least two mobile communication devices which comprise a first receiver utilized to receive a location signal identifying a current geographic location of a mobile communication device, and a transceiver utilized to provide communication between said mobile communication device and a communication system controller, said at least two mobile communication devices further comprising a second receiver utilized to receive the vehicle identification signal broadcast by said beacon, a vehicle tracking controller responsive to the vehicle identification signal which is received, for controlling a transmission of the vehicle identification signal and the location signal designating the current geographic location of said mobile communication device, and a tracking control station for generating a beacon activation signal which enables said beacon to broadcast a vehicle identification signal, and further enables said transceiver to receive the vehicle identification signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A vehicle locating system, comprising:
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a beacon carried by a vehicle, said beacon generating a vehicle identification signal when said beacon is activated when said vehicle is being tracked, at least two mobile communication devices carried by a tracking vehicle comprising;
a first receiver utilized to receive a location signal identifying a current geographic location of a mobile communication device; and
a transceiver utilized to provide communication between said mobile communication device and a communication system controller;
said at least two mobile communication devices further comprising a second receiver utilized to receive the vehicle identification signal broadcast by said beacon, a vehicle tracking controller, responsive to the vehicle identification signal which is received, for controlling a transmission of the vehicle identification signal and the location signal, and a tracking control station which receives vehicle identification signal and current location signal from at least two mobile communication devices to estimate a location of said vehicle being tracked based on said tracking vehicle'"'"'s current geographic location.
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15. A mobile communication device, comprising:
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a GPS receiver for receiving location signals identifying a current geographic location; and
first and second transceivers, said first transceiver providing communication for the operator of the mobile communication device with a communicating party, said first transceiver being coupled to the GPS receiver, for transmitting the location signal identifying the current geographic location of mobile device, and said second transceiver being used for tracking a vehicle, said second transceiver being activated when a beacon located within said vehicle being tracked has been activated. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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Specification