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System and method for using impulse radio technology to track and monitor vehicles

  • US 6,501,393 B1
  • Filed: 11/10/2000
  • Issued: 12/31/2002
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/27/1999
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method for tracking and monitoring at least one vehicle moving on a race track, said method comprising the steps of:

  • attaching, to each of the at least one vehicles, an ultra wideband impulse radio unit, determining a position of the at least one vehicle from the interaction between the ultra wideband impulse radio unit attached to the at least one vehicle and at least two of a plurality of reference ultra wideband impulse radio units distributed at known locations throughout the race track;

    receiving, at a central station, information relating to the position of the at least one vehicle on the race track;

    displaying, at the central station, an overlay of the race track that indicates the position of selected ones of the at least one vehicles on the race track;

    coupling a controller to at least one ultra wideband impulse radio unit, wherein each controller interacts with at least one sensor that monitors at least one vehicular parameter of one of the vehicles;

    displaying, at the central station, at least one of the monitored vehicular parameters of selected ones of the at least one vehicles;

    establishing two-way audio communications between a driver in one of the at least one vehicles and people using the central station;

    enabling a person to use a handheld unit capable of displaying the position of selected ones of the at least one vehicles on the race track and further capable of displaying at least one of the monitored vehicular parameters of selected ones of the at least one vehicles; and

    establishing two-way audio communications between a driver in one of the vehicles and the person using the handheld unit.

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