System and method for transmitting a triggered alarm

• US 6,529,141 B1
• Filed: 02/06/2001
• Issued: 03/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GlobeRanger Corporation (Fujitsu Limited)
• Original Assignee: GlobeRanger Corporation (Fujitsu Limited)
• Inventors: Sweitzer, John, Hanebeck, Hanns-Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): TWEEL JR, JOHN ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US09/777,509
• Time in Patent Office: 756 Days
• Field of Search: 340/988, 340/990, 340/995, 340/825.3, 701/207, 701/210, 701/211, 701/213
• US Class Current: 340/988
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental

Abstract

A system and method for transmitting a triggered alarm is presented. The alarm is detected by a sensor on an asset that includes a circuit containing a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, a wireless communication unit, a processing unit, a sensor unit and a storage unit operably coupled to one another. The storage unit comprises locations of the asset on a predefined route where events (such as, for example, a door of an asset opening) are expected and the wireless communication unit comprises a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver. The sensor monitors a portion of the asset (such as, for example, the doors of the asset) while the asset travels along the predefined route. If the portion of the asset triggers an alarm, a current location of the asset is received via the GPS receiver and the event is compared with the locations of the asset on the predefined route. If the event is not expected at the current location, the wireless transmitter sends the alarm and the event to a data processing system.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting a triggered alarm detected by a sensor on an asset, wherein the asset comprises a circuit containing a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, a wireless communication unit, a processing unit, a sensor unit and a storage unit operably coupled to one another, wherein the storage unit comprises locations of the asset on a predefined route where events are expected, and wherein the wireless communication unit comprises a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver, the method comprising:

monitoring, by the sensor, a portion of the asset;

traveling, by the asset, along the predefined route; and

if the portion of the asset triggers an alarm;

receiving a current location of the asset via the GPS receiver;

comparing the event with the location of the asset on the predefined route; and

if the event is not expected at the current location, sending, by the wireless transmitter, the alarm to a data processing system.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising sending, by the data processing system to the asset via the wireless transmitter, a query message regarding the alarm.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising, if the unexpected event has occurred, confirming, by an operator of the asset, the occurrence of the unexpected alarm.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising, if the unexpected event has not occurred, confirming, by an operator of the asset, the non occurrence of the unexpected event.

5. The method of claim 3 further comprising sending instructions to the operator for handling the unexpected event.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a time the alarm was triggered.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a velocity of the asset when the alarm was triggered.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a direction of the asset when the alarm was triggered.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving, by the processing unit, the unexpected event.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising sending, by the processing unit, the unexpected event to the wireless transmitter.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication unit can communicate via a plurality of protocols including:

paging, two-way radio, Cellular Digital Packet Data, Advanced Mobile Phone System, Global System for Mobile communication, Code Division Multiple Access, and Time Division Multiple Access.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the portion of the asset is related to a speed gauge.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the portion of the asset is related to a fuel gauge.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the portion of the asset is related to an oil gauge.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the portion of the asset is related to a door.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the portion of the asset is related to an air bag.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the portion of the asset is related to a horn.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the portion of the asset is related to tire pressure.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the portion of the asset is related to goods transported by the asset.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the portion of the asset is related to an ignition.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein a direction of the asset is monitored by the sensor.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein a velocity of the asset is monitored by the sensor.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the asset may be stationary.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the data processing system receives the alarm via a wireless network interface coupled to a data network, and wherein the data network is coupled to the data processing system.

25. The method of claim 1 further comprising monitoring, by a plurality of sensors, a plurality of portions of the asset.

26. The method of claim 1 further comprising monitoring, by the sensor, a plurality of assets.

27. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing, in a database coupled to the data processing system, the:

expected events;

expected events that did not occur;

unexpected events; and

alarms.

28. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing, in the storage unit, the:

expected events;

expected events that did not occur;

unexpected events; and

alarms.

29. The method of claim 1 further comprising, providing, by the data processing system, statistics related to the:

expected events;

expected events that did not occur;

unexpected events; and

alarms.

30. The method of claim 1 further comprising, providing, by the data processing system, statistics related to the portion of the asset.

31. The method of claim 1 further comprising, triggering an alarm if the asset is not traveling along the predefined route.

32. A method for transmitting a triggered alarm detected by a sensor on an asset, wherein the asset comprises a global positioning system (GPS) receiver and a wireless transmitter, the method comprising:

traveling, by the asset, along a predefined route;

monitoring, by the sensor, a portion of the asset; and

if the portion of the asset triggers the alarm;

receiving a current location of the asset via the GPS receiver;

comparing the alarm with the locations of the asset on the predefined route where alarms are expected; and

if the alarm is not expected at the current location, sending, by the wireless transmitter, the unexpected alarm to a data processing system.

33. A method for triggering an alarm based on a route of an asset, wherein the asset comprises a sensor, a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, a wireless transmitter, a processor and memory, the method comprising:

programming the route of the asset in the memory, wherein the route is associated with expected events to occur to the asset at various locations on the route;

traveling, by the asset, along the route;

if the events are triggered, detecting the triggered events by the sensor;

receiving a current location of the asset via the GPS receiver;

comparing, by the processor, the triggered events with the current location; and

if the triggered events were not expected at the current location, sending, by the wireless transmitter, an alarm associated with the triggered events to a data processing system.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the route of the asset associated with the expected events is stored in the data processing system.

35. A circuit comprises:

a global positioning system (GPS) receiver;

a wireless communication unit;

a processing unit;

a sensor unit adapted to monitor a portion of an asset traveling along a predefined route; and

a storage unit, wherein the GPS receiver and the units are operably coupled to one another, wherein the storage unit comprises hardcoded latitude and longitude pairs related to the predefined route and wherein the sensor unit determines when a deviation from the pairs occurs.

36. The circuit of claim 35 wherein the GPS receiver is polled to receive a current location of the asset.

37. The circuit of claim 35 wherein the processing unit sends an alarm relating to the deviation to the wireless communication unit.

38. The circuit of claim 37 wherein the wireless communication unit sends the alarm to a data processing system.

39. The circuit of claim 35 wherein the storage unit comprises softcoded latitude and longitude pairs.

40. A computer readable medium comprising instructions for:

monitoring a portion of an asset; and

if the portion of the asset triggers an alarm;

receiving a current location of the asset;

comparing the current location with a last known location of the asset on a predefined route; and

sending the compared information.

41. A computer readable medium comprising instructions for:

traveling, by an asset, along a predefined route;

monitoring a portion of the asset; and

if the portion of the asset triggers an alarm;

receiving a current location of the asset;

comparing an event causing the alarm with the locations of the asset on the predefined route where events are expected; and

if the event is not expected at the current location, sending, the unexpected event to a data processing system.

42. A method for transmitting a triggered alarm detected by a sensor on an asset, wherein the asset comprises a circuit containing a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, a wireless communication unit, a processing unit, a sensor unit and a storage unit operably coupled to one another, wherein the storage unit comprises locations of the asset on a predefined route where events are expected, and wherein the wireless communication unit comprises a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver, the method comprising:

monitoring, by the sensor, a portion of the asset as the asset travels along the predefined route; and

if the portion of the asset triggers an alarm;

receiving a current location of the asset via the GPS receiver;

comparing the event with the location of the asset on the predefined route; and

if the event is not expected at the current location, sending, by the wireless transmitter, the alarm to a data processing system.

43. A method for transmitting a triggered alarm detected by a sensor on an asset, wherein the asset comprises a global positioning system (GPS) receiver and a wireless transmitter, the method comprising:

monitoring, by the sensor, a portion of the asset as the asset travels along the predefined route; and

if the portion of the asset triggers the alarm;

receiving a current location of the asset via the GPS receiver;

comparing the alarm with the locations of the asset on the predefined route where alarms are expected; and

if the alarm is not expected at the current location, sending, by the wireless transmitter, the unexpected alarm to a data processing system.

44. A method for triggering an alarm based on a route of an asset, wherein the asset comprises a sensor, a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, a wireless transmitter, a processor and memory, the method comprising:

programming the route of the asset in the memory, wherein the route is associated with expected events to occur to the asset at various locations on the route as the asset travels along the route;

if the events are triggered, detecting the triggered events by the sensor;

receiving a current location of the asset via the GPS receiver;

comparing, by the processor, the triggered events with the current location; and

if the triggered events were not expected at the current location, sending, by the wireless transmitter, an alarm associated with the triggered events to a data processing system.

45. A computer readable medium comprising instructions for:

monitoring a portion of an asset as the asset travels along a predefined route; and

if the portion of the asset triggers an alarm;

receiving a current location of the asset;

comparing an event causing the alarm with the locations of the asset on the predefined route where events are expected; and

if the event is not expected at the current location, sending, the unexpected event to a data processing system.