Mobile security system with cellular transceiver, position reporting and remote actuation

• US 6,532,360 B1
• Filed: 12/14/1999
• Issued: 03/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shaffer M. Bennett
• Original Assignee: Shaffer M. Bennett
• Inventors: Shaffer, M. Bennett
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Iqbal, Khawar
• Application Number:
  US09/460,753
• Time in Patent Office: 1,183 Days
• Field of Search: 455/521, 455/404, 455/426, 455/345, 455/414, 455/456, 455/422, 342/42, 342/825, 340/902, 340/426, 340/990, 340/425, 340/539
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/304 Boats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12

Abstract

A mobile security system for use in an automobile or other vehicle, which activates a cellular phone to automatically dial an emergency telephone number and plays a voice recording including position information provided by the vehicle operator. The vehicle operator is prompted to record new position information when the vehicle ignition is turned off. The system can be remotely activated by a wireless transmitter device which generates an RF signal when a “panic button” is depressed. Components of the security system include a cellular telephone, RF receiver device, recording device, and controller. A speaker and microphone permit two-way communication between the vehicle operator and emergency personnel.

Claims

1. A mobile security system for use in a vehicle comprising:

a cellular telephone configured for receiving a first activation signal and, upon receipt of said first activation signal, dialing a preprogrammed emergency telephone number of an emergency service provider and transmitting an emergency message to said emergency service provider;

a user interface device comprising a microphone and a speaker;

a recording device configured for recording, storing, and playing back a plurality of messages, said emergency message comprised of at least one of said plurality of messages, said recording device configured for receiving a second activation signal and, upon receipt of said second activation signal, sending said emergency message to said cellular telephone;

a remote activation device comprising a transmitter and a user input device, said remote activation device configured for transmitting an arm signal upon recent of an input on said user input device;

a receiver device tuned to receive said alarm signal transmitted by said remote activation device, and configured for generating a notification signal upon receipt of said alarm signal; and

a controller configured for receiving said notification signal from said receiver device and, upon receipt of said notification signal, generating said first activation signal for sending to said cellular telephone to initiate dialing of said preprogrammed emergency telephone number and generating said second activation signal for sending to said recording device to initiate sending of said emergency message to said cellular telephone from said recording device;

wherein said user interface device, said receiver device, and said controller are configured for placement within said vehicle, and wherein said remote activation device is configured for generating an alarm signal for reception by said receiver device when said remote activation device is located at a distance from said receiver device.

2. The mobile security system of claim 1, wherein said emergency message comprises a location description.

3. The mobile security system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle comprises a horn, and wherein upon receipt of said notification signal, said controller causes said horn to honk at least once.

4. The mobile security system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle comprises headlights and tail lights, and wherein upon receipt of said notification signal, said controller causes one or more of said headlights and said tail lights to be illuminated.

5. The mobile security system of claim 1, wherein said remote activation device further comprises a microphone capable of picking up and audio signal transmitting said audio signal from said remote activation device to said receiver device and routing said audio signal to said cellular telephone by said controller.

6. The mobile security system of claim 5, wherein said user interface device further comprises a switch capable of activation by a user, and wherein activation of said switch by said user causes transmission of a third activation signal to said cellular telephone causing dialing of said preprogrammed emergency telephone number, and wherein activation of said switch further causes routing of an audio signal from said microphone in said user interface device to said cellular telephone for transmission and routing of the audio signal received by said cellular telephone from said emergency service provider to the speaker of said user interface device.

7. The mobile security system of claim 6, wherein said emergency message comprises a recording of location information.

8. The mobile security system of claim 1, wherein said user interface device further comprises a microphone capable of picking up an audio signal, and wherein said audio signal may be routed from said user interface device to said cellular telephone by said controller.

9. The mobile security system of claim 8, wherein said emergency message comprises a location description.

10. The mobile security system of claim 8, wherein said user interface device further comprises a switch capable of activation by a user, and wherein activation of said switch by said user causes transmission of a third activation signal to said cellular telephone causing dialing of said preprogrammed emergency telephone number, and wherein activation of said switch further causes routing of an audio signal from said microphone to said cellular telephone for transmission and routing of the audio signal received by said cellular telephone to the speaker of said user interface device.

11. The mobile security system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of messages stored by said recording device is a prompt message, wherein said prompt message is configured for playing through a speaker to instruct a user to state a location description, and wherein said location description is recorded by said recording device.

12. The mobile security system of claim 11, wherein said emergency message comprises a location description.

13. The mobile security system of claim 11, wherein said vehicle comprises an ignition switch and a detector associated with said ignition switch for detecting shutoff of said ignition switch, and wherein said prompt message is played and said recording device is enabled to record said location description upon detection of shutoff of said ignition switch.

14. A mobile security system for use in a vehicle, said mobile security system comprising:

a cellular telephone configured for receiving a first activation signal and, upon receipt of said first activation signal, dialing a preprogrammed emergency telephone number of an emergency service provider and transmitting an emergency message to said emergency service provider;

a user interface device comprising a microphone, a speaker, and a user-activated switch;

a recording device capable of recording, storing, and playing back a plurality of messages, said emergency message comprised of at least one of said plurality of messages, said recording device configured for receiving a second activation signal and, upon receipt of said second activation signal, sending said emergency message to said cellular telephone;

a remote activation device comprising a transmitter and a user-activated switch, said remote activation device capable of transmitting a RF alarm signal upon activation of said user-activated switch of said remote activation device;

a receiver device connected to an antenna, tuned to receive said RF alarm signal transmitted by said remote activation device and configured for generating a notification signal upon receipt of said RF alarm signal; and

a controller configured for receiving said notification signal from said receiver device and, upon receipt of said notification signal, generating said first activation signal for sending to said cellular telephone to initiated dialing of said preprogrammed emergency telephone number and generating said second activation signal for sending to said recording device to initiate sending of said emergency message to said cellular telephone from said recording device;

wherein said user interface device, said receiver device and said controller are configured for placement within said vehicle, wherein said remote activation device is configured for generating an alarm signal for receiving by said receiver device when said remote activation device is located at a distance from said receiver device, wherein said plurality of messages stored by said recording device includes at least one prompt message instructing a vehicle user to state position information, and at least two emergency message components for combining to form said emergency message, at least one of said at least two emergency message components comprising a location description.