Vehicle tracker with test features and related methods
First Claim
1. A vehicle tracking system for a vehicle of a type including at least one door lock actuator, the vehicle tracking system comprising:
- a vehicle tracking unit and a monitoring station communicating therewith;
said vehicle tracking unit comprising a test switch, a vehicle position determining device, a wireless communications device, and a controller for operating the at least one door lock actuator and for cooperating with said wireless communications device and said vehicle position determining device to determine and send vehicle position information to said monitoring station;
said controller switchable to a test mode for test operation of the at least one door lock actuator responsive to activation of said test switch.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle tracking system includes a vehicle racking unit and a monitoring station communicating therewith. The vehicle tracking unit preferably includes a test switch, a vehicle position determining device, a wireless communications device, and a controller. The controller is preferably for operating the at least one vehicle device and for cooperating with the wireless communications device and the vehicle position determining device to determine and send vehicle position information to the monitoring station. Moreover, the controller may be switchable to a test mode for test operation of the at least one vehicle device responsive to activation of the test switch. Accordingly, an installer, for example, can quickly check that the tracking unit has been properly installed.
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Citations
70 Claims
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1. A vehicle tracking system for a vehicle of a type including at least one door lock actuator, the vehicle tracking system comprising:
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a vehicle tracking unit and a monitoring station communicating therewith;
said vehicle tracking unit comprising a test switch, a vehicle position determining device, a wireless communications device, and a controller for operating the at least one door lock actuator and for cooperating with said wireless communications device and said vehicle position determining device to determine and send vehicle position information to said monitoring station;
said controller switchable to a test mode for test operation of the at least one door lock actuator responsive to activation of said test switch. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A vehicle tracking unit for a vehicle of a type including at least one door lock actuator, the vehicle tracking unit comprising:
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a test switch;
a vehicle position determining device;
a wireless communications device; and
a controller for operating the at least one door lock actuator and for cooperating with said wireless communications device and said vehicle position determining device to determine and send vehicle position information;
said controller switchable to a test mode for test operation of the at least one door lock actuator responsive to activation of said test switch. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for operating a vehicle tracking unit for a vehicle of a type including at least one door lock actuator, the vehicle tracking unit comprising a test switch, a vehicle position determining device, a wireless communications device, and a controller for operating the at least one door lock actuator, the method comprising:
switching the controller to a test mode for test operation of the at least one door lock actuator responsive to activation of the test switch. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A vehicle tracking system for a vehicle of a type including a starter interrupt device, the vehicle tracking system comprising:
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a vehicle tracking unit and a monitoring station communicating therewith;
said vehicle tracking unit comprising a test switch, a vehicle position determining device, a wireless communications device, and a controller for operating the starter interrupt device and for cooperating with said wireless communications device and said vehicle position determining device to determine and send vehicle position information to said monitoring station;
said controller switchable to a test mode for test operation of the starter interrupt device responsive to activation of said test switch. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A vehicle tracking system for a vehicle of a type including an audible alarm indicator, the vehicle tracking system comprising:
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a vehicle tracking unit and a monitoring station communicating therewith;
said vehicle tracking unit comprising a test switch, a vehicle position determining device, a wireless communications device, and a controller for operating the audible alarm indicator and for cooperating with said wireless communications device and said vehicle position determining device to determine and send vehicle position information to said monitoring station;
said controller switchable to a test mode for test operation of the audible alarm indicator responsive to activation of said test switch. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43)
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44. A vehicle tracking system for a vehicle of a type including an engine starter device, the vehicle tracking system comprising:
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a vehicle tracking unit and a monitoring station communicating therewith;
said vehicle tracking unit comprising a test switch, a vehicle position determining device, a wireless communications device, and a controller for operating the engine starter device and for cooperating with said wireless communications device and said vehicle position determining device to determine and send vehicle position information to said monitoring station;
said controller switchable to a test mode for test operation of the engine starter device responsive to activation of said test switch. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46)
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47. A vehicle tracking unit for a vehicle of a type including a starter interrupt device, the vehicle tracking unit comprising:
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a test switch;
a vehicle position determining device;
a wireless communications device; and
a controller for operating the starter interrupt device and for cooperating with said wireless communications device and said vehicle position determining device to determine and send vehicle position information;
said controller switchable to a test mode for test operation of the starter interrupt device responsive to activation of said test switch. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. A vehicle tracking unit for a vehicle of a type including an audible alarm indicator, the vehicle tracking unit comprising:
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a test switch;
a vehicle position determining device;
a wireless communications device; and
a controller for operating the audible alarm indicator and for cooperating with said wireless communications device and said vehicle position determining device to determine and send vehicle position information;
said controller switchable to a test mode for test operation of the audible alarm indicator responsive to activation of said test switch. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55)
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56. A vehicle tracking unit for a vehicle of a type including an engine starter device, the vehicle tracking unit comprising:
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a test switch;
a vehicle position determining device;
a wireless communications device; and
a controller for operating the engine starter device and for cooperating with said wireless communications device and said vehicle position determining device to determine and send vehicle position information;
said controller switchable to a test mode for test operation of the engine starter device responsive to activation of said test switch. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58)
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59. A method for operating a vehicle tracking unit for a vehicle of a type including a starter interrupt device, the vehicle tracking unit comprising a test switch, a vehicle position determining device, a wireless communications device, and a controller for operating a starter interrupt device, the method comprising:
switching the controller to a test mode for test operation of the starter interrupt device responsive to activation of the test switch. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61, 62, 63)
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64. A method for operating a vehicle tracking unit for a vehicle of a type including an audible alarm indicator, the vehicle tracking unit comprising a test switch, a vehicle position determining device, a wireless communications device, and a controller for operating the audible alarm indicator the method comprising:
switching the controller to a test mode for test operation of the audible alarm indicator responsive to activation of the test switch. - View Dependent Claims (65, 66, 67)
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68. A method for operating a vehicle tracking unit for a vehicle of a type including an engine starter device, the vehicle tracking unit comprising a test switch, a vehicle position determining device, a wireless communications device, and a controller for operating the engine starter device, the method comprising:
switching the controller to a test mode for test operation of the engine starter device responsive to activation of the test switch. - View Dependent Claims (69, 70)
Specification