Security tracker

• US 7,242,322 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2005
• Issued: 07/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wherify Wireless Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Wherify Wireless Incorporated
• Inventors: Neher, Timothy, Swain, Simon, LaRochelle, Anthony, Rowe, Richard, Jacobsen, Bob, Naddaf, Ali
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu; Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tang; Son
• Application Number:
  US11/126,827
• Publication Number:
  US 20060017551A1
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 340/989
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/08 operating on brakes or brake systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1004 Alarm systems characterised by the type of sensor, e.g. current sensing means using door lock sensors B60R25/1001
• 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: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental

Abstract

A covert activity monitoring apparatus and conditional response system having a response apparatus comprising a sensor interface and a wireless interface and one or more sensors having a predetermined conditional interrupt that can result in the response apparatus logging an activity for later download and/or transmitting an alarm condition to a remote monitoring system. In addition the remote monitoring system can initiate a locator sequence for the article incorporating the activity monitoring system.

Claims

1. A security tracker for use with and in combination with a tractor-trailer comprising:

a) a peripheral controller and a basic locator unit covertly mounted in a tail light of said trailer;

b) said basic locator unit having a main controller and a GPS module, said main controller communicating with said GPS module for initiating a locator sequence whose location data is stored for later download or transmitted to a remote location;

c) said peripheral controller having external input/outputs for communicating with sensing devices in a protected environment within said trailer;

d) multiple communication lines between said peripheral controller and said main controller using pulses of short and long durations creating a finite number of different combinations of said pulses interpreted by said main controller as different commands;

e) said security tracker being programmed to record for later download or initiate a communication with a remote location when the trailer is connected to said tractor, when the trailer is disconnected from said tractor, when the trailer door is opened while the trailer is disconnected, and transmitting location information under prescribed situations; and

f) said trailer being provided with a decoy antenna.

2. A method of covertly tracking assets sealed within a trailer comprising the steps of:

a) covertly mounting within a tail light of said trailer a peripheral controller and a basic locator unit, said basic locator unit having a main controller and a GPS module, said main controller communicating with said GPS module for initiating a locator sequence whose location data is stored for later download or transmitted to a remote location, said peripheral controller having external input/outputs for communicating with sensing devices in a protected environment within said trailer, multiple communication lines between said peripheral controller and said main controller using pulses of short and long durations creating a finite number of different combinations of said pulses interpreted by said main controller as different commands;

b) programming said security tracker to record for later download or initiate a communication with a remote location when the trailer is connected to said tractor, when the trailer is disconnected from said tractor, when a trailer door is opened while the trailer is disconnected from said tractor, and transmitting location information under prescribed situations; and

c) deploying decoy antennas on said trailer.