Vehicle tracker including input/output features and related methods
First Claim
1. A vehicle tracking unit for a vehicle of a type comprising a vehicle battery and comprising:
- a vehicle position determining device, a wireless communications device, and a controller cooperating with said vehicle position determining device and said wireless communications device to send vehicle position information to a user based upon receiving an activation signal via a communications network;
said controller selectively causing the vehicle tracking unit to be in a low power mode to conserve power, said controller cooperating with said wireless communications device to intermittently awaken the vehicle tracking unit from the low power mode to poll the communications network to thereby determine whether the activation signal has been directed to the vehicle tracking unit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle tracking unit may include a vehicle position determining device, a wireless communications device, and a controller. The controller may cooperate with the vehicle position determining device and the wireless communications device to send vehicle position information to a user based upon receiving an activation signal via a communications network. Furthermore, the controller may selectively cause the vehicle tracking unit to be in a low power mode to conserve power. Also, the controller may cooperate with the wireless communications device to intermittently awaken the vehicle tracking unit from the low power mode to poll the communications network to thereby determine whether the activation signal has been directed to the vehicle tracking unit.
89 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A vehicle tracking unit for a vehicle of a type comprising a vehicle battery and comprising:
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a vehicle position determining device, a wireless communications device, and a controller cooperating with said vehicle position determining device and said wireless communications device to send vehicle position information to a user based upon receiving an activation signal via a communications network; said controller selectively causing the vehicle tracking unit to be in a low power mode to conserve power, said controller cooperating with said wireless communications device to intermittently awaken the vehicle tracking unit from the low power mode to poll the communications network to thereby determine whether the activation signal has been directed to the vehicle tracking unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A vehicle tracking unit for a vehicle of a type comprising a vehicle battery and comprising:
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a vehicle position determining device, a wireless communications device, and a controller cooperating with said vehicle position determining device and said wireless communications device to send vehicle position information to a user based upon receiving an activation signal via a cellular communications network, the activation signal being stored as at least one missed call by the cellular communications network; said controller cooperating with said wireless communications device for determining when the cellular communications network is out of range, determining when the cellular communications network is back in range after being out of range, and polling the cellular communications network when back in range to determine whether the activation signal has been directed to the vehicle tracking unit while the cellular communications network was out of range.
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18. A vehicle tracking method for a vehicle of a type comprising a vehicle tracking unit, the method comprising:
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selectively causing the vehicle tracking unit to be in a low power mode to conserve power; intermittently awakening the vehicle tracking unit from the low power mode to poll a communications network to determine whether an activation signal has been directed to the vehicle tracking unit via the communications network; and sending vehicle position information to a user based upon receiving the activation signal. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A vehicle tracking method for a vehicle of a type comprising a vehicle tracking unit responsive to an activation signal from a cellular communications network, the activation signal being stored as at least one missed call by the cellular communications network, the method comprising:
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determining when the cellular communications network is out of range; determining when the cellular communications network is back in range after being out of range; polling the cellular communications network when back in range to determine whether the activation signal has been directed to the vehicle tracking unit while the cellular communications network was out of range; and sending vehicle position information to a user based upon determining the activation signal was directed to the vehicle tracking unit while the cellular communications network was out of range.
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Specification