Method of and system for expanding localized missing customer-vehicle law enforcement-aided VHF recovery networks with location-on-demand supplemental service features via such networks for improved law enforcement-aided recovery, and via the internet for providing supplemental customer service features

• US 7,561,102 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2004
• Issued: 07/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Calamp Wireless Networks Inc. (CalAmp Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LoJack Operating Company, LP (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Duvall, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza; Thomas H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mull; Fred H
• Application Number:
  US10/886,870
• Publication Number:
  US 20060007039A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,832 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.07, 342/357.08, 340/426.19, 340/539.13
• US Class Current: 342/357.55
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/74 Systems using reradiation of radio waves, e.g. secondary radar systems; Analogous systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/42 the desired condition being maintained automatically
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0072 Transmission between mobile stations, e.g. anti-collision systems

Abstract

A system and technique for improving the speed and ease of missing vehicle location and recovery by vehicle-carried transponder periodic coded replies to radio interrogation by a network of (VHF) transmitting towers, by integrating a concealed GPS location receiver with the transponder and providing the GPS-obtained coordinate information through the VHF network to enable a preliminary initial recovery location from which to home-in for recovery by subsequent direction-finding from the periodic transponder responses. Other location-on-demand services are also readily operable through the use of this VHF network, including providing said GPS coordinate or location information on the Internet.

Claims

1. In a stolen or missing-vehicle location network for use with a vehicle-equipped VHF-frequency transmitter-receiver transponder assembly and comprising vehicle transponder-activating VHF antenna towers controlled from a network operations control center to enable the transponder to transmit periodic vehicle-coded reply signals from the vehicle, usable by a VHF direction-finding vehicle to locate the missing vehicle, a method of providing supplemental GPS vehicle position information over the VHF network to the direction-finding vehicle, that comprises:

integrating a GPS receiver within the vehicle VHF transponder assembly such that, upon demand from the operations center, the GPS receiver receives from the GPS satellite constellation on a GPS frequency, the GPS coordinate information of the missing vehicle at that time;

providing said received GPS coordinate information to said VHF transponder transmitter to enable the same, upon demand initiated in response to the sensed departure of the vehicle from a pre-set geofencing area established therefore, to transmit said coordinate information at said VHF frequency to said network, together with the vehicle code; and

,

under command of said network control operations control center, up-link-transmitting said coordinate information from the vehicle VHF transmitter to said VHF antenna towers and thence to said tracking vehicle to provide a starting location for said direction-finding.

2. In a stolen or missing-vehicle location network for use with a vehicle-equipped VHF-frequency transmitter-receiver transponder assembly and comprising vehicle transponder-activating VHF antenna towers controlled from a network operations control center to enable the transponder to transmit periodic vehicle-coded reply signals from the vehicle, usable by a VHF direction-finding vehicle to locate the missing vehicle, a method of providing supplemental GPS vehicle position information over the VHF network to the direction-finding vehicle, that comprises:

integrating a GPS receiver within the vehicle VHF transponder assembly such that, upon demand from the operations center, the GPS receiver receives from the GPS satellite constellation on a GPS frequency, the GPS coordinate information of the missing vehicle at that time;

providing said received GPS coordinate information to said VHF transponder transmitter to enable the same, upon demand initiated in response to the network operations control center confirming the theft or other unauthorized movement of a vehicle, to transmit said coordinate information at said VHF frequency to said network, together with the vehicle code; and

,

under command of said network control operations control center, up-link-transmitting said coordinate information from the vehicle VHF transmitter to said network VHF antenna towers and thence to said tracking vehicle to provide a starting location for said direction-finding.

3. In a stolen or missing-vehicle location network for use with a vehicle-equipped VHF-frequency transmitter-receiver transponder assembly and comprising vehicle transponder-activating VHF antenna towers controlled from a network operations control center to enable the transponder to transmit from the vehicle, periodic vehicle-coded reply signals usable by a VHF direction-finding vehicle to locate the missing vehicle, apparatus for providing supplemental GPS vehicle position information over the VHF network to the direction-finding vehicle, that comprises:

a GPS receiver integrated with the vehicle transponder assembly and that, upon command from the operations center initiated in response to the sensed departure of the vehicle from a pre-set geofencing area established therefore, receives from the GPS satellite constellation on a GPS frequency, the GPS coordinate information of the missing vehicle at that time;

means for providing said received GPS coordinate information to said VHF transponder transmitter to enable the same, upon command, to transmit said coordinate information at said VHF frequency to said network, together with the vehicle code; and

,

means operable under the command of said network operations control center, for up-link transmitting said coordinate information from the missing vehicle VHF transmitter to said network towers and thence to said tracking vehicle to provide a starting location for said direction-finding.

4. In a stolen or missing-vehicle location network for use with a vehicle-equipped VHF-frequency transmitter-receiver transponder assembly and comprising vehicle transponder-activating VHF antenna towers controlled from a network operations control center to enable the transponder to transmit from the vehicle, periodic vehicle-coded reply signals usable by a VHF direction-finding vehicle to locate the missing vehicle, apparatus for providing supplemental GPS vehicle position information over the VHF network to the direction-finding vehicle, that comprises:

a GPS receiver integrated with the vehicle transponder assembly and that, upon command from the operations center initiated in response to the network operations control center confirming the theft or other unauthorized movement of the vehicle, receives from the GPS satellite constellation on a GPS frequency, the GPS coordinate information of the missing vehicle at that time;

means for providing said received GPS coordinate information to said VHF transponder transmitter to enable the same, upon command, to transmit said coordinate information at said VHF frequency to said network, together with the vehicle code; and

,

means operable under the command of said network operations control center, for up-link transmitting said coordinate information from the missing vehicle VHF transmitter to said network towers and thence to said tracking vehicle to provide a starting location for said direction-finding.

5. A stolen vehicle locating system comprising:

a VHF frequency transponder, a VHF frequency receiver, and a GPS receiver hidden within a vehicle;

a network of VHF antenna towers for transmitting a command to the transponder via the receiver to activate the transponder to transmit a coded signal; and

a VHF direction finding unit responsive to the coded transponder signal for locating the vehicle and including a receiver for receiving vehicle GPS position data from the GPS receiver via the network of VHF antenna towers to also locate the vehicle.

6. A stolen article location system comprising:

a VHF frequency transponder, a VHF frequency receiver, and a GPS receiver associated with the article;

a network of VHF antenna towers for transmitting a command to the transponder via the receiver to activate the transponder to transmit a coded signal; and

a VHF direction finding unit responsive to the coded transponder signal for locating the article and including a receiver for receiving article GPS position data from the GPS receiver via the network of VHF antenna towers to also locate the article.

7. A stolen vehicle locating method comprising:

hiding within a vehicle a VHF frequency transponder, a VHF frequency receiver and a GPS receiver;

transmitting, via a network of VHF antenna towers, a command to the transponder via the receiver to activate the transponder to transmit a coded signal; and

locating the vehicle using a VHF direction finding unit responsive to the coded transponder signal and receiving vehicle GPS position data via the network of VHF antenna towers for also locating the vehicle.

8. A stolen article locating method comprising:

associating with an article a VHF frequency transponder, a VHF frequency receiver, and a GPS receiver;

transmitting, via a network of VHF antenna towers, a command to the transponder via the receiver to activate the transponder to transmit a coded signal; and

locating the article by detecting the coded transponder signal and receiving article GPS position data via the network of VHF antenna towers.