Method and system for controlling a valuable movable item

• US 7,627,427 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2006
• Issued: 12/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Nichols, Mark, Workman, Dennis, Janky, Gregory T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby; Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US11/516,917
• Publication Number:
  US 20070111736A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,182 Days
• Field of Search: 222/566, 222/567, 222/568, 222/569, 222/570, 222/571, 701207-213, 340/989, 340/992, 340/993, 342/357.01, 342/357.06, 342/357.08, 342/457, 4554561-4566
• US Class Current: 701/213
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1436 with motion detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0213 System disabling if a separation threshold is exceeded disabling electrical appliances in case of unplugging G08B13/1409
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/023 Power management, e.g. system sleep and wake up provisions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0269 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the exact location of child or item using a navigation satellite system, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0272 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect exact location of child or item using triangulation other than GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0283 via a telephone network, e.g. cellular GSM
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/207 with respect to certain areas, e.g. forbidden or allowed areas with possible alerting when inside or outside boundaries

Abstract

One embodiment in accordance with the invention can include a controller that can be coupled with a position determining component, and a motion detecting component. In one embodiment, the motion detecting component detects motion of a valuable movable item and generates a signal to the controller indicating the motion. The controller, in response to the signal, causes the position determining component to determine the geographic location of the valuable movable item. A determination is made as to whether the geographic location is within a pre-defined zone. In response to the determination, a command can be generated for controlling the valuable movable item.

Claims

1. A position tracking system comprising:

a position tracking service provider; and

a valuable movable item coupled with an initiating device, said initiating device comprising;

a controller;

a position determining component coupled with said controller, said position determining component configured for determining a geographic location of said valuable moveable item; and

a motion detecting component coupled with said controller, said motion detecting component configured for detecting motion of said valuable moveable item independent of geographic location information related to said valuable moveable item.

2. The position tracking system of claim 1, wherein said motion detecting component generates an interrupt signal to said controller in response to detecting movement of said valuable movable item.

3. The position tracking system of claim 2, wherein said controller causes said position determining component to ascertain said geographic location in response to receiving said interrupt signal.

4. The position tracking system of claim 3, wherein said controller determines if said geographic location is within a pre-defined zone.

5. The position tracking system of claim 4, wherein said controller generates a command for controlling said valuable movable item in response to said determining.

6. The position tracking system of claim 1, wherein said controller, said position determining component, and said motion detecting component are distributed within said valuable movable item.

7. The position tracking system of claim 3, wherein said position determining component uses a position determining system to ascertain said geographic location.

8. The position tracking system of claim 7, wherein said position determining system comprises a satellite-based position determining system.

9. The position tracking system of claim 7, wherein said position determining system comprises a terrestrial-based position determining system.

10. The position tracking system of claim 4, further comprising a wireless communications component coupled with said controller.

11. The position tracking system of claim 10, wherein said controller automatically causes said wireless communications component to transmit a message to said position tracking service provider when said geographic location is determined to be outside said pre-defined zone.

12. The position tracking system of claim 11, wherein said message comprises information about a malfunction associated with said valuable movable item.

13. The position tracking system of claim 11, wherein said controller utilizes a lookup table to detect an event associated with said valuable movable item that causes said sending said message.

14. The position tracking system of claim 1, wherein said valuable movable item is selected from the group consisting of a vehicle, cargo, a tractor, a backhoe, an off-highway tractor, an off-highway truck, paving equipment, an electronic device, a tractor scraper, a computer, a tool, an appliance, a cellular telephone, a portable computing device, a laptop computer, and an automotive electrical system.

15. A method for controlling power consumption in a valuable movable item comprising:

detecting movement of said valuable movable item using a motion detecting component coupled with said valuable movable item, said detecting being accomplished independent of geographic location information related to said valuable movable item;

indicating said movement to a controller coupled with said valuable movable item; and

generating a command for controlling said valuable movable item in response to said indicating.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, further comprising:

performing a position determining operation to determine a geographic location of said valuable movable item;

determining if said geographic location is within a pre-defined zone; and

generating said command in response to said determining.

17. The method as recited in claim 15, further comprising transmitting said geographic location using a wireless communications device coupled with said valuable movable item in response to said geographic location being outside said pre-defined zone.

18. The method as recited in claim 15, further comprising coupling an initiating device with said valuable movable item, said initiating device comprising:

said controller;

said motion detecting component; and

said position determining component.

19. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein said controller, said motion detecting component and said position determining component are distributed within said valuable movable item.

20. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein said position determining operation comprises utilizing a satellite-based position determining system to determine said geographic location of said valuable movable item.

21. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein said position determining operation comprises utilizing a terrestrial-based position determining system to determine said geographic location of said valuable movable item.

22. The method as recited in claim 15, further comprising:

detecting a malfunction associated with said valuable movable item; and

reporting said malfunction and requesting assistance.

23. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein said valuable movable item is selected from the group consisting of a vehicle, cargo, a tractor, a backhoe, an off-highway tractor, an off-highway truck, paving equipment, an electronic device, a tractor scraper, a computer, a tool, an appliance, a cellular telephone, a portable computing device, a laptop computer, and an automotive electrical system.

24. An initiating component for a valuable movable item comprising:

a controller;

a motion detecting component coupled with said controller for generating a signal when movement of said valuable movable item is detected, wherein said motion detecting component is configured to detect said movement independent of geographic location information related to said valuable moveable item; and

a position determining component coupled with said controller and for ascertaining a geographic location of said valuable movable item.

25. The initiating component of claim 24, wherein said controller automatically causes said position determining component to determine said geographic location in response to said signal.

26. The initiating component of claim 24, wherein said controller determines if said geographic location is within a pre-defined zone and generates a command for controlling said valuable movable item in response to said determining.

27. The initiating component of claim 24, further comprising a wireless communications component coupled with said controller.

28. The initiating component of claim 27, wherein said controller automatically causes said wireless communications component to transmit a message when said geographic location is determined to be outside said pre-defined zone.

29. The initiating component at claim 24, wherein said controller, said motion detecting component, and said position determining component are distributed within said valuable movable item.

30. The initiating component of claim 24, wherein said motion detecting component is an acceleration sensor, a tilt sensor, a vibration sensor, a rotation sensor, a gyroscope, or a motion sensor.

31. The initiating component of claim 24, wherein said electronic device is selected from the group consisting of a vehicle, cargo, a tractor, a backhoe, an off-highway tractor, an off-highway truck, paving equipment, an electronic device, a tractor scraper, a computer, a tool, an appliance, a cellular telephone, a portable computing device, a laptop computer, and an automotive electrical system.