Recovery system with De-queue logic

• US 7,664,462 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2006
• Issued: 02/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Calamp Wireless Networks Inc. (CalAmp Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LoJack Operating Company, LP (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Liu, George Xiangling, Justice, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, JOHN J
• Application Number:
  US11/438,586
• Publication Number:
  US 20070066219A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,366 Days
• Field of Search: 455/7, 455/14, 455/414.2, 455/412.2, 455/418, 455/419, 455/15, 455/569.2, 455/41.1, 455/557, 455/3.01, 455/3.05, 455/404.1, 455/434, 455/9, 455/11.1, 455/41.2, 340/506, 340/573.1, 340/993
• US Class Current: 455/41.1
• 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: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C

Abstract

A recovery system with repeating communication capabilities. The system includes a station configured to send an activation message, at least a first “primary” remote transmitting unit responsive to the station and configured to transmit the activation message and at least a one “secondary” remote transmitting unit. That unit includes a receiver which receives the activation message, a transmitter for transmitting the activation message, and a controller responsive to the receiver and controlling the transmitter. The controller is programmed to transmit the activation message and then automatically stop transmission of the activation message after a predetermined time period unless the activation message is again received.

Claims

1. A recovery system with repeating communication capabilities, the system comprising:

a station configured to send an activation message;

at least a first remote transmitting unit responsive to the station and configured to transmit the activation message; and

at least a second remote transmitting unit including;

a receiver which receives the activation message,

a transmitter for transmitting the activation message, and

a controller responsive to the receiver, controlling the transmitter and programmed to transmit the activation message and then stop transmission of the activation message after a predetermined time period unless the activation message is again received by the receiver.

2. The system of claim 1 in which the locating unit is configured to transmit an activation acknowledgement message in response to the activation message.

3. The system of claim 2 in which the station is configured, in response to the acknowledgement message, to transmit a de-queue message.

4. The system of claim 3 in which the first remote transmitting unit, in response to the de-queue message, is configured to cease transmission of the activation message and then, after the predetermined time period, the second remote transmitting unit ceases transmission of the activation message.

5. The system of claim 2 in which the first remote transmitting unit includes an RF transmitter for sending the activation message to the receiver of the second remote transmitting unit.

6. The system of claim 1 in which said first remote transmitting unit includes a land line connection to the station for receiving the activation message.

7. The system of claim 1 in which the controller is programmed to ignore a message received by the receiver below a predetermined signal strength.

8. The system of claim 1 in which there are N second remote transmitting units each including:

a receiver which receives said messages, a controller which processes said messages, and a transmitter which transmits said messages.

9. The system of claim 8 in which there are M first remote transmitting units.

10. The system of claim 9 in which M is less than N.

11. The system of claim 1 in which the activation message is a transponder activation message.

12. A recovery system comprising:

a vehicle locating unit including;

a receiver,

a controller responsive to the receiver,

a transponder activated by the controller in response to a transponder activation message received by the receiver, and

a transmitter controlled by the controller for transmitting an acknowledgement message in response to transponder activation;

a station configured to send the transponder activation message in response to a theft event and a de-queue message in response to receipt of the acknowledgement message;

at least a first remote transmitting unit responsive to the central station and configured to transmit the transponder activation message until the de-queue message is received from the station; and

at least a second remote transmitting unit including;

a receiver which receives the transponder activation message from the first remote transmitting unit,

a transmitter, and

a controller responsive to the receiver, and configured to control the transmitter to transmit the transponder activation message and then stop transmission of the transponder activation message after a predetermined time period unless the activation message is again received by the receiver.

13. A vehicle recovery system comprising:

a vehicle locating unit configured to process an activation message and transmit an acknowledgement message in response;

a station configured to send the activation message in response to a theft event and a de-queue message in response to receipt of the acknowledgement message;

at least a first remote transmitting unit responsive to the station and configured to transmit the activation message until the de-queue message is received from the station; and

at least a second remote transmitting unit configured to receive the activation message from the first remote transmitting unit and to re-transmit the activation message but only for a predetermined time period unless the activation message is again received.

14. A recovery method comprising:

transmitting an activation message from a station to at least a first remote transmitting unit;

the first remote transmitting unit transmitting the activation message in response; and

a second remote transmitting unit receiving the activation message at a receiver from the first remote transmitting unit and, in response, transmitting the activation message from a transmitter but only for a predetermined time period unless the activation message is again received by the receiver.

15. The method of claim 14 in which said first remote transmitting unit includes a land line connection to a station for receiving the activation message and transmissions from the first remote transmitting unit and the second remote transmitting unit are wireless.

16. The method of claim 14 in which the activation message is a transponder activation message.

17. A transmission scheduling method for a recovery system including at least one vehicle locating unit, a station, at least a first remote transmitting unit responsive to the station, and at least one second remote transmitting unit responsive to the first remote transmitting unit, all configured to receive, process, and transmit messages, the method comprising:

in the vehicle locating unit, processing an activation message received and transmitting an acknowledgement message in response;

in the station, sending the activation message in response to a theft event and a de-queue message in response to receipt of the acknowledgement message;

in the first remote transmitting unit, transmitting the activation message in response to receipt of the activation message from the station until the de-queue message is received from the station; and

in the second remote transmitting unit, receiving the activation message from the first remote transmitting unit and re-transmitting the activation message but only for a predetermined time period unless the activation message is again received.