Wireless locating and monitoring system

• US 7,761,232 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2006
• Issued: 07/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Monterey Research, LLC (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation (Infineon Technologies AG)
• Inventors: Woodings, Ryan W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US11/567,144
• Publication Number:
  US 20070213887A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,323 Days
• Field of Search: 701200-202, 701213-215, 701/1, 342/357.09, 342/357.1, 342/357.06
• US Class Current: 701/213
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/002 for traffic control, mobile tracking, guidance, surveillance or anti-collision
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles

Abstract

A wireless tracking device and method of operation. A processor connected to a positioning system may periodically determine a location of the device. A wireless radio is connected to the processor for transmitting the location of the device across a wireless area network. The processor may be a microcontroller in a vehicle monitoring system, configured to receive vehicle location input from the positioning system as well as sensor input to determine vehicle condition. The wireless transmitter may be configured to transmit vehicle position and vehicle condition data to a remote data network access point.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring a vehicle comprising:

from the vehicle, periodically determining a current status of the vehicle, the current status including current vehicle location;

scanning to locate an available wireless data network access point; and

periodically transmitting the current status of the vehicle the located access point to an endpoint receiver.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the current vehicle location is determined according to a global positioning system signal.

3. The method according to claim 1 where the current status includes at least one of a time of day, a vehicle speed or a vehicle direction.

4. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

determining that the vehicle is being used by an unauthorized operator; and

transmitting an alert message.

5. The method according to claim 4 including shutting down operation of the vehicle in response to determining that the vehicle is being used by an unauthorized operator.

6. The method according to claim 1 including providing an access code or login to the wireless data network access point to enable access to the wireless data network.

7. The method according to claim 1 where the wireless data network access point is located using passive scanning.

8. The method according to claim 7 where no radio frequency signals are transmitted from the vehicle during the passive scanning.

9. The method according to claim 1 where the wireless data network access point is located using active scanning.

10. A wireless tracking device, comprising:

a positioning system configured to periodically determine a current location of the device;

a processor connected to the positioning system and configured to receive a vehicle sensor input indicating current vehicle status;

a scanner configured to scan for an available wireless area network access point; and

a wireless radio connected to the processor and configured to periodically transmit the current location of the device and the current vehicle status to the available wireless area network access point and configured to transmit an alert message in response to a vehicle sensor input that the vehicle is being operated by an unauthorized operator.

11. The wireless tracking device according to claim 10 where the processor is configured to receive the vehicle sensor input and request the wireless radio to transmit the current vehicle status across the wireless area network.

12. The wireless tracking device according to claim 11 where the vehicle sensor input includes a vehicle speed or a vehicle direction.

13. The wireless tracking device according to claim 11 where the vehicle sensor input includes a car alarm signal or a key ignition detection signal.

14. The wireless tracking device according to claim 10 where the wireless radio scans for the available wireless area network access point without transmitting radio frequency signals.

15. A vehicle monitoring system comprising:

a positioning system configured to periodically determine a current location of the vehicle;

a sensor configured to receive vehicle condition input;

a microcontroller configured to receive a sensor input from the sensor and determine vehicle condition and to receive current vehicle location data from the positioning system, and to shut down vehicle operation in response to sensor indication that the vehicle is being operated by an unauthorized operator; and

a wireless transmitter in communication with the microcontroller and configured to periodically scan to locate an available wireless data network remote access point and to transmit the vehicle condition data and the current vehicle location data periodically to the remote data network access point, the wireless transmitter also configured to transmit an alert message in response to the sensor indication that the vehicle is being operated by the unauthorized operator.

16. The vehicle monitoring system according to claim 15 including a configuration device that provides an operator selectable mode of wireless transmission.

17. The vehicle monitoring system according to claim 16 where the mode of wireless transmission includes passive scanning, active scanning or account management of the remote data network access point.

18. The vehicle monitoring system according to claim 16 where the mode of wireless transmission includes selection of a data transmission protocol.

19. The vehicle monitoring system according to claim 16 where the mode of wireless transmission includes selection of a destination to transmit the vehicle condition data.

20. The vehicle monitoring system according to claim 19 where the destination includes a computer, a website or an e-mail account.