Vehicle tracking unit with downloadable codes and associated methods

• US 8,032,278 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2007
• Issued: 10/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Omega Patents, L.L.C.
• Original Assignee: Omega Patents, L.L.C.
• Inventors: Flick, Kenneth E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Cuong H
• Application Number:
  US11/773,272
• Publication Number:
  US 20070279283A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,554 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36, 701207-209, 340/500, 340/506, 340/515, 340/531, 340533-534
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/202 Personal digital assistant [PDA]
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/045 by limiting or cutting the electrical supply to the propulsion unit
• 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 25/104 characterised by the type of theft warning signal, e.g. visual or audible signals with special characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/127 to a central station ; Indicators in a central station
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental

Abstract

A multi-vehicle compatible tracking unit is for a vehicle including a vehicle data bus extending throughout the vehicle. The vehicle tracking unit may include a vehicle position determining device, a wireless communications device, and a multi-vehicle compatible controller for cooperating with the vehicle position determining device and the wireless communications device to send vehicle position information. The multi-vehicle compatible controller may be coupled to the vehicle data bus for communication thereover with at least one vehicle device using at least one corresponding vehicle device code from among a plurality thereof for different vehicles. A downloading interface may be included for permitting downloading of enabling data related to the at least one corresponding vehicle device code for use by the multi-vehicle compatible controller.

Claims

1. A multi-vehicle compatible tracking unit for a vehicle comprising a vehicle data bus extending throughout the vehicle, the multi-vehicle compatible tracking unit comprising:

a vehicle position determining device;

a wireless communications device;

a multi-vehicle compatible controller for cooperating with said vehicle position determining device and said wireless communications device to send vehicle position information;

said multi-vehicle compatible controller to be coupled to the vehicle data bus for communication thereover with at least one vehicle device using at least one corresponding vehicle device code from among a plurality thereof for different vehicles; and

a downloading interface for permitting downloading of enabling data related to the at least one corresponding vehicle device code for use by said multi-vehicle compatible controller.

2. The multi-vehicle compatible tracking unit according to claim 1 wherein said downloading interface comprises a wired signal downloading interface.

3. The multi-vehicle compatible tracking unit according to claim 2 wherein said wired signal downloading interface comprises a connector for temporary connection to a downloading device.

4. The multi-vehicle compatible tracking unit according to claim 1 wherein said downloading interface comprises a wireless signal downloading interface.

5. The multi-vehicle compatible tracking unit according to claim 4 wherein said wireless signal downloading interface comprises a wireless receiver for temporary connection to a downloading device.

6. The multi-vehicle compatible tracking unit according to claim 1 wherein the corresponding at least one vehicle code is for reading from the at least one vehicle device.

7. The multi-vehicle compatible tracking unit according to claim 1 wherein the corresponding at least one vehicle code is for writing to the at least one vehicle device.

8. The multi-vehicle compatible tracking unit according to claim 1 wherein said downloading interface is also for permitting downloading of at least one programming instruction for said multi-vehicle compatible controller.

9. The multi-vehicle compatible tracking unit according to claim 1 further comprising a remote transmitter;

and wherein said multi-vehicle compatible controller also performs at least one vehicle remote control function responsive to said remote transmitter.

10. The multi-vehicle compatible tracking unit according to claim 9 wherein the at least one vehicle remote control function comprises at least one of a vehicle security function, a remote keyless entry function, and a remote engine starting function.

11. The multi-vehicle compatible tracking unit according to claim 1 wherein said wireless position determining device comprises a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver.

12. The multi-vehicle compatible tracking unit according to claim 1 further comprising a housing containing said vehicle position determining device, said wireless communications device, said multi-vehicle compatible controller, and said downloading interface.

13. A multi-vehicle compatible tracking unit for a vehicle comprising a vehicle data bus extending throughout the vehicle, the multi-vehicle compatible vehicle tracking unit comprising:

a vehicle position determining device;

a wireless communications device;

a multi-vehicle compatible controller for cooperating with said vehicle position determining device and said wireless communications device to send vehicle position information;

said multi-vehicle compatible controller to be coupled to the vehicle data bus for communication thereover with at least one vehicle device using at least one corresponding vehicle device code from among a plurality thereof for different vehicles; and

a downloading interface for permitting downloading of enabling data related to the at least one corresponding vehicle device code for use by said multi-vehicle compatible controller;

said downloading interface comprising a connector for temporary connection to a downloading device.

14. The multi-vehicle compatible tracking unit according to claim 13 wherein the corresponding at least one vehicle code is for reading from the at least one vehicle device.

15. The multi-vehicle compatible tracking unit according to claim 13 wherein the corresponding at least one vehicle code is for writing to the at least one vehicle device.

16. The multi-vehicle compatible tracking unit according to claim 13 wherein said downloading interface is also for permitting downloading of at least one programming instruction for said multi-vehicle compatible controller.

17. The multi-vehicle compatible tracking unit according to claim 13 further comprising a remote transmitter;

and wherein said multi-vehicle compatible controller also performs at least one vehicle remote control function responsive to said remote transmitter.

18. A multi-vehicle compatible tracking unit for a vehicle comprising a vehicle data bus extending throughout the vehicle, the multi-vehicle compatible vehicle tracking unit comprising:

a vehicle position determining device;

a wireless communications device;

a multi-vehicle compatible controller for cooperating with said vehicle position determining device and said wireless communications device to send vehicle position information;

said multi-vehicle compatible controller to be coupled to the vehicle data bus for communication thereover with at least one vehicle device using at least one corresponding vehicle device code from among a plurality thereof for different vehicles; and

a downloading interface for permitting downloading of enabling data related to the at least one corresponding vehicle device code for use by said multi-vehicle compatible controller;

said downloading interface comprising a wireless receiver for temporary connection to a downloading device.

19. The multi-vehicle compatible tracking unit according to claim 18 wherein the corresponding at least one vehicle code is for reading from the at least one vehicle device.

20. The multi-vehicle compatible tracking unit according to claim 18 wherein the corresponding at least one vehicle code is for writing to the at least one vehicle device.

21. The multi-vehicle compatible tracking unit according to claim 18 wherein said downloading interface is also for permitting downloading of at least one programming instruction for said multi-vehicle compatible controller.

22. The multi-vehicle compatible tracking unit according to claim 18 further comprising a remote transmitter;

and wherein said multi-vehicle compatible controller also performs at least one vehicle remote control function responsive to said remote transmitter.