Stolen bicycle (missing chattel) identification, tracking and location; a system and method

• US 8,988,222 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2007
• Issued: 03/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: James Neil Rodgers
• Original Assignee: James Neil Rodgers
• Inventors: Rodgers, James Neil
• Primary Examiner(s): Backer, Firmin
• Assistant Examiner(s): TUN, NAY L
• Application Number:
  US11/624,215
• Publication Number:
  US 20080174431A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,987 Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/306 Motorcycles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/001 Anti-theft devices acting on jacking means or props, e.g. for trailers
• 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

Abstract

A system and method for identifying, tracking and locating stolen bicycles (missing chattels) in an urban area from a plurality of stations. A passive RFID memory based transponder is manufactured into the hollow metal frame of a bicycle (missing chattel) during manufacture. The passive memory based transponder is engaged and powered up by a tag initiation process which emanates from a cellular telephone tower using microwave frequencies. This process is initiated upon a report of the bicycle (missing chattel) being stolen. It is then powered from an internal generator driven by the rotation of the axle of the bicycle, or similar conveyance, with chargeable battery assist. Missing chattel is defined herein as a bicycle, motorcycle, car, truck, bus, tractor trailer or other similar conveyance.

Claims

1. A system of activating a passive radio frequency identification integrated circuit (RFID) transponder which is attached to a frame of a missing chattel by converting the passive RFID transponder into an active RFID transponder following an activation event upon which the active RFID transponder is powered by an electromagnetic charge generated by the rotation of the wheels of the missing chattel;

said system comprising;

a missing chattel with attached memory based said passive RFID transponder capable of receiving and transmitting microwave frequency information bearing electrical signals;

said memory of said RFID transponder containing identifying information with respect to said missing chattel and further said RFID transponder including sufficient memory and an antenna coupled to the memory for transmitting and/or receiving information bearing signals in a memory based transponder smart format;

microwave frequency communication transmit and receive means comprising one or more of a cellular telephone network or a satellite based communication network using radio or RF transmission and the Internet, or a combination thereof;

a plurality of memory based transponder readers located in and linked to the cellular telephone network or linked to the satellite based communication network using radio or RF transmission and the internet, or a combination thereof, and enabled to transmit information to and receive information from said microwave frequency RFID transponder attached to said missing chattel;

transponder activation by said microwave frequency communication transmit and receive means activating said antenna and provoking a waking up phase for said passive RFID transponder to enable microwave frequency transmit and receive operations;

transponder power source separate from both the microwave frequency transponder activation and combination device activating means thereby transforming the passive transponder into an active transponder to indicate unauthorized use and the location of the missing chattel;

said power source being electromagnetic charges generated by the rotation of the wheels of the missing chattel;

a chargeable battery pack chargeable by the power source;

said battery pack attached to said missing chattel and said battery pack for the purpose of providing continuing transmission of microwave frequency identifying signals;

computer processor for processing missing chattel identification and location information from said communication means.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the memory based passive RFID transponder is securely and permanently attached to an internal hollow frame of the missing chattel, or otherwise attached by hidden means to the missing chattel;

wherein the missing chattel comprises a bicycle, motorcycle, automobile chassis or tractor trailers.

3. The system of claim 1 of locating said missing chattel with said passive RFID transponder embedded into an hollow frame of said missing chattel or otherwise attached by hidden means to the missing chattel whereby a microwave signal is transmitted by an urban cellular telephone network/station, or a satellite based communication network using radio or RF transmissions and the Internet, or a combination thereof which initiates the passive RFID transponder by exciting the antenna and provoking a waking up phase for the passive RFID transponder.

4. The system of claim 1 whereby further the passive RFID transponder is transformed into an active RFID transponder through the power source separate and distinct from both the microwave frequency transponder activation and the combination activation means and whereby said power source derives from the wheel/axle rotation of the missing chattel, through the use of an electrical generator connected via wire to the axle of the rotating wheel of the missing chattel;

wherein the missing chattel comprises a bicycle, motorcycle, automobile or tractor trailers.

5. The system of claim 4 whereby still further with respect to the power source of the missing chattel, a wheel hub and an hub shell generate electricity via the rotation of a hub tube relative to a hub axle.

6. The system of claim 5 whereby the power source further comprises an inside stator retained to the hub axle and an outside rotor that rotates in response to rotation of the hub tube.

7. The system of claim 1 whereby further the RFID transponder, upon the transponder activation and awakening, by cell phone tower microwave frequency electric signal, then sends an RF signal via microwave communication to the nearest cellular telephone tower/station indicating that the transponder has been awakened and providing the specific data identifying itself via number assignment.

8. The system of claim 1 whereby the power source includes the chargeable battery pack fitted into the hollow frame or elsewhere or otherwise attached by hidden means to the missing chattel and whereby the power source further includes an output direct current which is operatively connected to an inverter, said inverter converting a direct voltage and current into an alternating voltage and current that is in parallel electrical connection with respect to the input of the chargeable storage battery pack via a wired electrical connection proceeding through the hollow tubular frame which supports the missing chattel wheel axle, either front or back.

9. A system of activating a passive radio frequency identification integrated circuit (RFID) transponder which is attached to a frame of a chattel by converting the passive RFID transponder into an active RFID transponder upon an activation event upon which the RFID transponder is powered by an electromagnetic charge generated by the rotation of the wheels of the chattel;

said system comprising;

a missing chattel with attached memory based said passive RFID transponder capable of receiving and transmitting microwave frequency information bearing electrical signals;

said memory of said RFID transponder containing identifying information with respect to said missing chattel and further said RFID transponder including sufficient memory and an antenna coupled to the memory for transmitting and/or receiving information bearing signals in a memory based transponder smart format;

microwave frequency communication transmit and receive means comprising one or more of a cellular telephone network or a satellite based communication network using radio or RF transmission and the Internet, or a combination thereof;

a plurality of memory based transponder readers located in and linked to the cellular telephone network or linked to the satellite based communication network using radio or RF transmission and the internet, or a combination thereof, and enabled to transmit information to and receive information from said microwave frequency RFID transponder attached to said missing chattel;

transponder activation by said microwave frequency communication transmit and receive means activating said antenna and provoking a waking up phase for said passive RFID transponder to enable microwave frequency transmit and receive operations;

transponder power source separate from both the microwave frequency transponder activation and combination device activating means thereby transforming the passive transponder into an active transponder to indicate unauthorized use and the location of the missing chattel;

said power source being electromagnetic charges generated by the rotation of the wheels of the missing chattel;

a chargeable battery pack chargeable by the power source;

said battery pack attached to said missing chattel and said battery pack for the purpose of providing continuing transmission of microwave frequency identifying signals;

computer processor for processing missing chattel identification and location information from said communication means; and

wherein the missing chattel comprises a bicycle, motorcycle, car, bus, truck or tractor trailer.