Vehicle tracking unit for controlling operable vehicle devices using a vehicle data bus and related methods
DCFirst Claim
1. A vehicle tracking unit for a vehicle of a type comprising a vehicle data bus extending throughout the vehicle and at least one operable vehicle device connected thereto, the at least one operable vehicle device responsive to at least one data bus code on the vehicle data bus, the vehicle tracking unit comprising:
- a vehicle position determining device;
a wireless communications device; and
a controller spaced apart from the at least one operable vehicle device and connected to the vehicle data bus so that the vehicle data bus extends from said controller to the at least one operable vehicle device, said controller for cooperating with said vehicle position determining device and said wireless communications device to send vehicle position information to a monitoring station;
said controller generating the at least one data bus code on the vehicle data bus to control the at least one operable vehicle device based upon a command signal received by said wireless communications device;
the at least one operable vehicle device comprising a car starter device.
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Abstract
A vehicle tracking unit is provided for a vehicle of a type comprising a vehicle data bus extending throughout the vehicle and at least one operable vehicle device connected thereto. The at least one operable vehicle device may be responsive to at least one data bus code on the vehicle data bus. The vehicle tracking unit may include a vehicle position determining device, a wireless communications device, and a controller cooperating with the vehicle position determining device and the wireless communications device to send vehicle position information to a monitoring station. Moreover, the controller may generate the at least one data bus code on the vehicle data communications bus to control the at least one operable vehicle device based upon a command signal received by the wireless device.
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Citations
48 Claims
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1. A vehicle tracking unit for a vehicle of a type comprising a vehicle data bus extending throughout the vehicle and at least one operable vehicle device connected thereto, the at least one operable vehicle device responsive to at least one data bus code on the vehicle data bus, the vehicle tracking unit comprising:
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a vehicle position determining device; a wireless communications device; and a controller spaced apart from the at least one operable vehicle device and connected to the vehicle data bus so that the vehicle data bus extends from said controller to the at least one operable vehicle device, said controller for cooperating with said vehicle position determining device and said wireless communications device to send vehicle position information to a monitoring station; said controller generating the at least one data bus code on the vehicle data bus to control the at least one operable vehicle device based upon a command signal received by said wireless communications device; the at least one operable vehicle device comprising a car starter device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A vehicle tracking unit for a vehicle of a type comprising a vehicle data bus extending throughout the vehicle and at least one operable vehicle device connected thereto, the at least one operable vehicle device responsive to at least one data bus code on the vehicle data bus, the vehicle tracking unit comprising:
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a vehicle position determining device; a wireless communications device; and a controller spaced apart from the at least one operable vehicle device and connected to the vehicle data bus so that the vehicle data bus extends from said controller to the at least one operable vehicle device, said controller for cooperating with said vehicle position determining device and said wireless communications device to send vehicle position information to a monitoring station; said controller generating the at least one data bus code on the vehicle data bus to control the at least one operable vehicle device based upon a command signal provided by the monitoring station and received by said wireless communications device; said controller also cooperating with said wireless communications device to send a response message to the monitoring station based upon receiving the command signal. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for controlling at least one operable vehicle device connected to a vehicle data bus extending throughout a vehicle using a vehicle tracking unit, the at least one operable vehicle device responsive to at least one data bus code on the vehicle data bus, the method comprising:
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positioning the vehicle tracking unit in the vehicle spaced apart from the at least one operable vehicle device, and connecting the vehicle tracking unit to the vehicle data bus so that the vehicle data bus extends from the vehicle tracking unit to the at least one operable vehicle device; using the vehicle tracking unit to receive a command signal; and generating the at least one data bus code on the vehicle data bus to control the at least one operable vehicle device using the vehicle tracking unit and based upon the command signal; the at least one operable vehicle device comprising a car starter device. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A vehicle tracking unit for a vehicle of a type comprising a vehicle data bus extending throughout the vehicle and at least one operable vehicle device connected thereto, the at least one operable vehicle device responsive to at least one data bus code on the vehicle data bus, the vehicle tracking unit comprising:
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a vehicle position determining device; a wireless communications device; and a controller spaced apart from the at least one operable vehicle device and connected to the vehicle data bus so that the vehicle data bus extends from said controller to the at least one operable vehicle device, said controller for cooperating with said vehicle position determining device and said wireless communications device to send vehicle position information to a monitoring station; said controller generating the at least one data bus code on the vehicle data bus to control the at least one operable vehicle device based upon a command signal received by said wireless communications device; the at least one operable vehicle device comprising a vehicle window actuator. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A vehicle tracking unit for a vehicle of a type comprising a vehicle data bus extending throughout the vehicle and at least one operable vehicle device connected thereto, the at least one operable vehicle device responsive to at least one data bus code on the vehicle data bus, the vehicle tracking unit comprising:
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a vehicle position determining device; a wireless communications device; and a controller spaced apart from the at least one operable vehicle device and connected to the vehicle data bus so that the vehicle data bus extends from said controller to the at least one operable vehicle device, said controller for cooperating with said vehicle position determining device and said wireless communications device to send vehicle position information to a telephone network interface of a monitoring station; said controller generating the at least one data bus code on the vehicle data bus to control the at least one operable vehicle device based upon a command signal received by said wireless communications device. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A vehicle tracking unit for a vehicle of a type comprising a vehicle data bus extending throughout the vehicle and at least one operable vehicle device connected thereto, the at least one operable vehicle device responsive to at least one data bus code on the vehicle data bus, the vehicle tracking unit comprising:
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a vehicle position determining device; a wireless communications device; and a controller spaced apart from the at least one operable vehicle device and connected to the vehicle data bus so that the vehicle data bus extends from said controller to the at least one operable vehicle device, said controller for cooperating with said vehicle position determining device and said wireless communications device to send vehicle position information to an Internet network interface of a monitoring station; said controller generating the at least one data bus code on the vehicle data bus to control the at least one operable vehicle device based upon a command signal received by said wireless communications device. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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Specification