Vehicle tracker including input/output features and related methods

• US 20020016673A1
• Filed: 05/17/2001
• Published: 02/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omega Patents, L.L.C.
• Original Assignee: Omega Patents, L.L.C.
• Inventors: Flick, Kenneth E.
• Granted Patent: US 6,606,561 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/213
• 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 25/102 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 tracking system includes a vehicle tracking unit for a vehicle of a type including an alarm indicator, and a monitoring station receiving the alarm indication alert from the vehicle tracking unit. The vehicle tracking unit may include a vehicle position determining device, a wireless communications device, and a controller connected to the wireless communications device and the vehicle position determining device. The controller may cooperate with the wireless communications device to send an alarm indication alert responsive to at least one of activation of the vehicle alarm indicator continuously for greater than a predetermined time and activation of the vehicle alarm indicator in a repetitive pattern. The controller may also include a dual polarity compatible output for a vehicle device, such as the vehicle alarm indicator.

Claims

1. A vehicle tracking system comprising:

a vehicle tracking unit for a vehicle of a type comprising a vehicle alarm indicator, said vehicle tracking unit comprising

a vehicle position determining device,

a wireless communications device,

a controller connected to said wireless communications device and said vehicle position determining device;

said controller cooperating with said wireless communications device to send an alarm indication alert based upon at least one of activation of the vehicle alarm indicator continuously for greater than a predetermined time and activation of the vehicle alarm indicator in a repetitive pattern; and

a monitoring station receiving the alarm indication alert from said vehicle tracking unit.

2. A vehicle tracking system according to claim 1 wherein said controller also cooperates with said vehicle position determining device and said wireless communications device to send vehicle position messages.

3. A vehicle tracking system according to claim 1 wherein said controller monitors drive signals to the vehicle alarm indicator.

4. A vehicle tracking system according to claim 3 wherein the drive signals have at least one of a first and second polarity.

5. A vehicle tracking system according to claim 1 wherein the vehicle includes a vehicle battery;

and wherein said controller monitors voltage dips of the vehicle battery.

6. A vehicle tracking system according to claim 1 wherein the vehicle alarm indicator comprises at least one of a vehicle horn, and a vehicle siren.

7. A vehicle tracking system according to claim 1 wherein said vehicle position determining device comprises a Global Positioning System (GPS) device.

8. A vehicle tracking system according to claim 1 wherein said wireless communications device comprises a cellular telephone communications device.

9. A vehicle tracking system according to claim 8 wherein said cellular telephone communications device communicates over a cellular control channel.

10. A vehicle tracking system according to claim 1 wherein said monitoring station comprises a user interface for accepting at least one command from a user and sending at least one alert to the user.

11. A vehicle tracking system according to claim 10 wherein said user interface comprises an Internet interface.

12. A vehicle tracking system according to claim 10 wherein said user interface comprises a telephone network interface.

14. A vehicle tracking unit according to claim 13 wherein said controller further sends an alarm indication alert responsive to activation of the vehicle alarm indicator in a repetitive pattern.

15. A vehicle tracking unit according to claim 13 wherein said controller monitors drive signals to the vehicle alarm indicator.

16. A vehicle tracking unit according to claim 15 wherein the drive signals have at least one of a first and second polarity.

17. A vehicle tracking unit according to claim 13 wherein the vehicle includes a vehicle battery;

and wherein said controller monitors voltage dips of the vehicle battery.

18. A vehicle tracking unit according to claim 13 wherein the vehicle alarm indicator comprises at least one of a vehicle horn, and a vehicle siren.

19. A vehicle tracking unit according to claim 13 wherein said vehicle position determining device comprises a Global Positioning System (GPS) device.

20. A vehicle tracking unit according to claim 13 wherein said wireless communications device comprises a cellular telephone communications device.

21. A vehicle tracking unit according to claim 20 wherein said cellular telephone communications device communicates over a cellular control channel.

13. A vehicle tracking unit for use with a vehicle comprising a vehicle alarm indicator, the vehicle tracking unit comprising:

a vehicle position determining device;

a wireless communications device; and

a controller connected to said wireless communications device and said vehicle position determining device;

said controller cooperating with said wireless communications device to send an alarm indication alert responsive to activation of the vehicle alarm indicator continuously for greater than a predetermined time.

22. A vehicle tracking unit for use with a vehicle comprising a vehicle alarm indicator, the vehicle tracking unit comprising:

a vehicle position determining device;

a wireless communications device; and

a controller connected to said wireless communications device and said vehicle position determining device;

said controller cooperating with said wireless communications device to send an alarm indication alert responsive to activation of the vehicle alarm indicator in a repetitive pattern.

23. A vehicle tracking unit according to claim 22 wherein said controller monitors drive signals to the vehicle alarm indicator.

24. A vehicle tracking unit according to claim 23 wherein the drive signals have at least one of a first and second polarity.

25. A vehicle tracking unit according to claim 22 wherein the vehicle includes a vehicle battery;

and wherein said controller monitors voltage dips of the vehicle battery.

26. A vehicle tracking unit according to claim 22 wherein the vehicle alarm indicator comprises at least one of a vehicle horn, and a vehicle siren.

27. A vehicle tracking unit according to claim 22 wherein said vehicle position determining device comprises a Global Positioning System (GPS) device.

28. A vehicle tracking unit according to claim 22 wherein said wireless communications device comprises a cellular telephone communications device.

29. A vehicle tracking unit according to claim 28 wherein said cellular telephone communications device communicates over a cellular control channel.

30. A vehicle tracking system comprising:

a vehicle tracking unit for a vehicle of a type comprising a vehicle device, said vehicle tracking unit comprising

a vehicle position determining device,

a wireless communications device,

a controller connected to said wireless communications device and said vehicle position determining device for sending messages relating to vehicle position;

said controller comprising a dual polarity compatible output for the vehicle device; and

a monitoring station communicating with said vehicle tracking unit.

31. A vehicle tracking system according to claim 30 wherein the vehicle device comprises a vehicle alarm indicator;

and wherein said controller further monitors signals relating to activation of the vehicle alarm indicator and sends an alarm indication alert with position information from said vehicle position determining device and using said wireless communication device.

32. A vehicle tracking system according to claim 30 wherein said controller generates a first polarity output pulse followed by a second polarity output pulse on said dual polarity compatible output.

33. A vehicle tracking system according to claim 30 wherein said controller generates a repeating pattern of a first polarity output pulse followed by a second polarity output pulse on said dual polarity compatible output.

34. A vehicle tracking system according to claim 30 wherein said controller senses an actual polarity of the device and uses the actual polarity for the dual polarity compatible output.

35. A vehicle tracking system according to claim 30 wherein the vehicle device comprises a vehicle horn;

and wherein said controller generates a negative polarity output on said dual polarity compatible output.

36. A vehicle tracking system according to claim 30 wherein the vehicle device comprises a vehicle alarm indicator siren;

and wherein said controller generates a positive polarity output on said dual polarity compatible output.

37. A vehicle tracking system according to claim 30 wherein said vehicle position determining device comprises a Global Positioning System (GPS) device.

38. A vehicle tracking system according to claim 30 wherein said wireless communications device comprises a cellular telephone communications device.

39. A vehicle tracking system according to claim 38 wherein said cellular telephone communications device communicates over a cellular control channel.

40. A vehicle tracking system according to claim 30 wherein said monitoring station comprises a user interface for accepting at least one command from a user and sending at least one alert to the user.

41. A vehicle tracking system according to claim 40 wherein said user interface comprises an Internet interface.

42. A vehicle tracking system according to claim 30 wherein said user interface comprises a telephone network interface.

43. A vehicle tracking unit for a vehicle of a type comprising a vehicle device, the vehicle tracking unit comprising:

a vehicle position determining device;

a wireless communications device; and

a controller connected to said wireless communications device and said vehicle position determining device for sending messages relating to vehicle position;

said controller comprising a dual polarity compatible output for the vehicle device.

44. A vehicle tracking unit according to claim 43 wherein the vehicle device comprises a vehicle alarm indicator;

and wherein said controller further monitors signals relating to activation of the vehicle alarm indicator and sends an alarm indication alert with position information from said vehicle position determining device and using said wireless communication device.

45. A vehicle tracking unit according to claim 43 wherein said controller generates a first polarity output pulse followed by a second polarity output pulse on said dual polarity compatible output.

46. A vehicle tracking unit according to claim 43 wherein said controller generates a repeating pattern of a first polarity output pulse followed by a second polarity output pulse on said dual polarity compatible output.

47. A vehicle tracking unit according to claim 43 wherein said controller senses an actual polarity of the device and uses the actual polarity for the dual polarity compatible output.

48. A vehicle tracking unit according to claim 43 wherein the vehicle device comprises a vehicle horn;

and wherein said controller generates a negative polarity output on said dual polarity compatible output.

49. A vehicle tracking unit according to claim 43 wherein the vehicle device comprises a vehicle alarm indicator siren;

and wherein said controller generates a positive polarity output on said dual polarity compatible output.

50. A method for operating a vehicle tracking unit for a vehicle of a type comprising a vehicle alarm indicator, the vehicle tracking unit comprising a vehicle position determining device, and a wireless communications device, the method comprising:

determining position information of the vehicle using the vehicle position determining device;

determining an alarm condition based upon at least one of activation of the vehicle alarm indicator continuously for greater than a predetermined time and activation of the vehicle alarm indicator in a repetitive pattern; and

sending an alarm indication alert from the wireless communications device responsive to determining the alarm condition and including vehicle position information.

51. A method according to claim 50 wherein determining the alarm condition comprises monitoring drive signals to the vehicle alarm indicator.

52. A method according to claim 51 wherein the drive signals have at least one of a first and second polarity.

53. A method according to claim 50 wherein the vehicle includes a vehicle battery;

and wherein determining the alarm condition comprises monitoring voltage dips of the vehicle battery.

54. A method according to claim 50 wherein the vehicle alarm indicator comprises at least one of a vehicle horn, and a vehicle siren.

55. A method according to claim 50 wherein the vehicle position determining device comprises a Global Positioning System (GPS) device.

56. A method according to claim 50 wherein the wireless communications device comprises a cellular telephone communications device.

57. A method according to claim 56 wherein the cellular telephone communications device communicates over a cellular control channel.

59. A method according to claim 58 wherein the vehicle device comprises a vehicle alarm indicator;

and wherein using the controller comprises using the controller to monitor signals relating to activation of the vehicle alarm indicator and to send an alarm indication alert with position information from the vehicle position determining device and using the wireless communication device.

60. A method according to claim 58 wherein using the controller comprises using the controller to generate a first polarity output pulse followed by a second polarity output pulse as the dual polarity compatible output.

61. A method according to claim 58 wherein using the controller comprises using the controller to generate a repeating pattern of a first polarity output pulse followed by a second polarity output pulse as the dual polarity compatible output.

62. A method according to claim 58 wherein using the controller comprises using the controller to sense an actual polarity of the device and to use the actual polarity as the dual polarity compatible output.

63. A method according to claim 58 wherein the vehicle device comprises a vehicle horn;

and wherein using the controller comprises using the controller to generate a negative polarity output as the dual polarity compatible output.

64. A method according to claim 58 wherein the vehicle device comprises a vehicle alarm indicator siren;

and wherein using the controller comprises using the controller to generate a positive polarity output as the dual polarity compatible output.

58. A method for operating a vehicle tracking unit for a vehicle of a type comprising a vehicle device, the vehicle tracking unit comprising a vehicle position determining device, a wireless communications device, and a controller connected to the wireless communications device and the vehicle position determining device, the method comprising:

using the controller to generate a dual polarity compatible output for the vehicle device.