Method and apparatus for conditioning access for a remotely-accessible device

• US 20040162063A1
• Filed: 02/18/2003
• Published: 08/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Topp Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Topp Group, Inc.
• Inventors: Quinones, Luis F., Maldonado, Victor
• Granted Patent: US 7,170,390 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/419
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting

Abstract

A method and apparatus for conditioning the access of a user of a remotely-accessible device, which tracks and monitors objects, by using a preprogrammed expiration time and date and comparing that to a reliable time and date source, such as a time and date received from a global positioning system receiver, and disabling the processing of signals of the remotely-accessible device if the time and date comparison reveals that the license, service, lease, rental or commodity agreement has expired.

Claims

1. A method for conditioning access to a remotely-accessible device comprising the steps of:

determining an actual time and date based upon signals received at a receiver supplying reliable time and date information;

comparing said actual time and date with a preprogrammed expiration time and date; and

permitting access to said remotely-accessible device if said actual time and date occurs prior to said preprogrammed expiration time and date.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of denying access to said remotely-accessible device by disabling the processing of signals of said remotely-accessible device if said actual time and date occurs after said preprogrammed expiration time and date.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiver comprises a global positioning system receiver.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiver comprises an atomic clock receiver.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiver comprises a digital television carrier receiver.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiver comprises a U.S. Naval Observatory network time protocol (NTP) client receiver.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said preprogrammed expiration time and date represent an expiration time and date of a license agreement for tracking and monitoring services.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said preprogrammed expiration time and date represent an expiration time and date of a lease agreement for equipment.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said preprogrammed expiration time and date represent an expiration time and date of a metering agreement.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said preprogrammed expiration time and date is programmed into said remotely-accessible device directly.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said remotely-accessible device determines a plurality of parameters of an object.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said remotely-accessible device may be used to track and monitor objects.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said remotely-accessible device may be used to control objects.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein said objects are vehicles for a stolen vehicle recovery system.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein said objects comprise a fleet of vehicles.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein said objects comprise leased equipment.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein said objects comprise meters.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein said remotely-accessible device further comprises an internal logic wherein said internal logic monitors said preprogrammed expiration time and date, a validity of a signature and said actual time and date upon regular intervals.

19. A method of selectively disabling the processing of a signal from a remotely-accessible device, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving an actual time and date from a receiving device;

(b) controlling operation of said remotely-accessible device based upon said actual time and date;

wherein said receiving device is internal to said remotely-accessible device, and connected so that the processing of signals of said remotely-accessible device becomes disabled if said actual time and date does not occur prior to a preprogrammed expiration time and date.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said receiving device is a global positioning system receiver.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein said receiving device is an atomic clock receiver.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein said receiving device is a digital television carrier receiver.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein said receiving device is a U.S. Naval Observatory network time protocol (NTP) client receiver.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein said preprogrammed expiration time and date represents an expiration time and date of a license agreement for tracking and monitoring services.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein said preprogrammed expiration time and date represents an expiration time and date of a lease agreement for equipment.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein said preprogrammed expiration time and date represents an expiration time and date of a metering agreement.

27. The method of claim 19, wherein said preprogrammed expiration time and date is programmed into said remotely-accessible device directly.

28. The method of claim 19, wherein said remotely-accessible device determines a plurality of parameters of an object.

29. The method of claim 19, wherein said remotely-accessible device may be used to track and monitor objects.

30. The method of claim 19, wherein said remotely-accessible device may be used to control objects.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein said objects are vehicles for a stolen vehicle recovery system.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein said objects comprise a fleet of vehicles.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein said objects comprise leased equipment.

34. The method of claim 29, wherein said objects comprise meters.

35. The method of claim 19, wherein said remotely-accessible device further comprises an internal logic wherein said internal logic monitors said preprogrammed expiration time and date, a validity of a signature and said actual time and date upon regular intervals.

36. A method for updating a preprogrammed expiration time and date in a remotely-accessible device controlled by conditioning access comprising:

inputting a new expiration time and date and an external signature code into said remotely-accessible device;

comparing said new expiration time and date with said preprogrammed expiration time and date;

generating an internal signature code if said new expiration time and date is greater than said preprogrammed expiration time and date;

comparing said internal signature code with said external signature code;

saving said new expiration time and date and said internal signature code if said internal signature code is the same as said external signature code; and

resetting said preprogrammed expiration time and date to said new expiration time and date.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein said preprogrammed expiration time and date and said new expiration time and date represent an expiration time and date of a license agreement for tracking and monitoring services.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein said preprogrammed expiration time and date and said new expiration time and date represent an expiration time and date of a lease agreement for equipment.

39. The method of claim 36, wherein said preprogrammed expiration time and date and said new expiration time and date represent or an expiration time and date of a metering agreement.

40. The method of claim 36, wherein said new expiration time and date represents a renewed agreement.

41. The method of claim 36, wherein said new expiration time and date is input into the remotely-accessible device directly.

42. The method of claim 36, wherein said remotely-accessible device determines a plurality of parameters of an object.

43. The method of claim 36, wherein said remotely-accessible device may be used to track and monitor objects.

44. The method of claim 36, wherein said remotely-accessible device may be used to control objects.

45. The method of claim 43, wherein said objects are vehicles for a stolen vehicle recovery system.

46. The method of claim 43, wherein said objects comprise a fleet of vehicles.

47. The method of claim 43, wherein said objects comprise leased equipment.

48. The method of claim 43, wherein said objects comprise meters.

49. The method of claim 36, wherein said remotely-accessible device further comprises an internal logic wherein said internal logic monitors said preprogrammed expiration time and date, a validity of a signature and said actual time and date upon regular intervals.

50. A remotely-accessible device comprising:

a wireless module;

an application function to control an object and generate reports;

a receiver module for determining an actual time and date based upon signals received at said receiver supplying reliable time information;

a processing module for comparing said actual time and date with a preprogrammed expiration time and date and permitting access to said remotely-accessible device if said actual time and date occurs prior to said preprogrammed expiration time and date; and

an input/output signal module whereby access may be denied to said remotely-accessible device by disabling the processing of signals of said remotely-accessible device if said actual time and date occurs after said preprogrammed expiration time and date.

51. The remotely-accessible device of claim 50, wherein said receiver is a global positioning system receiver.

52. The remotely-accessible device of claim 50, wherein said receiver is an atomic clock receiver.

53. The remotely-accessible device of claim 50, wherein said receiver is a digital television carrier receiver.

54. The remotely-accessible device of claim 50, wherein said receiver is a U.S. Naval Observatory network time protocol (NTP) client receiver.

55. The remotely-accessible device of claim 50, wherein said preprogrammed expiration time and date represent an expiration time and date of a license agreement for tracking and monitoring services.

56. The remotely-accessible device of claim 50, wherein said preprogrammed expiration time and date represent an expiration time and date of a lease agreement for equipment.

57. The remotely-accessible device of claim 50, wherein said preprogrammed expiration time and date represent an expiration time and date of a metering agreement.

58. The remotely-accessible device of claim 50, wherein said preprogrammed expiration time and date is input into said remotely-accessible device directly.

59. The remotely-accessible device of claim 50, wherein said application function is an Event Driven Dynamic Interface Engine (EDDIE) application that controls said object and generates reports according to user input rules and actions.

60. The remotely-accessible device of claim 59, wherein said user must input a password before gaining access to said remotely-accessible device and inputting said rules and actions.

61. The remotely-accessible device of claim 59, wherein said user configures said application function rules based parameters of said object.

62. The remotely-accessible device of claim 59, wherein said user configures said application function actions.

63. The remotely-accessible device of claim 50, wherein said remotely-accessible device determines a plurality of parameters of said object.

64. The method of claim 50, wherein said remotely-accessible device may be used to track and monitor said objects.

65. The method of claim 50, wherein said remotely-accessible device may be used to control said objects.

66. The method of claim 64, wherein said objects are vehicles for a stolen vehicle recovery system.

67. The method of claim 64, wherein said objects comprise a fleet of vehicles.

68. The method of claim 64, wherein said objects comprise leased equipment.

69. The method of claim 64, wherein said objects comprise meters.

70. The remotely-accessible device of claim 50, wherein said remotely-accessible device further comprises an internal logic wherein said internal logic monitors said preprogrammed expiration time and date, a validity of a signature and said actual time and date upon regular intervals.

71. A method for conditioning access to a remotely-accessible device comprising disabling the processing of signals of said remotely-accessible device on the occurrence of any of the conditions selected from the group consisting of:

a preprogrammed expiration time and date is exceeded, a signature code is compromised, a clock is compromised, and combinations thereof.