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

• US 20080174431A1
• Filed: 01/18/2007
• Published: 07/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: James Neil Rodgers
• Original Assignee: James Neil Rodgers
• Inventors: Rodgers, James Neil
• Granted Patent: US 8,988,222 B2
• Time in Patent Office: 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 is useful. A passive RFID memory based transponder is manufactured into the hollow metal frame of a bicycle (missing chattel) during manufacture. The passive transponder includes at least an electronic memory integrated circuit coupled to the spokes of the bicycle wheel whose aluminum spokes are used as an antenna through which information from the memory may be transmitted or received. 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 or internally through a combination device. This process is initiated upon a report of the bicycle (missing chattel) being stolen, or from the internal source. A process of triangulation is affected using these same cellular telephone towers in an urban area to locate the stolen bicycle. The passive memory based transponder, when initiated by electrical transmissions from the cellular telephone tower, or internally, becomes active. 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 for tracking a stolen bicycle (missing chattel) from a plurality of stations, wherein a memory based passive transponder is associated with the stolen bicycle (missing chattel), comprising:

a plurality of cellular telephone towers/stations at which an operation is performed;

a plurality of memory based passive transponders wherein one of the memory based passive transponders is associated with each of the plurality of telephone towers/stations for providing and/or receiving information bearing electrical signals in a microwave frequency in a memory based tag (smart) format, and wherein each of the plurality of memory based transponder readers located in the cellular telephone towers/stations produces information signals representative of information contained in the received information bearing electrical signals and/or inserts information contained in information signals in transmitted information bearing electrical signals in microwave format;

a plurality of antennae operatively coupled to a respective one of the plurality of memory based transponder readers for transmitting and/or receiving the information bearing electrical signals in microwave format in a detection region located within an urban cellular telephone network which have a plurality of antennae operatively coupled to a respective one of the plurality of memory based transponder readers for transmitting and/or receiving the information bearing electrical signals in microwave format in a detection region located within the cellular range of the cellular telephone region with at least some of said plurality of antennae, including a plurality of parabolic aluminum or loop type antennae, arranged with spatial or temporal separation for coupling the information bearing electrical signals between the memory based transponder reader and a memory based transponder located within the hollow frame of the missing chattel in the detection region with substantially 100% reading rate;

at least one memory based passive transponder associated with the missing chattel, the memory based transponder including sufficient memory and an antenna coupled to the electronic memory for transmitting and/or receiving information bearing electrical signals in the memory based transponder (smart) format, wherein the information bearing electrical signals represent information to be stored in the electronic memory and/or represent information produced from the electronic memory;

wherein the information to be stored in and the information produced from the electronic memory of the memory based transponder includes a permanent number plus application specific data;

whereby information is communicated between the electronic memory of the memory based transponder and the memory based transponder reader of a particular cellular telephone tower/station when the memory based transponder is in the detection region of that particular station after initiation, a computer processor for processing at least information signals including application specific data and a relational check number from the memory based transponder readers at the plurality of stations and for providing a record of the information represented by the information signals; and

a secure communication means for communicating the information signals between said computer processor and said plurality of memory based transponder readers and transponders located within the missing chattel.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the information contained in the information bearing electrical signals transmitted in microwave format is representative of one or more of the identity of the memory based transponder, the identity of the missing chattel, a model number, a serial number, information of interest to the proprietor or operator of the system, a type number, a name or nomenclature of the missing chattel, material and/or component information, and such information relating to the missing chattel, information relating to the location of the missing chattel and/or information relating to routing of the missing chattel, the identity of the cellular telephone tower/station, the operation performed at the station, an operator associated with the station, a distance measurement made at the station, access information plus time and date information.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the memory based passive transponder is securely and permanently attached to the internal hollow frame of the missing chattel, be it a bicycle, or other similar conveyances such as motorcycle, automobile chassis or tractor trailers.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the electronic information contained in the microwave format information signal is communicated to and is stored in both the computer processor located at the station and in the electronic memory of the passive transponder.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein a computer processor includes a central processor in communication with one or more local processors in communication with the readers of the passive memory based transponders.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said communication means further comprises at least one communication hub for providing communication between one of:

(a) a central processor and at least one local processors, and (b) ones of local processors.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said passive memory transponder is connected to a human perceivable indication responsive to the initiation transmission of the station located on the missing chattel.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the human perceivable indication includes one of a light, an audible alarm, an anti-theft alarm, or other audible noise maker to be initiated upon storage battery system being sufficiently charged as more fully outlined in claim 12 and claim 17 herein.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the information processed by the computer processor includes a permanent number, application specific data and a check number which represents the permanent number and/or application specific data assigned to the missing chattel.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said communication means comprises of one or more of a cellular telephone network or a satellite based communication network using radio or RF transmissions and the Internet, or a combination thereof.

11. The system of claim 1 of locating a missing chattel with a passive memory transponder embedded into the hollow frame of the missing chattel whereby a microwave signal is transmitted by an urban cellular telephone network/station, or other such communication system as outlined in claim 10, which initiates the passive memory transponder by exciting the antennae and provoking a waking up phase for the passive memory transponder or, alternatively, a number combination device which, if not properly input prior to the bicycle being ridden by the rider, similarly initiates the passive memory transponder.

12. The system of claim 11 whereby the passive memory transponder, once provoked to an awakened state through microwave electrical excitation or direct initiation via the number combination device as outlined in claim 10, transforms into an active transponder requiring a power source to radiate powerful electromagnetic energy and to activate the human perceivable device enunciated in claim 8 when sufficiently charged.

13. The system of claim 12 whereby the active transponder requires a power source and derives same from the wheel/axle rotation of the missing chattel, be that bicycle, motorcycle, automobile, tractor trailer, or other conveyance in this class, through the use of an internal electrical generator connected via wire to the axle of the rotating wheel of the missing chattel or in the case of motorcycle, automobile or tractor from the internal battery source of power.

14. The system of claim 13 whereby the bicycle wheel hub and the hub shell generate electricity via the rotation of the hub tube relative to the hub axle.

15. The system of claim 14 whereby the generating mechanism is comprised of an inside stator retained to the hub axle and an outside rotor that rotates in response to rotation of the first hub tube.

16. The system of claim 1 whereby the active transponder, upon initiation and awakening, 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 as outlined in claim 2.

17. The system of claim 16 whereby a chargeable battery pack is fitted into the hollow frame of the missing chattel and whereby the generating mechanism of claim 15 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 bicycle axle, either front or back.

18. The system of claim 1 for locating a missing chattel comprising a radio frequency means for determining geographical positions by executing a direction-of-arrival technique (DOA) from the plurality of station receivers at the cellular telephone network towers and then employing direction finding data and raw signal data in performing a time-difference-of-arrival (TDOA) technique to estimate the location of the missing chattel.

19. The system of claim 18 of using an algorithm which is capable of separating and recovering multiple co-channel signals rapidly from each station receiver and to then perform a triangulation, trilateration, or time-difference-of-arrival (TDOA) routine to determine an estimated location of the missing chattel.

20. The system of claim 18 of a signal estimation locator device containing the algorithm software of claim 19 which resides at a master control unit or a master receiver as outlined in claim 6.

21. The system of claim 11 whereby a four number combination code is required to be dialed in properly by the intended rider of the bicycle or driver of the conveyance, by selecting a four digit combination for four numbers between zero and nine to a designated number as set by the manufacturer and communicated to the purchaser of the bicycle;

the said combination being designed into the handle bars of the bicycle or ignition system of the conveyance.

22. The system of claim 1 whereby the spokes of the bicycle are manufactured of aluminum and thus, arrayed in a circular fashion, are naturally designed as an extremely sensitive parabolic radio antenna, excellently suited for receiving and transmitting radio frequencies.

23. The system of claim 22 whereby the aluminum bicycle spokes are connected to an ultra high frequency passive memory transponder designed for metal packaging and designed to take into account the detuning effect of metal and positioning the said transponder to insure the magnetic axis is parallel to the metallic surface of the bicycle or other conveyance to ensure the maximum coupling to the magnetic field parallel to the metal surface.

24. The system of claim 1 whereby the missing chattels as mentioned throughout these 24 claims include, but are not limited to, bicycles, motorcycles, cars, busses, trucks, tractor trailers and other similar conveyances.