System and method for remotely tripping a switch

• US 5,490,200 A
• Filed: 02/10/1995
• Issued: 02/06/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Page Star, Inc.
• Original Assignee: JFA Tech Incorporated
• Inventors: Snyder, Bernard M., Goldberg, Morris J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chernoff, Michael B.
• Application Number:
  US08/386,600
• Time in Patent Office: 361 Days
• Field of Search: 379/58, 379/59, 379/63, 379/57, 379/44, 379/60, 340/426, 340/539, 340/993, 455/33.1, 455/54.1, 455/12.1, 290/38 C
• US Class Current: 340/7.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2025/1016 Remote signals alerting owner or authorities, e.g. radio signals
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/304 Boats
• 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 25/33 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: G01S 1/68 Marker, boundary, call-sign, or like beacons transmitting signals not carrying directional information
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/10 Position of receiver fixed by co-ordinating a plurality of position lines defined by path-difference measurements , e.g. omega or decca systemsG01S5/12 takes precedence ; beacons and receivers cooperating therewith G01S1/306, G01S1/308
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18567 Arrangements for providing additional services to the basic mobile satellite telephony service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems

Abstract

A system and method for remotely signaling a vehicle. The system comprises a pager unit for receiving a wireless communication and for generating a first signal in response to receiving the wireless communication, the pager unit being located in the vehicle. The wireless communication is transmitted by a transmitter to a central switching unit, and from the central switching unit, the wireless communication is relayed through a satellite to the pager unit. The system also comprises a tripping circuit, responsive to the first signal, for generating a second signal, and a switch, responsive to the second signal, for causing an action in the vehicle. The method comprises transmitting a signal by the transmitter to the central switching unit. The signal includes a remote location pager number corresponding to the pager unit and a predetermined security code. The method further comprises transmitting the signal by the central switching unit, satellite relaying the signal from the central switching unit to the pager unit, receiving the signal by the pager unit, and tripping a switch in response to receiving the signal, thereby causing an action in the vehicle.

Claims

1. A system for remotely stopping a vehicle theft, comprising:

a transmitter for generating a calling code and a predetermined security code;

a central switching unit for receiving said calling code and said predetermined security code and for generating a wireless communication including said calling code and said predetermined security code;

a satellite for receiving and transmitting said wireless communication;

a pager unit, located in a vehicle, for receiving said wireless communication, wherein said pager unit is responsive to said calling code, said pager unit generates a first signal only in response to receiving said predetermined security code;

a tripping circuit, responsive to said first signal and located in said vehicle, for generating a second signal; and

a switch, responsive to said second signal and located in said vehicle, for disabling said vehicle;

wherein said pager unit is a receive-only digital receiver that receives only low-power short digital data packets and that cannot receive digital and analog voice transmissions.

2. The system recited in claim 1 wherein the transmitter comprises a telephone for dialing a code, said code generating the wireless communication, said code including a remote location pager number corresponding to the pager unit and a predetermined security code.

3. The system recited in claim 2 wherein the switch includes an ignition interrupt device for stopping operation of an engine in the vehicle.

4. The system recited in claim 1, further comprising a manual switch for setting the tripping circuit.

5. The system recited in claim 2 wherein the pager unit includes means for receiving a tripping circuit setup signal, said tripping circuit setup signal including the pager number and a predetermined setup code, whereby the tripping circuit is set in response to the pager unit receiving said tripping circuit setup signal.

6. The system recited in claim 1, further comprising an indicator, located in the vehicle and responsive to the tripping circuit, for indicating tripping of the switch.

7. The system recited in claim 3, further comprising a warning device, located in the vehicle and responsive to the pager unit, for indicating impending activation of the ignition interrupt device.

8. The system recited in claim 1, further comprising an alarm system, said system being responsive to the tripping circuit.

9. The system recited in claim 1, further comprising a homing circuit, responsive to the tripping circuit, for generating a homing signal.

10. The system of recited in claim 1 further comprising means, responsive to the tripping circuit, for generating a digital location signal corresponding to a location of the vehicle.

11. The system recited in claim 1 wherein said vehicle has a fuel supply, and wherein the action caused by the switch impedes said fuel supply.

12. A method for remotely stopping a vehicle theft, comprising:

first transmitting a signal be a transmitter, said signal including a calling code and a predetermined security code;

first receiving said signal by a central switching unit;

second transmitting said signal by said central switching unit;

satellite relaying said signal to a pager unit located in a vehicle;

second receiving said signal by said pager unit if said calling code corresponds to said pager unit;

generating a tripping pulse by said pager unit only in response to receiving said predetermined security code, said tripping pulse having a low voltage;

converting said tripping pulse from said low voltage to a higher voltage by a tripping circuit, said tripping circuit being located in said vehicle consisting of a voltage step-up circuit for increasing the voltage of said first signal from said low voltage to said higher voltage; and

tripping a switch located in said vehicle in response to conversion of said tripping pulse from said low voltage to said higher voltage, thereby disabling said vehicle;

wherein said pager unit is a receive-only digital receiver that receives only low-power short digital data packets and that cannot receive digital and analog voice transmissions.

13. The method recited in claim 12 wherein the transmitter comprises a telephone.

14. The method recited in claim 12 wherein said vehicle has a vehicle ignition, the method further comprising interrupting said vehicle ignition in response to the tripping step.

15. The method recited in claim 12, further comprising setting the switch, including activating a manual setup switch in the remote location.

16. The method recited in claim 12, further comprising third receiving the pager number and a predetermined setup code, and setting the switch in response to said second receiving step.

17. The method recited in claim 12, further comprising indicating tripping of the switch.

18. The method recited in claim 14, further comprising notifying, in response to the interrupting step, an operator of the vehicle of impending interruption of the vehicle ignition.

19. The method recited in claim 12, further comprising activating an alarm system in response to the tripping step.

20. The method recited in claim 12, further comprising generating a homing signal in response to the first tripping step.

21. The method recited in claim 12, the method further comprising generating a digital location identification signal corresponding to a location of said vehicle.

22. A system for remotely stopping a vehicle theft, consisting essentially of:

a pager unit, located in a vehicle, for receiving a wireless communication and for generating a first signal in response to receiving said wireless communication, said wireless communication being transmitted by a transmitter to a central switching unit, said central switching unit transmitting said wireless communication to a satellite, said satellite relaying said wireless communication transmitted from said central switching unit to said pager unit, said wireless communication consisting of a digital data packet, and said wireless communication including a calling code corresponding to said pager unit and a predetermined security code, said first signal being generated by said pager unit in response to receiving said predetermined security code;

a tripping circuit, responsive to said first signal and located in said vehicle, for generating a second signal; and

a switch, responsive to said second signal, for disabling said vehicle;

wherein the absence of said predetermined security code in said wireless communication prevents said pager unit from generating said first signal; and

wherein said pager unit is a receive-only digital receiver that receives only low-power short digital data packets and that cannot receive digital and analog voice transmissions.

23. A system for remotely stopping a vehicle theft, comprising:

a transmitter for generating a calling code and a predetermined security code;

a central switching unit for receiving said calling code and said predetermined security code and for generating a wireless communication including said calling code and said predetermined security code;

a satellite for receiving and transmitting said wireless communication;

a pager unit, located in a vehicle, for receiving said wireless communication, said pager unit being responsive to said calling code and generating a pager signal in response to receiving said predetermined security code, said pager signal having a low voltage;

a tripping circuit, responsive to said pager signal and located in said vehicle, for generating a tripping signal, said tripping signal having a higher voltage than said pager signal, said tripping circuit including a voltage step-up circuit for converting the voltage of said pager signal from said low voltage to said higher voltage; and

an actuator, responsive to said tripping signal, for disabling said vehicle;

wherein said pager unit is a receive-only digital receiver that receives only low-power short digital data packets and that cannot receive digital and analog voice transmissions; and

wherein the absence of said predetermined security code in said wireless communication prevents said pager unit from generating said first signal.

24. A system for remotely signaling a door locking system in a vehicle, said door locking system being located in said vehicle, comprising:

a transmitter for generating a calling code and a predetermined security code;

a central switching unit for receiving said calling code and said predetermined security code and for generating a wireless communication including said calling code and said predetermined security code;

a satellite for receiving and transmitting said wireless communication;

a pager unit, located in said vehicle, for receiving said wireless communication, said pager unit being responsive to said calling code and generating a pager signal in response to receiving said predetermined security code;

a tripping circuit, responsive to said pager signal and located in said vehicle, for generating a tripping signal; and

an actuator, responsive to said tripping signal and located in said vehicle, for locking and unlocking said door locking system in said vehicle;

wherein said pager unit is a receive-only digital receiver that receives only low-power digital data packets and that cannot receive digital and analog voice transmission; and

wherein the absence of said predetermined security code in said wireless communication prevents said pager unit from generating said first signal.