Programmable vehicle monitoring and security system having multiple access verification devices

• US 5,557,254 A
• Filed: 11/16/1993
• Issued: 09/17/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: iFLEET, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Mobile Security Communications, Inc.
• Inventors: Ashe, Cecil W., Yates, Jesse B., Johnson, Sam
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, John K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C.
• Application Number:
  US08/153,140
• Time in Patent Office: 1,036 Days
• Field of Search: 340/457, 340/426, 340/430, 340/425.5, 340/825.36, 340/825.34, 340/825.49, 340/825.31, 340/427, 340/428, 340/429, 342/450, 342/388, 342/386
• US Class Current: 340/426.19
• 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

Abstract

A security system having two-way communication with a central monitoring station. The security system is equipped with a computerized control and communications unit. The control and communications unit is connected to a position determination device and to a calling unit. The control and communications unit is also connected to several intrusion detection devices. Upon direction of the control and communications unit, for example, in response to the detection of a violation of an intrusion detection device, the calling unit establishes a communications link with the central monitoring station and communicates thereto the status and location of the vehicle in which the security system is located. The control and communication device is operable to receive commands from a handset electrically connected thereto. The central monitoring station, by communicating with the control and communications unit, is operable to control functional units of the vehicle. The central monitoring station includes a display on which maps showing the location of vehicles in communication with the monitoring station and information about such vehicles. An operator at the monitoring station may direct equipment in the monitoring station to initiate calls to law enforcement organizations and emergency response vehicles. Other systems and methods are disclosed.

Claims

1. A security system for protecting a vehicle from theft and from carjacking, comprising:

a central monitoring station;

at least one intrusion detection device operable to detect a violation of a protection zone of said vehicle and operable to output a signal to indicate a violation of said protection zone;

a calling unit on said vehicle operable to establish a communication link to said central monitoring station;

a computerized control and communications unit connected to said at least one intrusion detection device and a said calling unit, wherein said computerized control and communication unit, responsive to said output signal, causes said calling unit to establish a communication link to said central monitoring station;

a position determination device connected to said control and communications unit and operable to determine position information of said vehicle;

an occupant identification device connected to said computerized control and communications unit and operable to determine the identity of an occupant of said vehicle;

wherein said computerized control and communications unit, responsive to said output signal, obtains said position information from said position determination device and causes said calling unit to transmit said position information to said central monitoring station and wherein upon the detection of a violation of said protection zone of said vehicle, said control and communications unit causes said occupant identification device to verify that said occupant is an authorized occupant of said vehicle;

wherein said computerized control and communications unit further connected to a pager receiver for receiving from said central monitoring station a page and commands to control said vehicle and said security system;

a transceiver on said central monitoring station for receiving information transmitted by said calling unit and for communicating control information to said vehicle to control operational units of said vehicle;

circuitry connected to said control and communications unit and operable to accept an allowed range for said vehicle; and

circuitry connected to said control and communications unit and operable to send a signal to said control and communications unit when said vehicle has left said allowed range, whereby, responsive to said sent signal, said control and communications unit is operative to cause said calling unit to signal to said central monitoring station that said vehicle has left its allowed range.

2. The security system of claim 1, wherein said computer of said central monitoring station further comprises:

means, responsive to a signal that said vehicle has left its allowed range, for sending control information to control units of said vehicle.

3. A security system for protecting a vehicle from theft and from carjacking, comprising:

a central monitoring station;

at least one intrusion detection device operable to detect a violation of a protection zone of said vehicle and operable to output a signal to indicate a violation of said protection zone;

a calling unit on said vehicle operable to establish a communication link to said central monitoring station;

a computerized control and communications unit connected to said intrusion detection device and a said calling unit, wherein said computerized control and communication unit, responsive to said signal, causes said calling unit to establish a communication link to said central monitoring station;

a position determination device connected to said control and communications unit and operable to determine position information of said vehicle;

an occupant identification device connected to said computerized control and communications unit and operable to determine the identity of an occupant of said vehicle;

wherein said computerized control and communications unit, responsive to said signal, obtain said position information from said position determination device and causes said calling unit to transmit said position information to said central monitoring station and wherein upon the detection of a violation of said protection zone of said vehicle, said control and communications unit causes said occupant identification device to verify that said occupant is an authorized occupant of said vehicle;

a transceiver for receiving information transmitted by said calling unit and for communicating control information to said vehicle to control operational units of said vehicle; and

wherein said occupant identification device includes a camera connected to said control and communications unit and operable to capture an image of said occupant of said vehicle;

wherein said control and communications unit is further operable to obtain said image from said camera and to cause said calling device to transmit said image to said transceiver of said central monitoring station.

4. The security system of claim 3, wherein said central monitoring system further comprises:

a computer connected to said transceiver; and

at least one display device connected to said computer and operable to display said image;

said computer including means operable, responsive to recognition that said image is not an image of an authorized occupant of said vehicle, causing said control information to be sent by said transceiver to said vehicle.

5. A security system for protecting a vehicle from theft and from carjacking, comprising:

a central monitoring station;

at least one intrusion detection device operable to detect a violation of a protection zone of said vehicle and operable to output a signal to indicate a violation of said protection zone;

a calling unit on said vehicle operable to establish a communication link to said central monitoring station;

a computerized control and communications unit connected to said intrusion detection device and a said calling unit, wherein said computerized control and communication unit, responsive to said signal, causes said calling unit to establish a communication link to said central monitoring station;

a position determination device connected to said control and communications unit and operable to determine position information of said vehicle;

an occupant identification device connected to said computerized control and communications unit and operable to determine the identity of an occupant of said vehicle;

wherein said computerized control and communications unit, responsive to said signal, obtain said position information from said position determination device and causes said calling unit to transmit said position information to said central monitoring station and wherein upon the detection of a violation of said protection zone of said vehicle, said control and communications unit causes said occupant identification device to verify that said occupant is an authorized occupant of said vehicle;

wherein said computerized control and communications unit is further connected to a pager receiver for receiving from said central monitoring station a page and commands to control said vehicle and said security system.

6. The security system of claim 5, wherein said commands include commands directing the computerized control and communications unit to call the central monitoring station.

7. An automotive security system having two-way communication between a vehicle and a monitoring station, comprising:

a plurality of vehicular intrusion detection devices;

a plurality of relays connected to functional units of said vehicle;

a communications and control unit connected to said intrusion detection devices and to said relays, including;

a central processing unit connected to a micro controller bus;

a first modem connected to said central processing unit;

an analog to digital micro controller connected to said micro controller bus;

an input and control micro controller connected via an input and output connector to said intrusion detection devices and to said relays and connected to said micro controller bus;

a telephone micro controller connected to said micro controller bus;

at least one relay controller connected to said input and control micro controller and to said plurality of relays;

an interchangeable module having an EPROM connected to said telephone micro controller, a switch network connected to said telephone micro controller and connected to a first telephone connector, to a second telephone connector, and to said first modem, and responsive to a control signal from said telephone micro controller, operable to selectively enable and disable connections between said first and second telephone connectors, between said first telephone connector and said first modem, and between said second telephone connector and said telephone micro controller;

a latch connected to said central processing unit, to said analog-digital micro controller, to said input and control micro controller, and to said telephone micro controller, wherein said central processing unit is operable to latch a code onto said latch, wherein said code uniquely identifies one of said analog to digital micro controller, said input and control micro controller, and said telephone micro controller as being an intended recipient of a data stream placed on said micro controller bus;

a global positioning system (GPS) receiver connected to said central processing unit; and

a pager receiver connected to said analog to digital micro controller;

a cellular telephone transceiver unit connected to said first telephone connector;

a cellular telephone handset connected to said second telephone connector;

a work station located in said central monitoring station, having;

a graphics display for displaying a graphic user interface;

a computer having instructions for displaying at least one map on said graphic user interface;

a second modem connected to a telephone network and to said computer; and

a telephone connected to said telephone network;

wherein said central processing unit, continuously polls said GPS receiver to determine the vehicle'"'"'s location, wherein said central processing unit, responsive to a signal from said intrusion detection devices, directs said telephone micro controller to direct said cellular telephone transceiver unit to establish a communications link to said computer via a cellular telephone system, said telephone connection and said second modem, wherein upon detecting the establishment of said communications link, said central processing unit, via said first modem and said cellular telephone transceiver unit, sends to said computer said location and a code indicative of a triggering one of said intrusion detection devices;

wherein said computer is operable to send control signals via said second modem, said telephone connection, said cellular telephone transceiver unit, and said first modem, to said central processing unit, wherein said central processing unit, responsive to said control signals, directs said input and control micro controller to direct one of said at least one relay controllers to open at least one of said relays; and

wherein said computer is operable to send a page via said telephone network to said pager receiver, wherein said page directs said central processing system to call said transceiver unit to establish a communications link with said monitoring station.

8. A method of providing for recovery of a stolen or car jacked vehicle having an intrusion detection system, upon the detection of a violation of an intrusion zone, comprising the steps of:

(a) determining position, direction and speed of said vehicle;

(b) establishing a communications link between said vehicle and a central monitoring station;

(c) communicating to said central monitoring station a signal indicating said violation of an intrusion zone;

(d) communicating to said central monitoring station said position, direction and speed of said vehicle;

(e) accepting occupant identification information which verifies that an occupant of said vehicle is an authorized occupant of said vehicle by obtaining an image of an occupant of said vehicle and transmitting said image to said central monitoring station; and

(f) upon receipt of occupant identification information which does not verify that the occupant of the vehicle is an authorized occupant of said vehicle, taking an action to prevent the furtherance of a theft or carjacking of said vehicle.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of:

(i) comparing said image to at least one image representative of persons authorized to use said vehicle.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein step (f) comprises the step of:

(f.1) sending a control signal from said central monitoring station to said vehicle, wherein said control signal controls said vehicle to take one or more of the following actions;

turn off the ignition of said vehicle,

lock the doors of said vehicle,

sound the horn of said vehicle,

flash headlights, and

open and shut power windows.