Vehicle location system

• US 5,777,580 A
• Filed: 03/01/1995
• Issued: 07/07/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Bird, David G., Janky, James M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Blum, Theodore M.
• Application Number:
  US08/396,977
• Time in Patent Office: 1,224 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357, 342/457
• US Class Current: 342/457
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/045 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/825 with exchange of information between interrogator and responder
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/878 Combination of several spaced transmitters or receivers of known location for determining the position of a transponder or a reflector G01S13/874 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/17 Emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/002 for traffic control, mobile tracking, guidance, surveillance or anti-collision
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/008 using a mobile telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0009 Transmission of position information to remote stations involving assistance data G01S5/0236

Abstract

Method and apparatus for determining vehicle present location using a location determination system (LDS), such as GPS, GLONASS, Loran or an inertial navigation system, that receives LDS signals from two or more sources. An LDS signal antenna and receiver/processor, an interrogation signal (IS) receiver means and IS responder means are electrically connected and carried on the vehicle. When a vehicle trigger event occurs, a specified vehicle IS is broadcast and is received by the IS receiver means. The IS receiver means causes the LDS receiver/processor to obtain vehicle present location information and to provide such information for the IS responder means, for transmission to an IS contact receiver (selected based upon vehicle present location). The IS receiver means and IS responder means are independently selected to be a cellular phone receiver, a paging signal receiver, a WAN/LAN workstation, or an Earth-satellite-Earth radiowave link, such as ORBCOMM.SM.. Optionally, the LDS receiver/processor is kept in a "sleeper" mode, to conserve power until the IS receiver receives and responds to the specified IS, or is periodically activated to update the LDS antenna present location. Presence of the LDS equipment, IS receiver means and/or IS responder means are concealed on the vehicle. In another embodiment, a trigger event sensor is positioned on the vehicle and the responder means is caused to transmit to the vehicle present location information when a vehicle trigger event occurs, such as unauthorized movement of or entry into the vehicle, or collision of the vehicle.

Claims

1. Apparatus for determining the present location of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

an activatable location determination (LD) system, carried on or in a vehicle, to receive and process LD signals from LD signal sources spaced apart from the vehicle and to determine present location of the LD system;

a vehicle interrogation signal (IS) receiver that receives a vehicle interrogation signal and, in response thereto, issues a location interrogation signal that commands the LD system to determine and issue, as an output signal, information on the present location of the LD system;

an IS responder, connected to the LD system, that receives the LD system output signal and transmits this signal to a selected IS contact receiver that is spaced apart from the vehicle; and

an activatable power supply that delivers electrical power to the LD system, to the IS receiver and to the IS responder, where power from power supply is delivered to the LD system for a short time interval at one or more selected times to allow estimation of the present location of the LD system;

wherein said IS responder selects said IS contact receiver, from a plurality of IS contact receivers, to receive said LD system output signal, based upon said LD system present location relative to the locations of the IS contact receivers; and

wherein at least one of said IS receiver and said IS responder is part of an LAN station in a WAN/LAN communications network, and the LAN station comprises an LAN packet radio that communicates using a frequency range with, and is part of, a WAN network that serves a geographic region in which said vehicle is likely to be located.

2. Apparatus for determining the present location of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

an activatable location determination (LD) system, carried on or in a vehicle, to receive and process LD signals from LD signal sources spaced apart from the vehicle and to determine present location of the LD system;

a vehicle interrogation signal (IS) receiver that receives a vehicle interrogation signal and, in response thereto, issues a location interrogation signal that commands the LD system to determine and issue, as an output signal, information on the present location of the LD system;

an IS responder, connected to the LD system, that receives the LD system output signal and transmits this signal to a selected IS contact receiver that is spaced apart from the vehicle; and

an activatable power supply that delivers electrical power to the LD system. to the IS receiver and to the IS responder, where power from power supply is delivered to the LD system for a short time interval at one or more selected times to allow estimation of the present location of the LD system;

wherein said IS responder selects said IS contact receiver, from a plurality of IS contact receivers, to receive said LD system output signal, based upon said LD system present location relative to the locations of the IS contact receivers; and

wherein at least one of said IS receiver and said IS responder is part of an LAN station in a WAN/LAN communications network, and the LAN station comprises a LAN cellular radio that communicates using a frequency range with, and is part of, a WAN network that services a geographic region in which said vehicle is likely to be located.

3. Apparatus for determining the present location of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

an activatable location determination (LD) system, carried on or in a vehicle, to receive and process LD signals from LD signal sources spaced apart from the vehicle and to determine a present location of the LD system;

a vehicle interrogation signal (IS) receiver that receives a vehicle interrogation signal and, in response thereto, issues a location interrogation signal that commands the LD system to determine and issue, as an output signal, information on the present location of the LD system;

an IS responder, connected to the LD system, that receives the LD system output signal and transmits this signal to a selected IS contact receiver that is spaced apart from the vehicle; and

an activatable power supply that delivers electrical power to the IS receiver and to at least one of the LD system and the IS responder, where power from the power supply is not delivered to the at least one of the LD system and the IS responder until receipt by the IS receiver of the vehicle interrogation signal;

wherein said IS responder selects said IS contact receiver, from a plurality of Is contact receivers, to receive said LD system output signal, based upon said LD system resent location relative to the locations of the IS contact receivers; and

wherein at least one of said IS receiver and said IS responder is part of an LAN station in a WAN/LAN communications network, and the LAN station comprises an LAN packet radio that communicates using a frequency range with, and is part of, a WAN network that serves a geographic region in which said vehicle is likely to be located.

4. Apparatus for determining the present location of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

an activatable location determination (LD) system, carried on or in a vehicle, to receive and process LD signals from LD signal sources spaced apart from the vehicle and to determine a present location of the LD system;

a vehicle interrogation signal (IS) receiver that receives a vehicle interrogation signal and, in response thereto, issues a location interrogation signal that commands the LD system to determine and issue, as an outside signal, information on the present location of the LD system;

an IS responder, connected to the LD system, that receives the LD system output signal and transmits this signal to a selected IS contact receiver that is spaced apart from the vehicle; and

an activatable power supply that delivers electrical power to the IS receiver and to at least one of the LD system and the IS responder, where power from the power supply is not delivered to the at least one of the LD system and the IS responder until receipt by the IS receiver of the vehicle interrogation signal;

wherein said IS responder selects said IS contact receiver, from a plurality of IS contact receivers, to receive said LD system output signal, based upon said LD system present location relative to the locations of the IS contact receivers; and

;

wherein at least one of said IS receiver and said IS responder is part of an LAN station in a WAN/LAN communications network, and the LAN station comprises a LAN cellular radio that communicates using a frequency range with, and is part of, a WAN network that serves a geographic region in which said vehicle is likely to be located.

5. Apparatus for determining the present location of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

an activatable location determination (LD) system, carried on or in a vehicle, to receive and process LD signals and to determine a present location of the LD system;

an event sensor, carried on or in the vehicle, that determines when a selected trigger event involving the vehicle has occurred and, when that event occurs, issues a location interrogation signal (IS) that commands the LD system to determine and issue, as an output signal, information on the present location of the LD system;

an event responder, connected to the LD system, for transmitting the LD system output signal to a selected event contact receiver that is spaced apart from the vehicle; and

an activatable power supply that delivers electrical power to at least one of the LD system, the event sensor and the event responder, where power from the power supply is delivered to the LD system for a shot time interval at one or more selected times to allow estimation of the present location of the LD system;

wherein said IS responder selects said IS contact receiver, from the plurality of IS contact receivers, to receive said LD system output signal, based upon said LD system present location relative to the locations of the IS contact receivers; and

wherein IS responder is part of an LAN station in a WAN/LAN communications network, and the LAN station comprises an LAN packet radio that communicates using a frequency range with, and is part of, a WAN network that serves a geographic region in which said vehicle is likely to be located.

6. Apparatus for determining the present location of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

an activatable location determination (LD) system, carried on or in a vehicle, to receive and process LD signals from LD signal and to determine a present location of the LD system;

an event sensor, carried on or in the vehicle, that determines when a selected trigger event involving the vehicle has occurred and, when that event occurs, issues a location interrogation signal (IS) that commands the LD system to determine and issue, as an output signal, information on the present location of the LD system;

an event responder, connected to the LD system, for transmitting the LD system output signal to a selected event contact receiver that is spaced a part from the vehicle; and

an activatable power supply that delivers electrical power to at least one of the LD system, the event sensor and the event responder, where power from the power supply is delivered to the LD system for a shot time interval at one or more selected times to allow estimation of the present location of the LD system;

wherein said IS responder selects said IS contact receiver, from the plurality of IS contact receivers, to receive said LD system output signal, based upon said LD system present location relative to the locations of the IS contact receivers; and

wherein IS responder is part of an LAN station in a WAN/LAN communications network, and the LAN station comprises a LAN cellular radio that communicates using a frequency range with, and is part of, a WAN network that serves a geographic region in which said vehicle is likely to be located.

7. Apparatus for determining the present location of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

an activatable location determination (LD) system, carried on or in a vehicle, to receive and process LD signals from an LD signal source spaced apart from the vehicle and to determine a present location of the LD system;

an event sensor, carried on or in the vehicle, that determines when a selected trigger event involving the vehicle has occurred and, when that event occurs, issues a location interrogation signal (IS) that commands the LD system to determine and issue, as an output signal, information on the present location of the LD system;

an event responder, connected to the LD system, for receiving the LD system output signal and for transmitting this signal to a selected event contact receiver that is spaced apart from the vehicle; and

an activatable power supply that delivers electrical power to at least one of the LD system, the event sensor and the event responder, where power from the power supply is not delivered to the at least one of the LD system and the event responder until receipt by the LD system of the IS;

wherein said event responder selects said IS contact receiver from the plurality of IS contact receivers, to receive said LD system output signal, based upon said LD system present location relative to the locations of the IS contact receivers; and

wherein said event responder is part of an LAN station in a WAN/LAN communications network, and the LAN station comprises an LAN packet radio that communicates using a frequency range with, and is part of, a WAN network that serves a geographic region in which said vehicle is likely to be located.

8. Apparatus for determining the present location of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

an activatable location determination (LD) system, carried on or in a vehicle, to receive and process LD signals from an LD signal source spaced apart from the vehicle and to determine a present location of the LD system;

an event sensor, carried on or in the vehicle, that determines when a selected trigger event involving the vehicle has occurred and, when that event occurs, issues a location interrogation signal (IS) that commands the LD system to determine and issue, as an output signal, information on the present location of the LD system;

an event responder, connected to the LD system, for receiving the LD system output signal and for transmitting this signal to a selected event contact receiver that is spaced apart from the vehicle; and

an activatable power supply that delivers electrical power to at least one of the LD system, the event sensor and the event responder, where power from the power supply not delivered to the at least one of the LD system and the event responder until receipt by the LD system of the IS;

wherein said event responder selects said IS contact receiver from the plurality of IS contact receivers, to receive said LD system output signal, based upon said LD system present location relative to the locations of the IS contact receivers; and

wherein said event responder is part of an LAN station in a WAN/LAN communications network, and the LAN station comprises a LAN cellular radio that communicates using a frequency range with, and is part of, a WAN network that serves a geographic region in which said vehicle is likely to be located.