Security for transport vehicles and cargo

• US 5,969,595 A
• Filed: 07/22/1996
• Issued: 10/19/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Jones, James Edwin Jr., Janky, James M., Schipper, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): SWARTHOUT, BRENT
• Application Number:
  US08/681,160
• Time in Patent Office: 1,184 Days
• Field of Search: 340/988, 340/426, 340/539, 340/825.49, 340/825.36, 342/457, 342/357, 701/300, 180/287, 307/10.2
• 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

Method and apparatus for providing security for a vehicle and for cargo transported on the vehicle. A location determination (LD) system determines vehicle location. A cargo unit carries a transceiver (or transmitter) that transmits a selected signal, either sua sponte or in response to receipt of a polling signal. The selected signal, if received by a receiver on the vehicle, is examined as to signal intensity, signal coding and/or time of receipt. If the received signal violates a selected condition, vehicle location is compared with an approved cargo destination. If the vehicle is not near a cargo destination, or if no selected signal is received at the receiver, an alarm signal is transmitted, which may include the vehicle location and/or the violated condition. If the LD system does not receive adequate LD signals to determine vehicle location, vehicle location coordinates are compared with a coordinate range for a signal obscuring region (SOR). Vehicle location within the SOR can be tracked using a supplemental LD system until the vehicle leaves the SOR. If LD signals are lost for too long, inside or outside an SOR, an alarm signal is transmitted. If vehicle location is outside a travel corridor, if the vehicle does not pass a waypoint, if vehicle velocity is below a low threshold for too long, or if vehicle velocity is above a high threshold, an alarm signal is transmitted. The LD system may be GPS, GLONASS, LORAN or other satellite- or ground-based system.

Claims

1. A method for providing security for a cargo unit transported by a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

causing a first transmitter, carried on a selected cargo unit in a cargo container volume on a vehicle, to transmit a first selected signal;

monitoring a signal receiver that is spaced apart from the first transmitter, to determine if the first selected signal is received at the receiver;

when the first selected signal is received at the receiver, examining the selected signal;

when the first selected signal, as received at the receiver, satisfies a selected condition, accepting the selected signal;

when the first selected signal, as received at the receiver, does not satisfy the selected condition, determining the present location of the vehicle and comparing the vehicle present location with the location of at least one selected cargo destination; and

when the first selected signal, as received at the receiver, does not satisfy the selected condition and the vehicle present location is not within a selected distance from at least one approved cargo destination, causing a second transmitter, which may coincide with the first transmitter, to transmit a selected alarm signal to a selected central station.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of including in said selected alarm signal an information signal that includes at least one of:

(i) said vehicle present location and (ii) an indicium indicating said selected condition that is not satisfied by said first selected signal.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

when said first selected signal is not received at said receiver, transmitting a selected advisory signal to said selected central station.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of including in said selected advisory signal a second information signal that includes at least one of:

(i) said present location of said vehicle and (ii) an indicium indicating that said selected signal was not received by said selected receiver.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

when said first selected signal is not received at said receiver, determining said vehicle present location and comparing said vehicle present location with said location of at least one selected cargo destination; and

when said vehicle present location is not within said selected distance from at least one approved cargo destination, transmitting a second selected advisory signal to said central station.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of causing said first transmitter to transmit said selected signal comprises the steps of:

providing a transceiver as said first transmitter for said first selected signal;

transmitting a second selected signal at a first selected time that can be received by the transceiver; and

when the transceiver receives the second selected signal, causing the transceiver to transmit said first selected signal at a second selected time that is determined with reference to the first selected time.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of choosing said selected condition to be satisfaction of at least one of the following signal conditions:

(i) said first selected signal is received at said receiver within a selected time interval after said second selected signal is received by said transceiver;

(ii) said first selected signal has at least one signal portion that includes a selected signal coding; and

(iii) said first selected signal is received at said receiver with a signal intensity at least equal to a selected threshold signal intensity.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of providing at least one of said first selected signal and said second selected signal with a selected indicium that indicates said selected cargo unit having said transceiver.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

when said first selected signal is not received at said receiver, transmitting a mode change signal that can be received by said transmitter; and

when said transmitter receives the mode change signal, causing said transmitter to transmit a beacon signal that can be received by at least one receiver that is spaced apart from said transmitter.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

receiving and analyzing said beacon signal; and

estimating the location of said transmitter from said beacon signal.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing said first selected signal with a selected indicium that indicates said selected cargo unit having said transmitter.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of choosing said selected condition to be satisfaction of at least one of the following signal conditions:

(i) said first selected signal is received at said receiver within a selected time interval;

(ii) said selected signal has at least one signal portion that includes a selected signal coding; and

(iii) said first selected signal is received at said receiver with a signal intensity at least equal to a selected threshold signal intensity.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

when said first selected signal, as received at said receiver, does not satisfy said selected condition and said vehicle present location is within said selected distance from at least one selected cargo destination, causing said receiver to take at least one of the following actions;

(i) accepting said selected signal at said receiver and (ii) ignoring said selected signal at said receiver.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

locking said cargo unit in a cargo-carrying volume carried on said vehicle, when said vehicle leaves a selected location;

determining said vehicle present location at least once after said vehicle leaves the selected location; and

unlocking the cargo-carrying volume only if at least one of the following locations is within said selected distance from at least one approved cargo destination location;

(i) said vehicle present location and (ii) a recently determined location of said vehicle.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

providing a cargo bomb for a selected cargo unit;

activating a cargo bomb, carried on the selected cargo unit, when said vehicle leaves a selected location; and

determining said vehicle present location at least once after said vehicle leaves the selected location; and

causing the cargo bomb to detonate when said first selected signal, as received at said receiver, does not satisfy said selected condition and at least one of (i) said vehicle present location and (ii) a recently determined location of said vehicle, is not within said selected distance of said location of at least one approved cargo destination.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of:

deactivating said cargo bomb only if said cargo bomb has not been previously detonated and at least one of the following locations is within said selected distance from at least one approved cargo destination location;

(i) said vehicle present location and (ii) a recently determined location of said vehicle.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of determining said vehicle present location comprises:

receiving location determination (LD) signals at an LD signal receiver/processor carried on said vehicle from at least one LD signal source that is spaced apart from said vehicle; and

using the received LD signals to determine said vehicle present location.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

using a timer to accumulate a timer length Δ

t(lost) of a continuous time interval, during which adequate LD signals that allow determination of said vehicle present location are not received at said vehicle;

providing said LD receiver/processor with a range of location coordinates that represents at least one signal obstructing region (SOR), in which said LD signal received by said LD receiver/processor from at least one of said LD signal sources is likely to be interfered with by at least one structure located within or adjacent to the SOR;

when said LD receiver/processor begins to receive said LD signals that allow said LD receiver/processor to determine said vehicle present location before the timer has accumulated timer length Δ

t(lost) greater than a first positive selected time length Δ

t1, reinitializing the timer, and allowing said LD receiver/processor to continue to receive said LD signals and to determine said vehicle present location and to store at least one recently determined location of said vehicle;

when the timer has accumulated timer length Δ

t(lost) greater than Δ

t1, comparing location coordinates of a recently determined location of said vehicle with a range of location coordinates of at least one selected SOR; and

when the recently determined location coordinates of said vehicle are not within the range of location coordinates of the selected SOR, delivering to said second transmitter a third information signal, including at least one of (i) an indicium indicating that Δ

t(lost)>

Δ

t1 and that said vehicle is not within an SOR and (ii) said present location or a recently determined location of said vehicle.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of transmitting a third alarm signal when said second transmitter receives said third information signal.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising the steps of:

when said recently determined location coordinates of said vehicle are found to be within said range of location coordinates of said selected SOR, allowing said timer to continue accumulate said timer length Δ

t(lost);

when said recently determined location coordinates of said vehicle are not found to be within said range of location coordinates of said selected SOR, and said LD receiver/processor begins to receive said LD signals that allow said LD receiver/processor to determine said present location of said vehicle before said timer length Δ

t(lost) has become greater than a selected second time length Δ

t2 (>

0), reinitializing said timer and allowing said LD receiver/processor to continue to receive said LD signals and to determine said vehicle present location; and

when said timer has accumulated timer length greater than Δ

t2, and said LD receiver/processor has not begun to receive adequate LD signals that allow said LD receiver/processor to determine said present location of said vehicle, delivering to said second transmitter a fourth information signal, including at least one of (i) an indicium indicating that Δ

t(lost)>

Δ

t2 and (ii) said present location or a recently determined location of said vehicle.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of transmitting a fourth alarm signal when said second transmitter receives said fourth information signal.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising the steps of:

causing said vehicle to use a supplemental LD system that receives and analyzes signals from a supplemental LD signal source and that estimates the present location of said vehicle from the supplemental LD signals; and

when said LD system does not receive adequate LD signals that allow said LD receiver/processor to determine said vehicle present location, using the supplemental LD system to estimate said vehicle present location.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising the steps of:

providing said LD receiver/processor with a range of location coordinates that represents at least one signal obstructing region (SOR), in which an LD signal received by said LD receiver/processor from at least one of said LD signal sources is likely to be interfered with by at least one structure located within or adjacent to the SOR; and

when said LD receiver/processor does not receive adequate LD signals that allow said LD receiver/processor to determine said vehicle present location, and said recently determined location coordinates of said vehicle are found to be within the range of location coordinates of at least one selected SOR, using said supplemental LD system to estimate said vehicle present location until said LD receiver/processor receives adequate LD signals that allow said LD receiver/processor to determine said vehicle present location.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising the steps of:

using a timer to accumulate a timer length Δ

t(clear) of a continuous time interval, during which said vehicle present location, as determined by said supplemental LD system, is no longer within said selected SOR and during which said LD receiver/processor does not receive adequate LD signals that allow said LD receiver/processor to determine said vehicle present location;

when said LD receiver/processor begins to receive said adequate LD signals that allow said LD receiver/processor to determine said vehicle present location, before the timer has accumulated timer length Δ

t(clear) greater than a selected time length Δ

t3 (>

0), reinitializing the timer, and allowing said LD receiver/processor to continue to receive said LD signals and to determine said vehicle present location and to store at least one recently determined location of said vehicle; and

when the timer has accumulated time timer length Δ

t(clear) greater than Δ

t3, delivering to said second transmitter a fifth information signal, including at least one of (i) an indicium indicating that Δ

t(clear)>

Δ

t3 and (ii) at least one of said present location and a recently determined location of said vehicle.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of transmitting an alarm signal when said second transmitter receives said fifth information signal.

26. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of providing said LD receiver/processor with a range of location coordinates for a selected travel corridor within which said vehicle will travel.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising the steps of:

when said LD receiver/processor begins to receive said LD signals that allow said LD receiver/processor to determine said vehicle present location, determining if said vehicle present location is within said travel corridor;

when said vehicle present location is within said travel corridor, allowing said LD receiver/processor to continue to receive said LD signals and to determine said vehicle present location and to store at least one recently determined location of said vehicle; and

when said vehicle present location is not within said travel corridor, delivering to said second transmitter a sixth information signal, including at least one of (i) an indicium indicating that said vehicle is not within said travel corridor and (ii) said present location or a recently determined location of said vehicle.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of transmitting an alarm signal when said second transmitter receives said sixth information signal.

29. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of providing said LD receiver/processor with location coordinates for a selected waypoint that said vehicle will pass, if said vehicle travels along a selected route.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of providing said LD receiver/processor with a time of observation of said vehicle present location and with an estimated time t_waypt that said vehicle will pass said selected waypoint, if said vehicle travels along said selected route.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising the steps of:

when said LD receiver/processor begins to receive said LD signals that allow said LD receiver/processor to determine said vehicle present location, determining if said vehicle present location is within a second selected distance from said waypoint for at least one observation time for said vehicle present location within a second selected time interval that includes said estimated time t_waypt ;

when said vehicle present location is within the second selected distance from said waypoint for at least one observation time within the second selected time interval, allowing said LD receiver/processor to continue to receive said LD signals and to determine said vehicle present location and to store at least one recently determined location of said vehicle; and

when said vehicle present location is not within the second selected distance from said waypoint for at least one observation time within the second selected time interval, delivering to said second transmitter a seventh information signal, including at least one of (i) an indicium indicating that said vehicle is not within said travel corridor and (ii) said present location or a recently determined location of said vehicle.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of transmitting an alarm signal when said second transmitter receives said seventh information signal.

33. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

estimating present velocity v of said vehicle, and comparing the vehicle velocity with a selected low velocity threshold v(lowvel);

causing a timer to accumulate a timer length Δ

t(lowvel) of a selected continuous time interval;

when the vehicle velocity v satisfies v<

v(lowvel), causing the timer to accumulate a timer length Δ

t(lowvel) of a continuous time interval, during which the vehicle velocity satisfies v<

v(lowvel);

when the vehicle velocity v becomes at least equal to v(lowvel) before the timer length Δ

t(lowvel) has become greater than a selected time increment Δ

t4, (>

0) reinitializing the timer and allowing said LD receiver/processor to continue to receive said LD signals and to determine said vehicle present location; and

when the timer length Δ

t(lowvel) becomes greater then Δ

t4 before the vehicle velocity v becomes at least equal to v(lowvel), delivering to said second transmitter an eighth information signal, including at least one of (i) an indicium indicating that Δ

t(lowvel)>

Δ

t4 and (ii) said present location or a recently determined location of said vehicle.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising the step of transmitting an alarm signal when said second transmitter receives said eighth information signal.

35. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

estimating present velocity v of said vehicle, and comparing the vehicle velocity with a selected high velocity threshold v(highvel); and

when the vehicle velocity v satisfies v>

v(highvel), delivering to said second transmitter a ninth information signal, including at least one of (i) an indicium indicating that v>

v(highvel) and (ii) said present location or a recently determined location of said vehicle.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising the step of transmitting an alarm signal when said second transmitter receives said ninth information signal.

37. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of selecting said LD signals from a group of electromagnetic signals comprising GPS signals, GLONASS signals, LORAN signals, Tacan signals, Decca signals, JTIDS Relnav signals and PLRS signals.

38. Apparatus for providing security for a cargo unit transported by a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a first transmitter, carried on a selected cargo unit on a vehicle, that can transmit a selected signal;

a second transmitter, which may coincide with the first transmitter, that can transmit an alarm signal;

location determination (LD) means, carried on the vehicle, for determining the present location of the vehicle;

a receiver/processor (R/P) that is spaced apart from the transmitter, that is located on the vehicle, that contains the location coordinates of at least one selected cargo destination, and that is capable of receiving and examining the selected signal so that;

when the selected signal, as received at the R/P, satisfies a selected condition, the R/P accepts the selected signal;

when the selected signal, as received at the R/P, does not satisfy the selected condition, the R/P compares the vehicle present location with the location of at least one selected cargo destination; and

when the selected signal, as received at the R/P, does not satisfy the selected condition and the vehicle present location is not within a selected distance from at least one approved cargo destination, the R/P causes the second transmitter to transmit a selected alarm signal to a selected central station.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein said selected alarm signal includes an information signal that includes at least one of:

(i) said vehicle present location and (ii) an indicium indicating said selected condition that is not satisfied by said first selected signal.

40. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein:

when said first selected signal is not received at said receiver, transmitting a selected advisory signal to said selected central station.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein said selected advisory signal includes a second information signal that includes at least one of:

(i) said present location of said vehicle and (ii) an indicium indicating that said selected signal was not received by said selected receiver.

42. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein:

when said first selected signal is not received at said receiver, said vehicle present location is determined and compared with said location of at least one selected cargo destination; and

when said vehicle present location is not within said selected distance from at least one approved cargo destination, a second selected alarm signal is transmitted to said central station.

43. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein said first transmitter for said selected signal is a transceiver and the apparatus further comprises:

a third transmitter, which may coincide with said second transmitter, located on said vehicle, that transmits a second selected signal; and

when the transceiver receives the second selected signal, the transceiver transmits said first selected signal.

44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein said selected condition includes satisfaction of at least one of the following three signal conditions:

(i) said first selected signal is received at said receiver within a selected time interval after said second selected signal is received by said transceiver;

(ii) said first selected signal has at least one signal portion that includes a selected signal coding; and

(iii) said first selected signal is received at said receiver with a signal intensity at least equal to a selected threshold signal intensity.

45. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein at least one of said first selected signal and said second selected signal includes a selected indicium that indicates said selected cargo unit having said first transceiver.

46. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein:

when said first selected signal is not received at said receiver, a mode change signal is transmitted that can be received by said transmitter; and

when said transmitter receives the mode change signal, said transmitter transmits a beacon signal that can be received by at least one receiver that is spaced apart from said transmitter.

47. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein said beacon signal is received and analyzed and the location of said transmitter is estimated from said beacon signal.

48. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein said selected signal includes a selected indicium that identifies said selected cargo unit having said transmitter.

49. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein said selected condition includes satisfaction of at least one of the following signal conditions:

(i) said first selected signal is received at said receiver within a selected time interval;

(ii) said selected signal has at least one signal portion that includes a selected signal coding; and

(iii) said first selected signal is received at said receiver with a signal intensity at least equal to a selected threshold signal intensity.

50. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein:

when said first selected signal, as received at said receiver, does not satisfy said selected condition and said vehicle present location is within said selected distance from at least one selected cargo destination, said receiver takes at least one of the following actions;

(i) accept said selected signal at said receiver and (ii) ignore said selected signal at said receiver.

51. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein:

said cargo unit is locked in a cargo-carrying volume carried on said vehicle, when said vehicle leaves a selected location;

said vehicle present location is determined at least once after said vehicle leaves the selected location; and

the cargo-carrying volume is unlocked only if at least one of the following locations is within said selected distance from at least one approved cargo destination location;

(i) said vehicle present location and (ii) a recently-determined location of said vehicle.

52. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein:

a cargo bomb is connected to at least one selected cargo unit and is activated when said vehicle leaves a selected location;

said vehicle present location is determined at least once after said vehicle leaves the selected location; and

the cargo bomb is arranged to detonate when said first selected signal, as received at said receiver, does not satisfy said selected condition and at least one of (i) said vehicle present location and (ii) a recently determined location of said vehicle, is not within said selected distance from at least one approved cargo destination.

53. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein said cargo bomb is deactivated only if said cargo bomb has not been previously detonated and at least one of the following locations is within said selected distance from at least one approved cargo destination location:

(i) said vehicle present location and (ii) a recently determined location of said vehicle.

54. The apparatus of claim 38, further comprising a location determination (LD) signal receiver/processor carried on said vehicle that receives location determination LD signals from at least one LD signal source that is spaced apart from said vehicle, and that uses the received LD signals to determine said vehicle present location.

55. The apparatus of claim 54, further comprising a timer that accumulates a timer length Δ

t(lost) of a continuous time interval, during which adequate LD signals that allow determination of said vehicle present location are not received at said vehicle;

wherein;

said LD receiver/processor contains a range of location coordinates that represents at least one signal obstructing region (SOR), in which said LD signal received by said LD receiver/processor from at least one of said LD signal sources is likely to be interfered with by at least one structure located within or adjacent to the SOR;

when said LD receiver/processor begins to receive said LD signals that allow said LD receiver/processor to determine said vehicle present location before the timer has accumulated timer length Δ

t(lost) greater than a first positive selected time length Δ

t1, the timer is reinitialized, and said LD receiver/processor continues to receive said LD signals and to determine said vehicle present location and to store at least one recently determined location of said vehicle;

when the timer has accumulated timer length Δ

t(lost) greater than Δ

t1, location coordinates of a recently determined location of said vehicle are compared with a range of location coordinates of at least one selected SOR; and

when the recently determined location coordinates of said vehicle are not within the range of location coordinates of the selected SOR, a third information signal, including at least one of (i) an indicium indicating that Δ

t(lost)>

Δ

t1 and that said vehicle is not within an SOR and (ii) said present location or a recently determined location of said vehicle, is delivered to said second transmitter.

56. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein a third alarm signal is transmitted when said second transmitter receives said third information signal.

57. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein:

when said recently determined location coordinates of said vehicle are found to be within said range of location coordinates of said selected SOR, said timer continues to accumulate said timer length Δ

t(lost);

when said recently determined location coordinates of said vehicle are not within said range of location coordinates of said selected SOR, and said LD receiver/processor begins to receive said LD signals that allow said LD receiver/processor to determine said present location of said vehicle before said timer length Δ

t(lost) has become greater than a selected second time length Δ

t2 (>

0), said timer is reinitialized and said LD receiver/processor continues to receive said LD signals and to determine said vehicle present location and to store at least one recently determined location of said vehicle; and

when said timer has accumulated timer length greater than Δ

t2, and said LD receiver/processor has not begun to receive adequate LD signals that allow said LD receiver/processor to determine said present location of said vehicle, a fourth information signal, including at least one of (i) an indicium indicating that Δ

t(lost)>

Δ

t2 and (ii) said present location or a recently determined location of said vehicle, is delivered to said second transmitter.

58. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein a fourth alarm signal is transmitted when said second transmitter receives said fourth information signal.

59. The apparatus of claim 54, further comprising a supplemental LD system that receives and analyzes signals from a supplemental LD signal source and that estimates the present location of said vehicle from the supplemental LD signals;

wherein

when said LD system does not receive adequate LD signals that allow said LD receiver/processor to determine said vehicle present location, the supplemental LD system is used to estimate said vehicle present location.

60. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein:

said LD receiver/processor contains a range of location coordinates that represents at least one signal obstructing region (SOR), in which an LD signal received by said LD receiver/processor from at least one of said LD signal sources is likely to be interfered with by at least one structure located within or adjacent to the SOR; and

when said LD receiver/processor does not receive adequate LD signals that allow said LD receiver/processor to determine said vehicle present location, and said recently determined location coordinates of said vehicle are within the range of location coordinates of at least one selected SOR, said supplemental LD system is used to estimate said vehicle present location until said LD receiver/processor receives adequate LD signals that allow said LD receiver/processor to determine said vehicle present location.

61. The apparatus of claim 60, further comprising a timer that accumulates a timer length Δ

t(clear) of a continuous time interval, during which said vehicle present location, as determined by said supplemental LD system, is no longer within said selected SOR and during which said LD receiver/processor does not receive adequate LD signals that allow said LD receiver/processor to determine said vehicle present location;

wherein;

when said LD receiver/processor begins to receive said adequate LD signals that allow said LD receiver/processor to determine said vehicle present location, before the timer has accumulated timer length Δ

t(clear) greater than a selected time length Δ

t3 (>

0), the timer is reinitialized and said LD receiver/processor continues to receive said LD signals and to determine said vehicle present location and to store at least one recently determined location of said vehicle; and

when the timer has accumulated time timer length Δ

t(clear) greater than Δ

t3, a fifth information signal, including at least one of (i) an indicium indicating that Δ

t(clear)>

Δ

t3 and (ii) at least one of said present location and a recently determined location of said vehicle, is delivered to said second transmitter.

62. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein an alarm signal is transmitted when said second transmitter receives said fifth information signal.

63. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein said LD receiver/processor contains a range of location coordinates for a selected travel corridor within which said vehicle will travel.

64. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein:

when said LD receiver/processor begins to receive said LD signals that allow said LD receiver/processor to determine said vehicle present location, said LD receiver/processor determines if said vehicle present location is within said travel corridor;

when said vehicle present location is within said travel corridor, said LD receiver/processor continues to receive said LD signals and to determine said vehicle present location and to store at least one recently determined location of said vehicle; and

when said vehicle present location is not within said travel corridor, a sixth information signal, including at least one of (i) an indicium indicating that said vehicle is not within said travel corridor and (ii) said present location or a recently determined location of said vehicle, is delivered to said second transmitter.

65. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein an alarm signal is transmitted when said second transmitter receives said sixth information signal.

66. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein said LD receiver/processor contains location coordinates for a selected waypoint that said vehicle will pass, if said vehicle travels along a selected route.

67. The apparatus of claim 66, wherein said LD receiver/processor determines a time of observation of said vehicle present location and contains an estimated time t_waypt that said vehicle will pass said selected waypoint, if said vehicle travels along said selected route.

68. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein:

when said LD receiver/processor begins to receive said LD signals that allow said LD receiver/processor to determine said vehicle present location, said LD receiver/processor determines if said vehicle present location is within a second selected distance from said waypoint for at least one observation time for said vehicle present location within a second selected time interval that includes said estimated time t_waypt ;

when said vehicle present location is within the second selected distance from said waypoint for at least one observation time within the second selected time interval, said LD receiver/processor continues to receive said LD signals and to determine said vehicle present location and to store at least one recently determined location of said vehicle; and

when said vehicle present location is not within the selected distance from said waypoint for at least one observation time within the second selected time interval, a seventh information signal, including at least one of (i) an indicium indicating that said vehicle is not within said travel corridor and (ii) said present location or a recently determined location of said vehicle, is delivered to said second transmitter.

69. The apparatus of claim 68, wherein an alarm signal is transmitted when said second transmitter receives said seventh information signal.

70. The apparatus of claim 54, further comprising a timer that accumulates a timer length Δ

t(lowvel) for a continuous time interval during which present velocity v of said vehicle is less than a selected low velocity threshold v(lowvel);

wherein;

said LD receiver/processor estimates present velocity v of said vehicle, and compares the vehicle velocity with the threshold v(lowvel);

when the vehicle velocity v satisfies v<

v(lowvel) for a continuous time interval, the timer accumulates the timer length Δ

t(lowvel);

when the vehicle velocity v becomes at least equal to v(lowvel) before the timer length Δ

t(lowvel) has become greater than a selected time increment Δ

t4, (>

0), the timer is reinitialized said LD receiver/processor continues to receive said LD signals and to determine said vehicle present location; and

when the timer length Δ

t(lowvel) becomes greater then Δ

t4 before the vehicle velocity v becomes at least equal to v(lowvel), an eighth information signal, including at least one of (i) an indicium indicating that Δ

t(lowvel)>

Δ

t4 and (ii) said present location or a recently determined location of said vehicle, is delivered to said second transmitter.

71. The apparatus of claim 70, wherein an alarm signal is transmitted when said second transmitter receives said eighth information signal.

72. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein:

said LD receiver/processor estimates present velocity v of said vehicle, and compares the vehicle velocity with a selected high velocity threshold v(highvel); and

when the vehicle velocity v satisfies v>

v(highvel), a ninth information signal, including at least one of (i) an indicium indicating that v>

v(highvel) and (ii) said present location or a recently determined location of said vehicle, is delivered to said second transmitter.

73. The apparatus of claim 72, wherein an alarm signal is transmitted when said second transmitter receives said ninth information signal.

74. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein said LD signals are selected from a group of electromagnetic signals comprising GPS signals, GLONASS signals, LORAN signals, Tacan signals, Decca signals, JTIDS Relnav signals and PLRS signals.