Self-monitoring vehicle alert and tracking device system and associated methods

• US 6,606,562 B1
• Filed: 08/08/2002
• Issued: 08/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Concentrax, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Concentrax, Inc.
• Inventors: Gifford, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby, Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US10/214,991
• Time in Patent Office: 369 Days
• Field of Search: 701/213, 701/207, 701/208, 701/209, 701/200, 701/23, 701/29, 701/30, 701/31, 701/32, 701/33, 701/36, 340/686.1, 340/687, 342/357.1, 342/357.01, 342/357.06, 342/357.07
• US Class Current: 701/213
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0042 for hiring of objects
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/207 with respect to certain areas, e.g. forbidden or allowed areas with possible alerting when inside or outside boundaries

Abstract

A security and tracking system and associated methods for monitoring the location and status of vehicle activities. The system and methods enable users to determine the geographic location of a vehicle and the time period in which the vehicle is being operated. If the vehicle is being operated out of a specified geographic range or a specified time period, then the system alerts users to this information. The system and methods enable occupants within the vehicle to send an alarm to a user if assistance is needed. If the system has been tampered with or its power source is low, then a signal can be sent to a home base unit, which is used to monitor or track the vehicle, indicating the appropriate condition.

Claims

1. A self-monitoring vehicle alert system comprising:

a memory for storing a preselected reference status for a monitored vehicle, the memory being integral to the monitored vehicle, the preselected reference status including data related to a condition of the monitored vehicle within which condition the monitored vehicle is to be maintained;

a microprocessor integral to the monitored vehicle, the microprocessor being in communication with the memory;

a data entry device adapted to input an actual status of vehicle activity to the microprocessor such that the microprocessor automatically compares the actual status to the preselected reference status to determine an occurrence of difference;

a transceiver capable of communicating a signal via a communication system, the transceiver integrating with the microprocessor such that information is passed between the transceiver and the microprocessor, the transceiver being activated by the microprocessor to send the actual status of vehicle activity upon determination by the microprocessor of the occurrence of difference;

a power source for providing power to the self-monitoring vehicle alert system; and

a home base unit located remotely from the monitored vehicle for receiving the signal sent by the transceiver indicating actual status of the vehicle such that further action can be taken to control the vehicle such that the vehicle is returned to operation within the preselected reference status.

2. The self-monitoring vehicle alert system of claim 1, wherein the memory is removably mounted within the vehicle.

3. The self-monitoring vehicle alert system of claim 1, wherein the signal includes a current location of the monitored vehicle, such location being determined through the use of a global positioning system.

4. The self-monitoring vehicle alert system of claim 1, wherein the data entry device adapted to input an actual status of vehicle activity is a global positioning system for determining a current location of the vehicle, such current location being compared by the microprocessor to the preselected reference status that includes a geographic range in which the vehicle is permissibly operated.

5. The self-monitoring vehicle alert system of claim 1, wherein the data entry device adapted to input an actual status of vehicle activity is a clock in communication with the microprocessor for determining a current time of operation, such current time being compared by the microprocessor to the preselected reference status that includes a time range in which the vehicle is permissibly operated.

6. The self-monitoring vehicle alert system of claim 1, wherein the data entry device adapted to input an actual status of vehicle activity is a ground circuit monitor in communication with the microprocessor for determining a functionality of transceiver operation, such functionality being compared by the microprocessor to the preselected reference status that includes a state in which the vehicle is permissibly operated.

7. The self-monitoring vehicle alert system of claim 1, wherein the power source is independent of the monitored vehicle'"'"'s electrical system.

8. The self-monitoring vehicle alert system of claim 7, wherein the data entry device adapted to input an actual status of vehicle activity is a power source monitor in communication with the microprocessor for determining a need for recharging the power source, such need for recharging the power source being compared by the microprocessor to the preselected reference status that includes a state in which the power source does not need to be charged.

9. The self-monitoring vehicle alert system of claim 1, wherein the power source is integrated with the monitored vehicle'"'"'s electrical system, the self-monitoring vehicle alert system further includes an independent backup power supply, an integrated battery charger, and a supply switch that changes the power source from the monitored vehicle'"'"'s electrical system to the independent backup power supply if the monitored vehicle'"'"'s electrical system drops below a preselected voltage and changes the power source back to the monitored vehicle'"'"'s electrical system once the preselected voltage is exceeded.

10. The self-monitoring vehicle alert system of claim 9, wherein the data entry device adapted to input an actual status of vehicle activity is a constant 12 volt circuit monitor in communication with the microprocessor for determining a functionality of the monitored vehicle'"'"'s electrical system operation, such functionality being compared by the microprocessor to the preselected reference status that includes a state in which the monitored vehicle'"'"'s electrical system is operational.

11. The self-monitoring vehicle alert system of claim 9, wherein the data entry device adapted to input an actual status of vehicle activity is a vehicle power source monitor in communication with the microprocessor for determining a need for recharging the vehicle power source, such need for recharging the vehicle power source being compared by the microprocessor to the preselected reference status that includes a state in which the vehicle power source does not need to be charged.

12. The self-monitoring vehicle alert system of claim 1, further including a switch to unlock a door within the monitored vehicle upon receiving a signal from the home base unit.

13. The self-monitoring vehicle alert system of claim 1, wherein the communication system is cellular.

14. The self-monitoring vehicle alert system of claim 1, wherein the communication system is radio and the signal is encrypted.

15. The self-monitoring vehicle alert system of claim 1, further including a second memory card for storing data related to a drive history of the monitored vehicle.

16. The self-monitoring vehicle alert system of claim 15, further including a report generator to create reports based upon the drive h history of the monitored vehicle.

17. The self-monitoring vehicle alert system of claim 1, further including:

an engine hour meter that determines a beginning time and an ending time of operation of the monitored vehicle'"'"'s engine, and calculates a difference between the ending and beginning times to determine a time in which the engine was operating; and

an engine start indicator that indicates that the engine has been started at an unauthorized time period.

18. A method of monitoring a vehicle comprising the steps of:

providing a preselected reference status to a memory integral to a monitored vehicle, the preselected reference status including data related to a condition of the monitored vehicle within which condition the monitored vehicle is to be maintained;

establishing an actual status of vehicle activity;

comparing the actual status of vehicle activity with the preselected reference status using a microprocessor, the microprocessor integral to the monitored vehicle;

transmitting a signal to a home base unit located remotely from the monitored vehicle when a difference between the actual status and the preselected reference status exists, said signal indicating the actual status of the vehicle activity; and

outputting the actual status of the vehicle activity such that further action can be taken to control the vehicle such that the vehicle is returned to operation within the preselected reference status.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the signal transmitted identifies a current geographic location of the monitored vehicle, the current geographic location being determined by using a global positioning system.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the actual status of the vehicle is the current geographic location of the monitored vehicle as determined through the global positioning system and the preselected reference status represents a geographic range in which the vehicle is permissibly operated.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the actual status of the vehicle represents a time of operation of the vehicle as determined by a clock in communication with the microprocessor and the preselected reference status is a time range in which the vehicle is permissibly operated.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the actual status of the vehicle represents a position of an alarm toggle as determined by the alarm toggle being in an “

on”

position when assistance is needed at the location of the vehicle and the preselected status of the alarm toggle being in an “

off”

position indicating assistance is not needed at the location of the vehicle.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the actual status of the vehicle represents a transceiver ground circuit status as determined by the transceiver ground circuit being broken when the transceiver is being disabled and the preselected status of the transceiver ground circuit being energized during normal operation of the transceiver.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the actual status of the vehicle represents a power source charging status as determined by the power source needing to be charged and the preselected status of the power source not needing to be charged.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein the actual status of the vehicle represents a constant 12 volt circuit status as determined by the constant 12 volt circuit being broken when a monitored vehicle'"'"'s electrical system is being disabled and the preselected status of the constant 12 volt circuit being energized during normal operation of the monitored vehicle'"'"'s electrical system.

26. The method of claim 18, wherein the actual status of the vehicle represents a vehicle power source charging status as determined by the vehicle power source needing to be charged and the preselected status of the vehicle power source not needing to be charged.

27. The method of claim 18, further including unlocking a vehicle door when prompted by the home base unit.

28. The method of claim 18, further including:

indicating an engine start; and

determining a period of time in which the monitored vehicle'"'"'s engine has been operated by calculating a difference between an ending time and a beginning time of operation of the engine.

29. A method of monitoring a vehicle comprising the steps of:

providing a preselected reference status to a memory integral to a monitored vehicle, the preselected reference status including data related to a condition of the monitored vehicle within which condition the monitored vehicle is to be maintained;

establishing an actual status of vehicle activity;

comparing the actual status of vehicle activity with the preselected reference status using a microprocessor, the microprocessor integral to the monitored vehicle;

transmitting a signal to a home base unit located remotely from the monitored vehicle when a difference between the actual status and the preselected reference status exists, said signal indicating the actual status of the vehicle activity;

outputting the actual status of the vehicle activity such that further action can be taken to control the vehicle such that the vehicle is returned to operation within the preselected reference status; and

storing the actual status of the vehicle on a second memory card to develop a drive history for the vehicle.

30. A method as defined in claim 29, further including preparing reports based upon the drive history stored on the second memory card, the memory, and combinations thereof.

31. A method as defined in claim 30, wherein the reports comprise data selected from the group consisting of a vehicle identification, a date of operation, a time of operation, a latitude and a longitude of a monitored vehicle location, a street address of the monitored vehicle location, a direction of the monitored vehicle, a speed of the monitored vehicle, an actual status of the monitored vehicle, and combinations thereof.