Electronic locking device and method of operating same

• US 6,778,068 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2001
• Issued: 08/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Omnitracs LLC (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Wolfe, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shimizu, M
• Application Number:
  US09/798,364
• Publication Number:
  US 20020121962A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,264 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.72, 340/825.49, 340/5.31, 340/5.28, 340/825.29
• US Class Current: 340/5.72
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/0092 for cargo, freight or shipping containers and applications therefore in general
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/08 With time considerations, e.g. temporary activation, valid time window or time limitations
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/63 Comprising locating means for detecting the position of the data carrier, i.e. within the vehicle or within a certain distance from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/33 by means of a password
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/38 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental

Abstract

An electronic locking device for use by the transportation industry. The electronic locking device is used to control access to a cargo area of a vehicle, such as a tractor-trailer vehicle used in the trucking industry. The electronic locking device is controlled depending on one or a combination of factors including the location of the vehicle, the speed of the vehicle, the delivery status of the vehicle, or other factors.

Claims

1. An electronic locking device for locking and unlocking a vehicle door, comprising:

a position location device for determining a vehicle position;

a chronometer coupled to said processor for determining a present time;

a memory for storing a destination location, an expected time of arrival at said destination location, and for additionally storing a threshold speed and a time interval;

an electro-mechanical device for preventing said vehicle door from opening while in a locked position and for unlocking said vehicle door while in an unlocked position;

means for determining a present speed of said vehicle;

a processor coupled to said position location device, to said electro-mechanical device, to said chronometer, to said memory, and to said means for determining a present speed of said vehicle, for receiving a vehicle position from said position location device, for receiving a current time from said chronometer, for receiving said present speed, for comparing said vehicle location to said destination location in said memory, for comparing said present time to said expected time of arrival, for comparing said present speed to said threshold speed at said time interval, and for providing an unlock signal to said electro-mechanical device instructing said electro-mechanical device to assume an unlocked position if said vehicle location is within a predetermined distance from said destination location, if said present time is within a predetermined time period from said expected time of arrival, and if said present speed is less than said threshold speed for at least two consecutive time intervals.

2. The electronic locking device of claim 1 further comprising:

a mobile communication terminal for enabling communications between said vehicle and a remote station, said mobile communication terminal for receiving said threshold speed and said time interval and for providing said threshold speed and said time interval to said processor for storage in said memory.

3. An electronic locking device for locking and unlocking a vehicle door, comprising:

a position location device for determining a vehicle position;

a chronometer coupled to said processor for determining a present time;

a memory for storing a destination location, an expected time of arrival at said destination location, and a threshold speed;

a electro-mechanical device for preventing said vehicle door from opening while in a locked position and for unlocking said vehicle door while in an unlocked position;

means for determining a present speed of said vehicle;

a mobile communication terminal for enabling communications between said vehicle and a remote station, said mobile communication terminal for receiving said threshold speed and for providing said threshold speed to said processor for storage in said memory;

a processor coupled to said position location device, to said electro-mechanical device, to said chronometer, and to said memory for receiving a vehicle position from said position location device, for receiving a current time from said chronometer, for receiving said present speed, for comparing said vehicle location to said destination location in said memory, for comparing said present time to said expected time of arrival, for comparing said present speed to said threshold speed, and for providing an unlock signal to said electro-mechanical device instructing said electro-mechanical device to assume an unlocked position if said vehicle location is within a predetermined distance from said destination location, if said present time is within a predetermined time period from said expected time of arrival, and if said present speed is less than said threshold speed.

4. A method for controlling an electronic locking device for locking and unlocking a vehicle door, comprising the steps of:

determining a vehicle location;

comparing said vehicle location with a destination location;

determining a first present speed of said vehicle;

determining a second present speed of said vehicle after a predetermined period of time;

comparing said first present speed to a threshold speed and comparing said second present speed of said vehicle to said threshold speed; and

providing an unlock signal to said electronic locking device if said first present speed is less than said threshold speed, said second threshold speed is less than said threshold speed, and said vehicle location is within a predetermined distance from said destination location.

5. A method for controlling an electronic locking device for locking and unlocking a vehicle door, comprising the steps of:

receiving a threshold speed from a remote station;

storing said threshold speed in a memory;

determining a present speed of said vehicle;

comparing said present speed to said threshold speed;

determining a vehicle location;

determining a time at which said vehicle location was determined;

comparing said vehicle location with a destination location;

comparing said time to an expected time of arrival; and

providing an unlock signal to said electronic locking device to unlock said vehicle door if said vehicle location is within a predetermined distance from said destination location, said time is within a predetermined time period from said expected time of arrival, and said present speed is less than said threshold speed.

6. A method for controlling an electronic locking device for locking and unlocking a vehicle door, comprising the steps of:

receiving a predetermined period of time from a remote station;

storing said predetermined period of time in a memory;

determining a vehicle location;

comparing said vehicle location with a destination location;

determining a time at which said vehicle location was determined;

comparing said time to an expected time of arrival;

determining a first present speed of said vehicle;

determining a second present speed for said vehicle after a second predetermined period of time;

comparing said first present speed to a threshold speed and comparing said second present speed of said vehicle to said threshold speed; and

providing an unlock signal to said electronic locking device to unlock said vehicle door if said vehicle location is within a predetermined distance from said destination location, said time is within said predetermined time period from said expected time of arrival, said first present speed is less than said threshold speed, and said second threshold speed is less than said threshold speed.