Method and system to control movable entities

• US 7,323,982 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2005
• Issued: 01/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WirelessWERX IP LLC (Pueblo Nuevo LLC)
• Original Assignee: Wirelesswerx International, Inc.
• Inventors: Staton, Houston, Ashley, James Jr., Mooney, Patrick, Ashley, James Sr., Maggs, Charles, Santos, German, Lang, Edward, Mooney, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAI T
• Application Number:
  US11/105,932
• Publication Number:
  US 20060109107A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,021 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.13, 340/539.26, 340/573.4, 340/825.49, 340/5.92, 340/10.1, 340/572.1, 340/572.4, 455/456.1, 455/456.4, 701/200, 701/206, 701/208
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/101 Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/304 Boats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1004 Alarm systems characterised by the type of sensor, e.g. current sensing means using door lock sensors B60R25/1001
• 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: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

A method to wirelessly control an entity having an attached transponder is disclosed. A geographical zone is defined. The geographical zone can be defined by allowing a user to define and load to a transponder a plurality of waypoints, each waypoint defined by a geographical coordinate and a radius originating from the geographical coordinate. The geographical zone can also be defined by selecting a plurality of coordinates that are loaded to a transponder and mapped on a pixilated image. The microprocessor in the transponder is programmed to determine the occurrence of an event associated with the status of the entity in relation to the geographical zone. Finally, the microprocessor is configured to execute a configurable operation if the event occurs.

Claims

1. A method to wirelessly control an entity having an attached transponder, comprising:

loading from a computing device to a transponder'"'"'s memory a plurality of coordinates;

programming a microprocessor of the transponder to define a geographical zone by creating an enclosed area on a pixilated image using said plurality of coordinates, wherein said enclosed area is representative of a geographical zone;

programming the microprocessor in the transponder to determine the occurrence of an event associated with a status of the entity in relation to the geographical zone; and

configuring the microprocessor to execute a configurable operation if the event occurs.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the status of the entity is based upon movement of the entity.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the status of the entity is based upon position of the entity.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the status of the entity is based upon non-movement of the entity.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said geographical zone represented in the pixilated image is formed by assigning each coordinate to a pixel and configuring the distance between each assigned pixel.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said enclosed area is created by connecting a plurality of assigned pixels by lines, wherein a series of contiguous and connected lines enclose an area in the pixilated image and wherein said pixels that lie on the lines are turned on in order to form a contiguous array of pixels that enclose a shape in the pixilated image.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the entity is a vehicle, a vessel, a craft, a boat, a helicopter, or a plane.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the event is leaving a geographical zone, entering a geographical zone, turning on an ignition to the entity, turning off the ignition to the entity, change of speed of the entity, change of temperature of an engine of the entity, change of internal temperature of the entity, change of fuel level in a fuel tank of the entity, locking of a door or latch of the entity, unlocking of the door or latch of the entity, opening a window of the entity, closing a window of the entity, opening a door of the entity, closing of a door of the entity, pushing a button connected to the entity in relation to an emergency, reaching a predetermined distance traveled, reaching a predetermined time traveled, reaching a predetermined time, reaching a predetermined date, reaching a maximum speed threshold, reaching a maximum time permitted to maintain a status of being over the speed threshold, reaching a maximum a acceleration threshold, reaching maximum length of idle of a vehicle, change of the power level of the battery, a bar code scanned by a connected scanner, passenger loading or unloading, cargo loading or unloading, vehicle part malfunction, vehicle diagnostics code received, impact detected, airbag deployed, seatbelts latched, seatbelts unlatched, or change of tire air pressure.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the configurable operation is turning on an ignition to the entity, turning off the ignition to the entity, increasing speed of the entity, decreasing speed of the entity, regulating the engine temperature level, regulating the internal temperature level, locking a door or latch of the entity, unlocking of a door or latch of the entity, opening a window of the entity, closing of a window of the entity, turning on a light indicator, change tire air pressure, turning on an alarm, or turning off an alarm.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the occurrence of an event is determined by receiving electrical inputs by the microprocessor and utilizing computational logic to calculate whether logical conditions are fulfilled based on the electrical inputs.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the occurrence of an event is determined by utilizing computational logic to calculate whether logical conditions are fulfilled.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of programming the microprocessor in the transponder to determine the occurrence of an event comprises electrically connecting the microprocessor to at least one electrical input associated to the entity.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one electrical input connects to an ignition of the entity, an speedometer, a thermometer, a fuel measuring device, a lock control device, a door latch, an emergency button, an infrared sensor, or a passenger counter, or an odometer in the entity.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the transponder is configurable wirelessly using a wireless communications network.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising communicating at least one event message from the transponder to a central computer using a communications network, the at least one event message including data representative of the occurrence of the event.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the communications network is a cellular communications network, satellite communications network, short range radio or a short message service network.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the event is the entity leaving an area covered by a communications network.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the event is the entity entering an area covered by a communications network.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the configurable operation is switching communication from a first communications network to a second communications network.

20. A method to wirelessly control an entity having an attached transponder, comprising:

defining a geographical zone using a plurality of waypoints, wherein each waypoint is defined by a geographical coordinate and a radius originating from the geographical coordinate;

loading from a computing device to the transponder'"'"'s memory a plurality of waypoints;

programming a microprocessor in a transponder to determine the occurrence of an event associated with a status of the entity in relation to the geographical zone; and

configuring the microprocessor to execute a configurable operation if the event occurs.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the status of the entity is based upon movement of the entity.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the status of the entity is based upon position of the entity.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the status of the entity is based upon non-movement of the entity.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the geographical coordinate is represented by a latitude and longitude, and the radius is represented by a distance magnitude.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the transponder can determine whether the transponder is inside or outside the geographical zone by obtaining global positioning coordinates, and calculating whether or not the global positioning coordinates are inside at least one waypoint of the plurality of waypoints.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the shape of the geographical area is a street route.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein shape of the geographical area is the shape of a non-geometrical shape.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the waypoints in the plurality of waypoints have the same coordinate but different radii, such that all the waypoints in the plurality of waypoints are concentric.

29. The method of claim 20, farther comprising executing the configurable operation if the microprocessor determines that the event has occurred.

30. The method of claim 20, wherein the entity is a vehicle, a vessel, a craft, a boat, a helicopter, or a plane.

31. The method of claim 20, wherein the event is leaving a geographical zone, entering a geographical zone, turning on an ignition to the entity, turning off the ignition to the entity, change of speed of the entity, change of temperature of an engine of the entity, change of internal temperature of the entity, change of fuel level in a fuel tank of the entity, locking of a door or latch of the entity, unlocking of the door or latch of the entity, opening a window of the entity, closing a window of the entity, opening a door of the entity, closing of a door of the entity, pushing a button connected to the entity in relation to an emergency, reaching a predetermined distance traveled, reaching a predetermined time traveled, reaching a predetermined time, reaching a predetermined date, reaching a maximum speed threshold, reaching a maximum time permitted to maintain a status of being over the speed threshold, reaching a maximum a acceleration threshold, reaching maximum length of idle of a vehicle, change of the power level of the battery, a bar code scanned by a connected scanner, passenger loading or unloading, cargo loading or unloading, vehicle part malfunction, vehicle diagnostics code received, impact detected, airbag deployed, seatbelts latched, seatbelts unlatched, or change of tire air pressure.

32. The method of claim 20, wherein the configurable operation is turning on an ignition to the entity, turning off the ignition to the entity, increasing speed of the entity, decreasing speed of the entity, regulating the engine temperature level, regulating the internal temperature level, locking a door or latch of the entity, unlocking of a door or latch of the entity, opening a window of the entity, closing of a window of the entity, turning on a light indicator, change tire air pressure, turning on an alarm, or turning off an alarm.

33. The method of claim 20, wherein the occurrence of an event is determined by receiving electrical inputs by the microprocessor and utilizing computational logic to calculate whether logical conditions are fulfilled based on the electrical inputs.

34. The method of claim 20, wherein the occurrence of an event is determined by utilizing computational logic to calculate whether logical conditions are fulfilled.

35. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of programming the microprocessor in the transponder to determine the occurrence of an event comprises electrically connecting the microprocessor to at least one electrical input associated to the entity.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the at least one electrical input connects to an ignition of the entity, an speedometer, a thermometer, a fuel measuring device, a lock control device, a door latch, an emergency button, an infrared sensor, or a passenger counter, or an odometer in the entity.

37. The method of claim 20, wherein the transponder is configurable wirelessly using a wireless communications network.

38. The method of claim 20, further comprising communicating at least one event message from the transponder to a central computer using a communications network, the at least one event message including data representative of the occurrence of the event.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the communications network is a cellular communications network, satellite communications network, short range radio or a short message service network.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein the event is the entity leaving an area covered by a communications network.

41. The method of claim 38, wherein the event is the entity entering an area covered by a communications network.

42. The method of claim 38, wherein the configurable operation is switching communication from a first communications network to a second communications network.

43. A method to wirelessly control an entity having an attached transponder, comprising:

using a computing device to identify a geometrical area using at least two coordinate attributes, wherein said geometrical area is divided into a grid having at least one section;

defining a geographical zone by selecting within the grid the at least one section representative of a desired area and correlating at least one section into a pixilated computer image by associating at least one section to a pixel;

loading said pixilated computer image into a memory of the attached transponder;

programming a microprocessor in the attached transponder to determine the occurrence of an event associated with a status of the entity in relation to the geographical zone; and

configuring the microprocessor to execute a configurable operation if the event occurs.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the status of the entity is based upon movement of the entity.

45. The method of claim 43, wherein the status of the entity is based upon position of the entity.

46. The method of claim 43, wherein the status of the entity is based upon non-movement of the entity.

47. The method of claim 43, wherein the entity is a vehicle, a vessel, a craft, a boat, a helicopter, or a plane.

48. The method of claim 43, wherein the event is leaving a geographical zone, entering a geographical zone, turning on an ignition to the entity, turning off the ignition to the entity, change of speed of the entity, change of temperature of an engine of the entity, change of internal temperature of the entity, change of fuel level in a fuel tank of the entity, locking of a door or latch of the entity, unlocking of the door or latch of the entity, opening a window of the entity, closing a window of the entity, opening a door of the entity, closing of a door of the entity, pushing a button connected to the entity in relation to an emergency, reaching a predetermined distance traveled, reaching a predetermined time traveled, reaching a predetermined time, reaching a predetermined date, reaching a maximum speed threshold, reaching a maximum time permitted to maintain a status of being over the speed threshold, reaching a maximum a acceleration threshold, reaching maximum length of idle of a vehicle, change of the power level of the battery, a bar code scanned by a connected scanner, passenger loading or unloading, cargo loading or unloading, vehicle part malfunction, vehicle diagnostics code received, impact detected, airbag deployed, seatbelts latched, seatbelts unlatched, or change of tire air pressure.

49. The method of claim 43, wherein the configurable operation is turning on an ignition to the entity, turning off the ignition to the entity, increasing speed of the entity, decreasing speed of the entity, regulating the engine temperature level, regulating the internal temperature level, locking a door or latch of the entity, unlocking of a door or latch of the entity, opening a window of the entity, closing of a window of the entity, turning on a light indicator, turning on an alarm, or turning off an alarm.

50. The method of claim 43, wherein the occurrence of an event is determined by receiving electrical inputs by the microprocessor and utilizing computational logic to calculate whether logical conditions are fulfilled based on the electrical inputs.

51. The method of claim 43, wherein the occurrence of an event is determined by utilizing computational logic to calculate whether logical conditions are fulfilled.

52. The method of claim 43, wherein said geometrical area is rectangular and is divided into a plurality of rectangles.

53. The method of claim 43, wherein said geometrical area is circular and is divided into a plurality of sections.

54. The method of claim 43, wherein the step of programming the microprocessor in the transponder to determine the occurrence of an event comprises electrically connecting the microprocessor to at least one electrical input associated to the entity.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the at least one electrical input connects to an ignition of the entity, an speedometer, a thermometer, a fuel measuring device, a lock control device, a door latch, an emergency button, an infrared sensor, or a passenger counter, or an odometer in the entity.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein the transponder is configurable wirelessly using a wireless communications network.

57. The method of claim 43, further comprising communicating at least one event message from the transponder to a central computer using a communications network, the at least one event message including data representative of the occurrence of the event.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein the communications network is a cellular communications network, satellite communications network, short range radio or a short message service network.

59. The method of claim 57, wherein the event is the entity leaving an area covered by a communications network.

60. The method of claim 57, wherein the event is the entity entering an area covered by a communications network.

61. The method of claim 57, wherein the configurable operation is switching communication from a first communications network to a second communications network.