Methods and systems related to remote tamper detection

• US 9,035,756 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 05/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gordon Howard Associates Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Gordon Howard Associates Incorporated
• Inventors: Morgan, Gerald A., Schwarz, Stanley G., Macheca, Christopher M.
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US13/828,832
• Publication Number:
  US 20140266652A1
• Time in Patent Office: 796 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426.1, 340/426.13, 340/426, 340/18, 340/426.19, 340/576, 340/572.1, 340/10.1, 705/1.1, 705/13, 705/38, 701/29.1, 701/51, 701/408, 701/468
• US Class Current: 340/426.19
• 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 25/102 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

Abstract

Remote tamper detection. At least some of the example embodiments are methods including: receiving Global Positioning System (GPS) signals indicative of a location, the receiving by a first device coupled to an asset; periodically sending a signal of operability between the first device and a second device, the second device coupled to the asset, and the second device configured to selectively disable the asset; determining that receipt of the signal of operability has ceased; and then issuing an indication of the location of the first device responsive to the determining that receipt of the signal of operability has ceased, the issuing from the first device by a wireless transmission to a remote operations center.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving signals indicative of a location, the receiving by a first device coupled to an asset;

periodically sending a signal of operability between the first device and a second device, the second device coupled to the asset, and the second device configured to selectively disable the asset;

determining that receipt of the signal of operability has ceased; and

issuing an indication of the location of the first device responsive to the determining that receipt of the signal of operability has ceased, the issuing from the first device by a wireless transmission to a remote operations center.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein sending the signal of operability further comprises sending the signal when an ignition system of the asset is activated.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein issuing the indication of the location of the first device further comprises issuing an alert indicative of tampering with at least one selected from the group consisting of:

the first device; and

the second device.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein sending the signal of operability further comprises sending the signal by way of at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a radio frequency transmission;

an acoustic transmission; and

a hardwire connection.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the asset is a vehicle.