U.S. patents available from 1976 to present.
U.S. patent applications available from 2005 to present.

Position monitoring system and method

Patent 5550551 Issued on August 27, 1996. Estimated Expiration Date: Icon_subject July 25, 2014. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Patent References

Stolen vehicle recovery system
Patent #: 5003317
Issued on: 03/26/1991
Inventor: Gray, et al.

Vehicle tracking system
Patent #: 5218367
Issued on: 06/08/1993
Inventor: Sheffer, et al.

Vehicle tracking and security system
Patent #: 5223844
Issued on: 06/29/1993
Inventor: Mansell, et al.

Event-activated reporting of vehicle location
Patent #: 5311197
Issued on: 05/10/1994
Inventor: Sorden, et al.

Precise universal time for vehicles
Patent #: 5319374
Issued on: 06/07/1994
Inventor: Desai, et al.

Emergency reporting for marine and airborne vessels
Patent #: 5355140
Issued on: 10/11/1994
Inventor: Slavin, et al.

Mobile unit tracking system Patent #: 5365451
Issued on: 11/15/1994
Inventor: Wang, et al.

Inventor

Assignee

Application

No. 279962 filed on 07/25/1994

US Classes:

342/457, Land vehicle location (e.g., bus, police car342/357.07Tracking or monitoring (i.e., lost or stolen vehicles)

Examiners

Primary: Tarcza, Thomas H.
Assistant: Phan, Dao

International Class

G01S 003/02

Abstract

A monitoring system and method, particularly applicable to vehicle monitoring, detects theft of a vehicle or other object and automatically transmits its current position to the proper authorities. For vehicle monitoring, a vehicle monitoring unit mounted on the vehicle determines the initial position of the vehicle and thereafter periodically determines the current position of the vehicle via a position detector. Preferably, the position detector consists of a satellite receiver, such as a GPS receiver, for receiving satellite signals from a plurality of satellites. A controller circuit determines the position of the vehicle from the satellite signals. A range of movement of the vehicle is then determined by comparing the initial position and the current position. When the detected range equals or exceeds a selected range limit, the controller circuit activates a transmitter which transmits position signals representative of the current position of the vehicle. The range limit may be permanently set during manufacture of the unit or may be selectable by an operator. The position signals are received by a remote dispatch center which relays the position of the vehicle to appropriate law enforcement officials or a security service.

Other References

  • Getting, Ivan A., "The Global Positioning System," IEEE Spectrum, Dec. 1993, pp. 36-47
  • Headline #5, Copyright, GPS Report [DE 24] via NewsNet, Thursday, Feb. 25, 1993
  • Sintay, Brian, "Secure Profits: Anti-theft devices are giving dealers sound grosses," Crain Communications, Inc., Automotive News, Mar. 7, 199
PatentsPlus Images
Enhanced PDF formats
loading...
PatentsPlus: add to cart
PatentsPlus: add to cartSearch-enhanced full patent PDF image
$9.95more info
PatentsPlus: add to cart
PatentsPlus: add to cartIntelligent turbocharged patent PDFs with marked up images
$16.95more info
 
Sign InRegister
Username  
Password   
forgot password?