Method and system for monitoring a vehicle

US 7,430,471 B2
Filed: 10/25/2005
Issued: 09/30/2008
Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2004
Status: Active Grant

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1. A method for monitoring a vehicle, comprising:

detecting movement or activation of the vehicle;

transmitting a signal indicating movement or activation of the vehicle, to a control center;

transmitting any received operator identification information to the control center;

determining whether an operator identification was received within a time interval of the detected movement or activation of the vehicle;

detecting at the vehicle the presence of a landmark; and

transmitting data identifying the landmark and/or a location of the landmark to the control center.

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Abstract

A method for monitoring a vehicle includes detecting movement or activation of the vehicle, transmitting a signal indicating movement or activation of the vehicle, to a control center, transmitting any received operator identification information to the control center, and determining whether an operator identification was received within a time interval of the detected movement or activation of the vehicle.

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28 Claims

1. A method for monitoring a vehicle, comprising:
- detecting movement or activation of the vehicle;
  
  transmitting a signal indicating movement or activation of the vehicle, to a control center;
  
  transmitting any received operator identification information to the control center;
  
  determining whether an operator identification was received within a time interval of the detected movement or activation of the vehicle;
  
  detecting at the vehicle the presence of a landmark; and
  
  transmitting data identifying the landmark and/or a location of the landmark to the control center.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
- - 2. The method of claim 1, comprising:
    - determining whether an operator identification was received prior to the detected movement or activation of the vehicle;
      
      determining whether a received operator identification is valid; and
      
      setting an alarm condition in a case where a valid operator identification was not received prior to the detected movement or activation of the vehicle.
  - 3. The method of claim 1, comprising:
    - setting an alarm condition when the determining indicates that an operator identification was not received within the time interval.
  - 4. The method of claim 3, comprising:
    - transmitting location coordinates of the vehicle provided by a Global Positioning System receiver co-located with the vehicle.
  - 5. The method of claim 3, comprising:
    - transmitting a beacon signal from the vehicle;
      
      receiving the beacon signal at a plurality of different locations; and
      
      determining a location of the vehicle based on the beacon signal received at the plurality of different locations.
  - 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the control center performs the determining of the location of the vehicle.
  - 7. The method of claim 5, wherein the beacon signal includes one or both of the signal indicating movement or activation of the vehicle and a signal including received operator identification information.
  - 8. The method of claim 3, wherein the steps of transmitting are performed by a radio communications device co-located with the vehicle, and wherein a radio communications service provider that supports operation of the radio communications device indicates a location of the radio communications device to the control center.
  - 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the radio communications device is a cellular phone and the radio communications service provider is a cellular communications service provider.
  - 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the detection is performed by a Radio Frequency IDentification transceiver at the vehicle and a Radio Frequency IDentification tag at the landmark.
  - 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the detection is performed by a Radio Frequency IDentification transceiver at the landmark and a Radio Frequency IDentification tag at the vehicle.
  - 12. The method of claim 1, comprising:
    - transmitting operational information regarding the vehicle to the control center, wherein the operational information includes one or more of specifications of the vehicle, fluid levels in subsystems of the vehicle, vehicle subsystem fault codes and/or status codes, battery level, speed(s) of the vehicle, and velocities of the vehicle.
  - 13. The method of claim 1, comprising:
    - receiving operator identification information via a reader at the vehicle, wherein the information is provided to the reader via a token.
  - 14. The method of claim 1, comprising:
    - receiving operator identification information via a reader at the vehicle, wherein the reader reads biometric information of the operator.

15. A method for monitoring a vehicle, comprising:
- detecting movement or activation of the vehicle;
  
  transmitting a signal indicating movement or activation of the vehicle, to a control center;
  
  transmitting any received operator identification information to the control center;
  
  determining whether an operator identification was received within a time interval of the detected movement or activation of the vehicle;
  
  detecting at a landmark the presence of the vehicle; and
  
  transmitting data identifying the vehicle and a location of the landmark to the control center.
- View Dependent Claims (16, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
- - 16. The method of claim 15, comprising:
    - determining whether an operator identification was received prior to the detected movement or activation of the vehicle;
      
      determining whether a received operator identification is valid; and
      
      setting an alarm condition in a case where a valid operator identification was not received prior to the detected movement or activation of the vehicle.
  - 24. The method of claim 15, wherein the detection is performed by a Radio Frequency IDentification transceiver at the vehicle and a Radio Frequency IDentification tag at the landmark.
  - 25. The method of claim 15, wherein the detection is performed by a Radio Frequency IDentification transceiver at the landmark and a Radio Frequency IDentification tag at the vehicle.
  - 26. The method of claim 15, comprising:
    - transmitting operational information regarding the vehicle to the control center, wherein the operational information includes one or more of specifications of the vehicle, fluid levels in subsystems of the vehicle, vehicle subsystem fault codes and/or status codes, battery level, speed(s) of the vehicle, and velocities of the vehicle.
  - 27. The method of claim 15, comprising:
    - receiving operator identification information via a reader at the vehicle, wherein the information is provided to the reader via a token.
  - 28. The method of claim 15, comprising:
    - receiving operator identification information via a reader at the vehicle, wherein the reader reads biometric information of the operator.

17. The method of 15, comprising:
- setting an alarm condition when the determining indicates that an operator identification was not received within the time interval.
- View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
- - 18. The method of claim 17, comprising:
    - transmitting location coordinates of the vehicle provided by a Global Positioning System receiver co-located with the vehicle.
  - 19. The method of claim 17, comprising:
    - transmitting a beacon signal from the vehicle;
      
      receiving the beacon signal at a plurality of different locations; and
      
      determining a location of the vehicle based on the beacon signal received at the plurality of different locations.
  - 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the control center performs the determining of the location of the vehicle.
  - 21. The method of claim 19, wherein the beacon signal includes one or both of the signal indicating movement or activation of the vehicle and a signal including received operator identification information.
  - 22. The method of claim 17, wherein the steps of transmitting are performed by a radio communications device co-located with the vehicle, and wherein a radio communications service provider that supports operation of the radio communications device indicates a location of the radio communications device to the control center.
  - 23. The method of claim 22, wherein the radio communications device is a cellular phone and the radio communications service provider is a cellular communications service provider.

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Current Assignee
RFC Lenders of Texas, LLC (RFC Capital Holdings Inc.)
Original Assignee
Payment Protection Systems, Inc. (Sekurus, Inc.)
Inventors
Simon, Franklin C.
Primary Examiner(s)
NGUYEN, TAN QUANG

Application Number

US11/257,122
Publication Number

US 20060111822A1
Time in Patent Office

1,071 Days
Field of Search

701/23, 701/32, 701/33, 701/35, 701/3, 701/207, 701/213, 701/2, 701/200, 340/426.1, 340/426.16, 340/429, 340/430, 340/571.2, 340/5.21, 340/5.52, 340/5.82, 340/991, 307/10.2, 342/357.07, 342/357.09
US Class Current

701/200
CPC Class Codes

B60R 25/1003   Alarm systems characterised...

B60R 25/1004   Alarm systems characterised...

B60R 25/102   a signal being sent to a re...

B60R 25/2018   Central base unlocks or aut...

B60R 25/33   of global position, e.g. by...

G01L 17/00   Devices or apparatus for me...

G07C 5/008   communicating information t...

G08G 1/20   Monitoring the location of ...

Method and system for monitoring a vehicle

First Claim

10 Assignments

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Abstract

83 Citations

28 Claims

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Method and system for monitoring a vehicle

First Claim

10 Assignments

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Accused Products

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Abstract

83 Citations

28 Claims

Specification

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