US6522267B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle tracker conserving codes and related methods
Assignee: Omega Patents LLC
•
Filing: 2001-05-17
•
Granted: 2003-02-18
•
Expires: 2021-05-17
Abstract
Abstract A vehicle tracking system includes a vehicle tracking unit and a monitoring station communicating therewith. The vehicle tracking unit may include a vehicle position determining device, a wireless communications device, and a controller connected to the wireless communications device and the vehicle position determining device. More particularly, the controller may have a plurality of different controller states and respond differently to a same message from the monitoring station at different times depending upon the controller state at a given time. Accordingly, a number of codes or messages used by the system can be conserved.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth E. Flick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 09:34
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08G; G08G1/00; G08G1/20; B; B60; B60R; B60R25/00; B60R25/01; B60R25/04; B60R25/10; B60R25/102; B60R25/104; B60R25/30; B60R25/33; G07; G07C; G07C5/00; G07C5/008; G08G1/123; G08G1/127; B60R2325/00; B60R2325/20; B60R2325/202; B60R2325/205; B60W; B60W2556/00; B60W2556/45; B60W2556/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 52
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
A vehicle tracking system comprising: a vehicle tracking unit and a monitoring station communicating therewith; said vehicle tracking unit comprising a vehicle position determining device, a wireless communications device, and a controller connected to said wireless communications device and said vehicle position determining device; said controller having a plurality of different controller states and responding differently to a same message from said monitoring station at different times depending upon the controller state at a given time.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
76 words
A vehicle tracking system comprising: a vehicle tracking unit and a monitoring station communicating therewith; said vehicle tracking unit comprising a vehicle position determining device, a wireless communications device, and a controller connected to said wireless communications device and said vehicle position determining device; said controller having a plurality of different controller states and responding differently to a same message from said monitoring station at different times depending upon the controller state at a given time.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A vehicle tracking system according to claim 1 wherein at least one controller state changes based upon a change in at least one vehicle device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A vehicle tracking system according to claim 1 wherein at least one controller state changes based upon a message received by said wireless communications device from said monitoring station.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A vehicle tracking system according to claim 1 wherein at least one controller state changes based upon elapsed time.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
93 words
A vehicle tracking system according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of controller states comprises an alert sent state based upon an alert message being sent from said wireless communications device; wherein receipt of a predetermined message by said wireless communications device when said controller is in the alert sent state confirms receipt of the alert message by said monitoring station; and wherein receipt of the predetermined message by said wireless communications device when said controller is in another state different than said alert sent state causes a different response by said controller.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
A vehicle tracking system according to claim 5 wherein the alert sent state comprises at least one of an vehicle stolen alert sent state, a vehicle alarm sounding alert sent state, a vehicle speeding alert sent state, an unauthorized remote transmitter alert sent state, a low vehicle battery alert sent state, and a device malfunction alert sent state.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
84 words
A vehicle tracking system according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of controller states comprises a received first message state based upon a first message being received by said wireless communications device from said monitoring station; and wherein receipt of a second message by said wireless communications device when said controller is in the received first message state causes a different response by said controller than does receipt of the second message when said controller is in another state than received first message state.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A vehicle tracking system according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of controller states comprises a vehicle finder state sounding an audible signal at the vehicle and during which a vehicle alarm sounding alert is bypassed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A vehicle tracking system according to claim 1 wherein said vehicle position determining device comprises a Global Positioning System (GPS) device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A vehicle tracking system according to claim 1 wherein said wireless communications device comprises a cellular telephone communications device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
A vehicle tracking system according to claim 10 wherein said cellular telephone communications device communicates over a cellular control channel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
A vehicle tracking system according to claim 1 wherein said monitoring station comprises a user interface for accepting at least one command from a user and sending at least one alert to the user.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
A vehicle tracking system according to claim 12 wherein said user interface comprises an Internet interface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
A vehicle tracking system according to claim 12 wherein said user interface comprises a telephone network interface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
71 words
A vehicle tracking unit for communicating with a monitoring station, the vehicle tracking unit comprising: a vehicle position determining device; a wireless communications device; and a controller connected to said wireless communications device and said vehicle position determining device; said controller having a plurality of different controller states and responding differently to a same message from the monitoring station at different times depending upon the controller state at a given time.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
71 words
A vehicle tracking unit for communicating with a monitoring station, the vehicle tracking unit comprising: a vehicle position determining device; a wireless communications device; and a controller connected to said wireless communications device and said vehicle position determining device; said controller having a plurality of different controller states and responding differently to a same message from the monitoring station at different times depending upon the controller state at a given time.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
A vehicle tracking unit according to claim 15 wherein at least one controller state changes based upon a change in at least one vehicle device.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
A vehicle tracking unit according to claim 15 wherein at least one controller state changes based upon a message received by said wireless communications device from the monitoring station.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
A vehicle tracking unit according to claim 15 wherein at least one controller state changes based upon elapsed time.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
93 words
A vehicle tracking unit according to claim 15 wherein the plurality of controller states comprises an alert sent state based upon an alert message being sent from said wireless communications device; wherein receipt of a predetermined message by said wireless communications device when said controller is in the alert sent state confirms receipt of the alert message by the monitoring station; and wherein receipt of the predetermined message by said wireless communications device when said controller is in another state different than said alert sent state causes a different response by said controller.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
58 words
A vehicle tracking unit according to claim 19 wherein the alert sent state comprises at least one of an vehicle stolen alert sent state, a vehicle alarm sounding alert sent state, a vehicle speeding alert sent state, an unauthorized remote transmitter alert sent state, a low vehicle battery alert sent state, and a device malfunction alert sent state.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
84 words
A vehicle tracking unit according to claim 15 wherein the plurality of controller states comprises a received first message state based upon a first message being received by said wireless communications device from the monitoring station; and wherein receipt of a second message by said wireless communications device when said controller is in the received first message state causes a different response by said controller than does receipt of the second message when said controller is in another state than received first message state.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
35 words
A vehicle tracking unit according to claim 15 wherein the plurality of controller states comprises a vehicle finder state sounding an audible signal at the vehicle during which a vehicle alarm sounding alert is bypassed.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
A vehicle tracking unit according to claim 15 wherein said vehicle position determining device comprises a Global Positioning System (GPS) device.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
A vehicle tracking unit according to claim 15 wherein said wireless communications device comprises a cellular telephone communications device.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
A vehicle tracking unit according to claim 24 wherein said cellular telephone communications device communicates over a cellular control channel.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
120 words
A vehicle tracking unit for communicating with a monitoring station, the vehicle tracking unit comprising: a vehicle position determining device; a wireless communications device; and a controller connected to said wireless communications device and said vehicle position determining device; said controller having an alert sent state based upon an alert message being sent from said wireless communications device, wherein receipt of a predetermined message by said wireless communications device when said controller is in the alert sent state confirms receipt of the alert message by the monitoring station, and wherein receipt of the predetermined message by said wireless communications device when said controller is in another state different than said alert sent state causes a different response by said controller.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
120 words
A vehicle tracking unit for communicating with a monitoring station, the vehicle tracking unit comprising: a vehicle position determining device; a wireless communications device; and a controller connected to said wireless communications device and said vehicle position determining device; said controller having an alert sent state based upon an alert message being sent from said wireless communications device, wherein receipt of a predetermined message by said wireless communications device when said controller is in the alert sent state confirms receipt of the alert message by the monitoring station, and wherein receipt of the predetermined message by said wireless communications device when said controller is in another state different than said alert sent state causes a different response by said controller.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
58 words
A vehicle tracking unit according to claim 26 wherein the alert sent state comprises at least one of an vehicle stolen alert sent state, a vehicle alarm sounding alert sent state, a vehicle speeding alert sent state, an unauthorized remote transmitter alert sent state, a low vehicle battery alert sent state, and a device malfunction alert sent state.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
82 words
A vehicle tracking unit according to claim 26 wherein said controller further has a received first message state based upon a first message being received by said wireless communications device from the monitoring station; and wherein receipt of a second message by said wireless communications device when said controller is in the received first message state causes a different response by said controller than does receipt of the second message when said controller is in another state than received first message state.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
21 words
A vehicle tracking unit according to claim 26 wherein said vehicle position determining device comprises a Global Positioning System (GPS) device.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
19 words
A vehicle tracking unit according to claim 26 wherein said wireless communications device comprises a cellular telephone communications device.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
20 words
A vehicle tracking unit according to claim 30 wherein said cellular telephone communications device communicates over a cellular control channel.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
112 words
A vehicle tracking unit for communicating with a monitoring station, the vehicle tracking unit comprising: a vehicle position determining device; a wireless communications device; and a controller connected to said wireless communications device and said vehicle position determining device; said controller having a received first message state being based upon a first message being received by said wireless communications device receiving from the monitoring station, wherein receipt of a second message by said wireless communications device when said controller is in the received first message state causes a different response by said controller than does receipt of the second message when said controller is in another state than received first message state.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
112 words
A vehicle tracking unit for communicating with a monitoring station, the vehicle tracking unit comprising: a vehicle position determining device; a wireless communications device; and a controller connected to said wireless communications device and said vehicle position determining device; said controller having a received first message state being based upon a first message being received by said wireless communications device receiving from the monitoring station, wherein receipt of a second message by said wireless communications device when said controller is in the received first message state causes a different response by said controller than does receipt of the second message when said controller is in another state than received first message state.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
21 words
A vehicle tracking unit according to claim 32 wherein said vehicle position determining device comprises a Global Positioning System (GPS) device.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
19 words
A vehicle tracking unit according to claim 32 wherein said wireless communications device comprises a cellular telephone communications device.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
20 words
A vehicle tracking unit according to claim 34 wherein said cellular telephone communications device communicates over a cellular control channel.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
97 words
A method for operating a vehicle tracking system of a type comprising a vehicle tracking unit and a monitoring station communicating therewith, the vehicle tracking unit comprising a vehicle position determining device, a wireless communications device, and a controller connected to the wireless communications device and the vehicle position determining device, the method comprising: determining which of a plurality of different controller states the controller is in at a given time; and responding differently to a same message from the monitoring station at different times depending upon the controller state of the controller at the given time.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
97 words
A method for operating a vehicle tracking system of a type comprising a vehicle tracking unit and a monitoring station communicating therewith, the vehicle tracking unit comprising a vehicle position determining device, a wireless communications device, and a controller connected to the wireless communications device and the vehicle position determining device, the method comprising: determining which of a plurality of different controller states the controller is in at a given time; and responding differently to a same message from the monitoring station at different times depending upon the controller state of the controller at the given time.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 36 wherein the controller state changes based upon a change in at least one vehicle device.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 36 wherein the controller state changes based upon a message received by the wireless communications device from the monitoring station.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 36 wherein the controller state changes based upon elapsed time.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 36 wherein the controller state is an alert sent state based upon an alert message being sent from the wireless communications device.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
56 words
A method according to claim 40 wherein the alert sent state comprises at least one of an vehicle stolen alert sent state, a vehicle alarm sounding alert sent state, a vehicle speeding alert sent state, an unauthorized remote transmitter alert sent state, a low vehicle battery alert sent state, and a device malfunction alert sent state.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
80 words
A method according to claim 36 wherein the controller state is a received first message state based upon a first message being received by the wireless communications device from the monitoring station; and wherein receipt of a second message by the wireless communications device when the controller is in the received first message state causes a different response by the controller than does receipt of the second message when the controller is in another state than received first message state.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 36 wherein the wireless communications device comprises a cellular telephone communications device.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 43 wherein the cellular telephone communications device communicates over a cellular control channel.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 36 wherein the monitoring station comprises a user interface for accepting at least one command from a user and sending at least one alert to the user.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 45 wherein the user interface comprises an Internet interface.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 45 wherein the user interface comprises a telephone network interface.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-02-17 | 2006-08-19 | 2007-02-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-02-17 | 2010-08-19 | 2011-02-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-02-17 | 2014-08-19 | 2015-02-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |