Location of missing vehicles
US5418537A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 18, 1992 |
| Grant date | May 23, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 18, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S2205/008
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Method and apparatus for determining the present location of a missing vehicle, such as an automobile or marine vessel, using a Global Positioning System that receives GPS signals from two or more GPS satellites. A GPS antenna, GPS signal receiver/processor, a paging responder, a cellular telephone and associated antenna, and a controller/modem are installed in a vehicle and electrically connected together. When the vehicle is determined to be missing, because the vehicle has been misplaced, lost or stolen, the vehicle owner or operator contacts a vehicle location service center, which broadcasts a paging request that is received by the paging responder on the vehicle. The paging responder causes the controller/modem to interrogate the GPS receiver/processor to determine the present location of the vehicle. The receiver/processor determines the present vehicle location and notifies the controller/modem of such location. The controller/modem then causes the cellular telephone to notify the vehicle location service center of the present location of the missing vehicle so that the vehicle can be recovered. The GPS signal receiver/processor and GPS antenna can be replaced by a receiver…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.