EP0245555A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of and system and apparatus for locating and/or tracking stolen or missing vehicles and the like
Assignee: Lo-Jack Corp
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Filing: 1986-08-22
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2006-08-22
Abstract
Abstract An improved vehicle or other object-tracking and location system, preferably, though not essentially, of national scope, wherein transponder or transceiver-equipped stolen or missing vehicles (T, T') or other objects may be located and/or tracked, as by appropriately-equipped police direction-finding tracking vehicles (TR), through homing-in on periodic transponder reply radio transmissions (R, R') automatically activated by command activation signals (C) broadcast on the same carrier frequency as the transponder reply signals and with encoded vehicle identification information that causes the intended vehicle transponder so to reply, and with provision for modifying the command signals to require an increased rate of periodic transponder reply signal transmission to assist homing-in on the selected vehicle.
Inventors
- 👤 Sheldon P. Apsell
- 👤 Noval D. Stapelfeld
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 16:06
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08G; G08G1/00; G08G1/20; G08G1/205; G01; G01S; G01S13/00; G01S13/74; G08B; G08B25/00; G08B25/01; G08B25/016; G01S2205/00; G01S2205/01; G01S2205/05
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
176 words
A method of tracking a computer-registered transponder-equipped vehicle and the like, upon the same being missing, that comprises, checking the registration of such vehicle to determine that it is computer listed as transponder-equipped; upon affirmative determination of such transponder equipment 'listing, initiating the broadcasting in an appropriate sector of a radio activation command signal carrying coded identification unique to said vehicle and its transponder; receiving said command signal at the vehicle transponder, decoding the identification and verifying that the same is the unique code of said vehicle and its transponder, and, if so, causing the transponder to become activated to transmit periodic vehicle reply signals including unique identification; receiving said periodic vehicle reply signals in a tracking vehicle and locking onto the same; thereafter, at the request of the tracking vehicle, modifying the said sector radio activation command signals to provide increased-rate command signals to the vehicle transponder; and responding to the increased-rate command signals at the vehicle transponder to increase the periodicity of the transmitted transponder vehicle signals to facilitate tracking by the tracking vehicle.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
176 words
A method of tracking a computer-registered transponder-equipped vehicle and the like, upon the same being missing, that comprises, checking the registration of such vehicle to determine that it is computer listed as transponder-equipped; upon affirmative determination of such transponder equipment 'listing, initiating the broadcasting in an appropriate sector of a radio activation command signal carrying coded identification unique to said vehicle and its transponder; receiving said command signal at the vehicle transponder, decoding the identification and verifying that the same is the unique code of said vehicle and its transponder, and, if so, causing the transponder to become activated to transmit periodic vehicle reply signals including unique identification; receiving said periodic vehicle reply signals in a tracking vehicle and locking onto the same; thereafter, at the request of the tracking vehicle, modifying the said sector radio activation command signals to provide increased-rate command signals to the vehicle transponder; and responding to the increased-rate command signals at the vehicle transponder to increase the periodicity of the transmitted transponder vehicle signals to facilitate tracking by the tracking vehicle.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
29 words
A method as claimed in claim I and in which the radio activation command signals and the transponder transmitted signals are effected on a common carrier frequency, sequentially shared.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 and in which prior to the transponder transmission activation, the presence of existing transmissions on said carrier frequency is monitored, and only upon absence of the same does the transponder commence transmitting its signals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as claimed in claim 3 and in which the transponder transmitted reply signals are periodic with a pseudo-random spacing to prevent interference with other transponder transmissions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as claimed in claim 4 and in which the periodicity of said transponder transmitted reply signals is adjusted to about one each ten seconds, and the said increased periodicity is about one per second.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
6 . A method as claimed in claim 1 and in which, from a multiplicity of such transponder signals received by the tracking vehicle, the same selects and displays only the signal from the particular vehicle-to-be-tracked.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 and in which, upon the reporting of the recovery of the missing vehicle, the steps are performed of deactivating the recovered vehicle transponder reply signal transmissions and terminating the broadcasting of said activation command signal carrying coded information unique to the recovered vehicle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 and in which false and spurious activating command signals are discriminated from the broadcast command signals.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
174 words
A system for tracking computer-registered transponder-equipped vehicles and the like, upon the same being reported missing, having, in combination, means for initiating the broadcasting in an appropriate sector of a radio activation command signal carrying coded identification unique to the missing vehicle and its transponder; means contained within said missing vehicle transponder for receiving said command signal and for decoding the identification and verifying that the same is the unique code of said missing vehicle and its transponder; means at the transponder, operable upon such verifying, for thereupon causing the transponder to become activated to transmit periodic vehicle reply signals including unique identification; tracking vehicle receiving means for receividg periodic vehicle signals and locking onto the same; means operable at said tracking vehicle for requesting the modifying of the said sector radio activation command signals to provide increased-rate command signals to the vehicle transponder; and means at said transponder for responding to the increased-rate command signals to increase the periodicity of the transmitted transceiver vehicle reply signals to facilitate tracking by the tracking vehicle.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
174 words
A system for tracking computer-registered transponder-equipped vehicles and the like, upon the same being reported missing, having, in combination, means for initiating the broadcasting in an appropriate sector of a radio activation command signal carrying coded identification unique to the missing vehicle and its transponder; means contained within said missing vehicle transponder for receiving said command signal and for decoding the identification and verifying that the same is the unique code of said missing vehicle and its transponder; means at the transponder, operable upon such verifying, for thereupon causing the transponder to become activated to transmit periodic vehicle reply signals including unique identification; tracking vehicle receiving means for receividg periodic vehicle signals and locking onto the same; means operable at said tracking vehicle for requesting the modifying of the said sector radio activation command signals to provide increased-rate command signals to the vehicle transponder; and means at said transponder for responding to the increased-rate command signals to increase the periodicity of the transmitted transceiver vehicle reply signals to facilitate tracking by the tracking vehicle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system as claimed in claim 9 and in which means is provided for the radio activation command signals and the transponder transmitted signals to be transmitted on a common carrier frequency, sequentially shared.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system as claimed in claim 9 and in which means comprising non-volatile memory is provided for enabling transponder replies interrupted by power failure to resume upon power restoration.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system as claimed in claim 9 and in which means is provided for automatically terminating the increased-rate command signal after a predetermined interval of time, while restoring the broadcasting of the first-named activation command signal.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of locating a transponder-equipped object that comprises, initiating the broadcasting in an appropriate sector of a radio activation command signal carrying coded identification unique to said object and its transponder; receiving said command signal at the object transponder, decoding the identification and verifying that the same is the unique code of said object and its transponder and, if so, causing the transponder to become activated to transmit periodic reply signals including unique identification; modifying the said sector radio activation command signals to provide increased-rate command signals to the object transponder; and responding to the increased-rate command signals at the object transponder to increase the periodicity of its transmitted reply signals.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of locating a transponder-equipped object that comprises, initiating the broadcasting in an appropriate sector of a radio activation command signal carrying coded identification unique to said object and its transponder; receiving said command signal at the object transponder, decoding the identification and verifying that the same is the unique code of said object and its transponder and, if so, causing the transponder to become activated to transmit periodic reply signals including unique identification; modifying the said sector radio activation command signals to provide increased-rate command signals to the object transponder; and responding to the increased-rate command signals at the object transponder to increase the periodicity of its transmitted reply signals.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
116 words
Transponder apparatus for use in identifying the presence of an object interrogated by broadcasted radio activation command signals on a predetermined RF carrier carrying coded identification unique to that object and its transponder, the apparatus having, in combination, means for receiving said command signal and for decoding the identification and verifying that the same is the unique code of said object and its transponder; means operable in the event of such verification, for activating the transponder to transmit periodic reply signals on the same carrier frequency and including unique identification thereupon;.and means responsive to further command signals requesting variation in the rate of such reply signals for thereupon transmitting the reply signals at such varied rate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
116 words
Transponder apparatus for use in identifying the presence of an object interrogated by broadcasted radio activation command signals on a predetermined RF carrier carrying coded identification unique to that object and its transponder, the apparatus having, in combination, means for receiving said command signal and for decoding the identification and verifying that the same is the unique code of said object and its transponder; means operable in the event of such verification, for activating the transponder to transmit periodic reply signals on the same carrier frequency and including unique identification thereupon;.and means responsive to further command signals requesting variation in the rate of such reply signals for thereupon transmitting the reply signals at such varied rate.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
42 words
Transponder apparatus as claimed in claim 14 and in which means is provided operable prior to the transmitting of said periodic reply signals to insure the absence of other transmissions on said carrier frequency before commencing the transmission of said reply signals.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
55 words
Transponder apparatus as claimed in claim 14 and in which said unique code is contained as audio signals modulated upon the said carrier of the command signal, and the said transponder verifying means comprises means for converting the audio signals to digital signals and comparing the same with stored digital signals representing said unique code.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
48 words
Transponder apparatus as claimed in claim 16 and in which, upon said activation of the transponder, digital code signals representing unique identification to be transmitted in the transponder periodic reply signals are converted to audio signals and are transmitted as modulation of the carrier of the reply signals.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
90 words
A variable-broadcasting transponder for identifying and assisting location of an object, comprising, means for detecting encoded information; means for discerning the presence of its own identification code in said encoded information; storage means for providing a reply code specific to the transponder; transmission command means, responsive to said means for discerning, for distinguishing a broadcast rate command in said encoded information and for determining the period of transmission of said reply code; and means, responsive to said storage means and said transmission command means, for periodically transmitting said reply code.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
90 words
A variable-broadcasting transponder for identifying and assisting location of an object, comprising, means for detecting encoded information; means for discerning the presence of its own identification code in said encoded information; storage means for providing a reply code specific to the transponder; transmission command means, responsive to said means for discerning, for distinguishing a broadcast rate command in said encoded information and for determining the period of transmission of said reply code; and means, responsive to said storage means and said transmission command means, for periodically transmitting said reply code.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
A transponder as claimed in claim 18 and in which means is provided for psuedo-randomly varying the periodicity of the transmitted replies.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
39 words
A transponder as claimed in claim 18 and in which said transmission command means includes transmission periodicity step-up means for recognizing a step-up command in said broadcast rate command and, in response thereto, for producing a shortened transmission period.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
35 words
A transponder as claimed in claim 18 and in which said transmission command means includes deactivation means for recognizing a deactivation command in said broadcast rate command and, in response thereto, for ceasing further transmissions.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
35 words
A transponder as claimed in claim 18 and further including means for sensing a transponder test code in said encoded information, and means responsive to said means for sensing for broadcasting a test reply signal.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
37 words
A transponder as claimed in claim 22 and in which said means for sensing senses both a first test code in said encoded information and a second test code provided through a physical connection to the transponder.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
149 words
A variable-broadcasting transponder for identifying and assisting location of an object, comprising; receiver means for monitoring an RF signal and demodulating it to recover a carried audio signal; means for converting said audio signal into digital logical ones when said audio signal is modulated at a first frequency and into digital logical zeros when said audio signal is modulated at a second frequency to obtain digitally encoded information; means for discerning the presence of its own identification code in said encoded information; means for providing a digital reply code specific to the transponder; transmission command means for distinguishing a broadcast rate command in said encoded information and for determining the period of transmission of said reply code; modulating means for converting said digital reply code into reply code audio signals; and transmitter'means, responsive to said transmission command means, for periodically broadcasting said reply audio signals upon an RF signal.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
149 words
A variable-broadcasting transponder for identifying and assisting location of an object, comprising; receiver means for monitoring an RF signal and demodulating it to recover a carried audio signal; means for converting said audio signal into digital logical ones when said audio signal is modulated at a first frequency and into digital logical zeros when said audio signal is modulated at a second frequency to obtain digitally encoded information; means for discerning the presence of its own identification code in said encoded information; means for providing a digital reply code specific to the transponder; transmission command means for distinguishing a broadcast rate command in said encoded information and for determining the period of transmission of said reply code; modulating means for converting said digital reply code into reply code audio signals; and transmitter'means, responsive to said transmission command means, for periodically broadcasting said reply audio signals upon an RF signal.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
47 words
A transponder as claimed in claim 24 and in which said transmission command means includes means for generating a random transmission period and further includes activation means for recognizing an activation command in said broadcast rate command and, in response thereto, for enabling said means for generating.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
19 words
A transponder as claimed in claim 24 and in which both RF signals are of the same carrier frequency.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
93 words
A system as claimed in claim 9 and in which the said tracking vehicle receiving means comprises direction-finding means for receiving the transmitted vehicle transponder reply signals carrying code information as to said unique identification; signal-and micro-processor means for demodulating such identification code information and for alpha-numerically displaying the same; means also responsive to the last-named means for simultaneously displaying both the bearing from which the transponder reoly signals are received and the signal strength thereof; and means for locking onto and displaying only the radio reply signals of a selected vehicle transponder.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
71 words
Transponder vehicle tracking apparatus having, in combination, direction-finding means for receiving activated vehicle transponder periodic radio reply signals carrying vehicle identification code information and for alpha-numerically displaying the same; means also responsive to the last-named means for simultaneously displaying both the bearing from which the transponder reply signals are received and the signal strength thereof; and means for locking onto and displaying only radio reply signals of a selected vehicle transponder.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
71 words
Transponder vehicle tracking apparatus having, in combination, direction-finding means for receiving activated vehicle transponder periodic radio reply signals carrying vehicle identification code information and for alpha-numerically displaying the same; means also responsive to the last-named means for simultaneously displaying both the bearing from which the transponder reply signals are received and the signal strength thereof; and means for locking onto and displaying only radio reply signals of a selected vehicle transponder.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
57 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 28 and in which there is provided means for requesting the transmissions of a transponder command signal that commands an increased rate of transmission of the periodic transponder reply signals; and means for displaying said code information and said signal strength at such increased rate to aid in homing-in on the vehicle.
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