US4891650A — Vehicle location system

Claim 1

Independent Claim 209 words

A system for determining a location of at least one selected vehicle from which a signal such as an alarm signal is generated: a fixed array of a plurality of individual wireless signal detecting means, each of said individual wireless signal detecting means for receiving an input alarm signal having a strength which is a function of the distance between the position of the selected vehicle generating said alarm signal and the position of each of said individual one of said plurality of wireless signal detecting means; each of said individual wireless signal detecting means of said array including a wireless signal generating means for transmitting an output signal which is a function of the strength of said input alarm signal; a main wireless signal detecting means for receiving an output signal from each of said individual wireless signal generating means; and a control monitoring means, coupled to said main wireless signal detecting means, for receiving output signal there from, each of said output signals which is a function of the strength of said received input alarm signal, for calculating the approximate location of said selected vehicle from which an alarm signal is generated and for continuously recalculating the approximate location of said selected vehicle as its location changes.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 209 words

A system for determining a location of at least one selected vehicle from which a signal such as an alarm signal is generated: a fixed array of a plurality of individual wireless signal detecting means, each of said individual wireless signal detecting means for receiving an input alarm signal having a strength which is a function of the distance between the position of the selected vehicle generating said alarm signal and the position of each of said individual one of said plurality of wireless signal detecting means; each of said individual wireless signal detecting means of said array including a wireless signal generating means for transmitting an output signal which is a function of the strength of said input alarm signal; a main wireless signal detecting means for receiving an output signal from each of said individual wireless signal generating means; and a control monitoring means, coupled to said main wireless signal detecting means, for receiving output signal there from, each of said output signals which is a function of the strength of said received input alarm signal, for calculating the approximate location of said selected vehicle from which an alarm signal is generated and for continuously recalculating the approximate location of said selected vehicle as its location changes.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 19 words

The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the approximate location of said selected vehicle is determined by arculation.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 23 words

The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said individual wireless signal detecting and generating means are disposed at a local cell site.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 21 words

The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said main wireless signal detecting means comprises a controlling mobile telecommunications switching office.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 32 words

The system in accordance with claim 3, wherein said individual wireless signal detecting and generating means includes a signal strength measuring apparatus for measuring the strength of a received input alarm signal.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 48 words

The system in accordance with claim 4, wherein said control monitoring means selects from said received output signals a plurality of those received output signals which contain the highest strength input alarm signals, and determines from the selected received output signals the approximate location of said selected vehicle.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 42 words

The system in accordance with claim 3, wherein each of said wireless signal detecting means is located at a cell site and wherein said output signals from said wireless signal generating means includes information concerning the identity of their associated cell sites.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 51 words

The system in accordance with claim 7, wherein said control monitoring means selects from said received output signals a plurality of those received output signals which contain the highest strength input alarm signals and together with positioned information concerning their associated cell sites determines the approximate location of said selected vehicle.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 30 words

The system in accordance with claim 8, wherein said control monitoring means further utilizes dimensional information concerning their associated cell sites in determining the approximate location of said selected vehicle.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 28 words

The system in accordance with claim 9, wherein said control monitoring mean selects from said received output signals those signals with the four highest strength input alarm signals.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 71 words

The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the approximate location of said selected vehicle is determined by utilizing the following algorithm; I=k/r.sup.2 wherein I is equal to the strength of the received input alarm signal, wherein r is equal to a distance or calculated radius between said selected vehicle and the cell site antenna associated with the received input alarm signal's wireless detecting means, and wherein k is a constant.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 43 words

The system in accordance with claim 1, including at least one vehicle wireless generating means, carried by said selected vehicle, for transmitting an alarm signal of sufficient strength to activate a plurality of adjacent ones of said individual wireless signal detecting means simultaneously.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 23 words

The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least four adjacent ones of said individual wireless signal detecting means are simultaneously activated.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 103 words

The system in accordance with claim 12, wherein said vehicle wireless generating means includes; a digital communicator having an input and an output, means for connecting an alarm signal line to said input of said digital communicator; a cellular transceiver having an input and an output, said input coupled to said digital communicator, an antenna connected to the output of said cellular transceiver, thereby an alarm signal received by said digital communicator will operate said cellular transceiver to generate an alarm signal, which will be transmitted over-the-air, of sufficient strength to activate said plurality of adjacent ones of said wireless signal detecting means.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 60 words

The system in accordance with claim 13, wherein said at least four adjacent ones of said individual wireless signal detecting means includes; an individual wireless signal detecting means at a current cell site within which said selected vehicle is located, and at least three individual wireless signal detecting means located at cell sites which are adjacent said current cell site.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 48 words

The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said control monitoring means includes calibration means for more precisely determining said selected vehicle location by providing an operator of said control monitoring means with information as to the actual location of one of said at least one selected vehicles.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 47 words

The system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a pursuit vehicle, in communication with said control monitoring means, for approaching said approximate location of said selected vehicle, said pursuit vehicle being directed solely by said control monitoring means to precisely approach said location of said vehicle.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 206 words

A system for determining the location of a selected vehicle from which an alarm signal is generated and a pursuit vehicle from which a chase signal is generated: a fixed array of a plurality of individual wireless signal detecting means, each of said individual wireless signal detecting means for receiving input signals each having a strength which is a function of the distance between the position of each of the vehicles generating said alarm and chase signal and the position of each of said individual one of said plurality of wireless signal detecting means; each of said individual wireless signal detecting means of said array including a wireless signal generating means for transmitting output signals each of which is a function of the strength of each of said input signals; a main wireless signal detecting means for receiving an output signal from each of said individual wireless signal generating means; and a control monitoring means, coupled to said main wireless signal detecting means, for receiving an output signal therefrom, each of said output signals which is a function of the strength of said received input signal, for determining the approximate location of each of said vehicles from which an alarm and a chase signal is generated.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 206 words

A system for determining the location of a selected vehicle from which an alarm signal is generated and a pursuit vehicle from which a chase signal is generated: a fixed array of a plurality of individual wireless signal detecting means, each of said individual wireless signal detecting means for receiving input signals each having a strength which is a function of the distance between the position of each of the vehicles generating said alarm and chase signal and the position of each of said individual one of said plurality of wireless signal detecting means; each of said individual wireless signal detecting means of said array including a wireless signal generating means for transmitting output signals each of which is a function of the strength of each of said input signals; a main wireless signal detecting means for receiving an output signal from each of said individual wireless signal generating means; and a control monitoring means, coupled to said main wireless signal detecting means, for receiving an output signal therefrom, each of said output signals which is a function of the strength of said received input signal, for determining the approximate location of each of said vehicles from which an alarm and a chase signal is generated.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 26 words

The system in accordance with claim 18 wherein said control monitoring means continuously recalculates the approximate locations of each of said vehicles as their locations change

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 22 words

The system in accordance with claim 18, wherein said control monitoring means includes calibration means for more precisely determining said vehicles' locations.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 22 words

The system in accordance with claim 19, wherein said control monitoring means includes calibration means for more precisely determining said vehicles' locations.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 46 words

The system in accordance with claim 18, wherein said pursuit vehicle, in communication with said control monitoring means, for approaching said approximate location of said selected vehicle, said pursuit vehicle being directed solely by said control monitoring means to precisely approach said location of said vehicle.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 18 words

The system in accordance with claim 18, wherein the approximate location of said vehicles are determined by arculation.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 23 words

The system in accordance with claim 18, wherein said individual wireless signal detecting and generating means are disposed at a local cell site.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 21 words

The system in accordance with claim 18, wherein said main wireless signal detecting means comprises a controlling mobile telecommunications switching office.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 31 words

The system in accordance with claim 24, wherein said individual wireless signal detecting and generating means includes a signal strength measuring apparatus for measuring the strength of a received input signal.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 46 words

The system in accordance with claim 25, wherein said control monitoring means selects from said received output signals a plurality of those received output signals which contain the highest strength input signals, and determines from the selected received output signals the approximate locations of said vehicles.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 42 words

The system in accordance with claim 24, wherein each of said wireless signal detecting means is located at a cell site and wherein said output signals from said wireless signal generating means includes information concerning the identity of their associated cell sites.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 49 words

The system in accordance with claim 28, wherein said control monitoring means selects from said received output signals a plurality of those received output signals which contain the highest strength input signals and together with positioned information concerning their associated cell sites determines the approximate location of said vehicles.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 29 words

The system in accordance with claim 29, wherein said control monitoring means further utilizes dimensional information concerning their associated cell sites in determining the approximate location of said vehicles.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 27 words

The system in accordance with claim 30, wherein said control monitoring means selects from said received output signals those signals with the four highest strength input signals.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 67 words

The system in accordance with claim 18, wherein the approximate location of said vehicles are determined by utilizing the following algorithm; I=k/r.sup.2 wherein I is equal to the strength of the received input signal, wherein r is equal to a distance or calculated radius between said vehicle and the cell site antenna associated with the received input signal's wireless detecting means, and wherein k is a constant.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 43 words

The system in accordance with claim 18, including at least one vehicle wireless generating means, carried by said selected vehicle, for transmitting an alarm signal of sufficient strength to activate a plurality of adjacent ones of said individual wireless signal detecting means simultaneously.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 23 words

The system in accordance with claim 18, wherein at least four adjacent ones of said individual wireless signal detecting means are simultaneously activated.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 104 words

The system in accordance with claim 33, wherein said selected vehicle's wireless generating means includes; a digital communicator having an input and an output, means for connecting an alarm signal line to said input of said digital communicator; a cellular transceiver having an input and an output, said input coupled to said digital communicator, an antenna connected to the output of said cellular transceiver, whereby an alarm signal received by said digital communicator will operate said cellular transceiver to generate an alarm signal, which will be transmitted over-the-air, of sufficient strength to activate said plurality of adjacent ones of said wireless signal detecting means.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 60 words

The system in accordance with claim 34, wherein said at least four adjacent ones of said individual wireless signal detecting means includes; an individual wireless signal detecting means at a current cell site within which said selected vehicle is located, and at least three individual wireless signal detecting means located at cell sites which are adjacent said current cell site.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1993-01-01	1993-07-03	1994-01-02	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1997-01-01	1997-07-03	1998-01-02	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2001-01-01	2001-07-03	2002-01-02	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Vehicle location system

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