US5490200A — System and method for remotely tripping a switch

Claim 1

Independent Claim 158 words

A system for remotely stopping a vehicle theft, comprising: a transmitter for generating a calling code and a predetermined security code; a central switching unit for receiving said calling code and said predetermined security code and for generating a wireless communication including said calling code and said predetermined security code; a satellite for receiving and transmitting said wireless communication; a pager unit, located in a vehicle, for receiving said wireless communication, wherein said pager unit is responsive to said calling code, said pager unit generates a first signal only in response to receiving said predetermined security code; a tripping circuit, responsive to said first signal and located in said vehicle, for generating a second signal; and a switch, responsive to said second signal and located in said vehicle, for disabling said vehicle; wherein said pager unit is a receive-only digital receiver that receives only low-power short digital data packets and that cannot receive digital and analog voice transmissions.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 158 words

A system for remotely stopping a vehicle theft, comprising: a transmitter for generating a calling code and a predetermined security code; a central switching unit for receiving said calling code and said predetermined security code and for generating a wireless communication including said calling code and said predetermined security code; a satellite for receiving and transmitting said wireless communication; a pager unit, located in a vehicle, for receiving said wireless communication, wherein said pager unit is responsive to said calling code, said pager unit generates a first signal only in response to receiving said predetermined security code; a tripping circuit, responsive to said first signal and located in said vehicle, for generating a second signal; and a switch, responsive to said second signal and located in said vehicle, for disabling said vehicle; wherein said pager unit is a receive-only digital receiver that receives only low-power short digital data packets and that cannot receive digital and analog voice transmissions.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 40 words

The system recited in claim 1 wherein the transmitter comprises a telephone for dialing a code, said code generating the wireless communication, said code including a remote location pager number corresponding to the pager unit and a predetermined security code.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 23 words

The system recited in claim 2 wherein the switch includes an ignition interrupt device for stopping operation of an engine in the vehicle.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 16 words

The system recited in claim 1, further comprising a manual switch for setting the tripping circuit.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 51 words

The system recited in claim 2 wherein the pager unit includes means for receiving a tripping circuit setup signal, said tripping circuit setup signal including the pager number and a predetermined setup code, whereby the tripping circuit is set in response to the pager unit receiving said tripping circuit setup signal.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 26 words

The system recited in claim 1, further comprising an indicator, located in the vehicle and responsive to the tripping circuit, for indicating tripping of the switch.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 30 words

The system recited in claim 3, further comprising a warning device, located in the vehicle and responsive to the pager unit, for indicating impending activation of the ignition interrupt device.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 19 words

The system recited in claim 1, further comprising an alarm system, said system being responsive to the tripping circuit.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 21 words

The system recited in claim 1, further comprising a homing circuit, responsive to the tripping circuit, for generating a homing signal.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 28 words

The system of recited in claim 1 further comprising means, responsive to the tripping circuit, for generating a digital location signal corresponding to a location of the vehicle.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 25 words

The system recited in claim 1 wherein said vehicle has a fuel supply, and wherein the action caused by the switch impedes said fuel supply.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 198 words

A method for remotely stopping a vehicle theft, comprising: first transmitting a signal be a transmitter, said signal including a calling code and a predetermined security code; first receiving said signal by a central switching unit; second transmitting said signal by said central switching unit; satellite relaying said signal to a pager unit located in a vehicle; second receiving said signal by said pager unit if said calling code corresponds to said pager unit; generating a tripping pulse by said pager unit only in response to receiving said predetermined security code, said tripping pulse having a low voltage; converting said tripping pulse from said low voltage to a higher voltage by a tripping circuit, said tripping circuit being located in said vehicle consisting of a voltage step-up circuit for increasing the voltage of said first signal from said low voltage to said higher voltage; and tripping a switch located in said vehicle in response to conversion of said tripping pulse from said low voltage to said higher voltage, thereby disabling said vehicle; wherein said pager unit is a receive-only digital receiver that receives only low-power short digital data packets and that cannot receive digital and analog voice transmissions.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 198 words

A method for remotely stopping a vehicle theft, comprising: first transmitting a signal be a transmitter, said signal including a calling code and a predetermined security code; first receiving said signal by a central switching unit; second transmitting said signal by said central switching unit; satellite relaying said signal to a pager unit located in a vehicle; second receiving said signal by said pager unit if said calling code corresponds to said pager unit; generating a tripping pulse by said pager unit only in response to receiving said predetermined security code, said tripping pulse having a low voltage; converting said tripping pulse from said low voltage to a higher voltage by a tripping circuit, said tripping circuit being located in said vehicle consisting of a voltage step-up circuit for increasing the voltage of said first signal from said low voltage to said higher voltage; and tripping a switch located in said vehicle in response to conversion of said tripping pulse from said low voltage to said higher voltage, thereby disabling said vehicle; wherein said pager unit is a receive-only digital receiver that receives only low-power short digital data packets and that cannot receive digital and analog voice transmissions.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 12 words

The method recited in claim 12 wherein the transmitter comprises a telephone.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method recited in claim 12 wherein said vehicle has a vehicle ignition, the method further comprising interrupting said vehicle ignition in response to the tripping step.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method recited in claim 12, further comprising setting the switch, including activating a manual setup switch in the remote location.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method recited in claim 12, further comprising third receiving the pager number and a predetermined setup code, and setting the switch in response to said second receiving step.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 13 words

The method recited in claim 12, further comprising indicating tripping of the switch.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method recited in claim 14, further comprising notifying, in response to the interrupting step, an operator of the vehicle of impending interruption of the vehicle ignition.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method recited in claim 12, further comprising activating an alarm system in response to the tripping step.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method recited in claim 12, further comprising generating a homing signal in response to the first tripping step.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method recited in claim 12, the method further comprising generating a digital location identification signal corresponding to a location of said vehicle.

Claim 24

Independent Claim 198 words

A system for remotely stopping a vehicle theft, consisting essentially of: a pager unit, located in a vehicle, for receiving a wireless communication and for generating a first signal in response to receiving said wireless communication, said wireless communication being transmitted by a transmitter to a central switching unit, said central switching unit transmitting said wireless communication to a satellite, said satellite relaying said wireless communication transmitted from said central switching unit to said pager unit, said wireless communication consisting of a digital data packet, and said wireless communication including a calling code corresponding to said pager unit and a predetermined security code, said first signal being generated by said pager unit in response to receiving said predetermined security code; a tripping circuit, responsive to said first signal and located in said vehicle, for generating a second signal; and a switch, responsive to said second signal, for disabling said vehicle; wherein the absence of said predetermined security code in said wireless communication prevents said pager unit from generating said first signal; and wherein said pager unit is a receive-only digital receiver that receives only low-power short digital data packets and that cannot receive digital and analog voice transmissions.

Claim 25

Independent Claim 198 words

A system for remotely stopping a vehicle theft, consisting essentially of: a pager unit, located in a vehicle, for receiving a wireless communication and for generating a first signal in response to receiving said wireless communication, said wireless communication being transmitted by a transmitter to a central switching unit, said central switching unit transmitting said wireless communication to a satellite, said satellite relaying said wireless communication transmitted from said central switching unit to said pager unit, said wireless communication consisting of a digital data packet, and said wireless communication including a calling code corresponding to said pager unit and a predetermined security code, said first signal being generated by said pager unit in response to receiving said predetermined security code; a tripping circuit, responsive to said first signal and located in said vehicle, for generating a second signal; and a switch, responsive to said second signal, for disabling said vehicle; wherein the absence of said predetermined security code in said wireless communication prevents said pager unit from generating said first signal; and wherein said pager unit is a receive-only digital receiver that receives only low-power short digital data packets and that cannot receive digital and analog voice transmissions.

Claim 26

Independent Claim 213 words

A system for remotely stopping a vehicle theft, comprising: a transmitter for generating a calling code and a predetermined security code; a central switching unit for receiving said calling code and said predetermined security code and for generating a wireless communication including said calling code and said predetermined security code; a satellite for receiving and transmitting said wireless communication; a pager unit, located in a vehicle, for receiving said wireless communication, said pager unit being responsive to said calling code and generating a pager signal in response to receiving said predetermined security code, said pager signal having a low voltage; a tripping circuit, responsive to said pager signal and located in said vehicle, for generating a tripping signal, said tripping signal having a higher voltage than said pager signal, said tripping circuit including a voltage step-up circuit for converting the voltage of said pager signal from said low voltage to said higher voltage; and an actuator, responsive to said tripping signal, for disabling said vehicle; wherein said pager unit is a receive-only digital receiver that receives only low-power short digital data packets and that cannot receive digital and analog voice transmissions; and wherein the absence of said predetermined security code in said wireless communication prevents said pager unit from generating said first signal.

Claim 27

Independent Claim 213 words

A system for remotely stopping a vehicle theft, comprising: a transmitter for generating a calling code and a predetermined security code; a central switching unit for receiving said calling code and said predetermined security code and for generating a wireless communication including said calling code and said predetermined security code; a satellite for receiving and transmitting said wireless communication; a pager unit, located in a vehicle, for receiving said wireless communication, said pager unit being responsive to said calling code and generating a pager signal in response to receiving said predetermined security code, said pager signal having a low voltage; a tripping circuit, responsive to said pager signal and located in said vehicle, for generating a tripping signal, said tripping signal having a higher voltage than said pager signal, said tripping circuit including a voltage step-up circuit for converting the voltage of said pager signal from said low voltage to said higher voltage; and an actuator, responsive to said tripping signal, for disabling said vehicle; wherein said pager unit is a receive-only digital receiver that receives only low-power short digital data packets and that cannot receive digital and analog voice transmissions; and wherein the absence of said predetermined security code in said wireless communication prevents said pager unit from generating said first signal.

Claim 28

Independent Claim 195 words

A system for remotely signaling a door locking system in a vehicle, said door locking system being located in said vehicle, comprising: a transmitter for generating a calling code and a predetermined security code; a central switching unit for receiving said calling code and said predetermined security code and for generating a wireless communication including said calling code and said predetermined security code; a satellite for receiving and transmitting said wireless communication; a pager unit, located in said vehicle, for receiving said wireless communication, said pager unit being responsive to said calling code and generating a pager signal in response to receiving said predetermined security code; a tripping circuit, responsive to said pager signal and located in said vehicle, for generating a tripping signal; and an actuator, responsive to said tripping signal and located in said vehicle, for locking and unlocking said door locking system in said vehicle; wherein said pager unit is a receive-only digital receiver that receives only low-power digital data packets and that cannot receive digital and analog voice transmission; and wherein the absence of said predetermined security code in said wireless communication prevents said pager unit from generating said first signal.

Claim 29

Independent Claim 195 words

A system for remotely signaling a door locking system in a vehicle, said door locking system being located in said vehicle, comprising: a transmitter for generating a calling code and a predetermined security code; a central switching unit for receiving said calling code and said predetermined security code and for generating a wireless communication including said calling code and said predetermined security code; a satellite for receiving and transmitting said wireless communication; a pager unit, located in said vehicle, for receiving said wireless communication, said pager unit being responsive to said calling code and generating a pager signal in response to receiving said predetermined security code; a tripping circuit, responsive to said pager signal and located in said vehicle, for generating a tripping signal; and an actuator, responsive to said tripping signal and located in said vehicle, for locking and unlocking said door locking system in said vehicle; wherein said pager unit is a receive-only digital receiver that receives only low-power digital data packets and that cannot receive digital and analog voice transmission; and wherein the absence of said predetermined security code in said wireless communication prevents said pager unit from generating said first signal.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1999-02-05	1999-08-07	2000-02-06	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2003-02-05	2003-08-07	2004-02-06	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2007-02-05	2007-08-07	2008-02-06	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

System and method for remotely tripping a switch

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