Method and system for tracking stolen property

Claim 1

A method of locating a stolen piece of property using signals transmitted from a global position satellite system orbiting the earth, comprising the steps of mounting a first radio receiver with said property, continuously connecting said first radio receiver to a source of electric power, mounting a second radio receiver with said property, said second radio receiver being adapted to receive said signals from said global position satellite system and to process said signals to provide data corresponding to the geographical position of said second receiver, transmitting from a location remote from said property a radio signal including a unique code associated with said piece of property and said first radio receiver, when a radio signal is received by said first radio receiver which corresponds to said unique code, connecting said second radio receiver to a source of electric power for only a predetermined time period to permit said second radio receiver to receive said signals from said global position satellite system during said predetermined time period and to process said signals to provide geographical position data, and transmitting said geographical position data derived from said signals from said global position satellite system to a central station.

Claim 2

A method of locating a stolen piece of property using signals transmitted from a global position satellite system orbiting the earth, comprising the steps of mounting a first radio receiver with said property, continuously connecting said first radio receiver to a source of electric power, mounting a second radio receiver with said property, said second radio receiver being adapted to receive said signals from said global position satellite system and to process said signals to provide data corresponding to the geographical position of said second receiver, transmitting from a location remote from said property a radio signal including a unique code associated with said piece of property and said first radio receiver, when a radio signal is received by said first radio receiver which corresponds to said unique code, connecting said second radio receiver to a source of electric power for only a predetermined time period to permit said second radio receiver to receive said signals from said global position satellite system during said predetermined time period and to process said signals to provide geographical position data, and transmitting said geographical position data derived from said signals from said global position satellite system to a central station.

Claim 4

A system for tracking a piece of stolen property utilizing signals transmitted from a global position satellite system, comprising in combination a first standby radio receiver mounted with said property, means for continuously energizing said standby radio receiver, decoder means mounted with said property and connected to said standby receiver for comparing a coded signal received by said standby receiver with a unique identification code stored in said decoder means and for providing an output signal when said coded signal matches said identification code stored in said decoder means, a second radio receiver for receiving said signals from said global position satellite system, radio transmitter means responsive to an output from said second radio receiver for transmitting said data corresponding to the geographical position of said second radio receiver, a source of electric power, and switching means enabled when a coded signal received by said standby radio receiver matches said identification code stored in said decoder means for connecting said second radio receiver and said radio transmitter to said source of electric power and for disconnecting said second radio receiver from said source of electric power a predetermined time after said second radio receiver was connected to said source of power.

Claim 5

A system for tracking a piece of stolen property utilizing signals transmitted from a global position satellite system, comprising in combination a first standby radio receiver mounted with said property, means for continuously energizing said standby radio receiver, decoder means mounted with said property and connected to said standby receiver for comparing a coded signal received by said standby receiver with a unique identification code stored in said decoder means and for providing an output signal when said coded signal matches said identification code stored in said decoder means, a second radio receiver for receiving said signals from said global position satellite system, radio transmitter means responsive to an output from said second radio receiver for transmitting said data corresponding to the geographical position of said second radio receiver, a source of electric power, and switching means enabled when a coded signal received by said standby radio receiver matches said identification code stored in said decoder means for connecting said second radio receiver and said radio transmitter to said source of electric power and for disconnecting said second radio receiver from said source of electric power a predetermined time after said second radio receiver was connected to said source of power.