Patent US2009555A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US5884221A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Vehicle locating and communicating method and apparatus

Assignee: IRON OAKS TECHNOLOGIES LLC
•
Filing: 1998-03-26
•
Granted: 1999-03-16
•
Expires: 2018-03-26
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A method and apparatus for locating and communicating with vehicles is provided, including at least one mobile cellular unit connected to at least one microprocessor and installed within a vehicle. The microprocessor interrogates the mobile cellular unit to obtain location information from an overhead message stream transmitted from cellular telephone transmitter sites. The location is displayed on a display located in the vehicle or the microprocessor periodically instructs the mobile cellular unit to initiate a call to a host controller and, upon receipt of transmitting instructions from the host controller, transmits the location information for display on a screen connected to the host controller.

Inventors

  • 👤 Larry C. Wortham

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 17:53
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08G; G08G1/00; G08G1/20; G01; G01D; G01D4/00; G01D4/002; G01D4/004; G07; G07C; G07C5/00; G07C5/008; H; H04; H04B; H04B7/00; H04B7/14; H04B7/15; H04B7/185; H04B7/1853; H04B7/18558; H04W; H04W4/00; H04W4/02; H04W4/021; H04W4/029; H04W4/30; H04W4/40; H04W4/48; H04W76/00; H04W76/10; H04W88/00; H04W88/02; H04W60/00; H04W60/04; H04W8/00; H04W8/18; H04W8/183; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B90/00; Y02B90/20; Y04; Y04S; Y04S20/00; Y04S20/30; Y10; Y10S; Y10S379/00; Y10S379/913

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim 91 words
A remote host controller for communicating with a cellular transceiver, comprising: a memory operable to store a report associated with the cellular transceiver, the report indicating an approximate location of the cellular transceiver; a database operable to store a plurality of cellular numbers; a processor coupled to the memory and the database, the processor operable to select a cellular number associated with a cellular system serving the approximate location of the cellular transceiver; and a communications device operable to initiate a call to the cellular transceiver using the selected cellular number.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 91 words
A remote host controller for communicating with a cellular transceiver, comprising: a memory operable to store a report associated with the cellular transceiver, the report indicating an approximate location of the cellular transceiver; a database operable to store a plurality of cellular numbers; a processor coupled to the memory and the database, the processor operable to select a cellular number associated with a cellular system serving the approximate location of the cellular transceiver; and a communications device operable to initiate a call to the cellular transceiver using the selected cellular number.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 20 words
The remote host controller of claim 1, wherein the report comprises a system identification number associated with the cellular system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 26 words
The remote host controller of claim 1, wherein the report comprises a system identification number and a cell site identification number associated with the cellular system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 18 words
The remote host controller of claim 1, wherein the report comprises a geographical location of the cellular transceiver.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 17 words
The remote host controller of claim 1, wherein the cellular numbers comprise a plurality of roamer numbers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 35 words
The remote host controller of claim 1, wherein: the report comprises a system identification number associated with the cellular system; and the database is further operable to store a geographical location of the cellular system.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 20 words
The remote host controller of claim 1, wherein the communications device initiates calls to the cellular transceiver at predetermined intervals.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 48 words
The remote host controller of claim 1, wherein: the processor selects at least two cellular numbers servicing a predetermined area surrounding the approximate location of the cellular transceiver; and the communications device initiates a call to the selected cellular numbers until contact is made with the cellular transceiver.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 57 words
A method for communicating with a cellular transceiver, comprising: receiving a system identification number associated with a cellular system operating in an area including the location of a cellular transceiver; retrieving a cellular number of the cellular system in response to the system identification number; and initiating a call to the cellular transceiver using the cellular number.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 57 words
A method for communicating with a cellular transceiver, comprising: receiving a system identification number associated with a cellular system operating in an area including the location of a cellular transceiver; retrieving a cellular number of the cellular system in response to the system identification number; and initiating a call to the cellular transceiver using the cellular number.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 20 words
The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of receiving a cell identification number associated with the cellular system.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 25 words
The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of determining a geographical location of the cellular transceiver in response to the system identification number.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 13 words
The method of claim 9, wherein the cellular number comprises a roamer number.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method of claim 9, wherein the step of initiating a call is performed at predetermined intervals.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 15 words
The method of claim 9, wherein all steps are performed at a remote host controller.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 42 words
The method of claim 9, further comprising: retrieving at least two cellular numbers servicing a predetermined area surrounding the approximate location of the cellular transceiver; and initiating a call to the selected cellular numbers until contact is made with the cellular transceiver.
Claim 18
Independent Claim 87 words
An apparatus for communicating with a cellular transceiver, comprising: a database operable to store a plurality of cellular numbers associated with a plurality of cellular systems; a processor coupled to the database, the processor operable to receive a report associated with a cellular transceiver, the processor further operable to retrieve from the database a cellular number of a cellular system servicing the cellular transceiver in response to the report; and a communications device operable to initiate a call to the cellular transceiver using the retrieved cellular number.
Claim 19
Independent Claim 87 words
An apparatus for communicating with a cellular transceiver, comprising: a database operable to store a plurality of cellular numbers associated with a plurality of cellular systems; a processor coupled to the database, the processor operable to receive a report associated with a cellular transceiver, the processor further operable to retrieve from the database a cellular number of a cellular system servicing the cellular transceiver in response to the report; and a communications device operable to initiate a call to the cellular transceiver using the retrieved cellular number.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 15 words
The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the cellular numbers comprise a plurality of roamer numbers.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 18 words
The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the report comprises a system identification number associated with the cellular system.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 24 words
The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the report comprises a system identification number and a cell site identification number associated with the cellular system.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 32 words
The apparatus of claim 16, wherein: the report comprises a system identification number of the cellular system; and the database is further operable to store a geographical location of the cellular system.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 16 words
The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the report comprises a geographical location of the cellular transceiver.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 18 words
The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the communications device initiates calls to the cellular transceiver at predetermined intervals.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 46 words
The apparatus of claim 16, wherein: the processor selects at least two cellular numbers servicing a predetermined area surrounding the approximate location of the cellular transceiver; and the communications device initiates a call to the selected cellular numbers until contact is made with the cellular transceiver.
Claim 27
Independent Claim 50 words
A method for communicating with a cellular transceiver, comprising: receiving a report comprising a system identification number associated with a cellular system serving an area including a cellular transceiver; retrieving a cellular number of the cellular system; and initiating a telephone call to the cellular transceiver using the cellular number.
Claim 28
Independent Claim 50 words
A method for communicating with a cellular transceiver, comprising: receiving a report comprising a system identification number associated with a cellular system serving an area including a cellular transceiver; retrieving a cellular number of the cellular system; and initiating a telephone call to the cellular transceiver using the cellular number.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 16 words
The method of claim 24, wherein the report indicates the geographic location of the cellular transceiver.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 13 words
The method of claim 24, wherein the cellular number is a roamer number.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method of claim 24, wherein the step of initiating a call is performed at predetermined intervals.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method of claim 24, wherein the report comprises a cell site identification number associated with the cellular system.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim 16 words
The method of claim 24, wherein the report comprises a geographical location of the cellular transceiver.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim 15 words
The method of claim 24, wherein all steps are performed at a remote host controller.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim 42 words
The method of claim 24, further comprising: retrieving at least two cellular numbers servicing a predetermined area surrounding the approximate location of the cellular transceiver; and initiating a call to the selected cellular numbers until contact is made with the cellular transceiver.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2002-03-15 2002-09-14 2003-03-16 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2006-03-15 2006-09-14 2007-03-16 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2010-03-15 2010-09-14 2011-03-16 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag