US6509868B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle tracker with user notifications and associated methods
Assignee: Omega Patents LLC
•
Filing: 2001-05-17
•
Granted: 2003-01-21
•
Expires: 2021-05-17
Abstract
Abstract A tracking system includes a vehicle tracking unit and a monitoring station communicating therewith. The vehicle tracking unit preferably includes a vehicle position determining device, a wireless communications device, and a controller connected to the wireless communications device and the vehicle position determining device. The controller preferably cooperates with the wireless communications device to send an alert message. The monitoring station may include a user interface for generating a sequence of alert message notifications based upon receiving the alert message sent from the vehicle tracking unit, and for canceling any remaining alert message notification of the sequence based upon a cancellation command response from a user having already received the alert message notification.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth E. Flick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 12:49
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08G; G08G1/00; G08G1/20; G08G1/205; B; B60; B60R; B60R25/00; B60R25/01; B60R25/04; B60R25/10; B60R25/102; B60R25/104; B60R25/30; B60R25/33; G07; G07C; G07C5/00; G07C5/008; G08G1/123; G08G1/127; B60R2325/00; B60R2325/20; B60R2325/202; B60R2325/205; B60W; B60W2556/00; B60W2556/45; B60W2556/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 49
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
A vehicle tracking system comprising: a vehicle tracking unit and a monitoring station communicating therewith; said vehicle tracking unit comprising a vehicle position determining device, a wireless communications device, and a controller connected to said wireless communications device and said vehicle position determining device; said controller cooperating with said wireless communications device to send an alert message; said monitoring station comprising a user interface for generating a sequence of alert message notifications based upon receiving the alert message sent from said vehicle tracking unit, and for canceling any remaining alert message notification of the sequence based upon a cancellation command response from a user having already received the alert message notification.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
111 words
A vehicle tracking system comprising: a vehicle tracking unit and a monitoring station communicating therewith; said vehicle tracking unit comprising a vehicle position determining device, a wireless communications device, and a controller connected to said wireless communications device and said vehicle position determining device; said controller cooperating with said wireless communications device to send an alert message; said monitoring station comprising a user interface for generating a sequence of alert message notifications based upon receiving the alert message sent from said vehicle tracking unit, and for canceling any remaining alert message notification of the sequence based upon a cancellation command response from a user having already received the alert message notification.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A vehicle tracking system according to claim 1 wherein the alert message sent from said vehicle tracking unit comprises at least one of an vehicle stolen alert message, and a vehicle alarm sounding alert message.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A vehicle tracking system according to claim 1 wherein the alert message sent from said vehicle tracking unit comprises at least one of a vehicle speeding alert message, and a vehicle acceleration alert message.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A vehicle tracking system according to claim 1 wherein the alert message sent from said vehicle tracking unit comprises an unauthorized remote transmitter alert message.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
A vehicle tracking system according to claim 1 wherein the alert message sent from said vehicle tracking unit comprises at least one of a low vehicle battery alert message, and a device malfunction alert message.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A vehicle tracking system according to claim 1 wherein said vehicle position determining device comprises a Global Positioning System (GPS) device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A vehicle tracking system according to claim 1 wherein said wireless communications device comprises a cellular telephone communications device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A vehicle tracking system according to claim 7 wherein said cellular telephone communications device communicates over a cellular control channel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
A vehicle tracking system according to claim 1 wherein said user interface comprises an Internet interface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
A vehicle tracking system according to claim 1 wherein said user interface comprises a telephone network interface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
126 words
A vehicle tracking system comprising: a vehicle tracking unit and a monitoring station communicating therewith; said vehicle tracking unit comprising a vehicle position determining device, a wireless communications device, and a controller connected to said wireless communications device and said vehicle position determining device; said controller being switchable to an armed mode when a user is away from the vehicle for cooperating with said wireless communications device and said vehicle position determining device to send a speeding alert message based upon the vehicle exceeding a speed threshold for longer than a predetermined time indicative of aggressive driving of the vehicle; said monitoring station generating at least one speeding alert message notification for the user based upon receiving the speeding alert message from said vehicle tracking unit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
126 words
A vehicle tracking system comprising: a vehicle tracking unit and a monitoring station communicating therewith; said vehicle tracking unit comprising a vehicle position determining device, a wireless communications device, and a controller connected to said wireless communications device and said vehicle position determining device; said controller being switchable to an armed mode when a user is away from the vehicle for cooperating with said wireless communications device and said vehicle position determining device to send a speeding alert message based upon the vehicle exceeding a speed threshold for longer than a predetermined time indicative of aggressive driving of the vehicle; said monitoring station generating at least one speeding alert message notification for the user based upon receiving the speeding alert message from said vehicle tracking unit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
53 words
A vehicle tracking system according to claim 11 wherein the at least one speeding alert message notification comprises a series thereof; and wherein said monitoring station cancels any remaining speeding alert message notification of the series based upon a cancellation command response from an entity already having received the speeding alert message notification.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
A vehicle tracking system according to claim 11 wherein said vehicle position determining device comprises a Global Positioning System (GPS) device.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
A vehicle tracking system according to claim 11 wherein said wireless communications device comprises a cellular telephone communications device.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
A vehicle tracking system according to claim 14 wherein said cellular telephone communications device communicates over a cellular control channel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
A vehicle tracking system according to claim 11 wherein said monitoring station comprises a user interface for accepting at least one command from a user and sending at least one alert to the user.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
A vehicle tracking system according to claim 16 wherein said user interface comprises an Internet interface.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
A vehicle tracking system according to claim 16 wherein said user interface comprises a telephone network interface.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
120 words
A vehicle tracking system comprising: a vehicle tracking unit and a monitoring station communicating therewith; said vehicle tracking unit comprising a vehicle position determining device, a wireless communications device, and a controller connected to said wireless communications device and said vehicle position determining device; said controller being switchable to an armed mode when a user is away from the vehicle for cooperating with said wireless communications device and said vehicle position determining device to send an acceleration alert message based upon the vehicle exceeding an acceleration threshold indicative of aggressive driving of the vehicle; said monitoring station generating at least one acceleration alert message notification for the user based upon receiving the acceleration alert message from said vehicle tracking unit.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
120 words
A vehicle tracking system comprising: a vehicle tracking unit and a monitoring station communicating therewith; said vehicle tracking unit comprising a vehicle position determining device, a wireless communications device, and a controller connected to said wireless communications device and said vehicle position determining device; said controller being switchable to an armed mode when a user is away from the vehicle for cooperating with said wireless communications device and said vehicle position determining device to send an acceleration alert message based upon the vehicle exceeding an acceleration threshold indicative of aggressive driving of the vehicle; said monitoring station generating at least one acceleration alert message notification for the user based upon receiving the acceleration alert message from said vehicle tracking unit.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
53 words
A vehicle tracking system according to claim 19 wherein the at least one acceleration alert message notification comprises a series thereof; and wherein said monitoring station cancels any remaining acceleration alert message notification of the series based upon a cancellation command response from an entity already having received the acceleration alert message notification.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
A vehicle tracking system according to claim 19 wherein said vehicle position determining device comprises a Global Positioning System (GPS) device.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
A vehicle tracking system according to claim 19 wherein said wireless communications device comprises a cellular telephone communications device.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
A vehicle tracking system according to claim 22 wherein said cellular telephone communications device communicates over a cellular control channel.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
34 words
A vehicle tracking system according to claim 19 wherein said monitoring station comprises a user interface for accepting at least one command from a user and sending at least one alert to the user.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
A vehicle tracking system according to claim 24 wherein said user interface comprises an Internet interface.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
A vehicle tracking system according to claim 24 wherein said user interface comprises a telephone network interface.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
106 words
A vehicle tracking system comprising: a vehicle tracking unit and a monitoring station communicating therewith; said vehicle tracking unit comprising a vehicle position determining device, a wireless communications device, a controller connected to said wireless communications device and said vehicle position determining device, and at least one remote transmitter for operating said controller; said controller cooperating with said wireless communications device to send an unauthorized transmitter alert message based upon an unauthorized remote transmitter being learned into said controller; said monitoring station generating at least one unauthorized remote transmitter alert message notification based upon receiving the unauthorized remote transmitter alert message from said vehicle tracking unit.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
106 words
A vehicle tracking system comprising: a vehicle tracking unit and a monitoring station communicating therewith; said vehicle tracking unit comprising a vehicle position determining device, a wireless communications device, a controller connected to said wireless communications device and said vehicle position determining device, and at least one remote transmitter for operating said controller; said controller cooperating with said wireless communications device to send an unauthorized transmitter alert message based upon an unauthorized remote transmitter being learned into said controller; said monitoring station generating at least one unauthorized remote transmitter alert message notification based upon receiving the unauthorized remote transmitter alert message from said vehicle tracking unit.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
59 words
A vehicle tracking system according to claim 27 wherein the at least one unauthorized remote transmitter alert message notification comprises a series thereof; and wherein said monitoring station cancels any remaining unauthorized remote transmitter alert message notification of the series based upon a cancellation command response from an entity already having received the unauthorized remote transmitter alert message notification.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
21 words
A vehicle tracking system according to claim 27 wherein said vehicle position determining device comprises a Global Positioning System (GPS) device.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
19 words
A vehicle tracking system according to claim 27 wherein said wireless communications device comprises a cellular telephone communications device.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
20 words
A vehicle tracking system according to claim 30 wherein said cellular telephone communications device communicates over a cellular control channel.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
34 words
A vehicle tracking system according to claim 27 wherein said monitoring station comprises a user interface for accepting at least one command from a user and sending at least one alert to the user.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
16 words
A vehicle tracking system according to claim 32 wherein said user interface comprises an Internet interface.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
17 words
A vehicle tracking system according to claim 32 wherein said user interface comprises a telephone network interface.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for operating a vehicle tracking system comprising a vehicle tracking unit and a monitoring station communicating therewith, the vehicle tracking unit comprising a vehicle position determining device, a wireless communications device, and a controller connected to the wireless communications device and the vehicle position determining device, the method comprising: using the controller cooperating with the wireless communications device to send an alert message; and using the monitoring station for generating a sequence of alert message notifications based upon receiving the alert message sent from said vehicle tracking unit, and for canceling any remaining alert message notification of the sequence based upon a cancellation command response from a user having already received the alert message notification.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for operating a vehicle tracking system comprising a vehicle tracking unit and a monitoring station communicating therewith, the vehicle tracking unit comprising a vehicle position determining device, a wireless communications device, and a controller connected to the wireless communications device and the vehicle position determining device, the method comprising: using the controller cooperating with the wireless communications device to send an alert message; and using the monitoring station for generating a sequence of alert message notifications based upon receiving the alert message sent from said vehicle tracking unit, and for canceling any remaining alert message notification of the sequence based upon a cancellation command response from a user having already received the alert message notification.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 35 wherein the alert message sent from said vehicle tracking unit comprises at least one of an vehicle stolen alert message, and a vehicle alarm sounding alert message.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 35 wherein the alert message sent from said vehicle tracking unit comprises at least one of a vehicle speeding alert message, and a vehicle acceleration alert message.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 35 wherein the alert message sent from said vehicle tracking unit comprises an unauthorized remote transmitter alert message.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 35 wherein the alert message sent from said vehicle tracking unit comprises at least one of a low vehicle battery alert message, and a device malfunction alert message.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 35 wherein said vehicle position determining device comprises a Global Positioning System (GPS) device.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 35 wherein said wireless communications device comprises a cellular telephone communications device.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 41 wherein said cellular telephone communications device communicates over a cellular control channel.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 35 wherein the monitoring station comprises an Internet interface.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 35 wherein the monitoring station comprises a telephone network interface.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5055851A
Cited
US5177490A
Cited
US5043736B1
Cited
US5043736A
Cited
US5262774A
Cited
US5334986A
Cited
US5223844B1
Cited
US5223844A
Cited
US5777580A
Cited
US5365450A
Cited
US6169497B1
Cited
US5673305A
Cited
US6166626A
Cited
US5570087A
Cited
US6154648A
Cited
US5515043A
Cited
CA2133673A1
Cited
US6075458A
Cited
US6131067A
Cited
US6049269A
Cited
US5825283A
Cited
US6069570A
Cited
US6151551A
Cited
US5969433A
Cited
US6018657A
Cited
US6055426A
Cited
US6148212A
Cited
US6025744A
Cited
US6195597B1
Cited
US6339745B1
Cited
US6321091B1
Cited
US6133855A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-01-20 | 2006-07-22 | 2007-01-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-01-20 | 2010-07-22 | 2011-01-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-01-20 | 2014-07-22 | 2015-01-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |