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Description  |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a system for monitoring a vehicle during a
crisis situation. More particularly, the invention relates to such a
system which may facilitate the efforts of law enforcement personnel and
the like to address the crisis situation.
Crimes involving motor vehicles are often bold and violent in nature. For
example, in a "carjacking" situation, the assailant will forcibly enter
the vehicle while the driver and any passengers are inside. Often, the
assailant will then direct the driver to set the vehicle in motion under
threat of physical harm. When this occurs, the vehicle may, in a matter of
minutes, be many miles from the location of the original forced entry.
Therefore, even if law enforcement personnel have been informed that the
carjacking has taken place, they may be unaware of the current location of
the vehicle. As such, it may be very difficult for them to effectively
respond to the incident.
Various vehicle alarm systems have been provided in the past. Generally,
such systems are concerned with preventing theft of the vehicle while it
is parked. Often, this is accomplished by sounding a loud horn or other
audible device when the attempted theft is detected. Examples of prior art
vehicle alarm systems are shown in the following U.S. Pat. Nos.: 3,646,515
to Vodehnal, 3,553,641 to Moragne, 3,439,771 to Commins and 3,242,460 to
Morrell. The vehicle alarm systems disclosed in each of these patents
would be inadequate to address a crisis situation such as that described
above.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,067,411 to Conley et al. discloses a vehicle emergency
alarm and stop system. This system includes a concealed switch which, when
actuated, causes transmission of an emergency condition message to a
receiver located at a central station. A coded message may then be
transmitted back to the vehicle so that it will be involuntarily retarded
or stopped. A portable transmitter is also provided which can be carried
by an authorized operator to remotely cause transmission of the emergency
condition message. A microphone is also included to allow transmission of
conversations occurring in the vehicle.
While the system disclosed in Conley et al. may offer some utility in a
crisis situation, it suffers from a number of significant disadvantages.
For example, it discloses no means to indicate the location of an affected
vehicle. As a result, it may be very difficult for law enforcement
personnel to quickly find the vehicle. Additionally, movement of the
vehicle under duress can easily cause the range of the vehicle transmitter
to be exceeded.
Various systems and devices have also been proposed to monitor the location
of vehicles without regard to the problems raised by a crisis situation.
One such system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,112,421 to Freeny, Jr. In
this system, a plurality of signpost units are placed at selected
locations in a region which may be traveled by the vehicle. The respective
signpost units emit a coded signal which is received by a vehicle unit.
The strength of the coded signal can be used to determine whether the
vehicle is within the near field or far field region. Adjacent signpost
units broadcast distinguishable signals which can be used to determine
that the vehicle is within an overlap region between the signals emitted
by each. It can thus be seen that the ability of the system of Freeny, Jr.
to locate the vehicle is generally dependent upon the spacing of the
signpost units. Other prior art monitoring systems, of which the system of
Freeny, Jr. is stated to be an improvement, are discussed generally
therein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention recognizes and addresses the foregoing disadvantages,
and others, of prior art systems for monitoring vehicles. Accordingly, it
is an object of the present invention to provide an improved system for
monitoring a vehicle during a crisis situation.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a vehicle
monitoring system in which location of the vehicle is known at a remote
monitoring site so that law enforcement personnel can be notified thereof.
It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide a
vehicle monitoring system which utilizes a plurality of location
determination techniques or devices to more accurately determine location
of the vehicle.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a vehicle
monitoring system having a virtually unlimited monitoring area.
It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide a
vehicle monitoring system having a virtually unlimited monitoring area
while simultaneously having a relatively low power on-board transmitter.
It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide a
vehicle monitoring system including conspicuous vehicle alarm functions.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel method of
determining the location of a vehicle.
Some of these objects are accomplished by a reporting apparatus carried on
board the vehicle. The reporting apparatus includes input means for
selectively denoting occurrence of the crisis situation. Location
determination means are also provided to determine a current location of
the vehicle. The input means and the location determination means are
operatively connected to a system processor means, which initiates
communication with a remote monitoring site via communicator means. In
this manner, selected status information may be provided to the remote
monitoring site. Such selected status information will include information
indicative of the current location of the vehicle. Other information, such
as vehicle make, model, color, license plate number and velocity, may also
be provided.
The reporting apparatus on board the vehicle preferably communicates with
the remote monitoring site via telephone. In this case, the communicator
means includes a cellular telephone and other interfacing devices as may
be necessary for this purpose. The use of such telephone communication
provides a number of significant advantages, as will be described fully
herein.
In presently preferred embodiments, the location determination means
includes at least one receiver device operative to receive selected radio
signals from which the location of the vehicle may be determined. The
specific type of receiver device utilized will often depend on the
exigencies of the particular application. Enhanced accuracy may often be
achieved if a number of such receiver devices based on different
positioning systems are utilized in combination. For some such receivers,
the radio signal used to determine location may be received via the
entertainment radio antenna of the vehicle, provided that a suitable
signal splitter network is installed.
The location determination means may further include inertial means for
producing selected inertial information from which the location of the
vehicle may be determined. This inertial information may be provided
during periods when accurate location information is otherwise
unavailable. Such inertial means may be easily configured utilizing the
combination of a magnetic compass having an electrical output and a
vehicle speed transducer, each operatively connected to the system
processor means.
In presently preferred embodiments, the reporting apparatus further
includes alarm indicator means to conspicuously indicate occurrence of the
crisis situation. The alarm indicator means, which may include a siren
device and a strobe lamp, are selectively actuated by an alarm implemented
by the system processor means. In many applications, it will be desirable
for this alarm to have a first silent state and a second conspicuous
state. While the selected status information is provided to the remote
monitoring site during both such states, the alarm indicator means are
actuated only during the conspicuous state. Additionally, stoppage means
may be provided and actuated during the conspicuous state to facilitate
stoppage of the vehicle. Preferably, the system processor means is further
operative to implement the conspicuous state after receipt of a
preselected alarm signal from the remote monitoring site.
Generally, the input means may include at least one panic actuator
selectively actuatable to initiate the alarm states. Such a panic actuator
may be configured as a panic button depressible a first time to initiate
the silent state and depressible a second time to initiate the conspicuous
state. Preferably, two such panic buttons are provided, one mounted on
board the vehicle in a concealed location and the other included within a
portable panic button device which may be carried on a key chain.
The reporting apparatus may further comprise intrusion detector means
operatively connected to the system processor means for denoting
unauthorized intrusion of the vehicle. Preferably, such intrusion detector
means will include an ignition switch detector and an open door detector.
An actuator mounted in the vehicle is provided to arm or disarm the
intrusion detector means. If an intrusion is detected while the intrusion
detector means are armed, the alarm will be implemented in the conspicuous
state.
The facility at the remote monitoring site will preferably have a
preselected telephone number which is automatically called when occurrence
of the crisis situation has been denoted. Preferably, the remote
monitoring facility includes a visual display device operative to display
the location of the vehicle as within a graphical map-like representation,
or "map image" of the surrounding area. In this manner, movement of the
vehicle throughout such surrounding area may be easily tracked.
Additionally, the remote monitoring facility may further include at least
one facsimile modem to automatically transmit data representative of the
map image to appropriate law enforcement personnel.
To generate the map image, data storage and retrieval means for maintaining
appropriate map data will generally be provided at the remote monitoring
facility. Preferably, such data storage and retrieval means is a compact
disc read only memory ("CD-ROM") device, including a compact disc on which
the map data has been encoded. Such compact discs have a relatively large
storage capacity and may include map data representative of a large
geographical area or many cities.
To further enhance accuracy in vehicle monitoring, the present invention
provides a method whereby vehicle location may be determined at the remote
monitoring facility. This method may be utilized in addition to, or in
lieu of, location determination performed on board the vehicle. First, a
gain pattern is determined for a plurality of cellular telephone receiver
towers in a cellular telephone network servicing an area through which the
vehicle is expected to travel. As the vehicle communicates with the remote
monitoring facility, the field strength of the telephone signal carrier
emanating from the vehicle is detected at three or more of the plurality
of cellular telephone receiver towers. Based on the respective gain
patterns and field strengths, respective direction vectors may be
determined from the receiver towers to the vehicle. Because the locations
of the receiver towers are known, the location of the vehicle may be
ascertained. Preferably, the direction vectors are determined utilizing a
numerical search method to find a minima of a squared sum of a distance
between respective vector tips. Appropriate numerical search methods for
this purpose include a gradient minimization method or a random search
method.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best
mode thereof, to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth more
particularly in the remainder of the specification including reference to
the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 illustrates a display of vehicle location during a crisis situation
as within a graphical map image according to the teachings of the present
invention;
FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of a presently preferred embodiment
of an on board reporting apparatus of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic representation of presently preferred user input
devices which may be utilized by the reporting apparatus of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic representation of presently preferred intrusion
detector devices which may be utilized by the reporting apparatus of FIG.
2;
FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic representation of location determination devices
which may be utilized singularly or in various combinations by the
reporting apparatus of FIG. 2;
FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram of the diplexer shown generally in FIG. 5;
FIG. 5B is a schematic diagram illustrating a presently preferred antenna
for receiving some types of radio signals from which location of the
vehicle may be determined;
FIG. 5C is a flow diagram illustrating an algorithm which may be performed
by the system processor of the reporting apparatus shown in FIG. 2 to
determine location of the vehicle;
FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic representation of presently preferred user display
devices which may be utilized by the reporting apparatus of FIG. 2;
FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic representation of a presently preferred
communicator which may be utilized by the reporting apparatus shown in
FIG. 2;
FIG. 8 is a state diagram illustrating operation of a two state vehicle
alarm which may be implemented by the system processor of the reporting
apparatus shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 9 diagrammatically illustrates a presently preferred embodiment of a
remote monitoring facility constructed in accordance with the present
invention; and
FIGS. 10A and 10B diagrammatically illustrate one method of determining the
location of a vehicle in accordance with the present invention.
Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and
drawings is intended to represent same or analogous features or elements
of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments
of the invention. Such embodiments are provided by way of explanation of
the invention, which is not intended to be limited thereto. In fact, those
of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate upon reading the present
specification and viewing the present drawings that various modifications
and variations can be made. For example, features illustrated or described
as part of one embodiment can be used on another embodiment to yield a
still further embodiment. Additionally, certain features may be
interchanged with similar devices or features not mentioned yet which
perform the same or similar functions. It is therefore intended that such
modifications and variations are included within the totality of the
present invention.
During a crisis situation, such as carjacking, it may not be desirable to
aggravate an assailant at the moment his presence and intents are
asserted. This is particularly true if the assailant is armed with a
weapon of deadly force. Therefore, an unobtrusive and inobvious means of
denoting occurrence of the crisis situation would be of great value. It is
especially important to be able to denote occurrence of the crisis
situation while the vehicle is in motion with the driver under duress of
physical harm. Often, the driver may acquiesce in driving the vehicle for
some distance in an attempt to prevent the assailant from becoming angry.
It can thus be seen that it is generally insufficient for law enforcement
personnel to know only that a crime is progress. Even in the case of
simple theft, it is often not sufficient to know only where the vehicle
was last parked. In order to overcome these deficiencies, the present
invention communicates more detailed information to the remote monitoring
site, including information uniquely indicative of the vehicle and
information regarding the current location thereof.
FIG. 1 illustrates a map image 10 such as may be displayed at the remote
monitoring site during the crisis situation. In this case, the vehicle to
be monitored is shown generally at 12. Various roads and highways along
which vehicle 12 may travel are also displayed within image 10. As shown,
vehicle 12 is here being tracked as it moves along a road indicated
generally at 14. A "window" 16 within image 10 exhibits various other
useful information. For example, it will generally be helpful to display
information descriptive of vehicle 12. Such information may include make,
model, color, plate number and vehicle owner. Information regarding the
current velocity (including speed and direction) of vehicle 12 may also be
provided.
Vehicle 12 and other vehicles to be monitored according to the present
invention are each equipped with an on-board reporting apparatus, a
presently preferred embodiment of which is illustrated in FIG. 2. Such a
reporting apparatus may be installed in the vehicle at the time of
manufacture or may be added to the vehicle later as a retrofit. Except as
may otherwise be necessary, it is contemplated that most of the components
of the reporting apparatus will be hidden or concealed within the vehicle.
This is to reduce the probability that a potential assailant may become
aware of the presence of the reporting apparatus and thus try to defeat
its operation.
As shown, the reporting apparatus preferably includes a system processor
18. Because processor 18 provides operative coordination between a number
of peripheral devices, it may be thought of as the functional "heart" of
the reporting apparatus. In presently preferred embodiments, processor 18
comprises an appropriately programmed digital microprocessor. For example,
a Motorola 6811 microprocessor or a Intel 80188 CX microprocessor are
believed suitable for some embodiments of the reporting apparatus. It
should be appreciated, however, that other types of circuitry or
processors may also be used to achieve similar results. Additionally,
while processor 18 is shown connected to the various peripheral devices by
a single line, such connection is diagrammatic and for purposes of
illustration only. It will therefore be apparent that connection may often
be by more than one electrical line, depending on the requirements of
processor 18 or the particular peripheral device.
Among the peripheral devices operatively connected to processor 18 are
various user input devices indicated generally at 20. Intrusion detector
devices may also be provided, as indicated generally at 22. Various
location determination devices, as indicated generally at 24, are also
preferably provided. User displays, as indicated generally at 26, are
provided to present the user with visual indications of the current
operating conditions of the reporting apparatus. Indicator devices, such
as siren device 28a and strobe lamp 28b, are included to conspicuously
indicate occurrence of the crisis situation to persons near the vehicle. A
stoppage device generally indicated at 30, such as a relay operatively
connected within the vehicle ignition system, may also be provided to
selectively effect stoppage of the vehicle. A communicator, generally
indicated at 32, is included to facilitate communication of processor 18
with the remote monitoring site.
A maintenance terminal, as shown generally at 34, may also be provided so
that selected information may be entered into processor 18 such as at the
time the reporting apparatus is installed in the vehicle. Such information
may include the following: (1) a unique serial number; (2) a description
of the vehicle (e.g., make, model, body style and color, manufacturer
serial number); (3) vehicle license number (including state); (4) the
vehicle owner's name, address and telephone number; (5) next of kin
contact information; (6) information regarding the particular hardware
configuration of the reporting apparatus; and (7) the approximate location
of the vehicle at the time of installation. Additionally, port 34 may
serve as an input for diagnostic software utilized to test the operating
condition of the reporting apparatus. As can be seen, a universal
asynchronous receiver/transmitter ("UART") 36 may be serially connected
between port 34 and processor 18 to facilitate effective transfer of
information. Similar UART devices may be utilized as needed between
processor 18 and the various peripheral devices.
Although not explicitly shown in FIG. 2, an appropriate power supply is
also provided for the reporting apparatus. Generally, the +12 V battery
bus of the vehicle will be utilized to provide the necessary voltage
levels. Preferably, however, a separate twelve volt storage battery will
also be provided to allow operation if the vehicle battery is removed in
an attempt to disable the reporting apparatus. This separate battery may
be a smaller gel cell battery which is hidden in the vehicle. This smaller
battery may be charged by the vehicle charging system, but a diode should
be included so that this smaller battery will not backfeed supply the
vehicle if the vehicle battery has been removed.
In presently preferred embodiments, processor 18 is operative to
selectively implement an alarm having a first silent state and a second
conspicuous state. When the silent state is initiated, processor 18 will
begin communication with the remote monitoring site. The identifying
information programmed into processor 18, along with the location
information, is then provided to the remote monitoring site via
communicator 32. In this manner, it is possible to track the vehicle
during the crisis situation without alerting the assailant.
During the conspicuous state, communication of tracking information will
continue, but siren device 28a and strobe lamp 28b are also actuated. If
desired, siren device 28a may generate three short high frequency bursts
separated by a longer pause. This is the pattern of the letter "s" in
Morse Code: dit-dit-dit . . . dit-dit-dit. The same pattern may also be
presented by strobe lamp 28b. Additionally, initiation of the conspicuous
state causes actuation of stoppage device 30. While a two state alarm will
generally be preferred, it should be appreciated that a reporting
apparatus having only one of a silent state or a conspicuous state is also
contemplated within the scope of the present invention.
The various user input devices collectively referenced as 20 are shown more
clearly in FIG. 3. Such devices include a panic button 38 which is
preferably mounted in a concealed location on the vehicle. This concealed
location should be within easy reach of the vehicle driver, such as on or
near the steering column. Depressing panic button 38 a first time will
denote occurrence of the crisis situation and place the alarm implemented
by processor 18 into the silent state. A second depression of panic button
38 will place the alarm in the conspicuous state.
A second panic button may be implemented on a portable device 40, which may
be easily sized and configured to serve as an ornament carried on a key
chain. Device 40 is in operative communication with a hidden receiver 42
on board the vehicle to denote a crisis situation in a similar manner to
panic button 38. Preferably, portable device 40 is designed to minimize
accidental triggering by spurious radio frequency ("RF") signals which may
have been emitted from other sources on the same frequency. Toward this
end, presently preferred embodiments utilize a spread spectrum modulation
technique to carry a unique digitally encoded signal with an error
detection scheme built in.
An arm/disarm button 44 is also provided to selectively arm and disarm the
alarm as will be described more fully below with reference to FIG. 8. The
outputs of button 38, receiver 42 and button 44 are collectively fed to
processor 18 as indicated at 46.
The intrusion detector devices collectively referenced as 22 are shown more
clearly in FIG. 4. Specifically, presently preferred embodiments utilize
an ignition switch detector 48 and an open door detector 50. The ignition
switch detector 48 indicates that an attempted actuation of the vehicle
ignition switch has occurred. Open door detector 50 indicates that one of
the vehicle doors has been opened. Open door detector 50 may comprise, for
example, parallel switches on each of the vehicle doors or a sensor to
detect current in the dome light circuit. The respective outputs of
ignition switch detector 48 and open door detector 50 are fed to processor
18 as collectively referenced at 52. Although not explicitly shown, other
appropriate detectors, such as door switch detectors, may also be
provided.
Referring to FIG. 5, the various position determination d | | |
