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`Best Available Copy
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`APPLICATION
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`FOR
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`UNITED STATES LETTERS PATENT
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`(3 TITLE:
`33
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`APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TRIGGERABLE LOCATION
`REPORTING
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`‘9 APPLICANT:
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`ALVIN C. ALLEN, JR.
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`"EXPRESS MAIL" Mailing Label NumberEE 5239! 7 '-l l 7 US
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`7 ialai ?
`Date ofDeposit
`I hereby certify under 37 CFR l.l0 that this correspondence is being
`deposited with the United States Postal Service as "Express Mail Post
`Olliee To Addressee" with sufficient postage on the date indicated
`above and is addressed to the Assistant Commissioner for Patents.
`Washington. DC. 20231
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`_
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`Saw
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`£16 an
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`GH EXHIBIT 1004
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`Ex. 1004 Page 1
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`Ex. 1004 Page 1
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`APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TRIGGERABLE LOCATION REPORTING
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`”‘5 9 5
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`This invention relates generally to location reporting apparatus and methods.
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`Field of the Invention
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`PATENT
`ATTORNEY DOCKET NO: 30.l
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`More particularly, this invention relates to location reporting apparatus and methods that
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`use the Global Positioning Satellite System (“GPS”) to ascertain an object’s location.
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`Even more particularly, this invention relates to location reporting apparatus and methods
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`that are triggerable and that report their location derived from GPS signals, via telemetry.
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`10
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`Background of the Invention
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`Frequently, people use credit to purchase consumer items, such as automobiles,
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`televisions or computers. The purchasers take possession of the item and take it to their
`if;
`homes or offices and put them into use. They are responsible for making periodic
`5
`payments to the creditor, the person or entity that extended the credit, to pay off the loan.
`E3
`CB 15 The creditor retains a lien on the property and is also known as a “lien-holder”.
`is
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`In today’s mobile society, people frequently move from one location to another.
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`When they move, they typically take their possessions, including those possessions
`1;
`covered by a lien held by the lien-holder. Sometimes when they move they stop making
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`their periodic payments to the lien-holder, perhaps believing that they no longer have to
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`t: 20 make payments and that the lien-holder will not be able to locate them.
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`Further, some people simply move a possession, such as an automobile, covered
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`by a lien, in order to hide it from the lien-holder when they stop making payments.
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`In either case, the lien-holder is faced with having to locate and take possession of
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`the item covered by the lien. At times, such a process can be expensive, time consuming,
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`25 and even dangerous, requiring the lien-holder to hire investigators to locate the debtor
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`and, hopefully, the item covered by the lien.
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`Stolen items present a similar challenge.
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`In the case of automobiles, thieves can
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`automobile is dismantled into salable parts in just a few hours. The traditional response
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`to an automobile theft is to report the theft to the police who then do their best to find the
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`automobile before it is dismantled.
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`Other consumer items can be dismantled or otherwise placed into an underground
`market within just a few hours of their theft. Alternatively, such items can be removed to
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`the thief's home, where they are hidden from the eyes of the police or other investigators.
`Even people are subject to being “stolen", or kidnapped. Again, the traditional
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`response is to report a missing person to the police and other law enforcement agencies
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`who then conduct a search for the missing person.
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`Summary" of the Invention
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`10
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`Upon receipt of a page or the occurrence of another triggering action, the
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`invention determines its location using GPS signals and reports the location via cellular
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`or satellite telemetry. The telemetry is routed to a service provider, which takes an
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`appropriate action, such as informing the lien-holder of the location of the object covered
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`by the lien.
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`In general, 'in one aspect, the invention features a triggerable location-reporting
`{315
`apparatus comprising a trigger signal, a GPS processor coupled to the trigger signal, a
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`position Signal carrying posrtion information generated by the GPS processor in response
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`to the trigger signal, a telemetry transmitter coupled to the position signal, and a
`he
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`telemetry transmit signal transmitted by the telemetry transmitter, the telemetry transmit
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`”'20 signal carrying the position information.
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`Implementations of the invention may include one or more of the following. The
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`apparatus may include a power supply connection, a first switchable power signal
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`coupled to the GPS processor and the power supply connection, and a second switchable
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`power signal coupled to the telemetry transmitter and the power supply connection. The
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`apparatus may include a controller configured to switch on and off the first switchable
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`power signal and the second switchable power signal. The apparatus may include a
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`power supply coupled to the power supply connection. The power supply may comprise
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`a battery, a solar cell or a vehicle battery. The page receiver, GPS processor and
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`telemetry transmitter may be housed in a housing. The housing may be configured to be
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`10 installed in a vehicle. The housing may comprise at least a portion of an article of
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`clothing. The housing may be configured to be installed in an object to be tracked. The
`telemetry transmitter may comprise a cellular telemetry transmitter. The telemetry
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`transmitter may comprise a satellite telemetry transmitter, a cellular telephone, or a radio-
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`telephone. The trigger signal source may comprise a page receiver, the trigger signal
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`iii15 activating when the page receiver receives a page. The trigger signal source may
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`comprise an alarm or a remote control.
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`In general, in another aspect, the invention features a method for reporting a
`location for an object comprising receiving a page; determining, in response to the page,
`the location of the object using GPS signals; transmitting the location of the object via
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`20 telemetry.
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`Implementations of the invention may include one or more of the following. The
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`method may include applying power to a GPS receiver and a cellular telemetry
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`transmitter upon receipt of the page, and disconnecting power from the GPS receiver and
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`the cellular telemetry transmitter upon transmission of the location of the object. The
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`25 method may include receiving the transmitted location at a gateway and communicating
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`the transmitted location to a service provider. The method may include transmitting the
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`location of the object via cellular telemetry or via satellite telemetry. The method ma
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`include determining if the object is moving and continuing to transmit the location of the
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`object while it is moving. The method may include storing the location of the object and
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`transmitting the stored location of the object if the ability to determine location ceases.
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`In general, in another aspect, the invention features a triggerable location-
`reporting apparatus comprising a. location-signal generating device 'and a telemetry
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`5
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`transmitter coupled to the location—signal generating device. The apparatus may comprise
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`a GPS processor. The apparatus may comprise a page receiver and a page signal
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`generated by the page receiver and coupled to the GPS processor. The GPS processor
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`may generate the location signal in response to the page signal. Power may be withheld
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`from the GPS processor until the apparatus receives a page. Power may be withheld from
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`the telemetry transmitter until the apparatus receives a page. The telemetry transmitter
`may comprise a cellular telemetry transmitter or a satellite telemetry transmitter.
`Brief Description of the Drawings
`Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a system incorporating one embodiment of the
`invention.
`. Fig. 2 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the apparatus according to the
`invention.
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`Fig. 3 is a flow chart ofthe power management feature.
`Fig. 4 is a block diagram of the controller.
`Fig. 5 is a block diagram of the formatter.
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`Fig. 6 is a representation of the data received from the GPS receiver by the data
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`selector.
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`Fig. 7 is a representation of the data output from the.- data selector.
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`Fig. 8 is a block diagram of the power controller.
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`Fig. 9 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the controller.
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`Fig. 10 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a system incorporating the
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`Fig. 11 is a plan drawing of a panic switch according to the present invention.
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`Fig. 12 is a block diagram of an alternative embodiment of the present invention.
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`Fig. 13 is a perspective drawing of the invention incorporated in articles of
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`clothing.
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`5
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`Description of the Preferred Embodiments
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`An object 10, such as an automobile, contains a triggerable location-reporting
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`apparatus 12, as shown in Fig. 1. The apparatus 12 is most likely hidden somewhere in
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`the automobile, and may even be integrated into the body or the engine. For example, the
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`apparatus may be integrated into the automobile’s Primary Computer Module. The
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`1 0 apparatus can either be connected to the power source associated with the object, such as
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`the automobile battery, or it may have a self-contained power source or sources, as
`further discussed below.
`The apparatus 12 receives a page from the paging satellite 14 preferably initiated
`by personnel or some automatic device located at the service provider 16. The page
`request can be initiated from any source. The service provider 16 accepts requests from
`customers to locate objects that have been lost, stolen or otherwise hidden. For example,
`..
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`a lien-holder 18 may request that the servrce provrder 16 locate an object for Wthh the
`debtor has fallen into default. The service provider’s response is to send a page to the
`apparatus 12.
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`\
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`The page need not originate in the paging satellite 14 but can originate in any
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`system capable of sending out pages. For example, a cellular network may be capable of
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`sending out pages and could be used instead of the paging satellite 14. Further, the
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`system need not use a page to communicate between the service provider 16 and the
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`apparatus 12 but can use any system that allows the service provider 16 to uniquely
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`25 address the apparatus 12 via a broadcast signal. For example, very low frequency signals
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`or HF radio signals could be used to communicate between the service provider 16 and
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`the apparatus 12.
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`When the apparatus 12 receives the page it determines its location and direction of
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`movement by accessing the signals of the GPS system 20, which comprises a plurality of
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`satellites 22 broadcasting signals which can be used to determine an object’s location and
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`heading anywhere on the earth. The apparatus 12 then formats the location information
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`5
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`into a cellular telemetry stream and transmits it via the cellular system’s telemetry
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`channels.
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`In the AMPS (Advanced Mobile Phone System) cellular system, which is the
`analog cellular system used in the United States, each cellular base station has 832
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`channels. The 832 channels are divided among at least two competing cellular carriers.
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`10 Each cellular carrier uses 21 of the 416 channels to carrying control signals. Each control
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`channel includes a Forward Control Channel (FOCC) and a Reverse Control Channel
`I”;
`(RECC).
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`The cellular base station uses the FOCC to send information to cellular telephones
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`and the cellular telephones send information back to the cellular base station via the
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`:31 5 RECC. The FOCC and RECC are used to establish a cellular telephone call through a
`a
`local switch. Once the cellular telephone call is established, the call is moved to one of
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`the nOn-control channels and the released control channel is made available to establish
`:5
`other cellular telephone calls.
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`The cellular base station broadcasts a System Identification (“SID”) signal, which
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`20 identifies the cellular system to cellular telephones receiving it. When a cellular
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`telephone is turned on, it compares the SID signal it receives against an SID stored within
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`the telephone, which identifies the cellular telephone’s home system. If the received SID
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`is not the same as the stored SID, the cellular telephone is “roaming” and the “roam”
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`indicator on the telephone is illuminated.
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`Subsequently, the cellular telephone transmits its identity to the cellular base
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`station via the RECC. The RECC transmission includes the telephone’s Mobile
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`Identification Number ”MIN” which isauni ue 10-di
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`it nu be
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`telephone number including an area code) that is programmed into the cellular telephone.
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`The first six digits of the MIN identify the cellular telephone’s home system. The RECC
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`also includes an Electronic Serial Number (“ESN”), a unique 32-bit serial number
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`permanently stored in the cellular telephone which uniquely identifies the cellular
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`telephone. The cellular base station will receive the MIN and ESN through the RECC
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`and determine that the MIN does not correspond to a local number. Using the MIN, the
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`cellular base station will determine the home system for the cellular telephone and send a
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`validation signal to that system. The cellular local switches in the United States are
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`interconnected through the Intersystem Signaling Network, 18-41, which allows them to
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`send and receive validation information.
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`The validation signal, known under 18-41 as a RegistrationNotification Invoke
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`(REGNOT) message, includes the cellular telephone’s MIN and ESN. The REGNOT
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`message also includes the identity of the cellular base station sending the message. The
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`cellular telephone’s home system will respond with a RegistrationNotification Return
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`Result (regnot) message. In the regnot message, the cellular telephone’s home system
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`will either indicate that it will take financial responsibility for calls made by the cellular
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`telephone or it will refuse to validate the cellular telephone. If validation occurs, a
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`subsequent exchange of messages establishes the features (such as call forwarding)
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`available to the cellular telephone.
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`The validation process just described uses the cellular system’s control channels.
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`Again, once a cellular telephone call is initiated the control channel that was used to set
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`up the call is released for other purposes.
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`At least two companies, Cellemetry and Microburst, have developed systems
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`which allow the transmission of information from a cellular telephone to a gateway using
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`25
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`the validation signals. Cellemetry, for example, connects a Cellemetry Service Gateway
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`to an 18-41 on a local switch and registers an SID on the [8-41 network. Cellemetry
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`radios transmit RECC signals to local cellular base stations. The local cellular base
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`stations transmit a validation signal to a Cellemetry gateway.
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`In the RECC signal transmitted from the Cellemetry radio, the MIN normally
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`transmitted in a RECC signal is replaced by a lO-digit equipment identification number,
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`identifying a Cellemetry gateway. The 32-bit ESN normally transmitted can be used as a
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`“payload” to transmit information from the Cellemetry radio or a device incorporating the
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`Cellemetry radio to the Cellemetry gateway. The Cellemetry gateway strips the payload
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`information from the validation signal and sends it to a service provider.
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`The Microburst system is' similar except that the payload is 55 bits instead of 32.
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`A similar system is used in digital cellular telephone applications such as CDMA
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`1 0
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`and TDMA systems.
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`Returning to Fig. 1, upon receipt of the page from page satellite 14, the apparatus
`:3
`12 determines the location and direction of movement, if any, of object 10 using the GPS
`CT]
`signals from the GPS system 20. The apparatus then formats the location and movement
`(3
`information into the payload portion of a cellular RECC signal and transmits it to a local
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`L9 15 cellular base station 24'. The MIN portion of the RECC signal may contain a unique MIN
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`Ia
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`or it may be a MIN that is common to all triggerable location-reporting apparatus
`serviced by a common service provider. Alternatively, the MIN may be different for each
`;“
`of the apparatus.
`'1;
`The cellular base station 24 determines that the apparatus 12 is a roamer and
`E
`(($le 20 passes a validation signalAfito the 15-41 system
`via a local switch 26. The common
`drab"
`MIN will cause the cellular base station to direct the validation signal to a gateway 28.
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`The gateway 28 receives the validation signal and reads the payload data and provides it
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`to the service provider 16. The gateway may also use the information regarding the
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`cellular base station that originated the validation signal to determine an approximate
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`25
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`location of the cellular telephone and pass that information on to the service provider 16
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`as well. A company such as Cellemetry or Microburst may provide the gateway or it
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`may be provided by the service provider 16.
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`The gateway will preferably respond to the cellular base station with a regnot
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`message indicating that the requested roamer status has been denied. The cellular base
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`station will then know not to try to allocate a voice channel to the apparatus.
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`Alternatively, the gateway will not respond to the cellular base station, which will
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`eventually allow the request to expire.
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`The service provider 16 can now communicate the location of the object 10 to the
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`owner 30, lien-holder 18, or to the police 32.
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`A block diagram of the apparatus is shown in Fig. 2. A page receiver 34 receives
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`power through controller 36. Preferably, the power is passed directly through the
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`1 0 controller 36. Alternatively, the power may bypass the controller entirely and be applied
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`directly to the page receiver 34. A battery 38 supplies power to the controller 36.
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`lei!
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`(3
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`Alternatively, an external power source 40 may supply power to the controller 36. As
`still another alternative, the page receiver 34 may have a pager battery 42 separate from
`:3
`the power supplied to the remaining electronics in the apparatus 12. A separate battery
`$3
`L! 15 allows the page receiver 34 to remain in a standby state for a long period of time without
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`ta.
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`{11
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`draining the power supply for the rest of the apparatus.
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`When the page receiver 34 receives a page over antenna 44 that is addressed to the
`page receiver 34, the page receiver 34 transmits a “power-on” signal 46 to the controller
`36. The controller 36 then switches power to a global position satellite system receiver
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`20 48, which receives GPS signals via antenna 50. The GPS receiver 48 acquires the GPS
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`signals and determines a variety of position data regarding apparatus 12. The GPS
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`receiver sends the GPS data 52 to the controller 36.
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`The controller 36 buffers and reformats the GPS data into a form acceptable to a
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`cellular network transmitter 54. The controller then switches power to the cellular
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`25
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`network transmitter and sends a “data to transmit” signal 56 to the cellular network
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`transmitter 54. After the cellular network transmitter has had an opportunity to format
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`________________________—___
`the “data to transmit” into the payload section of the RECC signal, the cellular network
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`transmitter 54 transmits the RECC signal, including the GPS payload, via antenna 58.
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`The cellular antenna 58 may be combined with the GPS antenna 50. One or both of these
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`antennas (or their combination) may comprise dielectric and conducting materials
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`embedded in the object or attached to it with an adhesive or some other attachment
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`5 mechanism.
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`Preferably, the power-on signal 46 is provided to the controller 36 as the result of
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`a page received by the page receiver 34, as discussed above. Alternatively, an external
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`trigger 60 may provide the power-on indication to the controller 36.
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`A flow chart of the power management provided by the controller 36 is illustrated
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`10
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`in Fig. 3. The apparatus 12 receives a page 62. The page receiver wakes up the
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`controller 64. The controller wakes up the GPS receiver and reads the GPS position
`information 66. The controller wakes up the cellular network transmitter and sends it
`formatted position information 68. The transmitter transmits the MIN and the payload to
`the cellular base station which forwards the data via the RECC transmission to the
`15 gateway. The controller then puts the cellular network transmitter and GPS receiver back
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`to sleep 70. The controller then goes back to sleep 72. With this power management
`approach, significant power is being used only when position information is being
`transmitted over the cellular network. The rest of the time the only drain on system
`power is the page receiver, which has a very low power requirement when it is waiting
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`20 for a page. Even this power drain can be eliminated by using a separate pager battery 42,
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`is
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`qua
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`as shown in Fig. 2.
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`The controller may store the last location signal it receives from the GPS receiver.
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`Consequently, if the apparatus receives a subsequent page and the GPS receiver cannot
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`perform its fiinction (because, for example, it is shielded from GPS satellite signals), the
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`25 apparatus will report the stored position. The apparatus may also report the amount of
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`time that has elapsed since the position information was stored.
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`In another embodiment, the ap aratus ma turn on a homin beacon 74 see Fi
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`2) if the GPS receiver is unable to perform its function. The homing beacon will allow
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`the object to be tracked by a receiver tuned to the beacon frequency.
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`A block diagram of the controller is shown in Fig. 4. GPS data 52 is received by
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`a formatter 76 from the page receiver 34 where it is buffered and formatted into a form
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`5
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`acceptable to the cellular network transmitter 54. The formatter 76 buffers the
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`reformatted signal and then transmits it as a “data to transmit” signal 56.
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`A block diagram of the data formatter is illustrated in Fig. 5. GPS data 52 is
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`buffered by a buffer 78. A data selector 80 selects data from the buffered GPS data 52 to
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`be transmitted to the cellular network transmitter 54. A buffer and formatter 82 buffer the
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`10 selected data and convert it into a format acceptable to the cellular network transmitter
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`‘J.
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`54. A memory 84 may be provided to store the last reported position from the GPS
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`receiver. The properly formatted “data to transmit” signal 56 is then transmitted to the
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`cellularlnetwork transmitter 54.
`E3
`An example of the data selector function is illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. The
`:3
`‘29 1 5 Motorola® GT Plus OncoreTM GPS family of chips produces an digital output signal 86
`Ed
`containing bits representing the latitude, longitude, height, velocity, and heading of the
`9;:
`apparatus 12 and the current time, as shown in Fig. 6. Similar products manufactured by
`i5
`other companies may be used instead of the Motorola product. Preferably, only the bits
`2%
`representing latitude, longitude, velocity and heading 88 are included in the data to
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`ya.
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`20 transmit signal 56, as shown in Fig. 7. Preferably, the bits representing height and current
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`time are discarded (although they may be sent in alternative embodiments). Further, it
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`may be desirable to change the order that the various portions of the information are
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`transmitted. For example, it may be desirable to send the heading portion first. The data
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`selector selects the data to be transmitted and arranges it into the desired order.
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`25
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`Returning to Fig. 4, the controller also performs a power management function, as
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`discussed above. Upon receipt of the power-on signal 46 from the page receiver 34, a
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`power controller 90 opens and closes switch 92 to ap ly and remove ower to the GPS
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`Co
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`on
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`receiver 48. The power controller 90 also opens and closes switch 94 to apply and
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`remove power to the cellular network transmitter 54.
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`A functional block diagram of the power controller is illustrated in Fig. 8. While
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`Fig. 8 shows the use of delayed action relays it should be understood that any electronics
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`5
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`that provide the desired function may be used. The power-on signal from the page
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`receiver is applied to two delayed action relays. Relay 96 engages as soon as the power-
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`on signal is applied, which causes switch 92 to close. Sixty seconds later relay 96
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`disengages, which causes switch 92 to open. The sixty-second power off delay is
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`adjustable as necessary to allow the GPS receiver 48 sufficient on time to acquire the
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`10 GPS satellites and determine the location of the apparatus.
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`Relay 98 actuates 45 seconds after the power-on signal is applied. Again, this
`l-é-
`delay is adjustable so that power is applied to the cellular network transmitter 54 only
`3
`after the data to transmit signal 56 has been prepared. The cellular network transmitter 54
`I:
`is turned off 15 seconds after it is turned on, which allows the cellular network transmitter
`i3
`is 15 adequate time to transmit the RECC signal to the cellular base station.
`I
`The controller may have the ability to determine when the apparatus is moving. It
`it:
`can accomplish this by comparing the location data from the GPS location signal to the
`l"
`location data stored in the memory 84 or by examining the velocity data reported by the
`E:
`GPS receiver. In either case, the controller may leave the GPS receiver power on when
`H" 20 the apparatus is moving. The controller can then cause the location data to be reported
`(.b
`from time to time (e.g.)every five minutes) through the cellular telemetry network by
`p \QX‘W
`applying power to the cellular network transmitter for a short period oftime. The
`controller may keep the GPS receiver operational for a period of time after the apparatus
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`stops moving. This allows the apparatus to provide continuous updates on its position
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`25 while it is moving.
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`Another implementation of the elements enclosed in the dashed box in Fig. 4 is
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`shown in Fi
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`. 9. A micro rocessor s stem 100 receives the ower-on si nal
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`12
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`page receiver 34. The microprocessor system may include an interconnected
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`« f? microprocessor, program storage area)and data storage area. The storage areas may
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`include random access memory (“RAM”) and read only memory (“ROM”).
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`Alternatively, the microprocessor system may be implemented entirely with discrete logic
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`elements or application specific integrated circuits (“ASIC”). The microprocessor system
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`may be implemented with a combination of a microprocessor and discrete and ASIC
`logic elements.
`I
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`When the microprocessor receives the power-on signal its stored program causes
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`it to assert and un-assert bit outputs 102 and 104 in sequence, as described above. The
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`10 program may be developed in assembly language, machine language or a higher order
`language such as C++ or the function of the program may be accomplished with discrete
`logic or ASICS or a combination of any of these. Preferably, the program is compiled and
`linked as necessary and stored in one ofthe storage areas for execution by the
`microprocessor to accomplish the described functions.
`A buffer 106 receives GPS data 52 from the GPS receiver 43 and buffers it. The
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`1 5
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`microprocessor system 100 extracts the buffered data through input 108, selects the data
`to be sent out as payload and rearranges it as necessary. The microprocessor system
`outputs the selected and arranged data through output 110 to a buffer/formatter 112,
`which formats the “data to transmit” signal 56.
`Alternatively, the microprocessor system 100 may communicate with the GPS
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`receiver 48, the page receiver 34 and the cellular network transmitter 54 via serial or
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`J’b’
`FIN} 01’
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`parallel COmniunication lines ll4, “6de 118, respectively.
`An alternative embodiment ofthe system that does not use the cellular network is
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`illustrated in Fig. 10.
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`In this embodiment, the apparatus 12 communicates its location
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`25 and heading to the service provider 16 through telemetry communications through
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`satellite 120.
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`In use, for exam le in the automobile recove
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`a
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`lication a lien-holder would
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`contact the service provider and identify an automobile that the lien-holder wants located.
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`The service provider would cause a page to be sent to the apparatus secured within the
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`automobile. The apparatus would receive the page, ascertain its location using the GPS
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`system, and return the location and heading information to the service provider. The
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`service provider could then tell the lien-holder the location and heading of the
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`automobile. Because of the power management feature described above, the service
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`provider could “track” the automobile as it is being driven, providing the lien-holder with
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`multiple readings regarding the automobile’s location. Further, the apparatus may be
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`configured to provide multiple updates of its position while it is moving.
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`The same function could be supplied with respect to any object, including large-
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`screen televisions, computers or any other item.
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`The apparatus could be used to provide a “panic switch” capability, as illustrated
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`in Fig. 11. For example, panic switch 122 includes a blue switch 124, a green switch
`J $3
`126, a red switch 128’and a yellow switch 130. Pressing the switches in the correct order
`‘1“ \ 53
`fibx’w 15 (e.g.’red, red, green, yellow) will cause the external trigger 60 (Fig. 2) to actuate, causing
`h“ 3;;
`the position ofthe panic switch to be reported to through the system illustrated in Fig. 2
`i:
`to the police or other agency. The police can then query the apparatus 12 located in the
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`panic switch 122 through the service provider in order to track its location if it is moved.
`:2
`The apparatus could be adapted to respond to alarm conditions associated with an
`20 object, such as the traditional car alarm, as illustrated in Fig. 12. For example, when car
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`alarm 132 is tripped, it actuates external trigger 60 (Fig. 2) causing the location of the
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`automobile to be reported via the system shown in Fig. 2. Subsequently, the police, the
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`owner or anyone else with the capability can track the automobile through the service
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`provider by sending pages to the apparatus 12.
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`The apparatus 12 could be used to locate people, as illustrated in Fig. 13. The
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`apparatus 12 could be hidden in a belt buckle or in the heel of a shoe. Subsequently, if
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`another person became concerned about the location of the erson wearin the a
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`the concerned person could have the service provider page the apparatus 12 and locate
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`and track it as described above.
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`The foregoing describes preferred embodiments of the invention and is given by
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`way of example only. The invention is not limited to any of the specific features
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`described herein, but includes all variations thereof within the scope of the appended
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`claims.
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`What is claimed is:
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`1. A triggerable locati
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`-reporting apparatus comprising
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`a GPS processor cou ed to the trigger signal;
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`a trigger signal;
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`Q/kg’
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`a I
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`a position signal carryin position information generated by the GPS
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`processor in respo e to the trigger signal;
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`a telemetry transmitter coup d to the position signal;
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`a telemetry transmit signal Iran mitted by the telemetry transmitter, the
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`telemetry transmit signal
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`'arrying the position information.
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`2. The tri 1 erable location-reporting apparatus of claim 1 further comprising
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`a po er supply connection;
`a firsts itchable power signal coupled to the GPS processor and the
`powe supply connection;
`a second 5
`itch'able power signal coupled to the telemetry transmitter and
`the powe supply connection.
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`n-reporting apparatus of claim 2 further comprising
`3. The triggerable l
`ured to switch on and off the first switchable power
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`a controller
`signal an- th scond switchable power signal.
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`4. The triggerable location—re orting apparatus of claim 2 fiirther comprising
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`a power supply coupled o the power supply connection.
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`1 2 3 4 5
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`1
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`2
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`8. The triggerable l cation-reporting apparatus of claim 1 wherein
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`the page rece