-
`
`Umted States Patent [191
`Simms et al.
`
`US005334974A
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`5,334,974
`Aug. 2, 1994
`
`[54] PERSONAL SECURITY SYSTEM
`.
`.
`[76] Inv=m0rS= Jules R- slmms, 9405 Elllabeth Ct,
`Fulton, Md- 20759; Chlrles G.
`Simms, 3310 Hall’s Creek La.,
`Owings, Md. 20736; Daniel D.
`Moore, Jr., 108 Midhurst Rd.,
`Baltimore’ Md_ 21212
`
`[21] Appl. No.2 831,901
`.
`F91" 6’ 1992
`[22] F11ed=
`51
`Int. Cl.5 ........................................... .. G08 1 123
`[
`1
`, G / _
`[52] U.S.C1. .................................. .. 340/990, 340/988,
`340/995; 340/426; 342/457; 364/460; 379/59
`
`[56]
`
`.
`Field of Sale]! .............. ..
`340/539, 426, 995, 574, 434, 905, 286-13,
`286-14; 180/287; 379/59, 37, 38, 39, 40, 44, 45;
`342/457, 357; 364/424.04, 449, 460
`References Cited
`U5. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`_
`Re. 32,856 2/1989 Mlllsap et al. .................... ,. 340/539
`3,568,161 3/1971 1611161161 .
`3,683,114 8/1972 Egan c131. ............................ .. 179/5
`3,343,254 11/1974 Drebinger ct a1_ _
`3,986,119 10/1976 Hemmer, Jr. et a1. .
`4,002,983 1/1977 Kavalir et al- -
`ashiv‘inhr Jr- ------------------- -
`4,428,057 1/1984 Setliff et al. ........... ..
`4,596,988 6/1986 wanka _
`4,644,368 2/1987 M1111 ............................. .. 364/42404,
`4,651,157 3/ 1987 Gray et a1. ........................ .. 342/457
`4,697,281 9/1987 o’sullivan -
`1(1);
`:30“ -----
`--------------------- -- 3:33
`4,728,922 3/1988 Christen et al. .
`4,731,613 3/1988 Endo ct al. ........................ .. 342/357
`4,750,197 6/1988 Denekemp et al. ................ .. 379/58
`
`,
`
`,
`
`C1’ e ........... ..
`
`364/521
`
`,
`
`,
`
`errano eta. ..
`
`. ..... ..
`
`4,791,572 12/1988 Green, III et al. ............... .. 364/449
`4,804,937 2/1989 Barbiaux et a1. .
`4,812,820 3/1989 Chatwin ............................ .. 340/518
`4,821,309 4/1989 Namekawa ..
`.... .. 379/58
`4,825,457 4/1989 Lebowitz . . . . .
`. . . . .. 379/40
`4,833,477 5/1989 Tendler
`364/449
`4,852,146 7/1989 HaIChCOCk 61 al. .
`.... .. 379/58
`4,868,859 9/1989 Sheffer ..................... .. 379/39
`4,891,761 l/1990 Gray et al. ..... ..
`364/452
`4,896,370 1/1990 Kasparian et al.
`.... .. 455/77
`4,904,983 2/1990 Mitchell ......... ..
`340/426
`4,907,159 3/1990 Mange et a]. .
`364/436
`49102493 3/1990 Chambers ‘131'
`340/426
`4,924,417 5/1990 Yuasa ............. ..
`.. 364/550
`4996 703 2/1991 Gm
`3.79/40
`‘ ' ' ' "
`’
`’
`y ' ' ' ' '
`340/539
`5,055,851 10/1991 Sheffer .... ..
`.... " 379/59
`5,081,667 l/1992 Drori ct
`340/286.14
`5,109,399 4/1992 Thompson
`364/449
`5,119,301 6/1992 Shimizu et al. ..
`. . . . .. 379/39
`5,128,979 7/1992 Reich et al. . . . . . .
`5,155,6 9 10 9 2 W rth
`.......................... .. 64 460
`8 A 9
`0 am
`3 /
`Primary Examiner-Brent Swarthout
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Royal W. Craig
`
`u
`
`[57]
`
`'
`
`'
`
`'
`
`'
`
`'
`
`ABSTRACI
`_
`_
`_
`A fully automatic personal security system wh1ch com
`bines the advantages of worldwide LORAN-C or GPS
`navigation with the substantially worldwide communi
`cation capabilities of a cellular telephone or communi
`“11°” imam‘ The 55cm“ sys‘em c°mgnses. a T210116
`unit ‘w 1c coinmumcates emergency ' ata 1ncu 1mg
`P05111011 coordm?tesy and a 09mm! dlspatch 8mm
`which receives the emergency data and accurately dis
`plays all necessary emergency information superposed
`on a digitized map at a position corresponding to the
`locamm °f the mOblle “mt‘
`
`-
`
`-
`
`-
`
`-
`
`1" * — _ — _ _ _ _ — _ _ _ _ — w _ _ _ _ _ _ ~ _ “7-7
`
`PUSH BUTTON SWITCHES
`DUE]
`
`4/
`
`REMOTE
`SENSORS
`
`MICRO
`CON
`TROL
`LER
`
`PERSONAL
`.KEY
`SLOT
`
`ADDRESS
`DECODE R
`
`SERIAL
`STEERING
`
`DTMF
`DEC ODE R
`
`SIGNAL
`CONDITIONING
`MODULE
`
`ADAPTER
`MODULE
`
`POSITION
`LOCATOR
`
`TRANS
`MITTER
`
`RECEIVER
`
`27 Claims, 9 Drawing Sheets
`
`DISPLA
`DEVICE
`
`S TATUS
`BA NK
`
`INDICATOR
`LIGHTS
`
`ACTUATOR
`BANK
`
`Petitioner Nissan North America, Inc. - Exhibit 1007 - Page 1
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Aug. 2, 1994
`
`Shee't 1 of 9
`
`5,334,974
`
`ZOIQQW
`
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`
`Petitioner Nissan North America, Inc. - Exhibit 1007 - Page 2
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Aug. 2, 1994
`
`Sheet 2 0r 9
`
`5,334,974
`
`N67.‘
`
`Petitioner Nissan North America, Inc. - Exhibit 1007 - Page 3
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Aug. 2, 1994
`
`. Sheet 3 0:9
`
`5,334,974
`
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`Petitioner Nissan North America, Inc. - Exhibit 1007 - Page 4
`
`

`
`Petitioner Nissan North America, Inc. - Exhibit 1007 - Page 5
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Aug. 2, 1994
`
`Sheet 5 of 9
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`5,334,974
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`Petitioner Nissan North America, Inc. - Exhibit 1007 - Page 6
`
`

`
`U.S.
`Patent
`
`Aug. 2, 1994
`
`Sheet 6 of 9
`
`5,334,974
`
`F I 6' 6A
`
`A
`
`F ROM
`FIG. 6B
`A
`
`5/0
`
`I-
`
`‘I
`
`I»
`
`sENO PERsONAL SECURITY
`MESSAGE
`52/
`L
`SET MICROCONTROLLER 3/0
`TIMER TOIITREFOIVA‘LL TIMEOUT
`START
`/
`522
`IIIANC-UP LINE LI
`‘
`J.
`/523
`I,
`INITIALIzE
`MICROCONTROLLER 3/0 ANO
`Y MICROCONTROLLER
`REAO PERsONAL
`3/0 REOIAL
`IDENTIFICATION KEY 36 AT
`TIMEOUT?
`KEYSLOT 5a
`‘\500
`‘N
`INTERUPT CELLULAR ‘_*__—W
`TELEPHONE 6O
`POLL POSITION LOCATOR 7O
`;
`\
`FOR LONGITUDE a LATTITUDE
`COOROINATEs AiVD ERROR COOE
`DIAL CENTRAL
`524
`DISPATCH
`“
`STATION 40 \526
`sET MICROCONTROLLER 3/0‘
`1
`/527
`TIMER FoRpAéEiT RECEIVER
`5,2
`N DISPATCH sTATION
`;
`CONTACT 7
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`5,4
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`SECURITY MESSAGE \
`iaEeIFR'I'g'v
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`COORDINATE DATA
`COOROINATE OATA ANO
`AND REASSEMBLE
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`PERSONAL
`DISPLAY 34
`L
`POLL REMOTE SENSORS ‘IF/5,8
`ANO PUSH BUTTONS 33
`L::__‘_lY
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`PERSONAL SECURITY
`SITUATION ?
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`TC
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`SYSTEM TEST?
`RECEIPT BY
`v
`MICROCONTROLLER 5IO TIMER
`CE N TRAL DISPATCH
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`CONFIRMED ?
`
`TRANsMIT PERSONAL
`SEC UR I T Y DATA
`
`V
`I.
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`FIG. 6B
`
`5188
`
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`CENTRAL DISPATCH
`OPERATOR INITIATE
`VOICE MODE ?
`
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`
`OPERATOR REQUEST
`RETRANSMISSION OF
`PERSONAL SECURITY DATA?
`Y
`f532
`CENTRAL DISPATCH
`OPERATOR INITIATE
`DATA MODE ?
`
`Petitioner Nissan North America, Inc. - Exhibit 1007 - Page 7
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Aug. 2, 1994
`
`Sheet 7 of 9
`
`5,334,974
`
`/534
`
`44
`5
`
`DISPLAY "SYSTEM TEST" AT
`DISPLAY 34
`‘I
`_ ~ 54”“ DISPLAY 34 TEST
`546
`‘I 333
`DISPLAY "DISPLAY IS "
`WORKING" AT DISPLAY 34
`6
`548
`FAILj RAM 340 TEST
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`DISPLAY "ELECTRONIC /—55O
`MEMORY PAII3"4AT DISPLAY
`
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`DISPLAY "ELECTRONIC /552
`MEMORY IS WORKING " AT ‘
`DISPLAY
`
`TELEPHONE 60 TEST .PASS
`
`DISPLAY "TELEPHONE FAIL"
`AT DISPLAY 34
`
`DISPLAY "TELEPHONE IS /"558
`WORKING"AT DISPLAY 34
`}
`POSITION LOCATOR 70 TEST
`AILi
`PASS
`DISPLAY "POSITION
`RECEIVER FgéL" AT DISPLAY
`562
`
`560
`
`>__ I
`
`FROM
`FIG.6A
`
`A
`
`DISPLAY "POSITION
`RECEIVER WORKING" AT #564
`DISPLAY 34
`
`FIG.6BII
`
`Petitioner Nissan North America, Inc. - Exhibit 1007 - Page 8
`
`

`
`Petitioner Nissan North America, Inc. - Exhibit 1007 - Page 9
`
`

`
`Petitioner Nissan North America, Inc. - Exhibit 1007 - Page 10
`
`

`
`1
`
`PERSONAL SECURITY SYSTEM
`
`5,334,974
`
`2
`information to the authorities. More often, the instruc
`tions and information provided are inaccurate, mislead
`ing, or misunderstood.
`A number of prior art devices have been proposed for
`automating the dispatch of the proper authorities to a
`vehicle in an emergency situation. For example, U.S.
`Pat. No. 3,568,161 issued to Knickel discloses a vehicle
`locator system comprising a network of sensors tied to
`a central command station. A vehicle travelling amidst
`the sensors emits a code to the sensors which is indica
`tive of the identity of the vehicle. The code is received
`at the nearest sensor station, which in turn signals the
`central command station that it has received the code.
`The location of the vehicle is then displayed at the
`central station. The central command station includes a
`display panel with a number of lights placed on a map at
`locations corresponding to each sensor.
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,596,988 issued to Wanka likewise
`discloses a remote-control tracking transmitter and
`tracking support network of remote stations. As a vehi
`cle passes through the network, the vehicle communi
`cates with a remote station. The remote station in turn
`transmits location data to a base station which plots the
`location on a map plotter.
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,904,983 issued to Mitchell discloses a
`theft alarm system for vehicles including an alarm sen
`sor, an auto-dialing mechanism, and a cellular tele
`phone. The alarm sensor activates the auto-dialing
`mechanism to seize the cellular telephone and dial a
`central station. A recorder then broadcasts a two-part
`message over the cellular telephone. The message in
`cludes fixed information relating to the identity of the
`automobile and variable information relating to the
`location of the automobile. The variable information
`may be input by the operator through a microphone
`when the vehicle is to be left unattended.
`U.S. Pat. No. Re. 32,856 issued to Millsap et al. dis
`closes an alarm system in which an alarm condition
`causes a cellular transceiver to automatically transmit a
`telephone call to a central station. The invention incor
`porates a cellular telephone link in a ?xed alarm system.
`The use of a cellular telephone eliminates the need for
`telephone lines. Hence, cutting of the telephone lines
`will not result in negation of the alarm signal. A circuit
`is also shown for determining a particular zone in which
`the alarm condition‘ exists and for transmitting alarm
`information to the central station via the cellular tele
`phone.
`In addition to the above-described alarm systems, a
`number of improvements have been developed for par
`ticular components of the alarm systems.
`For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 3,683,114 issued to Egan
`et al. discloses an automatic dialing and reporting sys
`tem which is responsive to an alarm condition. The
`Egan et al. device seizes a telephone line and initiates
`automatic transmission over the telephone line.
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,428,057 issued to Setliff et al. discloses
`an electronic system for use in a marine environment.
`The system includes a plurality of digitized maps which
`are stored in a database for display on a video terminal.
`“The purpose of this invention is to provide a more
`efficient use of the operator’s time by automatically
`correlating and monitoring the data” (Column 1 lines
`55-57). The displayed map may be compressed or ex
`panded to meet the demands of the operator. In addi~
`tion, a LORAN-C or other-positioning device may be
`coupled to the system and the LORAN-C coordinate
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`1. Field of the invention
`The present invention relates generally to a security
`system for protecting vehicles and, more importantly,
`the people travelling therein. In particular, the present
`invention is a device for expediting a response by the
`appropriate authorities whenever and wherever the
`personal security of a mobile person is compromised.
`The device includes a mobile communication unit and a
`central station. The mobile communication unit is trans
`ported with the mobile person and is triggered by the
`occurrence of a variety of personal security conditions
`to establish cellular telephone contact with the central
`station. The mobile communication unit then communi
`cates longitude and latitude coordinate acta, emer
`gency, ana personal information to the central station.
`All pertinent information is conveniently displayed to
`an operator at the central station in a manner which
`permits the most efficient dispatching possible of the
`proper responding agents to administer the proper secu
`rity measures.
`2. Description of the Background
`Considering this nation’s widespread uprise in violent
`crimes, a person compromises his or her personal secu
`rity each and every time he or she undertakes travel.
`The threat to personal security is most appreciable
`when the travel is by motor vehicle. Our public high
`ways are becoming more congested and the frequency
`of roadside emergency situations is likewise increasing.
`Emergency situations may arise as the result of an
`accident or vehicle breakdown. The emergency may be
`compounded by inclement weather, a lack of communi
`cation ability, a disabling injury, etc. For the duration,
`the motorist is completely prone to theft or violent
`attack. It follows that a prompt emergency response
`from police, paramedics, the ?re department, or other
`service organization is essential for maintaining per
`sonal security.
`Generally, a vehicle operator must find the nearest
`accessible telephone, dial an emergency number, and
`attempt to provide landmark or navigational data for
`the bene?t of the authorities. These tasks are difficult
`when performed under the stress of an emergency, and
`they can be impossible where a disability or injury ex
`ists.
`'
`Cellular telephones provide a partial solution in the
`form of a convenient communication link to authorities
`in times of emergencies. For this reason, cellular car
`phones are now widely considered to be a prerequisite
`for personal security.
`Unfortunately, a cellular telephone only provides the
`communication link. It will not of itself perform the task
`of communicating. This task is left to the vehicle opera
`tor. Consequently, the operator must perform the fol~
`lowing tasks:
`I. remember the telephone number of the proper
`authorities or service providers;
`2. dial the number; and
`3. convey landmark or navigational data to direct the
`respondents to the site.
`The time it takes to complete the above-described
`tasks needlessly jeopardizes the personal security of the
`operator. This is especially true when the operator has
`no idea of his or her location and cannot provide the
`requisite navigational data and/or emergency situation
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`65
`
`Petitioner Nissan North America, Inc. - Exhibit 1007 - Page 11
`
`

`
`5,334,974
`3
`4
`data may be correlated and displayed at the proper
`identity of the mobile entity are superposed on the map
`location of the map.
`at a point corresponding to the location of the mobile
`entity.
`Despite the above-described improvements in the
`?eld of tracking and navigation, it is important to note
`In addition, an apparatus for monitoring a mobile
`that the prior art generally teaches the protection of
`entity in accordance with the above-described method
`chattels as opposed to people. For example, the prior art
`is disclosed. The apparatus comprises the mobile unit,
`devices will prevent theft, tampering, and other en
`which further includes a programmable memory con
`croachments on property interests, and they will pro
`taining identi?cation information characteristic of the
`vide information on a vehicle. However, the prior art
`mobile entity, a keypad for allowing manual entry of
`does not adequately protect the personal security inter
`various help requests, a LORAN-C receiver for provid
`ests of the passenger(s).
`ing position information, and a processor connected to
`More speci?cally, too much effort is required of the
`the programmable memory, to the push buttons, and to
`passenger in an emergency situation and too little infor
`the LORAN-C receiver. The processor is activated
`mation is provided to the authorities to insure a prompt
`upon occurrence of an alarm condition to input position
`and ef?cient response. Personal security demands a
`coordinates from the LORAN-C receiver, and to com
`fully automated yet economical system for summoning
`pose a digital code corresponding to the alarm condi
`an emergency response in accordance with the speci?c
`tion, to the identi?cation information, and to the posi
`personal needs of the individual.
`tion coordinates. The mobile unit also includes a cellu
`lar telephone or other communication device (such as a
`communication satellite) connected to the processor
`through a ?rst communication circuit which communi
`cates the digital code to a central dispatch station via
`the cellular phone. A central dispatch station is also
`disclosed. The central dispatch station comprises a sec
`ond communication circuit for receiving the digital
`code from the mobile unit, a programmable memory
`containing identi?cation information relating to the
`mobile entity, a . processor connected to the second
`communication circuit and memory for decoding the
`digital code, and for correlating the position of the
`mobile entity to a point on a digitized map, and a video
`display connected to the processor for displaying the
`digitized map with the alarm condition and identi?ca
`tion information superposed at the appropriate point.
`It should be noted that the invention is not limited to
`the security of a motorist. Rather, the invention can be
`employed with any type of vehicle, including boats and
`planes. Further, the invention is capable of protecting
`the security of pedestrians, animals, and inanimate ob
`jects. The invention can pin-point the location of any- ‘
`thing capable of carrying a mobile unit.
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`20
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to
`provide a personal security system which quickly and
`accurately provides a central dispatch operator with
`emergency information displayed on digitized map in a
`format which allows ef?cient dispatching of emergency
`25
`assistance to a mobile person(s).
`It is another object of the present invention to pro
`vide the central dispatch operator with personal infor
`mation as well as vehicle-speci?c information for all
`potential operators of the vehicle.
`It is another object of the present invention to pro
`vide a fully automatic personal security system and
`communication protocol which is operative under the
`most severe circumstances to automatically summon an
`emergency response in accordance with the speci?c
`personal needs of the mobile person.
`It is still another object of the present invention to
`provide a personal security system as described above
`which may be operated under less severe circumstances
`to allow the mobile person to manually summon road
`service or other assistance.
`It is another object of the present invention to pro
`vide a personal security system as described above
`which allows the central dispatch operator to selec
`tively establish two-way voice contact with the mobile
`person and which gives the central dispatch operator
`remote control over various functions of the vehicle.
`It is yet another object of the invention to combine
`the advantages of long-range navigation systems such as
`LORAN-C or Global Position Satellite (GPS) with the
`extensive communication capabilities of a cellular tele
`phone or communications satellite to yield a practical
`personal security system with the above-described
`emergency assistance capabilities.
`According to the present invention, the above
`described and other objects are accomplished by pro
`viding a method for dispatching help to a mobile entity.
`The method comprises the steps of storing an identi?er
`in a mobile unit, out?tting a mobile entity with the
`mobile unit, storing identi?cation information relating
`to the mobile entity at a central station, activating the
`mobile unit upon occurrence of an alarm condition to
`determine a position of the mobile entity and to gener
`ate a code indicative of the alarm condition, the identi
`?er, and the position of the mobile entity, ‘transmitting
`the code to a central station, and processing the code at
`the central station to display the position of the mobile
`entity on a digitized map. The alarm condition and
`
`60
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`65
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`The above-described and other objects, features, and
`advantages of the present invention will become more
`apparent from the following detailed description of the
`preferred embodiments and certain modi?cations
`thereof when taken together with the accompanying
`drawings in which:
`FIG. 1 is a perspective drawing of a personal security
`system in accordance with the preferred embodiment of
`the present invention;
`FIG. 2 is a close-up perspective drawing of a mobile
`unit 32 which is included in the mobile security assem
`bly 30 of FIG. 1
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the circuitry in mobile
`security assembly 30 of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 4 is a detailed block diagram of the circuitry of
`FIG. 3;
`FIG. 5 is a detailed block diagram of the adapter
`module 360 of FIG. 4;
`FIG. 6A and 6B show ?ow-chart showing the pre
`ferred operating sequence of the microcontroller 310 of
`FIG. 4;
`FIG. 7 is a block diagram of central dispatch station
`40; and
`FIG. 8 is an illustration of a display output from the
`display console 49 of central dispatch station 40.
`
`Petitioner Nissan North America, Inc. - Exhibit 1007 - Page 12
`
`

`
`5
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`Referring now to FIG. 1, a personal security system
`according to the present invention generally includes a
`mobile security assembly 30 which is transported along
`with a mobile person. Mobile security assembly 30 is
`shown in FIG. 1 to be incorporated in an automobile 20.
`Alternatively, mobile security assembly 30 may be in
`corporated in any other type of vehicle, or may be
`hand-carried by a pedestrian.
`The personal security system also includes a central
`dispatch station 40 which is manned by a central dis
`patch operator.
`In general operation, the mobile security assembly 30
`is automatically triggered by the occurrence of a vari
`ety of personal security conditions or is manually oper
`ated to initiate contact with the central dispatch station
`40. Once a communication link is established, the mo
`bile security assembly 30 communicates a hierarchy of
`longitude and latitude coordinate data, as well as emer
`gency and personal information to the central dispatch
`station 40. The information is conveniently displayed to
`the dispatch operator.
`It is the combination of the coordinate data hierarchy
`and the automatic communication protocol, as well as
`the speci?c content of the information and the unique
`format in which it is displayed at central station 40
`which allows the operator to dispatch the proper re
`sponding agents. The response is more ef?cient, more
`30
`accurate, and it is based on foreknowledge of the proper
`security measures to be taken.
`As shown in FIG. 2, the mobile security assembly 30
`further includes a mobile unit 32 which may be
`mounted in the dashboard of the automobile in much
`35
`the same manner as a conventional AM/FM radio. The
`anterior of mobile unit 32 includes a plurality of push
`buttons 33, indicator lights 35, alphanumeric display 34
`and contrast adjustment knob 31, and a data keyslot 38
`which receives a personal identi?cation key 36.
`The push buttons 33 are used to manually initiate and
`con?rm speci?c help requests or a self-test.
`Data keyslot 38 and personal identi?cation key 36
`provide information regarding the identity and charac
`teristics of the mobile person. Personal information such
`as name and personal account number is digitally stored
`in a memory which is resident on the key 36. This per
`sonal information is read by the keyslot 38 when key 36
`is inserted therein. A wealth of supplemental personal
`information may also be stored directly on key 36 or
`may be stored in a central dispatch station 40 database.
`The supplemental personal information may include
`social security number, names of relatives to contact in
`an emergency, special medical needs, and/or medical
`records, etc.
`In addition to the personal information stored on key
`36, system-speci?c information such as the serial num
`ber of the mobile unit 32 is stored in a memory which is
`resident in mobile unit 32. Supplemental vehicle
`speci?c information such as the vehicle identi?cation
`number, make, model, color, etc., may likewise be
`stored in mobile unit 32 or in a central dispatch station
`40 database.
`It is essential to the invention that personal, system
`and/or vehicle-speci?c data are made available to the
`central dispatch operator regardless of the many poten
`tial operators of the vehicle. The personal identi?cation
`key 36 is an innovative solution. The quality of the
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`combined information and the manner in which it is
`displayed at central dispatch station 40 allows the dis
`patch operator to coordinate a prompt and comprehen
`sive response to any personal security situation which
`may befall the mobile person. The response capability is
`far superior to any existing security system.
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the mobile security
`assembly 30 of FIG. 1. In addition to mobile unit 32, the
`assembly includes a cellular telephone 60 and a plurality
`of remote sensors 41 each connected to the mobile unit
`32.
`Cellular telephone 60 may be any conventional cellu
`lar telephone. It should be appreciated by one skilled in
`the art that other types of communication devices such
`as satellite transceivers may perform the function of the
`cellular telephone 60 and may easily be substituted
`therefor. Hence, the present invention should not be
`construed as limited to a cellular telephone.
`Remote sensors 41 automatically initiate speci?c help
`requests upon detecting various alarm conditions. For
`instance, remote sensors 41 may include smoke or heat
`detectors for detecting a ?re within the vehicle, a
`tamper switch or motion'detector for detecting a possi
`ble theft of the vehicle, an impact detector for detecting
`a collision, a sensor for detecting activation of a vehicle
`air-bag, and any of numerous other sensor types for
`automatically detecting a wide variety of personal secu
`rity situations. The above-described and many other
`sensors are welloknown in the art and commercially
`available.
`In the preferred embodiment of mobile unit 32, there
`are six push buttons 33 which are mounted on the face
`of mobile unit 32. These allow the mobile person to
`manually enter and con?rm that a personal security
`situation has arisen. Push buttons 33 are conventional
`momentary switches (preferably touch-sensitive). Four
`of the push buttons 33 are dedicated to each of four
`common types of emergency assistance, i.e., ?re, para
`medics, police, and roadside service and are clearly
`labeled with-the speci?c type of assistance. In addition, '
`one of the push buttons 33 is marked “ENTER” and is
`provided to con?rm the use of the emergency push
`buttons. This dual-entry convention insures that the
`emergency push buttons are not inadvertently de
`pressed. Alternatively, if a single-entry convention is
`desired, the “ENTER” push button can be con?gured
`to cancel the use of an emergency push button within a
`predetermined amount of time. Finally, the sixth push
`button is marked “TEST” and is provided to initiate a
`self-test of the mobile security assembly 30.
`Mobile unit 32 includes a display 34, which is prefera
`bly a liquid crystal display (LCD) for displaying mes
`sages to the mobile person. A contrast adjustment knob
`31 is mounted proximate to the display 34.
`A panel of indicator lights 35 is provided under push
`buttons 33 to indicate which of the push buttons have
`bee‘n depressed. In addition, an optional piezoelectric
`element or other audible signal may be incorporated to
`sound when a push button has been depressed.
`Keyslot 38 is also mounted on the face of mobile unit
`32 for convenient insertion of personal identi?cation
`key 36. As explained, both are commercially available
`data entry components. For instance, Keyceptical ®
`KC421OPCB and Serial Data Key ® DK4000 by Data
`key ® may be used. Up to 512 bytes of personal infor
`mation may be stored directly on the personal informa
`tion key 36. At a minimum, the name and personal ac
`count number are stored to identify the mobile person.
`
`Petitioner Nissan North America, Inc. - Exhibit 1007 - Page 13
`
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`The general method‘ of operation of the personal
`security system is described as follows.
`Mobile unit 32 remains in a stand-by mode at all times
`before the personal identi?cation key 36 has been in
`serted in keyslot 38. While in stand~by mode, mobile
`unit 32 remains partially operational and continuously
`polls remote sensors 41 to detect vehicular security
`conditions. Position locator 70 also remains on during
`stand-by mode and communications through cellular
`telephone 60 to central dispatch station 40 may be estab
`lished. Hence, the location of the vehicle can be moni
`tored at all times at central dispatch station 40. How
`ever, the push buttons 33 are disabled in standby mode.
`A person entering the vehicle must ?rst insert a per
`sonal identi?cation key 36 in order to fully activate the
`mobile security assembly 30. When key 36 has been
`inserted, digitally encoded personal information is auto
`matically read from the key 36 and is stored within
`mobile unit 32 for subsequent communication to the
`central dispatch station 40. The manual push buttons 33
`become operational and mobile unit 32 enters full secu
`rity mode.
`When in full security mode, a help request may be
`entered manually at push buttons 33 or may be automat
`ically detected at a remote sensor 41. In either case, the
`mobile unit 32 dials the telephone number of central
`station 40. When a cellular communication link is estab
`lished, the mobile unit 32 transmits an array of digitally
`encoded data. The transmitted data is received by cen
`tral dispatch station 40. The central dispatch station 40
`processes the data and displays all pertinent information
`to a dispatch operator. The information is displayed in
`the form of a quickly recognizable symbol such as a
`shield (for police), a tire (for the ?re department), a
`cross (for medical assistance), or a tow-truck (for road
`side service). The symbol appears superposed on a digi
`tized map at a position which corresponds to the loca
`tion of the mobile entity. Both the vehicle-speci?c and
`personal information is displayed adjacent to the sym
`bol. Central dispatch station 40 provides a zoom func
`tion to allow the operator to reduce or enlarge the
`speci?c area of the digitized map in which the emer
`gency symbol appears. For instance, the dispatch opera
`tor may begin with a general map of the United States
`and the emergency symbol would indicate a state in
`which an emergency has occurred. The dispatch opera
`tor may then zoom in on a particular city, then area, and
`?nally, the street on which the mobile entity 20 is pro
`ceeding. It has been found that these display capabilities
`greatly assist the dispatch operator in directing the
`proper authorities to the exact location of the vehicle
`for emergency assistance.
`An important feature of the personal security system
`is a voice mode which allows the operator of the central
`dispatch station 40 to switch from digital (serial) com
`munication to voice communications at any time. In
`voice mode, the operator can provide essential instruc
`tions to the mobile person prior to the arrival of the
`responding agents, or the operator can query the mobile
`person to acquire any additional information which may
`be useful. Voice mode is a useful feature when the mo
`bile person signals a need for service. The central dis
`patch operator can further determine the appropriate
`type of service.
`Another important feature is tone recognition which
`can be utilized while in voice mode to give the central
`dispatch operator direct control over selected vehicle
`functions. By depressing touch-tone telephone 48 keys
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`while in voice mode, the central dispatch operator can
`sound various tones. The mobile unit 32 is provided
`with the capability of recognizing these tones and con
`trolling various vehicle functions in accordance there
`with. This feature is extremely useful in an emergency
`when, for instance, the vehicle 20 is obscured. Electro
`magnetic, visual or audible signals can be emitted to
`help the responding authorities locate the vehicle and
`mobile person. Also, if tampering with the vehicle is
`detected by one of the remote sensors 41, the microcon
`troller 310 or operator of the central dispatch station 40
`can activate one of the relays in actuator bank 50 to
`sound the vehicle horn, illuminate the headlights, etc. If
`an actual theft is detected, the dispatch operator can
`immediately cut power to the engine.
`FIG. 4 shows a detailed block diagram of the mobile
`security assembly 30 which illustrates the internal cir
`cuitry of the mobile unit 32