GB2484273A

GB2484273A - Bicycle GPS tracking system

Info

Publication number: GB2484273A
Application number: GB1016601.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Harley Clark
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-10-04
Filing date: 2010-10-04
Publication date: 2012-04-11
Also published as: GB201016601D0

Abstract

A bicycle security device consisting of a GPS Tracking device integrated within a bicycle light. The GPS tracking device comprises of a GSM modem, a GPS module, a battery and a microcontroller. The bicycle light appears and functions as normal to avoid suspicion. Should a thief steal the bicycle, the light will act as a trigger. Any use of the light will result in the location of the bicycle being transmitted to its owner either by an SMS text message or uploading its position to a web server which the owner can view online. The owner of the bike, upon being alerted to theft, may cause the bicycle light to flash by sending it a command.

Description

Bicycle GPS Tracking System This invention relates to a GPS tracking system suitable for the protection of bicycles.

Bicycles are commonly stolen and are difficult to locate after theft.

Installation of tracking devices is complicated by the lack of a power source on bicycles. Furthermore, the metal or carbon structure of bicycle frames blocks GSM and GPS signals if tracking devices are completely hidden within the bicycle frame.

The streamlined nature of bicycles limits the number of places covert surveillance devices can be placed outside the frame and still be obscured from potential thieves.

The present invention proposes an electronic bicycle light with an integrated GPS tracking device which is triggered when the light is switched on or off. Triggering the tracking device in this way results in the whereabouts of the bicycle being reported to its owner when the bicycle light is being used.

* The advantage of the present invention are that the bicycle light, typically a working bicycle tail light, is a standard bicycle feature that should not attract suspicion by its presence.

* The device can be triggered when the bicycle light is being used and therefore likely to be outside where GPS signals are strongest.

* The device can enter a sleep mode when not in use, enabling very long battery life, and only wake when the device detects that the bicycle light is being used.

* The device enables the GSM and GPS antennas to be housed outside of the bicycle frame where there is no interference from the frames metal structure.

* The device can be fitted to any bicycle and does not require modification to the structure of the bicycle.

* The device has a light on/off button which can also have the second function of activating the tracking functions of the device.

An example of the invention is now described by referring to the accompanying drawings in which -Figure 1 Shows a bicycle seat with a tail light with integrated tracking device.

-Figure 2 Shows a schematic of the device according to the invention.

A bicycle light is constructed according to figure 2 which contains a GSM modem, a GPS module and a microcontroller on a printed circuit board. The circuit board shall also contain lights (preferably LEDs) which are also controlled by the microcontroller and an on/off button which is monitored by the microcontroller. This shall herein be described as the "device".

The device shall function as a bicycle light as normally expected with the on/off button switching the lights on and off The workings of the device shall be hidden within the bicycle light so as not to attract attention and the light should appear and function as normal.

This configuration of a Microcontroller, GSM Modem and GPS Module, when used to report a devices location, is commonly refened to as a "GPS Tracker". The device shall function as a GPS tracker and should be able to accept commands from a user from the GSM modem, retrieve its location from the GPS module and report this location back to the user. This is standard practise according to the current state of the art.

The device owner shall be able to tell the device that it has been stolen by either sending the device an SMS text message (e.g. sending an SMS containing the word "STOLEN") or reporting the device stolen online via a web service which the device shall also connect to and monitor.

The device shall be powered by a battery that is preferably rechargeable. The device will remain in a sleep state most of the time to prolong battery life. In this mode, using a typical low-power microprocessor, the current consumption of the device can be maintained at less than 1 micro amp enabling years of operation from a small lithium ion battery.

If the device detects that the light is switched on or off it shall connect to the GSM network and check if it has been reported stolen. (eg. By checking its SMS text messages) It shall also wake at preset intervals, (e.g. every 6 hours) and check if it has been reported stolen. These preset intervals shall be configurable by the device owner and shall be indicative of the owners preference for a faster response or a longer battery life.

When the device detects that it has been reported stolen it shall change state and enter "stolen mode". In this mode it shall immediately attempt to report its GPS position. It shall also attempt to periodically report its GPS position. (e.g. every 6 hours).

The device may also fall back to reporting its location via GSM positioning if it is unable to obtain a GPS lock. GSM positioning triangulates the devices position based on the strength of the GSM signals it is receiving from nearby mobile phone towers.

This is less accurate than GPS positioning but still provides the owner of an indication of where there bicycle is.

If the stolen bicycle containing the device is inside a building, which it is likely to be, then the GPS module may be unable to obtain an accurate GPS position. To help overcome this, the device shall monitor the use of the light when it is reported stolen.

Any time it is switched on or off the device shall report its position which should typically be when the bicycle is outside.

Once the device has been reported stolen and the light has been used the device may also begin periodically uploading its location to a web server (e.g. every 30 seconds) allowing a detailed trace of the devices movements to be viewed by its owner. The owner shall be able to view a map online which shows a line tracing where the bicycle has been.

The device may also contain additional sensors such as vibration sensors that shall cause the device to report its position should it detect that the bicycle is being used.

The owner of the device can configure it to enter a mode whereby it will immediately notify them should the bicycle be moved. They may do this by sending it a text message or by holding down the on/off button. (eg for 3 seconds) after which the light shall flash to indicate it is in "active" mode, This is useful to the owner when they place the bicycle in a high risk area (e.g. a public bicycle rack) and they do not expect it to encounter movement until they return. Continuous movement for 30 seconds may indicate that the bicycle is being stolen and they shall be immediately notified by text and the device shall begin transmitting its GPS coordinates and optionally uploading these to a web server.

The device may also contain an audible alarm and/or RF transmitter which can be triggered by sending the device a text message. This may be useful in locating the device when its approximate whereabouts have been determined but it cannot be pinpointed due to it being inside a building, over a fence or otherwise not easily visible. Additionally, the owner shall be able to send the device a text message which shall cause the bicycle light to flash which may be useful for finding the device at night.

Claims

Claims I A bicycle light containing a GSM modem, a GPS module, a battery and a microcontroller that is capable of detecting when the bicycle light is switched on or off, obtaining its GPS coordinates and transmitting these to the bicycle owner.
2 A bicycle light according to claim 1 in which the microcontroller shall exist in a sleep state to conserve the battery power and only enable the USM module when the device detects that the light is being used.
3 A bicycle light according to claim 1 in which the device contains a vibration sensor to detect movement of the bicycle and uploads its location when movement is detected.
4 A bicycle light according to claim 3 in which the vibration sensor is activated and deactivated by holding down the of the lights on/off button.
A bicycle light according to claim 1 whereby the owner of the device may cause the it to emit an audible alarm or a radio frequency signal by sending it an SMS text message or by communicating with it via an online interface.
6 A bicycle light according to claim 1 whereby the owner of the device may cause the bicycle light to flash by sending it an SMS text message or by communicating with it via an online interface.
7 A bicycle light according to claim 1 in which the device contains a timer that periodically wakes to check if the owner has reported the bicycle stolen and uploads its GPS coordinates if so.
8 A bicycle light according to claim 1 whereby the owner of the device shall control it via sending it SMS text messages and the device shall respond with its GPS coordinates via SMS text message 9 A bicycle light according to claim 1 whereby the owner of the device shall control it via a web interface and the device will respond by uploading its location to a web server which the owner can view online.