FR2736789A1 - Positional location device for vehicle esp. for recovery after theft - Google Patents

Abstract

The device includes an electronic module (1) which is positioned in a vehicle. The electronic modules includes a GPS satellite position information receiver (2) which interfaces (4) with the digital GSM telephone network via a telephone terminal block containing a transceiver (3). The transceiver contains only the digital IC and transmission sections as the keyboard and display screen are not required. When an encrypted request is received on the telephone receiver, digital information providing position information is generated.

Description

REMOTE LOCATION DEVICE OF A
MOBILE
The present invention relates to a remote location device for a mobile.

 I1 can be suitable for all types of vehicles which one wishes to be able to know the position, and is in particular intended for private cars which one wishes to find quickly in the event of theft.

 There are very many cases where it is interesting to be able to know at any time and from a distance the position of a mobile. Let us cite as an example a set of trucks whose movements we want to follow in order to optimize traffic, a fleet of taxis from the same company that it can be useful to locate even in the absence of the driver, or any other vehicles, whether land, sea or air.

This presupposes the existence on board the mobile vehicle of two essential elements:
- a system capable of permanently determining, or on request, its position with sufficient precision,
- a means of transmitting the corresponding information to only authorized persons.

 Until recent years, there have been no satisfactory devices capable of performing these functions. However, for two or three years, two systems used to date independently of each other, have been made available to the public.

It is on the one hand the "Global System of
Localization ", in English" Global Positioning System "or
GPS, based on a set of transmitting satellites, and the "Global System for Mobiles", a European digital network of mobile phones, the best known of which in France is "ITINERIS" from France Télécom.

 Before the appearance of the "GPS" localization system, the position of a mobile was determined by direction finding, by means of a radio-compass, and / or using inertial platforms, instruments bulky and expensive reserved for boats and planes and out of reach of individuals.

The "GPS" system is based on a network of 24 satellites developed over the last ten years by the
United States Department of Defense for all military land, sea and air vehicles, as well as for lone soldiers and has been made available to the public free of charge recently. Within the framework of the envisaged application, this system presents several remarkable points: first, it makes it possible to determine a position with an accuracy of the order of 30 meters on the whole of the planet, then, the receiver is very space-saving - it is the size of a pocket calculator - and at a price within the reach of an individual, finally, it is fully automatic and its use is completely free.

 The radio telephone has long been reserved for few and localized professional users. The analog networks used entailed a high price for the terminals and a high cost of use due to the limited capacity of these networks. They were also perfectly incompatible between the different countries.

The European digital network "GSM" was put into service in France in 1992 by the companies France
Telecom and SFR (French Broadcasting Corporation).

It is a digital cellular type network covering a growing part of European territory and gradually extending to countries outside the
Community. I1 makes it possible to produce mobile terminals of low volume (pocket telephones, more and more widespread) the whole of the functions of which is ensured by some (eight currently) specific electronic circuits with high integration whose price drops regularly. It allows the sending of digital data and can be easily connected to a personal computer. It also ensures the confidentiality of transmissions by systematic encryption of the signals transmitted.

 The device according to the present invention is based on the joint use of the "G.P.S." system and the digital network "G.S.M." on board a vehicle in such a way that it is possible to know at any time its position thanks to a simple telephone call.

 I1 consists of an electronic module on which three functional blocks are grouped, all the components of a receiver of the satellite positioning system "G.P.S." apart from the elements intended for the display and the keyboard, the integrated circuits of a mobile digital telephone terminal of the "GSM" type without the audio part or the keyboard, and finally an electronic interface responsible for ensuring the connection of the two devices and send the information provided by the location system over the telephone network.

In the accompanying drawings, given by way of nonlimiting examples of embodiments of the subject of the invention:
Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the device
and Figure 2 illustrates an example of application in a car.

 The device, FIG. 1, consists of an electronic module 1 comprising a location block 2, a telephone terminal block 3 and an interface block 4.

 The location block 2 is formed by the circuits of a "G.P.S." receiver necessary for the reception and processing of signals transmitted by satellites to calculate the position of said receiver.

 The telephone terminal block is formed of integrated circuits constituting only the digital part and the transmission part of a digital mobile device of the "G.S.M" type.

 The module 1 being intended only to be consulted remotely therefore requiring no keyboard, screen or analog audio components, these elements normally integrated into "G.P.S." receivers and at the "G.S.M." terminals, as well as the components responsible for their management are therefore not used.

The interface block 4 is made up of electronic components ensuring the following functions:
- call detection and establishment of communication,
- start-up of the location block 2 as soon as a telephone call is received by the telephone terminal block 3,
- establishment of the link of the location block with the telephone terminal block so as to send the data concerning the position of the mobile on the digital network,
- system standby when all the data has been transmitted.

 The three blocks 2, 3, 4 will advantageously be mounted on a printed circuit also comprising the components necessary for the electrical supply of the assembly, the whole being disposed in a protective housing. This box will include the connections intended for the connection of the power cable and the antennas of the localization and telephone link blocks, which will preferably include a common antenna.

 The system is normally used with a personal computer connected to the network and capable of processing the data transmitted thanks to software generally supplied with the "G.P.S." location receivers which are often equipped to be connected to a laptop.

 In the case of the application intended to find a stolen vehicle 5, the box will be installed in a discreet location, for example under the engine hood (FIG. 2). A common antenna may be concealed in the surroundings of the windshield or other appropriate place on the vehicle.

 The positioning of the various constituent elements gives the object of the invention a maximum of useful effects which had not, to date, been obtained by similar devices.

Claims (3)

 10. Remote location device of a mobile, usable on all types of vehicles whose position we want to know, and is in particular intended for passenger cars that we want to find quickly in case of theft.  characterized by the combination of an electronic module (1) comprising three functional blocks, firstly a localization block (2) formed by all of the components of a receiver of the "G.P.S." satellite localization system necessary for receiving and processing the signals sent by the satellites to calculate the position, apart from the elements intended for the display and the keyboard, then a telephone terminal block (3) grouping together the integrated circuits ensuring the digital and transmission functions '' GSM type digital mobile telephone terminal, without the analog audio part or the keyboard, and finally an electronic interface (4) responsible for ensuring the operation and connection of the location block (2) and the telephone terminal block (3), and send the location data to the telephone network.  20. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the interface block (4) consists of electronic components ensuring the functions of call detection and establishment of communication, starting of the location block (2) as soon as a telephone call is received by the telephone terminal block (3), establishing the connection of the location block with the telephone terminal block so as to send the data concerning the position of the mobile on the digital network, and finally system standby when all data has been transmitted.  3. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the components constituting the location block (2), the telephone terminal block (3) and the interface block (4) are mounted on a printed circuit also comprising the components required to power the assembly.  40. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the components constituting the location block (2), the telephone terminal block (3) and the interface block (4) are arranged in a protective housing comprising the connections intended for the connection of the power cable and the antennas of the location block and the telephone terminal block.  50. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the box containing the electronic module (1) is installed at a discreet location in a car, such as the engine compartment, and that the location block (2) and the telephone terminal block (3) are fitted with a common antenna concealed in the surrounds of the windshield or any other suitable place on the vehicle.  60. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is used with a personal computer connected to the digital network and capable of processing the data transmitted thanks to software supplied with the "GPS" location receivers " equipped to be connected to a laptop.