GB2420052A

GB2420052A - Vehicle identification and tracking system stores vehicle information on RFID tag

Info

Publication number: GB2420052A
Application number: GB0424402A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jamie Ashton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-11-04
Filing date: 2004-11-04
Publication date: 2006-05-10
Also published as: GB0424402D0

Abstract

A vehicle identification and tracking system comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag and read/write devices, the tag being installed on motor vehicles and storing information about the vehicle to which it is attached, such as service history, mileage, MOT, road tax, VIN, etc. The read/write devices may be either handheld or field mounted devices, which read and transmit information from the RFID tag to a central database. Authorised personnel, such as police or the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), can access the database to check for anomalies on each vehicle to ensure the safety, legality and roadworthiness of the vehicle.

Description

1 2420052

PATENT SPECIFICATION

INVENTION TITLE: IDENSYS - VEHICLE ID & TRACKING SYSTEM Background: The assemblage is an identification system that is to be implemented to ensure the vehicles on the roads in the UK are safe and legal. The way in which the design has been laid out is to cover a wide range of uses to incorporate and improve upon all aspects of vehicle and road-users safety, of whidi a wide nunfoer of advantages would be gained from the implementation of such a system.

Statement of Invention: Presently there is NO current system in place to tackle the issues to ensure vehicles on the road are safe and legal in a direct method, the current methodology is to spot-check' and rely on catching the problem vehicles before they cause damage or harm. The following description is to be read in conjunction with the attached diagram Indensys- 1' and is set out to address these problems.

Invention Description: The IDENSYS Vehicle IDentification & Tracking System would incorporate a number of existing technologies assembled together using RF1D tagging (Radio Frequency IDentification), the RFID tag supplied would store a limited amount of data about the vehicles on the road such as; * Vehicle Service History * Parts used, * Mileage, * Emissions levels.

* Vehicle MOT Pass/Fail, * Outstanding Requirements to Pass * Due date * Vehicle Tax * Is the Vehicle taxed? * Is the vehicle registered for the road or has the owner applied for SORN? * Due date * Vehicle Identification Number (YIN) * Is the number correct * Vehicle Registration Number * Is it the correct number? * Cloning Prevention The tags would be fitted behind any non-metallic object such as a car, van or truck's plastic bumper or any motorcycle fairing, this would be done on all new vehicles entering or being manufactured in the UK. At each vehicle sales/distribution centre there would be a check on the vehicle VIN number against the serial number on the tag and this would be entered onto the database and form the basis of the system.

The information on the tags would be gathered using fixed location Read/Write Units and this information would be stored on a Secure Database to be used as required by the relevant authorities. For this system to work efficiently and effectively the read/write devices would need to be installed at a variety of places around Towns and Cities like traffic lights, know hotspot areas, Motorways/A & B roads (entrance's and exit's). From the information gathered the system can be set up to track or identify vehicles which axe illegal or not road worthy if any or more of the critical requirements axe not achieved. Although the initial outlay would be high the advantage of the system would far outweigh the cost.

The software for the system exists but would be development to ensure the relevant authorities had all the correct information passed on as iequired to ensure cfficicncy was at its greatest. Different layers would be produced and the relevant authorities would be granted access to their own area to obtain the necessary information. For example Police may need access to vehicle owner and any outstanding convictions, the DVLA may want to confirm the vehicle was taxed and legally on the road. Access to this database would be via wireless protocol or via a secure hardwired method (this can be seen on the attached drawing Idensys- 1).

An additional set of parameters in which the system can be used for would be for vehicle location and tracking. This could enhance the current policing strategies to allow the vehicles to be followed and their fmal location (within reason) identified, without the need for any high-speed pursuits and reducing the likelihood of injury or fatalities.

* Vehicle Location/Tracking * Read/Write units to be placed at Traffic Lights or other pre-determined areas, * Read/Write units can read up to 6Metres from the tag, * When the vehicle is at the lights the tag is read and if any defective or unusual information is found the details are passed to the relevant authorities to deal with the problem. This could be to notify the police of the relevant problem or DVLA that a vehicle is on the road and untaxed.

* Taxing from a mileage point of view would allow the government to implement their current policies of taxing vehicles governed by the mileage completed annually. The devices could be used to provide the DVLA with an idea of the relevant mileage complete and ensure these vehicles are paying the relevant amount of tax.

To successfully implement this system it is envisaged that the vehicles would be fitted with the tags over a period of 2years, the tags would be installed during routine service or MOT's.

Typically the advantages from such a system being designed and installed would be to identify a variety of vehicle parameters which would ensure every individual vehicle was safe and legal for the road.

To ensure the parameters on the tags were kept up to date and were not being Vandalised or abused' Selected Garages would be empowered to update/check the data, and would be completed via a hand-held read/write unit. To back this up, Police and Traffic wardens would also be supplied with similar hardware to complete there own relevant checks.

The tags themselves come in a variety of shapes and sizes and ranging from 3-5mm in height, between 30-100nmi in length and between 5-50mm in length. The material is plastic and is weather proof; the read/write devices come in 2off types, 1 off being an electronic handheld unit (not weather-proo) and the other installed on the road sides is a weatherproof box with a polymer housing.

Currently the products all exist but are being used for different applications and not on a scale that is envisaged here. A prototype can be provided if required, the software alterations would not be complete as this would need developing in line with the requirements from the various authorities ensuring all relevant in formation was provided.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

INVENTION TITLE: IDENSYS - VEHICLE ID & TRACKING SYSTEM Claim 1: The RFI (Radio Frequency Identification) tag is attached to a motor vehicle behind a non-metallic' object.
Claim 2: There are 2off methods of attachment available, the first being to identifi a suitable location where the high strength adhesive backing would be applied the tag would be attached during manufacture. The second, being a pocket mounted on the underside of the non-metallic bumper or fairing.
Claim 3.

The RFI tag can be either active or passive, both have a battery within the tag's to maintain the data.

Claim 4: The read/write field devices are to be located within 6mtrs of the vehicle passing (as this is currently the maximum read/write distance) .

Claim 5: The read/write field devices are to be mounted a height to prevent vandalism.

Claim 6: The read/write field devices will communicate via wireless comms for local systems and a hardwired method for distances above 4kilometers.

Claim 7: The Database is to have various layers to suit various authorities, these could be the Police, the DVLA and Garages to name but a few.

Claim 8: Access to the layers would be granted over a secure network for each of the Authorities' Claim 9.

The Garages would be allowed to upload the latest data from the tag about the vehicle, this data would be checked before being placed onto the system to ensure no anomalies have been passed over.

Claim 9: The data placed onto the tag would be passed to the mainframe Secure' database with redundant processing capability.

Claim 10: The database would be backed up to ensure the vehicle data if corrupted' would not be lost.