WO2001033246A1

WO2001033246A1 - System and method for preventing theft

Info

Publication number: WO2001033246A1
Application number: PCT/SE2000/002161
Authority: WO
Inventors: Björn DE BONNENFANT
Original assignee: Satsafe Mls Ab
Priority date: 1999-11-03
Filing date: 2000-11-03
Publication date: 2001-05-10
Also published as: SE9903994D0; SE9903994L; AU1745801A; SE515439C2

Abstract

A system for determining the position of and/or controlling at least one mobile unit (2). The system comprises a central unit (1) for receiving, storing and evaluating received digital information from the mobile unit (2), and at least one mobile unit (2), provided with an identity code (7). The mobile unit comprises a GPS-receiver (4) or similar, a GSM-transmitter (3) or similar for transmitting information to said central unit (1), and a control unit (5) arranged to read the information received from said GPS-receiver (4), and based on this information send control signals to said transmitter (3), that it is allowed to or prohibited from sending, or that it should send information regarding the position of the mobile unit, the time, and the identity (7) of the unit, or information regarding whether the receiver is within an area of radio coverage or not.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PREVENTING THEFT

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system and a method according to the preamble of the appended independent claims. Fur- ther the invention relates to an object, such as a vehicle, a container or other equipment, provided with such a system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Systems combining a device for determining the position of an object with a transmitter arranged to send the position of the object to a central unit at regular intervals are today commercially available. The device for determining the position may for example be a GPS-receiver, but alternative systems exist. GPS-receivers receives short radio sequences from a number of satellites intended for this purpose, and can from the time difference between the reception times for the sequences from the different satellites calculate the position with a high degree of accuracy. The transmitter may, for example, be a GSM-based mobile phone, or some kind of transmitter for satellite communication, such as an ORBCOMM-transmitter . The GPS-receiver states the calculated position of the object and the GSM-transmitter sends this to a central unit.

The system regularly sends position information to the central unit, in the general case without regard to external circumstances, such as for example that the system has left the ra- dio coverage area. The central unit has thus no means for determining precisely where, why and when the system has ceased to send position information. If a vehicle or container provided with such as system is transported with an aircraft, the system also has to be shut down manually, to avoid that radio signals from the transmitter affects the electronic control systems in the aircraft .

An example of a prior art invention is EP 0748727 Al, which discloses an alarm system for mobile units provided with a GPS-receiver, a GSM-transmitter and a control unit. The alarm system sends information regarding its identity and position at certain fixed regular intervals, on request from a central unit, or as a result of an input from a manually activated alarm unit or automatically activated theft- or burglar detec- tors.

The document does not disclose anything regarding how the alarm system acts when it leaves the area of satellite radio coverage . The central unit receives no advance warning that the alarm system will cease to send information regarding its position, and can as a result not determine if the alarm system has ceased sending as a result of being put out of function intentionally, or if it has left the area of GSM radio coverage .

Another example of prior art is GB 2270405 A which discloses a similar system, provided with a device which informs the central unit that the power source of the alarm system is beginning to be emptied. Nor does this document disclose any information regarding how the alarm system reacts when it leaves the area of satellite radio coverage.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

It is a purpose of the invention to provide a system and a method with which the disadvantages of known technology is avoided. This and other purposes are achieved with the system and method according to the characterising portions of claims 1 and 6. Thus one of, or several of, the advantageous features and functions below are achieved.

According to one aspect of the invention a system and a method is provided for determining the position of a vehicle, con- tainer or similar, hereinafter denoted object. The system should state the position of the object to a central unit at least when the object gets in a position where it is no longer reachable from the GPS-satellites for tracking of its position.

According to another aspect of the invention, tracking is made possible of an object being transported by an independent freighter company and still give the owner of the object control over the position of the object.

According to yet to one aspect, the option is provided to con- trol the GSM-transmitter automatically, in that the mobile system makes sure that it during transportation with for example an aircraft, or some other sensitive means of transportation, does not transmit radio frequency signals (RF) , which could disturb the control system of the aircraft or means of transportation.

An advantage of the present invention is that the owner of the object, or a representative of the owner, may be notified that the object has left the area of GPS radio signal coverage, and thereafter when the object has been outside the area of radio coverage for a certain period of time. The purpose of this is to achieve information regarding where the object disappeared, in order to receive information regarding where and at what time the object last was situated, after it turns out that it has been stolen, or lost while being handled by a transport company or similar. The invention therefore prevents the risk of theft, since a prospective perpetrator realises how difficult it is to steal objects provided with such as system, without the deed being tracked to the place of the theft, and thereby indirectly to the perpetrator. If the owner of the ob- ject has knowledge regarding the usage of the object and the most probable geographical area in which the object is being moved, this information in combination with available information regarding the position, may be used to prevent thefts. A security company may, when suspicion of risk of theft is pre- sent, control the object.

The invention gives the owner better opportunities to control the transport companies claims regarding the present position of the object, and this gives better opportunities to receive compensation when cargo is lost or erroneously transported. This method of determining the position of the object, which is independent of the transport company, would in itself increase the tendency of the transport company to make sure that transport to the right destination is assured.

Yet a further advantage of the present invention is that the object, or more specifically in this case probably a container, can be transported with an aircraft with no need to manually shut down the radio communication unit.

OVERVIEW OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows schematically a picture of the total system.

Figure 2 shows a flow chart of the information flow in the system for determining the position of an object.

Figure 3 shows a flow chart of the information flow in the system for determining the position on an object and for shutting down the transmitter. DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

Figure 1 schematically shows the total system, comprising at least one object with a mobile unit 2, the GPS-satellites 8, the central unit 1 and the customer units 6. Further is shown that the mobile unit 2 comprises a positioning unit 4, a transmitter 3 and a control unit 5, and that each mobile unit 2 is provided with an ID-number 7. The positioning unit 4, which typically is a GPS-unit, receives radio signals from the satellites 4 and can from these signals calculate the position of the mobile unit, and alternatively the calculation of the position from the received radio signals may be performed by some other unit, for example the central unit, in order to simplify the construction of the positioning unit 4. To make calculation of the position of the mobile unit 2 possible, the positioning unit 4 most receive radio signals from at least three satellites. The positioning unit 4 can also detect that the satellite signal has disappeared, for example when the object with the mobile unit is in a tunnel, an garage, or when the object has been loaded on to a transport vehicle, such as an aircraft. When the satellite signal disappears or reappears, this information is sent to the control unit. This may be realised by the positioning unit 4 actively sending a message to the control unit 5, or by the control unit 5 regularly reading the position information from the positioning unit 4.

The transmitter 3, which may be used for other purposes than those according to the present invention, is controlled by the control unit 5, in response to information from the positioning unit 4. The transmitter may, as is described in a more detailed way below, be controlled to send messages regarding the position of the object and it can be turned on or off. The information from the transmitter, which may consist of an SMS- message, E-mail or some other means for transferring information, reaches the central unit 1.

The central unit 1 stores received information for each object and responds by notifying an operator each new change regar- ding the position of an object, i.e. that an object has left the area of radio coverage, re-entered into an area of radio coverage, or stayed in an area outside radio coverage a certain period of time. The operator then has the possibility to accomplish some measure, for example sending staff to the po- sition where the object has disappeared, if this is justified. Alternatively this stored information may be used if the object later turns out to have disappeared by neglectance of the transport company, or as a result of theft. The information in the central unit 1 can be transferred to a customer unit 6, or the central unit 1 can be located at the customer and thus being the only customer unit .

Figure 2 shows a flow chart of the mobile unit, for the embodiment where the system receives information regarding the latest position of the mobile unit. The mobile unit 2 has three states denoted SO, SI and S2. The mobile unit 2 is in state SO when no radio signal from any satellite is detected by the positioning unit 4, i.e. when the mobile unit 2 is completely out of reach of the radio signals. The mobile unit 2 is in state SI when radio signals from one or two satellites are detected, i.e. when the mobile unit 2 is on its way into, or out of, the area of radio coverage. The mobile unit 2 is in state S2 when radio signals from at least three satellites are detected.

The control unit 5 emits control signals to the transmitter 3 when the mobile unit 2 changes from one state, Sn, to another, Sm, in the figure denoted Sn -> Sm. The system is initially in state SO, since the system lacks information regarding the position of the mobile unit 2. At each transition between two states, the control unit 5 sends information to the transmitter 3 , regarding what it should send to the central unit 1. At each transition Sn -> Sm this information comprises the ID- number 7 of the mobile unit 2, the time for the transition and the kind of transition, i.e. information regarding the prior state Sn and the new state Sm. Only in cases where a position has been possible to calculate for the mobile unit 2 im edi- ately before, or will be possible to calculate when the mobile unit 2 has made a transition to the new state Sm, this information is sent as well. This thus occurs at the transitions SO -> S2, SI -> S2, S2 -> SI and S2 -> SO.

Figure 3 shows a flow chart for the mobile unit, for the em- bodiment where the system receives information on the latest position of the mobile unit, and in addition shuts down the transmitter as long as the mobile unit 2 resides in an area outside radio coverage. The purpose is that the transmitter is shut down when the object is in the cargo bay of an aircraft, to avoid disturbing the electronic control system of the aircraft, and to save battery power when the system is out to reach of the central unit 1. The mobile unit 2 has three states denoted SO, SI and S2 , defined in the same way as for the previous embodiment .

The control unit 5 emits control signals to the transmitter 3 when the mobile unit 2 makes a transition from one state to another in the same way as above, but further control information is emitted to the transmitter 3, in cases defined below. The control unit 5 initially sends a transmit prohibition to the transmitter 3 and the system then end up in state SO. At each transition between two states, the control unit 5 trans- mit information to the transmitter 3 in the same way as above, but does in addition optionally send additional information. After sending the ID-number 7 of the mobile unit 2, the time of the transition, the kind of transition, and if appropriate, a position for the mobile unit 2, the control unit 5 emits a permission to transmit, or a prohibition to transmit, to the transmitter 3. Transmission permission is emitted at the transitions SO -> SI and SO -> S2. Transmission prohibition is emitted at the transitions SI -> SO and S2 -> SO. The trans- mission permissions and prohibitions are valid for the transmitter 5 until a new prohibition or permission has been received.

Even if the invention has been described in connection with two preferred embodiments, it should be understood that a plu- rality of modifications may be done without departing from the scope of the invention. One such modification is that the transmitter 3 transmits information regarding the position of the mobile unit 2 to the central unit 1 at regular intervals, when the control unit 5 accepts that. Another conceivable modification is that the transmitter 3 transmits some other kind of information regarding the state of the mobile unit 2, again only if the control unit 5 allows it.

Claims

1. System for determining the position of and/or controlling at least one mobile unit (2) comprising: - a central unit (1) for receiving, storing and evaluating received digital information from said mobile unit (2) , and, where appropriate, transmit this information to an external customer unit (6) , and - at least one mobile unit (2) provided with a unique code for identifying the identity (7) of the unit, comprising:

- a receiver (4) for concurrent reception of radio signals from at least three satellites (8) , from which signals the position of said mobile unit

(2) can be calculated,

- a transmitter (3) for sending digitally coded information via radio signals to said central unit (1) , and - a control unit (5) arranged to read the information received from said receiver (4), characterised in that the control unit (5) is arranged to emit control information to the transmitter (3) in said mobile unit (2) at times when - the receiver (4) in said mobile unit (2) after immediately before having detected signals from at least one satellite (8) changes to no longer detecting any received signal, and when - the receiver (4), after immediately before not hav- ing detected signals from any satellite (8) , changes to again detecting a received signal from at least one satellite (8) , where - said control information states one of, or both of, that

- the transmitter (3) should transmit a message to the central unit (1) regarding the identity (7) of said mobile unit (2) , its latest or present position when this can or has been calculated, type of transition and the time for the transition and/or that

- information may from then on be transmitted from said transmitter (3) or may not be transmitted after said message, where appropriate, has been emitted.

2. System according to claim 1, characterised in that said re- ceiver (4) is a GPS-receiver.

3. System according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said transmitter (3) is a GSM-transmitter.

4. System according to one of claims 1-3, characterised in that said transmitter (3) is an ORBCOMM-transmitter .

5. System according to one of claims 1-4, characterised in that said central unit (1) is arranged to notify an operator, or to transmit, where appropriate, information to an external customer unit (6) , at least the latest position of the mobile unit (2) a certain period of time after the last received information from said mobile unit (2) .

6. Method for determining the position of and/or controlling at least one mobile unit (2) , characterised in that - a control unit (5) in said mobile unit (2) sends control information to a transmitter (3) in said mobile unit (2) at the times when

- the receiver (4) in said mobile unit (2) , after im- mediately before having detected signals from at least one satellite (8) , changes to no longer detecting any received signal, and when

- said receiver (4) , after immediately before not having detected signals from any satellite (8) , changes to detecting a received signal from at least one satellite (8) , where

- said control information states one of, or both of, that

- said transmitter (3) should send a message to a central unit (1) regarding the identity (7) of said mobile unit (2) , the latest or present position, when this can or has been calculated, type of transition and the time for the transition and/or that

- information may from now on be sent from said transmitter (3), or may not be sent, after that said message, when appropriate, has been sent,

- a central unit (1) receives, stores and evaluates received digital information from said mobile unit (2), and when appropriate, transmits this informa- tion to an external customer unit (6) , where

- said central unit (1) notifies an operator or sends, when appropriate, information to an external customer unit (6) , regarding at least the latest position of said mobile unit (2) , a certain period of time after the latest received information from said mobile unit (2) .

7. Method according to claim 6 , characterised in that the control unit (5) , at times when said receiver (4) , after immediately before having detected signals from the least one satellite (8) , sends control information to said transmitter (3) , that said transmitter (3) , until a new control demand is received from said control unit (5) , no longer may send any information.

8. Method according to claim 7, characterised in that the con- trol unit (5) , at times when said receiver (4) , after immediately before not having detected signals from any satellite

(8) , again detects a received signal from at least one satellite (8) , sends control information to said transmitter (3) that it, until a new control demand is received from said con- trol unit (5) , may send information.

9. Method according to claim 6, characterised in that the control unit (5) , at the time when said receiver (4) , after immediately before having detected signals from at least one sat- ellite (8), changes to no longer detect any received signal, sends control information to said transmitter (3), that said transmitter (3) should send a message to said central unit (1) , regarding the identity (7) of the device, its latest position, time for the transition, and that the receiver (4) , from immediately before having detected signals from at least one satellite (8) , has changed to no longer detecting any received signal .

10. Method according to claim 9, characterised in that the control unit (5) , at the time when said receiver (4) , after immediately before not having detected signals from any satellite (8) , changes to again detecting a received signal from at least one satellite (8) , sends control information to said transmitter (3) , that said transmitter (3) should send a message to said central unit (1) , regarding the identity (7) of the device, the time for the transition, and that the receiver (4) , from immediately before not having detected signals from any satellite (8) , has changed to again detecting a received signal from at least one satellite (8) .

11. Method according to claims 9 or 10, characterised in that the control unit (5) , at the time when said receiver (4) , af- ter immediately before not having detected signals from any satellite (8) , or having detected signals from fewer than three satellites (8) , changes to again detecting a received signal from at least three satellites (8) , sends control information to said transmitter (3) , that said transmitter (3) should send a message to said central unit (1) , regarding the identity (7) of the device, the present position, the time for the transition, and that the receiver (4) , after immediately before not having detected signals from any satellite (3) , or having detected signals from fewer than three satellites (8) , has changed to again detecting a received signal from at least three satellites (8) .

12. Method according to one of claims 9-11, characterised in that the control unit (5) , when said receiver (4) , after imme- diately before having detected signals from at least one satellite (3) , no longer detects any received signal and that the control unit (5) has sent control information to said transmitter (3) that said transmitter (3) should send a message as described in claim 9, immediately thereafter sends control in- formation to said transmitter (3) , that said transmitter (3) , until an new control demand is received from said control unit (5), may not send any information.

13. Method according to one of claims 9-12, characterised in that the control unit (5) , when said receiver (4) , after immediately before not having detected signals from any satellite (3) , again detects a received signal from at least one satel- lite (3) , and that the control unit (5) has sent control information to said transmitter (5) that said transmitter (5) should send a message as described in claim 9, sends control information to said transmitter (3) , that said transmitter (3) , until a new control demand is received from said control unit (5) , may send information.

14. Method according to one of claims 9-13, characterised in that the central unit (1) , when it has received a message from a mobile unit (2) , that said unit no longer detects signals from any satellite (8) , sends information to at least one customer unit (6) , that at least said unit no longer detects signals from any satellite (8) , the latest position for said mobile unit (2), and the time for this position statement.

15. Method according to one of claims 9-14, characterised in that the central unit (1) , a given period of time after that it has received a message from mobile unit (2) , that said unit no longer detects signals from any satellite (8) , sends a warning to at least one customer unit (6) , that at least a given period of time has passed since said mobile unit (2) latest detected signals from any satellite (8) , the latest stated position of said mobile unit (2) , and the time for this position statement.

16. Method according to one of claims 9-15, characterised in that the central unit (1) , when it has received a message from a mobile unit (2) , that said unit again detects signals from any satellite (8) , sends information to at least one customer unit (6) , that at least said mobile unit (2) again detects signals from any satellite (8) , and the time for this occurrence .

17. Method according to one of claims 9-16, characterised in that the central unit (1) , when it has received a message from a mobile unit (2), that said unit again detects signals from at least three satellites (8) , sends information to at least one customer unit (6), regarding at least the new position of said mobile unit (2) and the time for this position statement.

18. Vehicle, container or other equipment, provided with a system according to one of claims 1-5.